"Girls, we have to get going now. We don't want to keep the doctor waiting." Mrs. Osunde called out to her daughters from the living room.
Today was their bi-annual check up at their church hospital. Virginity test to be precise. Not that the check up was even necessary, the Osunde's kept a close eye on their four daughters.
The oldest, Grace, had just gotten married a little over a year ago to their pastor's only son.
Needless to say Mr. Osunde was made the happiest Father that he was still reminding his three unmarried daughters to follow their elder sister's example ten months after her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Osunde's joy knew no limit when their 'Pride', as they now called Grace, got pregnant five months after her marriage.
Their second daughter, Gloria, on the other hand had opted for culinary school and became a Chef. She was top of her class and got recruited by a big hotel in Lagos immediately after graduation.
Well, to cut the long story short, she met a very rich, very old man and got married, opened her own restaurant and is living happily with her husband. The only problem is he has two other wives and probably countless mistresses.
Their third daughter, Glynnis, had just turned twenty earning herself the right to travel to Lagos and live with her father's younger sister and her family. Glynnis was never the work hard type, she was a strong believer in Cinderella. For her, marrying a rich prince was the way to go. That was why she left for Lagos 'Where all the rich men assemble' according to her own words.
The last daughter, Ginny, had just turned eighteen. She was still considered a child so she was not allowed to leave her parent's house and watchful eyes yet. For now, all she was allowed were a few hours out of her father or mother's sight and they knew where she was at all times.
It not like she had many options of places to be other than church, the church hospital where she volunteered and seeing her friend next-door to their house.
Ginny didn't feel caged as her sister Glynnis had felt before she left for Lagos. In fact, Ginny liked her predictable daily life. No surprises or uncertainties. She liked the simple life and helping others. This to her, was a good life.
"Nissy, I can't wear this. Mom will faint and dad will combust," Ginny was saying to her sister, who was trying to push her out of their bedroom in a dress she had brought for her from Lagos.
"This is a decent dress, Ginny. It covers you from neck to ankle. Mom's calling us let's go before she comes in here and drag us by the ears," Glynnis said with a little more force on her little sister's back.
Ginny didn't want to move but at the sound of her mother's voice calling them again, she walked out reluctantly.
The dress was very beautiful, navy blue with flower designs. She loved it but she knew her father would have something to say about it.
"We are here, Mama. Let's go, we don't want to keep Mrs. Dee waiting," Glynnis was already exiting the door with her sister in tow when their father lifted up his head and cleared his throat.
'Here it comes,' thought Ginny.
Glynnis knew their father wouldn't approve of the dress because looking good was forbidden in this house. Anything that shows your curves was forbidden.
"I'll go change," Ginny offered without making any eye contact with her father. She wanted to save them all from his brutal words.
Ginny came back to a very tensely quite living room in her usual loose old woman's clothing. She was pretty sure some older women dressed better than her. This wasn't her choice of clothes but as the one with the most curves among the sisters, her father's wish was to bury her in so much clothes no one would even see her face.
"I will not have my good name spoiled by you!" her father attacked upon seeing Ginny entering the living room.
Ginny lowered her head, bracing herself for the words she had been hearing a lot from him lately.
"I will not have my child go around dressed like a prostitute making innocent men sin before God! Who's attention are you trying to gain by dressing like that? A married man? I will…"
Glynnis looked at her father with a dumbfounded expression. Never had she ever seen her father so angry about clothes.
She had expected him to be a little disapproving not go all out on her sister like she had committed a mortal sin by just wearing a beautiful dress. Their mother didn't even bother saying anything, she was always on her husband's side after all.
"Dad? Wait. Don't you think you are taking this too far? It was just a dress… with long sleeves and it reached her feet. What's so bad about it that you will say things like that to her?" Glynnis was never one to take things lying down.
Despite Ginny's efforts to make her stop, she didn't listen.
"Shut your mouth, I'm not done talking! Don't you dare interrupt me again!" Mr. Osunde snapped at his daughter, taking her by surprise. He had never raised his voice that high to her before. Little did she know that it had became a common occurrence in her younger sister's life in her absence.
Mr.Osunde brought his attention back to Ginny as he pointed at her, he said, "As for you! I will not have the devil's advocate living under my roof and eating my food so that you can go out there and break homes! If I so much as here any comment about your interaction with a man, that will be the end of our relationship. You hear me?"
"Yes, Dad."
"I do hope you are still pure, if you…hehehe… I swear to God I will kill you myself!!!" with that, he stomped off.
Glynnis watched her father as he left with a pained look. She had bought that dress for her younger sister with good intentions but she only brought her trouble. She looked at her sister who had lowered her head like a sad puppy.
"I'm so sorry, Sis. This wasn't my intention at all. I…" Glynnis hugged her sister not knowing what else to say.
"It's alright, Sis. It's not your fault, it's all this body's fault. I have been dieting but I can't seem to loose enough weight. I have to try harder," Ginny said in an even voice but she couldn't fool her sister.
Glynnis sighed as she pulled away and looked at her sister's bowed head. Though her voice was even and her body normal, Nissy knew her sister was crying. "Don't cry, Sis. I will cry too and feel even worse that I already feel about all this."
"I'm not crying."
"You can't fool me."
Ginny didn't say anything further as their mother shooed them out of the house as if nothing had happened. Nissy gave her a pained look but she didn't say anything.