Chapter 4: Returning home

Anita went back home with her parents, who had arrived at her University to witness her graduation ceremony.  

Her mother was very happy, but her father kept his usual unsmiling face as he drove them home.

Mr. Joshua was proud that Anita hadn’t let her beauty go to her head and deter her from becoming successful in life, but nonetheless, he was still confused as to why she was the prettiest of all his daughters.

Even though his wife hadn’t given him a son, he wasn’t bothered by that, as their custom permitted a woman to inherit all her father’s property, even if she was already married to another man. Still, he wondered if he was truly Anita’s biological father.

Mr. Joshua sighed as he drove toward their home, the university being close to their house in the city.

Arriving home, Mr. Joshua drove his black car into their simple compound and parked. Their home was a modest bungalow—a flat consisting of four bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and five bathrooms with toilets.

Mr. Joshua Baker owned the house, having acquired it from the direct landowners. He stepped out of the car, followed by Anita and her mother. 

Anita’s sisters—Flora, Esther, Favour, Lisa, and Glory—were all inside, but none stepped out to welcome them.

Mrs. Tonia walked into the living room first, with Anita following, dragging her boxes, while her father remained in the car, answering a phone call.

“Mom!” Esther and Favour rushed to their mother first, followed by Lisa and Glory.

They all shared separate rooms: Anita and Flora shared one, Esther and Favour another, and Lisa and Glory shared the last room, which was sometimes used as a guest room.

“Welcome back home, Mom. How did the event go?” Favour, an 18-year-old girl, asked their mother.

“Fine. Why don’t you ask your big sister about it? She won two awards—as the best overall graduating student and best in her department,” Mrs. Tonia responded with a faint smile.

Favour frowned and replied, “Who cares, Mom?”

“Shut your mouth, silly girl. Anita’s your big sister, and you should show her some respect!” Mrs. Tonia warned Favour.

Esther quickly responded, “We don’t care, Mom!”

“Esther!” Mrs. Tonia warned her too, while Esther rolled her eyes, standing by the middle door entrance and holding the curtain.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Anita walked up to their mother and tapped her softly on the shoulder.

Mrs. Tonia replied, “Your father caused all this.” She almost burst into tears, but just then Mr. Joshua walked into the living room and asked, “Caused what?”

Mrs. Tonia sniffed and quickly wiped her tears away. “Nothing. I was just discussing something unimportant.”

Mrs. Tonia quickly walked into the kitchen while Mr. Joshua’s eyes narrowed at Anita, who smiled faintly at him. 

Anita wasn’t an albino, but her beauty was striking and charming. Her dimples and chubby cheeks made her look like an angel from heaven.

“Fine, take all these bags inside. Where are your sisters? Flora, Favour!” Mr. Joshua called out, and they responded.

“Yes, Papa! Good evening, Dad. Welcome back home.”

Flora walked past Anita, who was dragging her two boxes, and gave their father a welcoming hug.

“Assist your elder sister and take those luggage inside,” Mr. Joshua instructed Flora after giving her a warm hug. Flora bit her lower lip angrily but finally helped Anita carry her second box to the room they shared.

Anita didn’t say a word to Flora, who carried the box to the room. As Flora turned to leave, Anita finally said, “Thank you,” but Flora didn’t respond and walked back to the living room to meet their father, who was sitting on the long couch taking off his shoes.

“How was your day today, Flora?” Mr. Joshua asked.

Just then, the rest of his four daughters stepped out of the kicthen.

“Father, do you remember your promise to take me to a private university?” Esther asked.

“Yes, I remember, but you still haven’t passed your JAMB exams yet. This is the fourth time you’re writing the same exam as your younger sister Favour. Can’t you both learn from your elder sister, Anita?” Mr. Joshua questioned.

“No, Father!” Esther and Favour both responded, surprising their father and making his jaw drop.

