Half life

DAY'S WORK ON

"Who could be calling me with a private phone number this time?" Dad asked rhetorically as took his gaze off the road then took a quick glance at his phone screen.

"Yeah. I can hear you clearly so speak" Dad said into his phone as he picked the call and placed his phone on his ears after pulling up the car beside the road

"Oh Mr. Greg. How are you?"

You mean I should come over right away?

No problem I'll be right there at the office in thirty minutes time.

Yeah thank you" Dad said over the phone then the line went dead

"Alright guys I'm sorry but there is a little change in plans" Dad said, as he turned briefly to take a look at us.

"What change of plans are you talking about Dad? I asked all confused

"My attention is needed at the office. Actually, the call I just received was from a client and he wants to see me at the office right away."

" Oh I see." I replied not sure of what to say while Aunt Mena kept silent

"So what do we do about it then? because we're still very far from home and here is quite closer to the office" Dad said

"Well for me, we should just drive home first then you can drop us off before you drive back to the office. How about that?" I muttered with a smile.

" Well I wish that can be possible but I really don't have enough time. I should be talking of driving to work already so you that suggestion is nice but cannot work out this time around. Anyways thank you so much my princess for your well thought suggestion." Dad said softly

"You are welcome Dad" I said

"What do you suggest Aunt Mena?" I asked drawing her attention as she appeared to be lost in her thought and may not have heard Dad talking on phone earlier on

"Huh" she said looking on in perplexity

"Don't tell me you didn't get the question" I said

" What question?" She asked

"Dad's question" I replied

"What was the question all about?" She asked further

"Ok. Dad got a call from the office informing him to come over that a client was waiting to see him urgently so dad is now asking us to suggest to him what he should do since we are still very far from home and the office is closer from here. " I said while Aunt Mena listened quietly

" Oh. In that case, we will get an Uber home so that he can just drive from here to the office " Aunt Mena said

"That is also a great idea Mena but I don't want you guys to Uber home due to some personal reasons though. Well I just feel like driving you all there now but I don't think you guys can stay in the car for some time or can you guys just wait for some minutes in the car? because the meeting won't take so long." Dad asked

"I can stay sir" Aunt Mena said

"Ok. How about you Amanda?" Dad asked

" I can as well stay Dad?'' I replied

"Alright then we'll just drive to my place of work then" Dad said then ignited the car engine then drove away to his office after hitting off the road again.

I've never really gotten the opportunity to go to Dad's office but I'd have gone there probably a couple of times.

The first I can vividly remember was when I accompanied Mum to go get some stuff from him.

And the second time, I'm not sure I can remember. I guess it was on one of those days mum paid random visits to Dad perhaps I just forgot what the purpose of going there was.

I don't really know if Aunt Mena has ever been to Dad's office but then let me ask her to find out.

"Aunt Mena!" I called

"Yes dear" she replied

" Can I ask you something please?" I said

" Yes dear. Go ahead" she replied reassuringly

" Have you been to Dad's office before?" I asked

" Yeah, I think for quite a good number of times. Why do you ask?" Aunt Mena asked

" Nothing. I just wanted to ask you" I said

" Ok I guess you are tired?" Aunt Mena asked

" Yeah and famished as well Aunt Mena" I said

"Oh! Sorry dear. Don't worry we will soon be home" Aunt Mena consoled

"Thank you Aunt Mena" I said

" You are welcome dear" Aunt Mena said while Dad continued to drive in silence focusing majorly on the road as he tried to beat time.

"Don't worry I'll right there. I'm just a few more meters away from the office. I'll soon be driving in" Dad blared into the phone when a call came in from the office again.

"Shi… This crazy people won't let me be for a second. Everyday work! work!! and work!!!." Dad soliloquized as he took the next turn immediately we approached a sharp bend

Dad then drove throw a narrow route till we got to his office a 15 minutes drive on that narrow road.

"You guys just hang on ok? I'll be right back!" Dad said as he drove into the parking space and pulled up.

"Alright sir. We will be waiting then" Aunt Mena replied as Dad got down from the car and headed for the office main entrance door.

"Is that a skyscraper?" I asked pointing towards Dad's office building, just few minutes after Dad left the car for the emergency meeting.

