it was already noon when I woke up the next day. OMG!!! I jumped out of bed and ran straight to the bathroom. I never thought I could sleep that long. I got dressed and went to the kitchen. Grandma was already there. Good afternoon ma. I greeted her. oh you are finally awake, she said. your lunch is ready. Go and sit down at the table and I'll bring it.
thanks grandma, I told her.
I went to the living room and saw my sister and brother playing monopoly on the carpet, laughing and smiling.
what's going on? I thought. Hey guys, I interrupted them
Anna, you are finally awake. we are just playing monopoly. you can join us if you like, Mike said. Jessica ignored me completely.
nah, I'm good. Grandma came in with the food, wow it looked so nice. it was Jollof rice with chicken and coleslaw.
wow, Grandma, it looks amazing.
thanks Honey, she replied
I went to the table and sat down. where is mum? I asked.
she went out to settle some work stuff and get school registered for you guys.
school!!! ? I even forgot there was even something like that.
I picked up my cutlery and took a bite, it was delicious. I loved it so much.
wow, Grandma, you have to teach me how to cook like this.
she laughed as she turned around to leave, I have a lot to teach you and you have plenty of time to learn.
after eating, I took my plates to the kitchen to wash. I went back to my room and picked up my phone. I started scrolling through social media.
I really miss sports, it's been a while I played.
I fell asleep soon after.
I felt someone shaking me and I jerked awake. it was Mike.
wake up sleepy head, it's time for dinner.
wow, so fast, where had the time gone?
I followed him to the dinning room. mum was already back.
hey mum, I greeted her.
hey sweetie, she replied. how was your day? it was cool, I answered her.
Dinner was baked potatoes and beans. I picked up my cutlery to start eating but nobody followed.
what's wrong? I asked. we have to say grace first, Mike answered.
who's grace and why do we have to say her name? I asked.
all of them burst into laughter. I could feel my cheeks burning red from embarrassment.
Grace is a prayer I usually offer before eating our meals and doing virtually anything. it's praying to God to help and guide you and also to thank him for what he has done.
ohhh, I muttered, shaking my head slowly. I didn't know anything about Church, mum and dad weren't religious fanatics. I just grew up knowing there was God in heaven and I hated him for taking my father away from me when he had the power to do something to save him.
we all held hands and Grandma said grace. I glued my lips shut and didn't even bother attempting to join them in their Chorus amen. After we were done, we started eating.
I have some announcements to make, mum said. All eyes turned to her. I was able to find a school for you children that was kind enough to accept you in the middle of the school year but you have to work very hard and make up your grades. the name of the school is " Atlanta high school". it's a public school. we all said nothing and kept on eating.
the second announcement is that i got a job with a company, I'll start tomorrow. I work from Mondays to Fridays 8am to 7pm.
our eyes lit up with delight. congratulations mum, we all told her. I'm so proud of you, I told her. thank you sweetie, she replied.
About school, She started. Argh!!! we all groaned. Mum burst into laughter. You guys are going to get an education whether you like it or not. you are even resuming tomorrow. Ahh!!! we all gasped. you can't be serious, we chorused. I'm damn serious, mum replied.
Grandma was just smiling, she must have been in on it already.
since you guys will be going together, you will take the car and I'll be going by public transport. It's just a 45minutes drive from here. It's on the road, there's no way you can miss it. school starts by 8am.
come on mum, Jessica whined.
I've made up my mind, she said as she stood up and went to her room.
Silence enveloped the entire table and one by one we finished our meals and went to our respective rooms.
high school?! I was going back to high school. it was a place of torture for me. i didn't fit in anywhere and I was scared that they would find out what a weirdo I was and avoid me. I raided my closet and found some clothes to wear. I wonder what is their style here. In Georgia, the weather was always a bit hot so we were mostly dressed in summer clothes. But Atlanta feels a bit cooler so I chose a pair of jeans, a long sleeve striped shirt and a hoodie with one of my pair of Converses. when I was finally done preparing everything, It was already 11pm. I was very thirsty. I went to the kitchen to get it but I heard whispers so I hid behind the door.
I heard mum saying to Grandma, " the one I'm most worried about is Anna, ever since Derrick died, she didn't even cry once. I'm scared that she is just bottling up all her emotions in and one day it's going to consume her."
Grandma took her in her arms, everything is going to be fine, don't worry.
I turned around and snuck back to my room.
it wasn't that I was bottling all my emotions in, it was that I've forgotten how to feel them.