“What has come over you girls? If you fail your JAMB exams again this year, forget about going to university. Look for a trade or handiwork to learn! I cannot continue wasting my hard-earned money sponsoring you both through a private university when you can’t even qualify for a government university. Now leave my sight, silly children. I’m sure you all inherited your dullness from your mother. Can’t you learn from your elder sister for once? Don’t you see her good grades, despite her being more beautiful than you all?”

“Father!” Flora, Esther, Favour, and Lisa all exclaimed sadly.

“Shut your mouths and don’t ‘father’ me. I have been a good father to you all, yet you cannot be good daughters in return. Fail your exams again this year and see the other side of me!” Mr. Joshua warned, standing up from the couch.

Just then, his wife stepped out of the kitchen and stared at him and their five daughters in the living room, while Anita remained in her room.

“Excuse me!” Mr. Joshua walked past his daughters and went into the room he shared with his wife, knowing it was entirely his fault. He had shown more love to the rest of his daughters than to their senior sister, Anita, making her look like an outcast. Now he was regretting it all.

He was also facing challenges at his office, as some funds were missing from transactions under his records. If the error wasn’t corrected, he was on the verge of losing his job as a banker in a government-owned bank.

His brows furrowed as his wife entered their room a few minutes later.

“Aren’t you being too harsh on our daughters today?” Mrs. Tonia asked, but Mr. Joshua only glanced at her without responding, staring away. Loosening his necktie, he took off his long-sleeve shirt.

“I’m preparing dinner; it’s already getting late,” Mrs. Tonia informed him, but he still didn’t respond as he removed his trouser belt.

“Honey, aren’t you going to say anything?” Mrs. Tonia finally asked.

“What do you want me to say? Can’t you see I’m busy?” he replied.

Mr. Joshua walked past his wife and stepped into the bathroom to take a bath, while Mrs. Tonia sighed and shook her head sadly. She knew all wasn’t well with him, as he had been behaving unusually.

 He had even acted happier when Anita was announced as the winner of two prestigious awards. He had jumped up happily and screamed “Yes!” without minding the other parents and relatives around. 

But when he saw Anita approaching, his smile and happiness faded, as Anita didn’t smile back, thinking he hated her and wasn’t proud of her achievement.

Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly, remembering how her husband had reacted to their eldest daughter’s wins. Although the university rewards weren’t much—they only awarded Anita some cash and medals—Mrs. Tonia believed her first daughter’s certificate would get her one of the highest-paying jobs in their country.

Finally, Mrs. Tonia left the room she shared with her husband, who was already taking a bath, the sound of water splashing audible from the bathroom.

She walked into the kitchen, where the okro soup she was preparing had already heated a little. She served it onto different soup plates.

Just then, Glory walked into the kitchen to assist her and carry the plates to the dining room beside the living room.

Glory was a 14-year-old girl, and the children were spaced about two years apart. Glory was still in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3).

“Mom, I want to become a business administrator like my big sister, Anita,” Glory said as she carried the tray of soup in her arms and looked up at their mother.

“There’s no problem with that, Glory. You should study hard as well. You have your big sister here to guide you,” Mrs. Tonia smiled at her youngest daughter.

“Okay, Mom. Is Big sis going to marry soon? Chika told me her big sister won’t be returning home this summer because she’s already pregnant and expecting a child for her fiancé,” Glory asked.

“No, Glory! Although I don’t know about that yet, Anita will get a job first before she settles down. You know your big sister is hardworking and wants to become an independent woman instead of depending on a man for money,” Mrs. Tonia replied.

“Oh, so Mom, do you depend on our father for money?” Glory inquired, surprising her mother.

“No, Glory! Now that’s enough of the conversation. Carry the soup out before it gets cold. Oh, Anita is already here to help us,” Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly.

Glory turned to face Anita, who was standing by the kitchen door.

Anita overheard their conversation and smiled faintly.

“Why are you standing there staring at us? Come help us serve dinner. I’m sure your father will be out soon,” Mrs. Tonia said, but Anita’s smile quickly faded as she heard her father’s name and thought of him with dislike.