WINNIFRED
Written By
Victoria Oreade Ilugbo.
Today is one of the days I question my luck. It was barely seven and was supposed to be a blissful morning until I heard my mother’s usual shrilly complaint from the living room, yelling why as a girl, I was good for nothing.
“Winnie!!!,” Like she always called me,
“Don’t tell me you’re still sleeping!” She started.
I could hear her voice indistinctly from my dreamland but I usually do not get up from bed until her third whine and when absolutely necessary. I mean, why is it called the holidays when I can’t sleep all day long?
After a brief moment of silence, she started again, “Winnie! Even your sister is awake but you’re not! Every reasonable female child in the neighborhood is already up, helping their parents with house chores but yours is an exemption! I always have to beg you out of bed everyday”
One would literally think she was having a conversation with a sympathetic party and also, where in all she had said, did she implore me to get up from bed?
Then came her voice again but this time, with a tremendous pitch, “Heaven knows I’m going to break your head if by the time I get to your room, you’re not out of bed!”
Okay, now was the time to wake up. I reluctantly heaved myself up from bed and flung my duvet off my almost unclad body.
My name is Winnifred Roberts, I’m fifteen years of age and I’m the only child of my mother— Well was, until we welcomed a new one a year ago. Life was pretty good as an only child with all my parents' love and care showered on me, I couldn’t have asked for more. Then, Genevieve came in and everything changed— Not for good, but for bad. I wouldn’t say she hampered ill luck into our family but from all indication, it sort of looked like it.
Outside my room, I plodded to the living room to see my mother all dressed up in a blue fitted gown, showing off her curves, and a black stiletto, like she was about going out.
“Glory!!! Madam Winnie is up!” She taunted, slinging her designers hand bag simultaneously over her right shoulder.
“Good morning, mum.” I greeted grumpily and paused momentarily to take a proper look at her before resuming, “Mummy, you’re looking sweet and gorgeous, where are you going to?”
Then her gloomy face lightened up, ravished by my praises and so, she turned around to flaunt herself with pride, “Thank you, my darling.” She grinned and facing me fully, she said. “I’m traveling to Ibadan and would most likely return in the evening, take care of the house, cook— Your father will be returning today and I don’t want him to meet the house untidy. I already bathed Genevieve and her custard is in her flask.”
“Noted mum— Just bring something for your big baby.” I stated with a wink.
“Okayyy...” She chuckled and gaited impressively out of the house.
I advanced towards the window and took a peek at how she elegantly got into her SUV after ordering the gate keeper to open the gate for her.
My mother was undoubtedly a classy woman who loves luxurious lifestyles and show offs and it stands to reason that she’s the outgoing type of woman who would trade luxuries for happiness and there! She got what she wanted. Just a month after Genevieve was birthed, we found out my father had another family overseas and In fact, my mother was only my father’s mistress. Guess what? She didn’t care, as long as she was still being taken care of, she was okay with being the tenth wife.
After she drove out of our huge compound, I plopped my lazy self down on the closest sofa to me and stretched my full length on the chair while pondering on what to wear to the Moore’s party. It wasn’t long before Genevieve began to mewl for attention from the floor where she was.
Oh dear! I thought before dragging myself up from the sofa. I fed her some custard before getting started with the house chores. My work was slowed down just because I had to tag her along with me in everything I did and it was more like she took delight in seeing me suffer. With Genevieve, I didn’t think I was going to have kids when I grow up or perhaps, I just wasn’t a girl for kids.
Around ten, I got a call from Kimberley, my best friend, telling me the welcome and birthday party respectively for Jesse and Jason would be holding around one. So basically, Jason is my long time crush and also my classmate while Jesse is his elder brother who just got back from the United States after his studies. I was ecstatically happy, knowing I was about to dress to kill. For Jason, I was ready to go the extra mile to have him notice me after six years of being classmates. Now, what to do with Genevieve? I certainly wasn’t going with her, neither do I intend to stay back just because of her. Thankfully and with the help of Kim, I got a woman to look after Genevieve while I was away.
