Half life

What?!!!

As I got closer, I began to hear witty sounds stealthily low and moderately audible from the kitchen and when I peered intently I saw dad all drenched in sweat, frantically chopping onions and starring at his phone too.

‘‘Poor thing… Man’s been trying real hard to make me happy and even going out his own way so that I don’t get to feel Mum’s absence’’, I muttered sadly and then walked quietly across the marble floor to the refrigerator at the left corner to get some water.

“Hey what’s my princess doing over here huh?... thought you should be in bed sleeping already?’’ Dad asked almost in a whisper, causing me to stop abruptly as I made to open the refrigerator.

“Well… I was feeling dehydrated so I decided to come and get water but you need not worry Dad, I will go back to bed as soon as I’m through trust me.’’, I finally managed to say after stuttering at first.

“Its fine. You don’t really need to do all of that. Probably you weren’t even feeling dizzy in the first place. So its absolutely ok by me if you don’t want to sleep dear.” Dad said almost half yelling with a comical expression on his face and then continued with the chopping of onions.

I quickly took out a bottle of cold water and walked over to the kitchen rack to get a glass cup then emptied some content into it.

Gulping down the content, I kept stealing glances at Dad and smiling sheepishly for no just reason as I watch him struggle to chop the onions. It was kind of sweet to see Dad try to cook all by himself and I was enjoying every bit of it expect probably for the part that the onions is making him shed uncontrollable tears.

‘Dad!’ I called out softly, trudging towards his direction

‘Yes dear. What I wrong?’ Dad replied taking a quick glance at me then continued with his work.

‘Nothing I just wanted to ask you if I could help you any way’, I cooed looking at nothing in particular as I stood beside him like a slave before his master.

‘Well… dear there is nothing here in particular you can assist me with don’t worry when you become a little bit older then you can help Daddy out okay?. But for now just go get busy with something else maybe tv or something’, Dad replied casually in a low but audible tone.

‘Well I have heard you Dad but I insist let me help you’ I retorted motioning to collect the knife from him and continue the chopping.

‘Amanda wait listen… I don’t need your help for now. Just go to the sitting room I’ll call you when I need your help okay?’, Dad said softly and smiled broadly to conceal his anger.

I simply nodded and plodded out of the kitchen as fast as my nudging legs could carry me.

It was now quite obvious Dad was boiling hot within in anger but has been trying to suppress it.

Even if he was indeed angry you wouldn’t blame him for getting pissed when his wife left him all alone to fend for their 8 year old daughter and now he is trying to prepare dinner, a thing I suppose he has never done by himself for so long.

Walking aimlessly into the sitting room I glanced at the clock hanging loosely on the wall, frantically placed above the TV set. It was now a quarter past 7 PM.

A mischievous smile curved at the corner of my lips as an idea quietly crept into my naïve mind.

‘Since Dad doesn’t want me to help him in the kitchen, I’ll just go out and play then’, I thought to myself.

‘No, Dad may really get upset with me if he comes to the sitting room by chance and doesn’t find me anywhere around’, Another thought countered, as I kept pulling unconsciously at the hair tucked in between the corner of my ears.

Sighing softly, I plodded towards the door and unbolted it, peering intently into the dark with a smirk I then quietly dashed out of the door with nothing particularly in mind and sat on the pavement at the back of the kitchen as I allowed random thoughts flow in my head.

‘I don’t really know if Dad will even be able to make that dinner tonight and it already late. Why bother himself when he can actually order dinner for us and it will be delivered in a jiffy?’ I asked rhetorically.

‘Maybe I should just order dinner just in case it all goes wrong tonight’ I soliloquized.

Placing the order isn’t really the problem. The main problem lies in the fact that I don’t have a phone and I definitely need to use someone else’s phone to place the order. But whose, if not Dad’s?

Now how do I get him to give me his phone without receiving streams of unending questions from him?

Dad is now the major challenge.

‘Oh! I know what to do’, I soliloquized meticulously as I sprang up briskly like a possessed nun and like a villain on a mission to execute evil started for the door.

Taking giant strides I was now right in front of Dad.

‘DaD…’ I called out softly pouting my tiny lips.

‘Yes dear’

‘Can I have your phone please?’ I asked

‘My Phone… what for exactly?’ he retorted

‘Nothing really. I was bored from watching TV so decided to view some pictures on your phone’ I said almost inaudibly fumbling on top of the basement in the middle of the kitchen on which Dad was leaning against.

