THREE

CHAPTER THREE

My mom's death was not only a big blow to me but my sisters too, they cried all the way back home, we didn't have a choice left with us. I had to act strong for both Melissa and Alicia they weren't supposed to see me crying it would have broken them.

As we went home there was only one thing ringing in my head, the letter my mom told me about, I was wondering what was in the letter and at the same time my head was pounding, what was I going to do with both Melissa and Alicia, they were supposed to go to school, food clothing, basic needs and my school fees too. I was in my fourth year and I only had one semester before I was done with my degree, I was taking literature, my passion for books was just something else, I hoped I found someone to take care of my kid sisters so I would just finish my exams and come to stay with them at home that was my prayer before we arrived at home.

It was almost in the night when we got home, I prepare something for us to take before I headed to my mom's bedroom, I knew I needed some time and privacy so as to peruse to what my mom had told me. We were both in the living room after eating, tried watching but my concentration was just far away, my mind had traveled back into the days when we once had a perfect family, I remembered one day when dad took us out for a treat.

"Dad, look at that giraffe!" Melissa shouted excitedly

"Dad, are you going to take us out next time?" Alicia asked 

"Of course my princess, but only on one condition" my dad replied 

"And what's that?" They both asked in unison

"If you improve in your next exam, I'm going to take you out and not only in the park but I'll take you guys out for a vacation"

"Really dad?" They asked

"Of course he's saying the Truth, all you need to do is pass your tests and that's it, and for you Dylan we want better grades remember it's only a few years before you join campus" my mom said and I just nodded

Those were the best moments of our lives before everything drastically changed

Dad started coming home late at night; he would sometimes hit my mom. My life was taking a bitter course, I remember it all happened after my dad lost his job, he was so frustrated that he started staying at home doing nothing at all, he would sometimes sleep like the whole day without coming out of his room but he never looked for any kind of a job, he was disturbed and depressed someone would clearly see that.

Dad started drinking staying out late nights, beating up my mom and I remember the day before he left, was the worst nightmare ever, he came home almost two o'clock at night, singing God knows whatever he was singing, immediately I heard his voice I knew trouble was on the way, he didn't even wait up for me to open the door for him, he nearly knocked me down on the way.

"Stupid little brat where is your sorry for a mother?" He asked drunkenly and I just kept my cool, by that time my mother head resigned from her workplace to take care of us and her health which was deteriorating day by day.

"What is it Vincent, why do you always come home this late and shouting at the top of your voice, don't you know that the kids are sleeping?"

"Don't you dare question me young woman I'll slap you so hard and stop questioning my ways" he said angrily and the next thing I heard was my mom screaming at the top of her voice, I ran to help her and my dad hit me on the head, and I blacked out, the next thing I saw in the morning was the change of the environment, I was I'm the hospital, my mom and I were both admitted at the hospital, my mom had several injuries but she was okay my two sisters were taken in by one of our neighbors and my dad was never traced till today, that's the last time I bee saw him and sometimes I thanked God I never wanted to see him again he was an epitome of a bad father.

"Dylan, Dylan!" Jeez are you even listening to me?" Melissa brought me back out of my reverie 

"Ooh sorry Melissa I had zoned out" 

" Your phone is ringing, it's Aunt Sue" she said as she handed me my phone, I pressed the receive button and placed the phone on my left ear, my head was pounding really hard I didn't know if it was a lot of thinking or stress.

"Hey auntie?" I said to her

"Hey Dylan, I'm sorry for what happened and for the loss of your mom, how are you guys doing?"

"We're good just can't still get to the terms that my mom is no more" I said and I heard my voice breaking down

"Take it easy Dylan, you have to be strong for your younger sisters, I booked an early flight and I'll be there first thing in the morning okay? Your mom was my only sister and I can't fail to come and give you guys support" she said and heaved a sigh of relief

Aunt Sue was my mom's only surviving sibling and she stayed in England for all the time I've known her I knew she didn't have a husband neither did she have kids but she was a successful business woman back in England, she was my mom's best friend, and a times when I asked my mom why she never called aunt Sue and told her about what she was going through she just assumed maybe my mom wanted to be staying for us but she was dead now and there's nothing we could do about it to bring her back to life.

"Okay auntie, we'll be waiting for you"

"Great can I talk to Melissa and Alicia please, I miss those little angels, and it’s been a while since I last saw them" she asked 

"Of course aunty, Melissa come auntie Sue wants to talk to you" I said to Melissa and handed my phone over to her.

I left for my mom's room to check for what my mom had earlier told me. I left the girls with my phone.

A few minutes later Melissa brought me back my phone it was almost in o'clock so they wished me a goodnight and proceeded to their room. 

I walked back into the living room, switched off the TV and made sure the door was locked; I then switched off the lights.

I headed straight for my mom's room once again and just before I opened the safe my phone rang, it was my boss back at work

"Hello sir?" I said respectfully

"Hello to you Dylan, I was actually calling to tell you that you should be here tomorrow as usual" 

"What! But I asked for permission, my mom just passed away and I can't make it" I said trying to think alongside him

"That's your one problem to solve Dylan, this is my work and I can't just sit here and watch you ruin my business" he said authoritatively

"But sir, I just got a misfortune, my mom just passed away I have to be there for my younger sisters plus the burial arrangements!?" I asked bewildered

"That's your own problem Dylan, tomorrow be at work the usual time, failure to do so don't even attempt to step your feet at my premises, you'll be fired", he said with a boomerang voice

"But sir..." He had already hanged up on me

I sighed and sank back on the couch; this was becoming hectic for me