Half life

Can You Tell?

"We just have no choice but to inform Dad about this right away" Aunt Mena said, walking to my direction

"Umm...I agree with you" I stuttered staring at her

"Come on let's go then" Aunt Mena said and began to plod towards the stairs while I trudged behind.

Hardly did a second pass before Dad unbolted the door and shoved his head when we got to his room.

"What is it again Amanda and Mena?" Dad asked in a cold musky voice while glaring at me.

I guess he must have been in the middle of something seemly so important before we distracted him.

It was easy to tell from the look in his eyes that he was upset with us. Most times whenever Mum distracts him when he is working on something he shows off his rage by changing his countenance and becoming erroneously too cold to everyone.

I will have to do something to get him in the right mood so that he can grant us audience and listen to what we have to say and I can only do this by stepping in to speak on our behalf before Aunt Mena does.

He may be mad at anything and everyone but not to me, Amanda Edwards his daughter and darling princess so I cleared my throat, clasped my hands together and let out a sly smile then muttered in the calmest voice I do never have heard on earth,

"Dad I'm sorry we must have distracted you from work but this time, Aunt Mena here has something real important I think you will be interested in to show you"

"And what could be the so called thing Mena? " Dad asked giving her a quizzical look

"Sir... good day it's... Umm we found this on the table at the sitting room some minutes back so we thought it important to let you know of it" Aunt Mena stuttered, stretching out the red inked letter to Dad with the picture in her other hand.

"And what is the meaning of this?" Dad asked no one in particular as he casted a look of disdain at the letter and after what seemed like a thousand light years, a look of surprise took over Dad's face as I watched his eyes widened, threatening to pop out from their sockets and darted left right from side to side on the paper.

But it was penitent to know if he was afraid as I do have imagined or rather took it less seriously.

Keeping a steady gaze at him, I tilted my head left wards to glance at Aunt mena as well perhaps in a bid to decipher through her face what she maybe thinking in her mind but Aunt Mena's face was as clear as a slate and I couldn't read out meaning from it and just before I wanted to turn back my gaze to Dad, our eyes met and she let out a weary smile while I reciprocated the smile then looked away.

"Ummm...When did you say you saw this Mena?" Dad asked after a long silence have passed then sighed.

"Ummm... some minutes sir" Aunt Mena said, staring at the floor

"Where exactly?" Dad asked

"On the table in the sitting room Dad" I said calmly while Dad gave me a blank look then turned back to face Aunt Mena.

"I guess I didn't have to reply. It all way above me so I'll keep my cool and listen." I muttered then shrugged my shoulders

"Sir... we saw it on the table" Aunt Mena replied

"Ummm..." Dad sighed and started scratching his hair.

"What is that in your hands?" Dad asked peering at the picture in her hands

"Umm we actually saw this alongside the letter on the table." Aunt Mena explained

"Can I see that please" Dad demanded stretching out his hand to collect the picture

"Oh ok sir" She replied and gave it to her

Then Dad stared at the picture intently and began to soliloquize while I stared blankly at him trying to figure out what he was trying to say.

"Dad what are we going to do about this?" I said, tugging at his shirt all terrified

"Hey! calm down Amanda let me think straight" Dad growled then looked up

"Oh I'm sorry" I muttered underneath my breath then looked away.

I do better leave this place before I get punched in the face.

Everyone seems so tensed already

and I may end up causing more trouble.

"Ummm we will have to go get this filed in the police station right away" Dad said to no one in particular as he took his gaze off the picture and looked up

"Ok sir. It may help" Aunt Mena replied

"Sure it would really help but can you narrate all you saw to the cops when you are asked to?' Dad asked turning to face her

"Umm yeah... no" She stuttered, looking at me with the corner of her eyes

"Huh... what are you saying?" I asked looking surprised

"Well Amanda can you help us out. She was actually the first to see these on the table" Aunt Mena replied staring at me

" Let me get something straight here. Who amongst you saw this things first?" Dad asked raising the letter and pictures in his hands

"She did" Aunt Mena said

"I did Dad" I cooed looking at Dad

"You did Amanda? " Dad asked in shock and disbelief

"Yes Dad I did" I replied with a shrug

"And why didn't you tell me about it yourself?" Dad asked giving me a quizzical look

"Umm... I wanted to but changed my mind" I replied

"Just like that huh?" Dad muttered

" Yeah Aunt Mena have told you already so there is no need for me to repeat myself again Dad" I said solemnly

" Yeah that is true but at least you can give the cops the narrative when they ask you to right?" Dad asked peering at me

" Yeah. I can try" I added

" Alright then we will have to leave for the station right now so go get dressed" Dad said and shut the door