Chapter 5: The fight

Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly at Anita, as Anita made way for Glory to pass with the tray of soup in her hands. 

Glory walked out of the kicthen, while Anita entered into the kitchen without uttering a word to her mother, but her face held a great sorrow that her mother understood well.

“Anita,” Mrs. Tonia called softly.

“What is it, Mom?” Anita asked as she walked beside her mother.

“I want you to know that your father really loves you, just like the rest of your siblings, and isn’t against your success,” Mrs. Tonia replied, holding Anita’s hand in hers.

“Hmph,” Anita sighed.

“I know, Mom, but I don’t care about that. If Dad likes me, fine; if he doesn’t, fine. I will always see him as my father, and that’s all,” Anita said.

“Anita,” Mrs. Tonia began.

“Mom, where’s the fufu?!” Flora stepped into the kitchen and interrupted them, looking at Anita before walking to the kitchen cabinet to meet their mother.

“Mom, why are you holding Anita's hand and talking to her? Are you begging her for something?” Flora asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“No, Flora… I’m only advising Anita,” Mrs. Tonia replied, staring at Flora with a smile.

Flora frowned and replied, “I don’t care, Mom. That’s beside the point. I came here for fufu since Glory only served us soup without fufu. Where’s the fufu?”

“It’s over there, Flora; check the chair beside you,” Mrs. Tonia responded. Flora turned, spotted the fufu, picked it up, and walked out of the kitchen, leaving them alone.

“Like I was advising you, Anita, don’t hold a grudge in your heart against your father, okay? You’ll never get another replacement for him. He’s your father, and I swear on my life,” Mrs. Tonia said.

“Mom…” Anita frowned.

“That’s not necessary. Let’s go eat first, as I still have some work to do and calls to make to Temisa to see if she has gotten home too,” Anita added.

“Okay.” Mrs. Tonia finally let go of Anita’s hand. Anita walked to the sink to wash her hands in the kitchen basin, then stepped out to join the rest of the family for dinner. Their father finally walked out too, silent as he sat and ate the delicious okro soup his wife had made.

The dining hall was quiet. After dinner, Glory was the first to finish. She stood up, cleared her plate, and walked to the room Anita and Flora shared to wait for Anita, wanting to discuss something with her.

Later, the rest of the family finished, and Lisa cleared all the plates to the kitchen. It was her turn to wash the dishes, sharing the duty weekly with Glory. 

Anita walked back to the room she shared with Flora and found Glory standing inside.

“Glory! What are you doing here, baby sis?” Anita asked in surprise as she stepped in and sat on the bed she shared with Flora.

“I came here to talk with you, big sis,” Glory replied. Anita stared at her for a moment. Her baby sister had indeed grown and was asking more advanced questions than the little ten-year-old she had left before going to university.

“So, tell me, what do you want to discuss?” Anita asked. As Glory was about to reply, Flora stepped in coldly.

“What are you doing here, Glory? Go back to your room now!” Flora commanded.

“No, Flora, let her be. We have something to discuss. As you can see, I just returned,” Anita replied, but Flora flared up.

“I wasn’t speaking to you. Stay out of this!”

“Meaning?” Anita stood up from the bed, crossing her arms as she faced Flora.

“I’ve been keeping quiet for you, Flora. What do you mean you’re not talking to me?” Anita asked, staring back coldly.

“You heard me right. I have no business with white witches. Now, Glory, leave. I want to rest,” Flora repeated.

Anita smirked and sat back on the bed.

“Tell me, Glory, what do you want to ask?” Anita asked, opening her black box to remove her laptop and phone. Glory looked confused, caught between Anita and Flora, not liking their quarrel over her.

“Glory, leave!” Flora commanded again and walked closer to drag her out.

“Don’t you dare touch her!” Anita warned, opening her box and placing her laptop and phone on the bed.

“Or what? What will you do?” Flora challenged.

“Step away, or I swear I’ll stop you!” Anita warned.

“No, big sisters, I’m leaving. I’ll ask you later,” Glory nervously said.

“No, Glory!” Anita glanced at her, and Glory shivered.

