"Dude, let's play."
No matter how many times he said he wasn't interested, the guy was always on his case. He texted, called, showed up unannounced, bought and downloaded games. It was getting irritating. Sooner or later he'd have to tell him off, but then his mum would eat him up for it. He had to figure out a way of making this guy stop pestering him without making it look like he had done it.
"Eric! Your friend's here."
"I'm coming."
He hated him, always interrupting his sleep or peace or something he would rather be doing than play with him. He could think of a hundred things he would rather be doing right now than play with Tyler.
When he heard Mrs Kisakye calling Eric, he knew he had struck a nerve. He wanted to turn around and go back home, but then remembered what Tiana had told him and picked up his console. He would keep on irritating Eric until he snapped. That was what he was instructed to do.
"Tyler, I told you I don't want to play. What's your problem?"
"I'm actually here to talk. Sit down and grab a console."
"What the hell....?"
He sat down and decided he would strip himself of this guy today, once and for all.
A couple of years before.....
There was no more chicken on the table and none in the fridge. The kids wanted more, and she didn't even realise how much of it they had eaten before she actually started checking. She would have to send someone to get more chicken while the kids were distracted with the games and cake.
"I absolutely hate working alone. You'd think I have clones doing all my extra work for me."
She called her sister, hoping that maybe she could help her but that proved futile. She would have to do it herself, again. She placed an order for some KFC using her Jumia app and told the delivery guy to come in through the back. She didn't like giving the kids junk food, she had wanted them to have home-cooked meals so that they could savour it but again, she was disappointed by the people she called siblings. The chicken arrived after twenty minutes, she served it and they all enjoyed it. Everything was going well until her three-year-old daughter walked up to her and whispered "Mommy, thank you for getting us KFC." She was stunned.
#What was it with kids these days and having higher-than-normal IQ levels?
Present Day....
"Tiana, come play with your sister. I need to work."
As annoyed as she was for her video call being interrupted, she stood up and went and picked Linda from her mum. She took her to the kitchen and placed her on the counter, knowing full well the child was scared of heights. She warmed some milk while pouring some cereal into a bowl, and gave it to her when it was ready. They had a mutual understanding; do not disturb me and I will not hit you. Tyler walked in and found them, Linda eating her cereal and Tiana texting on her phone.
"I am yet to understand how you do that."
"Do what?"
"Get her to sit still and not litter the place when she's eating."
"It's a sister thing, you wouldn't understand. Can you take over for me when she's done? I need to call someone."
"Sure. Just let her finish first."
"Oh, don't play with her. I gave her that so she can fall asleep. Make sure she goes to the toilet first before she goes to bed, otherwise you'll wash her beddings, sheets and all."
"uhh...okay."
"Cool! Bye!"
She walked out and went back to her room. He watched her go and waited and prayed she would bang her head while texting. But much to his disappointment, she didn't. he turned back to his baby sister and saw that she had finished her cereal and was wiping her lips dry with her hankie. She was way too lady-like for her age and it sort of irritated him.
"Does baby Lin want to play?"
"Play what?"
"Cards?"
"Otay!"
He helped her off the counter and lead her to his room. He loved his little sister, she was the only one who actually ever made time for him in this house. The other females (his mother and twin) usually just asked him to do one thing or the other, but never really bothered to spend some time with him. It had hurt him until he became numb to the pain. He would focus on this one and hold on to the hope that she won't grow up to be like her sister. They played cards for half an hour and when she started yawning, he put her to bed. she looked so pristine and chubby while she was asleep. He watched her until he fell asleep too.
"Where's your sister?"
"She's with Tyler."
Zoey closed the door and went into Tyler's room. They were both asleep, Linda on the bed and Tyler on the floor with his head next to hers. She looked at them both and smiled. She was happy they were getting along, if only Tiana would spend more time with her. She picked up Linda, tapped Tyler and told him to get into bed. After he had settled in and covered himself, she switched off the lights and closed the door. She went to her room and let Linda down in her crib. After she had freshened up and changed into her nightwear, she got into bed. The cold empty half of the bed next to her stared at her. She touched the pillow, and then drew it closer to her and hugged it. She never thought she would have to raise the kids on her own, much less have an absentee husband. He wasn't even her husband yet. They had just finished the traditional introduction and he had insisted she wait for a while before they got married. "I paid your bride price, and both our parents know we're together. You needn't worry about anything. We'll get married in our own time." Fifteen years down the road and he was still giving the same excuse. Now he went on trips and never came back. He never said where he was going, or when he would be back. He had been gone for three years and nobody knew where he was, he hadn't even made an effort to get in touch. She suddenly remembered her brother's words,
"Do not tolerate him, sis. No one gets played like an understanding girlfriend."
"I'm not his `girlfriend`. I'm his fiancée, remember? He came home. You were there."
"As long as he hasn't put a ring on you, he's not bound to you for life. That makes you his girlfriend. I'm telling, you either reel him in, or somebody else does."
She suddenly sat upright, reached for her phone and dialled a number she didn't think she still had.
"You had better have a good reason for waking me up right now. What is it?"
"I need to talk to you. Can we meet?"
"Yeah sure. I'll call you tomorrow. Now leave me alone."
When she hung up, she put the phone down and returned to her position. Noticing the pillow she was hugging, she put it back in its place and stared at it for a while. When she was done, she switched off the light and lay her head on her own pillow. She stared at the ceiling as the wheels in her head were turning. She had to think of something and she had to think of it fast.
No one gets played like an understanding girlfriend.