Half life

Blame The Lame

We were still discussing when Mena walked in to the sitting room taking giant strides.

"Seems like someone ran away from the kitchen and never got to return" Mena teased as she wiped off her wet hands on her dress

"No not at all" I said

"I just didn't want to disturb you know" I added

" Who said you were disturbing girl?" Mena asked sitting down on one of the sofas

"Nobody I just felt like leaving so you could at least concentrate" I stuttered scratching my hair in confusion

"But I never complained. Did I?" She asked in an emotional tone

"No you didn't" I replied swaying my head from left to right to potray my answer

"Mena don't worry yourself about this girl sitted right here. She is just weird" Dad added casting me a cold glare.

"It's ok sir but I don't think she is weird" Mena said

"I'm not weird Dad" I retorted

"You're weird and you know it " Dad said pulling my ear

"Ouch let go of my ear you are hurting me! " I yelled

"I know" Dad said then released his hand from my ears

"You are evil man!" I replied throwing punches at Dad's arms

"Hey stop it" Dad yelled as he tried to block the punches

"I won't stop" I retorted laughing hysterically

"Ouch Amanda stop" Dad yelled as he aimed to grab my hands while I kept wriggling as Mena looked on in surprise

"I won't until you beg me!" I said struggling to break free from Dad's firm grip on my hands.

"I won't beg you Miss Edwards" Dad replied this time grabbing my two hands

"Woah! I'm free" I replied giggling as I ran off like a lunatic and stood few meters away after breaking free from Dad's firm grip

"Don't you worry I'll get you soon

just look out for me because I'll be coming for you at an hour you do not expect!" Dad said snorting

"You can as well come now I'm so ready for you but you'll never get me!" I retorted pausing to catch my breath

"Wait there then" Dad said

"Mena" dad called out

" Yes sir" mena replied

"This is how we play around here. Hope you don't mind?" Dad asked

"No not at all sir. To be honest I'm enjoying the "plays" Mena replied

"So how is work going so far?" Dad asked

"Fine sir. Dinner will soon be served" Mena replied

"Wow that's great." Dad said

"I bet your meal will taste so so great. I guess I'm right?" Dad asked

"Well sir you'll have to taste it yourself then tell me what you think about it" Mena replied calmly

"Ok. By the way what are you preparing for dinner?" Dad asked

"Just oats and french fries" She replied

" That's still good" Dad muttered

"So what can you say about your stay here from the past few hours you have spent here so far?" Dad asked giving her a quizzical look as he awaited her reply

"Well so far it's been great I'm just speechless. I'm so grateful to you sir, thank you so much" Mena said profusely.

"Its okay. You don't have to do all of these dear. You're most welcomed" Dad said as I looked on curiously in silence.

Judging from the way Dad spoke,

I guess Dad must have met Aunt Mena somewhere way low.

Probably the streets or around the neighborhood.

"Excuse me sir let me go check out something in the kitchen" Mena said standing up as made to walk back to the kitchen

"Alright dear" Dad said

"Amanda won't you sit down again?" Mena asked as she walked past me while heading towards the kitchen

"No ma… Aunt Mena I'm fine here" I replied still standing few meters away from Dad

"Don't you worry a bit about her she is just afraid of me. " Dad said

" I'm not afraid Dad" I said

"Amanda then come with me to the kitchen and take up there for safety" Mena replied

"Don't worry Aunt Mena I'll just be fine here" I replied calmly.

"I want to ask for you for something please" I said

"Are you talking to me?" Mena asked pointing to herself as she paused

"Yes, I want to ask for a favor hope you won't mind granting it?" I said to Mena

"Sure I'll try but go ahead and ask first" she replied

"Ok. Please can I call you Aunt?" I asked scratching my hair as Dad looked on perturbed by my outburst

"Aunt?" She asked giving me a weird look

"Yeah" I replied giggling

"Why Aunt?" She asked, perplexed

"Because that is what I want to call you now" I replied

"But we aren't even blood related" she said

"It doesn't matter. I choose to call whoever I want to call my Aunt" I said

" Ok fine. You can call me Aunt. Fine now?" She asked

"Yeah. Thank you" I replied smiling sheepishly

" You are welcome. Can I go now?" She asked

"Sure Aunt Mena" I said beaming with smiles while she walked back to the kitchen

"Come over here" Dad said as Aunt Mena walked back to the kitchen

"Ok Dad" I replied, walking back to the sofa on which both Dad and I were sitting on.