“Step away now, Flora! If you want to rest, the bed is over there. Move away from my conversation with Glory!” Anita warned. 

Flora stared angrily. Anita was slim with a sexy, curvy waist and large breasts, while Flora was taller, chubbier, and feeling she could overpower Anita.

“And what if I don’t?” Flora quickly walked toward Glory and grabbed her arm to drag her out, but Anita wouldn’t allow such disrespect.

Anita stood and pounced on Flora, grabbing her hair and slapping her dark face multiple times, not giving Flora a chance to breathe. The two engaged in a fight.

“What’s going on here?!” Mr. Joshua questioned as he stepped into his eldest daughter’s room, forcing them to separate.

“Father, she started it!” Flora pointed at Anita. 

Anita sighed heavily and adjusted her clothes. Mr. Joshua had always known Anita as someone who didn’t fight, so he wondered what had prompted this.

He looked at Glory, and just then the rest of his daughters and his wife rushed into the room.

“What happened, Father?!” they asked him, as they entered, staring from Anita to Flora, who was breathing heavily, and to Glory, who looked worried.

“What happened, Glory?” Mr. Joshua asked.

“Father, I came here to talk with Aunt Anita, but Flora came in and ordered me to leave. Aunt Anita refused, Flora insisted, and the fight started,” Glory explained.

“Flora, why did you ask Glory to leave when Anita was still talking to her?” Mr. Joshua asked coldly.

 Flora’s cheek was swollen, and Anita’s red cheek was more visible. But Flora was crying, wanting her father’s support.

“Father, Anita slapped me first!” Flora pointed at Anita.

“I didn’t ask that. I asked why you sent Glory away,” Mr. Joshua said.

“I want to sleep, and I can’t if they’re discussing,” Flora replied, crying.

“Hmmm…” Mr. Joshua hummed, knowing it was all his fault. He warned, “Let today be the last time I hear any disrespect from any of you girls toward your big sister, Anita. If it happens again, you’ll have me to contend with. Now, Flora, pack your bags. You’ll move to share a room with Lisa, while Glory will start sharing this room with Anita from today. Any more complaints, and I’ll deal with you.”

“Father!” Flora exclaimed, but Mr. Joshua had already left.

“You caused all this, Flora. Why disrespect your big sister?” Mrs. Tonia asked, but Flora frowned.

“Mom, are you also picking Anita’s side? Is it because she won two stupid awards?” Flora asked.

“Shut your mouth, Flora. Aren’t you ashamed? Last session you had carry-overs, yet you can’t study or learn from your big sister. All you know is bad-mouthing,” Mrs. Tonia retorted.

“Mom!” Flora broke into sobs, while the rest of her sisters frowned and crossed their arms angrily.

“Now apologize to Anita before you start packing!” Mrs. Tonia instructed.

“I won’t, Mother,” Flora refused.

“And I insist. Otherwise, you’ll have me to contend with!” Mrs. Tonia warned. Flora was speechless, staring from their mother to her siblings and to Anita, who sat on the bed opening her laptop and waiting for it to boot. Flora swallowed and looked back at their mother.

“No, Mother!” Flora exclaimed. Anita finally looked at them.

“It’s okay, Mom. I don’t need Flora's apology,” Anita said, typing her laptop password.

“No, Anita. Flora must apologize, or she’ll cease being my daughter from today,” Mrs. Tonia insisted.

“What? Mom!” they all exclaimed in shock. Mrs. Tonia turned to face them.

“Yes, mark it as my warning from today onwards. I can disown and cut ties with you all if you disobey me. Now, Flora, apologize!” Mrs. Tonia insisted.

Flora stared at Anita sitting on the bed and mumbled, “I’m sorry, Anita.”

“Say it louder,” Mrs. Tonia said.

“Mom!” Flora looked back at her mother.

“Now!” Mrs. Tonia was serious.

“Fine. I’m sorry, Anita. Please forgive me,” Flora pleaded.

“It’s okay, Flora. You can leave,” Anita replied without shifting her focus from her laptop.

Flora immediately packed her clothes and dragged her bag out of the room harshly, leaving the rest speechless as she left.