"Yeah. It is" Aunt Mena replied

"Isn't big and beautiful?" I asked further

" It is Amanda. Do you want us to and take a look?" Aunt Mena asked softly

" Yes" I replied

" But you know we can't right now" Aunt Mena said

" Why not?" I asked

"We cannot just leave the car this way because we want to do some sightseeing" Aunt Mena said

"Why can't we?" I asked still confused

" Because we'd return not to meet the car" Aunt Mena said with a smirk

"I still don't understand you Aunt Mena" I said in a low but audible tone

"Fine. What I'm saying is, if we leave the car and go for sightseeing round the office building without locking the car it will get stolen before we return back here"

"Oh! But who will steal it?" I asked

" Anyone can steal it Amanda" Aunt Mena said

" Why don't we lock up the car then go for the sightseeing afterwards" I said still not backing down

" Amanda we can't" Aunt Mena replied calmly

" But why?" I asked obviously irritated

"Because Dad asked us to wait for him in the car and not going sightseeing so he'd be mad at us for going against his instructions" Aunt Mena said

" Oh! What do we do then?" I asked scratching my hair as I thought of a way to get rid this boredom edging an inch closer every passing second.

" Well nothing else but to sit here in the car until Dad returns" Aunt Mena said softly

"Okay then" I said absentmindedly in resignation

"Yeah. By the way, have you got any other siblings?" Aunt Mena asked giving me a cursory look

" Huh siblings?" I asked to be sure I heard her right at first

"Yeah. I mean siblings" Aunt Mena said

"Oh! About that… no I don't have any other siblings" I replied quite lackadaisically.

" I see no wonder.." Aunt Mena said

" No wonder what?" I asked quite confused by her outburst

"No wonder you are acting quite funny because you're Mum and Dad's only treasure" Aunt Mena said in a serious register

" Yeah" I said with a shrug

"How about you? Where are your Kids?" I asked almost immediately

"Huh. My kids?" Aunt Mena asked a bit taken aback by my question

"Yeah, your kids" I repeated

"Don't be ridiculous please Amanda. I'm not even married so I don't have kids yet" Aunt Mena explained softly

"You mean you don't have any kids?" I asked in surprise

"Yeah. I don't" Aunt Mena replied with a smirk

"Oh. But why?" I asked

" Well nothing. You just won't understand" Aunt Mena said in a low tone as though she was about to sob as her eyes began to moisten with tears shrugging her shoulders

"Ok" I replied

"Do you have a pen with you there?" I asked as I quickly changed the topic, bringing an end to our previous discussion

"What do you need a pen for?" Aunt Mena asked

"I want to scribble down some ideas" I said

"Where? Because the last time I checked, you weren't with a book or a piece of paper" Aunt Mena said with a grin

"Leave that to me Aunt Mena, I know where to get a book from besides am a magician so I can get a book easily without stress" I said

"Oh I see. I'm sorry Mrs. Magic please get a pen as well!" Aunt Mena teased with a smirk on her face.

" No. I can't. I need a physical pen first before I can be able to get a book as well" I said

"Oh. Is that the only condition that must be met?" Aunt Mena said

" Yes" I replied

" I'll go get you a pen then because I'm dying to see you make magic!" Aunt Mena said

"Alright then get me a pen first and watch lots of magic unfold before your eyes" I boasted

"Okay where can I get you a pen?" Aunt Mena asked giving me a quizzical look

" I have no idea about that. Maybe the store or the office but let's go check the cabinet on the dashboard first" I said

"Ok go ahead then" Aunt Mena replied and I got out of the car and walked over to the owner's side of the car and opened it to check the cabinet on the dashboard in a search of a pen.

"Have you seen any yet?" Aunt Mena asked as my hands kept fumbling with in the cabinet.

"No. I l haven't seen any yet" I replied

"Well I guess there is no pen in there so just come back and don't stress yourself over nothing" Aunt Mena advised

"Yeah. I'm coming" I replied then closed the cabinet on the dashboard.

"What do we do now since we can't find any pen in the car?" I asked as I got back into the backseat.

"Well I don't know. I guess the magic show won't be taking place again then" Aunt Mena said

"Probably" I replied stuttering.

"Look over there" I said focusing my gaze on the office building as I pointed towards it

"What is it?" Aunt Mena asked

"Dad is coming back already" I said grinning

"Oh yeah with a man in a tuxedo suit right?" Aunt Mena asked peering into the direction of the office building

"Yeah. You're right" I replied and kept looking on as Dad and the man inched closer towards the car

"Thank you so much Mr. Edwards, I'll come by over the week so we can finalize things and then go over to the paperwork" The man who appeared to be in his late sixties said as they stopped by just few yards away from the car.

"You're welcome Mr. Greg. I hope to see you by next week then. Do have a nice day" Dad said as they shook hands before the man left while Dad then walked back to the car.

" I took like for ever to come outside right?" Dad said as he got into the car

"Not so long sir" Aunt Mena said smiling broadly

"Yeah. You took like for ever Dad" I retorted

"Oh my princess I'm so sorry. Daddy had to talk things out in details so he can understand but I won't do that ever again" Dad said apologetically

"Its okay. Let's just go home now already" I replied keeping a straight face.

" Alright then let's go home" Dad said and started the car, setting it's engine roaring then drove out of the office building into the street and we headed for home.

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