"I'm here now" I said as I sank in to the sofa

"Well listen up since I won't repeat myself ever again. You see that lady over there in the kitchen?" Dad asked in a low but audible tone pointing towards the kitchen

" You mean Aunt Mena?" I asked looking at the direction of his fingers

"Yeah Aunt Mena" he said

"What about her?" I asked

"Nothing. I just want you to let her be don't overstress her she has been through alot already so stay obedient and calm. Is that clear?" Dad asked

"Yes sir" I replied even though I don't understand a thing out of what he just blurted out.

With that we both sat silently on the sofa as we awaited for the super dinner Aunt Mena was preparing.

*************

"Dinner is served sir" Aunt Mena announced as she walked in to the sitting room.

Finally dinner was ready after waiting for about 35 minutes. Well I just can't wait to taste her meal, I thought to myself as I spranged up from the sofa and headed for the dinning area.

"You couldn't even wait for me huh" Dad said, pulling out a chair as he got to the dinning table.

"I did dad and that is why I'm still standing" I replied grinning as I also drew out a chair opposite Dad's to sit down as well

"I just can't wait to taste Aunt Mena's meal" I said beaming with smiles

"Really?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look

"Yeah. Are you not excited as well?" I asked

"Sure I am" Dad replied with a shrug

We were still discussing when Aunt Mena walked in with a bowl of oatmeal and french fries then placed it on the table.

"Welldone Mena" Dad said

"Thank you sir" she replied

"Welldone Aunt Mena you are simply the best" I cooed

"Thank you Amanda" Aunt Mena replied

"You are welcome" I said.

After she was done serving us the meal, she then walked back to the kitchen.

"Yummy" I muttered taking a bite at the french fries

"It tastes nice doesn't it?" I asked dad giving him a quizzical look

"Yeah obviously it does." Dad replied

"I think she is indeed a great cook as well. What do you think?" I asked again

"Yeah definitely she is. So I agree with you on that" Dad said nodding his head in affirmative.

"Where is she by the way" Dad asked, pausing to sip on his glass of water

" I guess she is in the kitchen" I said in between mouthfuls of french fries

"Doing what exactly? Is she not going to have dinner tonight?" Dad asked

"I don't know Dad let me go and call her to come" I said motioning to stand up

"no don't worry yourself just eat your meal. I'll call her myself" Dad said

"Ok Dad" I replied then continued eating

"Mena!" Dad called out softly but got no response

"Mena!!" Dad called out again

"Sir" Aunt Mena replied walking out of the kitchen

"Sir you called me" Aunt Mena said with her head hanging low as she got closer but only a few inches away from the dinning table.

"Yes I did. What are you still doing in the kitchen?" Dad asked

"Nothing sir". She replied

"Then why are you not having your dinner yet?" Dad asked

"I am sir" she said

"Where? because I can't find your meal anywhere on the dinning table. Dad said

"In the kitchen sir" she replied calmly

"In the kitchen?'' Dad asked in bewilderment

"Yes sir" she replied

"Why eat in the kitchen? And besides what happened to this place here I mean the dinning table?" Dad asked

"Nothing sir. I just felt like giving you guys some sort of privacy" she replied

"What sort of privacy? Look we are a family already there is nothing to hide from you just feel free and act as you would in your own house okay?" Dad said softly

"Yes sir" Aunt Mena replied

"Now go and get your food and come join us at the dinning table" Dad said

"Ok sir" Aunt Mena replied and left for the kitchen to get her food.