‘Sure, you can have it.’ Dad cooed, motioning his phone towards me absentmindedly.

‘Thank you so very much Dad. I love you’ I said, grinning in excitement.

‘Anything for you my lovely princess, Love you more beautiful!’ Dad said after exhaling and clasping his hands.

‘By the way get ready, dinner will soon be served’ Dad added briefly then walked over to the pot on the burner.

‘Ok dad’ I muttered, casting a cursory glance at his direction then stormed out of the kitchen after some seconds.

Immediately I entered the sitting room I walked over to the black leather sofa at the extreme right of the sitting room and sat down.

Unlocking the phone, I let out a sigh clueless about how to place the order then recalled we had Uncle Dave the neighbor who was a baker at the local bakery 4 streets away and a part-time delivery man.

'Maybe he can help me out'

I thought but immediately dismissed the idea in disappointment when I realized it won't be possible since it was already late but then my lips curved into a mild smile as I remembered Mr. Sam, Dad's PA at the office.

'He's definitely gonna help me out' I soliloquized in excitement as I frantically scrolled to his contact book and immediately began to compose a message to Mr. Sam after generating his contact info.

'A box of pizza and champagne.

To be delivered tonight at my residence ASAP.'

I typed away and when I was through sent it and nodded in satisfaction.

Thereafter, I went to Dad's gallery and began to view random snapshots.

I was only a few minutes into viewing pictures when I had Dad call my name.

'Amanda!Over here quickly.

Dinner is ready' Dad half yelled in excitement, as I walked swiftly towards the dining area.

'Sit right here darling' Dad said, pulling out a seat in front of a steamy cookware and then immediately dashed into the kitchen afterwards.

Emerging from the kitchen, Dad walked towards my direction with a bowl of creamy and weird looking soup, beaming with smiles.

'Dad what's for dinner?' I asked, aching in curiosity.

'Don't worry your pretty head dear. You'll soon find out, just be patient and watch me make magic'

Dad cooed, as he meticulously drew out a chair opposite mine and sat down.

After muttering some words of what seemed like a prayer, Dad began to dish out white rice pudding into the two plates on the table then added the creamy sauce with some veggies while I looked on in curiosity.

'Here' dad said handing a plate of the supposed dinner to me which I collected after much hesitation and stared blankly at him as he made to eat his.

A nervous smile plastered on his cheeks as he motioned to chew but immediately changed into a surprised and awful grin.

It was obvious the meal tastes really gross for him to have be unable to atleast chew it.

Turning towards my direction, he smirked and muttered,

'Go on, eat your meal dear'

'I'll dad' , I cooed smiling sheepishly.

Casting a quick glance at Dad, I scooped a spoonful of the pudding into my mouth and immediately a sharp pain started trudging down my tongue like a scorpion's sting setting my tongue on fire.

I quickly motioned for a glass of water and gulped it down in a trance.

Breathing heavily, I glared at Dad while he just looked on soberly as though he instantaneously lost his voice.

Only God knows if he perhaps ordered for a tonne of pepper but then added just a bag or two for dinner alone.

'I'm sorry dear. I didn't mean to… I'll make it up to you' Dad whispered moments later when he finally found his voice.

'Don't worry it's fine. I'm not hungry and I know you didn't do it on purpose. It's not so easy Dad I understand how you've been trying to be the best Dad in the world for your daughter.

It's really lovely to see you go to any length to make sure I'm fine and you're indeed the best regardless of what happened now ' I said reassuringly.

'Thank you alot' Dad, said.

'But that's not without you trying to make me pepper sauce for dinner Sir chef' I teased.

'Hey girl.

I use to be the best cook during my college days at Umpio because Mum, your grandma taught me how to cook right from age 6' Dad countered throwing his arms in the air.

Well that could be true Mum told me many a times that my paternal grandmother was a chef at a famous Chinese restaurant back down many decades ago and was an excellent chef since she could prepare virtually everything ranging from local cushines to Russian and European dishes.

'Oh fine

Mr. Chef I accept you're a superstar Chef.' I cooed in resignation.

'Oh Yeah…'

Dad stopped as he made to speak as the doorbell rang the throwing us all aback.

Dad glanced at the door then at me in cursory manner.

'Are we expecting any visitor tonight?' He asked while I shook my head in negation

'No we aren't'

Staring suspiciously at me he got up and started for the door after exhaling deeply.