With everything working perfectly as planned, I returned home to get prepared and spent approximately one hour dressing for the anticipated party. I got into a black strapless mini gown and a red bottom heels that my dad got me the last time he came back from overseas, and I ensured I had a full makeup and adorned my body with my mother’s exquisite jewelries, before leaving the house with my friend who had arrived thirty minutes earlier. I outshone my friend and about half of the invited guests with my appearance and wouldn’t deny noticing heads turn as I stepped into the Moore’s mansion. Plus, I also got Jason’s attention and could exactly read the patent expression on his face when he saw me arrive. Then, he waved at me which I returned with a coy smile, excited I was getting somewhere. I could confidently say the way to a guy’s heart was through his eyes. I was acting my best behavior, stealing glances at Jason while consciously laughing to the execrable pun of few of my classmates who were also present to grace the occasion. Jason was with his family which I assumed was the reason why he still hadn’t walked up to me yet. Charles, a short pompous rich kid was trying his best to get my attention but I wasn’t into him but the all rounder Jason who was everyone’s dream guy.
As luck would have it, I got tapped from behind and when I’d turn, it was Jason, looking dashingly handsome.
“Hi! Winnifred, right?” He said.
“Yes. Happy birthday!” I beamed with bright smiles, prepared to scream out yes I do.
“Thank you. You’re looking good.”
“Thanks.” I blushed, brushing my fingers through my curly wig.
“My cousin said he likes you— he would like to meet with you but he’s shy.”
Then he gestured towards a medium height guy not too far away who at that moment, smiled and waved at me.
“W-What?” I faltered, apparently disappointed.
“You don’t mind, right?” He pushed further.
“Well— yes! Why would I?” I giggled and that was it, I only dressed for nothing!
The rest of the party was plainly bullshit and I just couldn’t wait to go home. I was frothing with indignation, especially when I saw Jason laughing like he was having the best moment of his life, with one of my classmate whom from all perspectives, I was better than, no jokes.
The party lasted for five hours and eventually when it was over, I returned home to meet my father on his favorite armchair upholstered in gold velvet.
“Daddy!” I ran up to him with excitementt.
“My baby— Oho! Where are you coming from dressed so hot?”
“My friend’s party. Is mummy back?”
“Not yet, but the last time I called her, she told me she was almost home.”
We were still discussing when my mother’s car drove in after honking harshly at our gate keeper. I quickened to her room to return her jewelries and was already in mine, getting changed when Genevieve’s thought flashed my mind.
“Oh no! I’m so screwed!” I concluded before placing a call through to Kimberley who made me understand she doesn’t really know the woman but only knows she comes most often to the shop in front of her house, where I had left my younger sister after offering a five thousand naira note to her while promising to balance up when I get my sister back.
“What! Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”
“You didn’t ask...”
I had my heart in my mouth at the realization that I might have sold my sister off to a complete stranger. How was I going to face my parents to tell them that? I wasn’t even smart enough to collect the woman’s number when I handed my younger sister over to her care and I couldn’t even remember her face except that she was cross eyed.
“Winnie!” I heard my mother’s footsteps approaching my room and I knew I was in for a bigger trouble.
While fidgeting, a call came in from Kimberley who called to inform me the shop was already locked and the woman wasn’t there, “Wait till tomorrow.” She added.
“God!!!” I screamed out and my mother entered my room, straight faced.
“Where’s Genevieve?”
“Mummy— I can explain...” I gulped audibly, tears leaking from my eyelids.
“Explain what? Where’s your sister!” She blared at me and I quivered in fear.
“She, she’s...” I burst out in tears and another call came in from Kimberley.
“Hello...” I said almost immediately I picked the call.
“I found her. She’s been looking all over for us. We’re on our way to your house now.”
“Thank you.” I sobbed.
My mother still had that carnivorous look and when I hung the call, she threw her temper tantrum at me.
“Winnifred... Where’s Genevieve?” She asked implacably and I could have sworn that was the first time she’d ever say my name in full.
“Kim’s got her and they’re on their way.”
At the end of the day, when everything was over, I laid on my bed and conceded that I was after all the girl with an ill luck when my phone beeped and it was a message from Jason which read:
Hi, just thought you should know I haven’t stopped thinking about you after today and I think I like you.
“OMG!!!” My jaw dropped as I read the message repeatedly.
Nice write up
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