"Thank you sir" she said pulling out one of the chairs beside mine to sit down after remerging from the kitchen with her plate of food

"You are welcome" Dad replied

"Aunt Mena this meal tastes so good" I said drawing her attention immediately she sat down" I said

"Thank you dearest" she said flashing me a heart warming smile

"You are welcome" I replied then we all continued to eat in silence.

"Aunt Mena" I called out softly after some moments of silence

"Yes dear" she replied

"What…" I made to speak but paused when Dad interrupted

"Amanda allow Aunt Mena to eat in peace please besides remember your table manners for once" Dad said almost choking on his meal

" Ok Dad" I muttered then continued eating

"Please sir let her just say what she has in mind to tell me" Aunt Mena pleaded

"Alright go ahead then" Dad said coldly

"I wanted to ask if you knew how to cook when you were at my age" I said

" Not really Amanda. I just knew how to do little house chores but I never got the chance to do the cooking until I was almost past 12 years old" Aunt Mena replied

" Why didn't they allow you cook when you were at my age?" I asked further

" Maybe because I was just a little kid then" Aunt Mena replied

" Little you say?" I asked perplexed

"Yeah my mum would never let an 8 year old girl cook" Aunt Mena explained

"But at 8, I can cook" I said with pride while Dad shot me a cold glare

"Really?" Aunt Mena asked

"Yeah but not until mum…." I stuttered then stopped talking

"Amanda you have almost finished eating while Aunt Mena have barely touched her own food please let her eat too at least before you bombard her with those unending silly questions of yours" Dad said looking at me with the corner of his eyes while Aunt Mena chuckled at Dad's words.

"Its fine sir. I'm eating as well besides I'm also enjoying my little chit chat with her" Aunt Mena said

"Are you sure?" Dad asked still not satisfied with her previous response

"Yes sir" she replied

"If you leave Amanda she won't let you be she will just keep on asking and asking silly questions till you get tired and weared out." Dad cautioned

"Don't worry sir. I am fine with it" Aunt Mena replied

"Ok Amanda please what were you trying to say earlier on?" Aunt Mena asked

"Oh I said I can cook" I replied

" Wow that is awesome" Aunt Mena remarked

"Yeah" I replied

"So tell me who taught you how to cook?" Aunt Mena asked

"My mum actually did" I said looking at Dad and noticed he became uneasy as I mentioned Mum while talking

" Wow that is so so nice of her. You must be so lucky to have a Mum as good as here" Aunt Mena said while Dad continued to listen as he in silence

"Yeah. I'm so lucky to have her as my mum because she is the best mummy in the whole world" I said flashing a fake smile

"Oh yeah. That reminds me, my wife; Amanda's Mum traveled out for a business function and should won't be coming back anytime soon and that's actually the main purpose of us looking for a housekeeper to take help take care of Amanda as well since I'll be so busy with work. I think I forgot to mention that to you when I first told you about the nature of your job." Dad explained softly while I looked on in confusion.

When did Mum traveled out or is Dad hallucinating or something? I asked rhetorically, as he kept blabbing on and on

"Ok sir" she replied

"Amanda you said you can cook, didn't you?" Aunt Mena asked again to be sure she heard me right

"Yes I can at least make simple dishes" I said dropping my fork on the table

"I see " Aunt Mena said

"Are you done eating?" Aunt Mena asked

"Yes Aunt Mena" I replied

"Good. Do you want some more food?" She asked

"No I'm full already. Thank you" I muttered

"Are you sure you don't want some more?" Aunt Mena asked casting a quizzical look at me

"Yes Aunt Mena I'm okay with just this one I had now" I replied

"Ok then" Aunt Mena said

"Just let Aunt Mena be now. Let her also finish up her meal too just like you did then you guys can talk" Dad said looking away as he munched his fries away in delight.

"Alright Dad" I replied sitting down quietly as I stared at the corners of the dinning area.

"Mena thank you so much for this wonderful dinner you prepared for everyone sitting here presently" Dad said after dropping his fork on the table.

"You are welcome sir" Aunt Mena replied as Dad stood

Standing up, he left for the sitting room leaving only me and Aunt Mena behind at the dinning table.

*********