Cheers to a wonderful week. Thanks for the votes and comment so far, let's keep it up.

It was a Sunday evening in Fiyi's household, it was during dinner that her mother had called their attention that they were supposed to have a family meeting.

She was feeling much better and had even gone to the stall with her yesterday.

She took her seat opposite her mother and waited for her brother who went to hang their school uniforms in the room in readiness for school the next day.Her brother sat beside her on the three-seater as they awaited their mother to start the meeting.

“First I’d like to inform you that it is nothing to be scared about, It’s about moving this family forward.”

“Okay,” Fiyi answered skeptically.

“As you all know, we have been trying to put a certain amount of money aside for your sister's school fees.”

Even the youngest son who was in grade 8 nodded. They all knew the situation of things in their family.

“Fiyi, you remember that my customer that gave you her card?” She asked directly

“Yes I do”

“I already spoke to the woman, and she has agreed to have you work at her place for a token.”

“What do you mean by her place?” Fiyi asked confused.

“Let me finish young lady,” her mother reprimanded

“Okay ma, ” she mumbled and adjusted herself on the seat, one hand to her cheek.

“We have a lot of bills to pay and I think this is the best way to get funds, seeing that we need to pay for your school fees and pay for your brother's final exams”.

Fiyi sighed. Still waiting for permission to talk.

“It's not easy for me, but I promised your dad I was going to do this and I won't let him down. We have come too far to stop now,” she finished

“Work for her as what?” Fiyi bursted out.

“She just wants you to help with little errands around the house”.

“House help?” Her brother asked this time

“Keep quiet there.”

“Mom, I can get a better job. I am better than that. Me, somebody's house help?” she said to no one in particular pointing at herself.

“Get a better job at short notice? When we have a deadline for your school fees. You intend to waste many years of study because of pride?”

“Mom I just think I can...”

“You think, but I know.” Her mother emphasized staring directly at her.

“She is willing to pay you well. In addition, it won't affect your studies. She is aware of your status as a student and will allow you to attend lectures and still work for her”.

“Her daughter is a snob mom. The few times I have gone their house to  deliver fruits, she looks at me as if I am dirt.”

“You have no business with her darling, your business is with the mother and it is for a period of time.”

“Can I at least think about it?
I don’t get how possible it is for me to work for the mother and not have to deal with the daughter.”

“Anybody that wants to eat honey from the rocks will not mind the axe”

“Mom, " her brother cut in. "I am the man of the house, I can look for something rather than have my sister go to the woman you are talking about.”

“Shut up there, man of the house. The last time you had a D in one of your subjects, nobody could sleep in this house because of your tears.”

Fiyi smiled, it was impossible to forget that day.

“You are smiling, I am trying to help you and you are smiling here,” the brother said pointing at her.

“Mom, I need to think about this, please. I may come up with something better,” she appealed

“If you say so, but once you don't have a better idea by the end of tomorrow, I am going to tell the woman yes”.

"Mom!"

“Don't mom me, you think I like the idea of my daughter being a house help? That is the best we can get for now.
All the while you have been going round and they have been offering you peanuts that will not even feed you in school not to talk of paying your school fees.”

Fiyi just shook her head. After so many years studying in school and fuelling her dreams, this is the fate life has dealt her with. This is what life has resorted to doing to her.

Most of her father's family members deserted them immediately they buried their father and they realized they could not have access to his meager properties.

She had mates in school that knew their way. Girls that attended parties and came back with wads of cash. Maybe she should call one of them. It’s just a matter of blending with them. In this age and time, be someone's house help when she can slay her way into comfort?

She had been invited to parties severally, even escapades with the lure of money but she has never succumbed because she didn’t have a reason to maybe this is the reason she needs.

She was not bad to look at. At 5" 10, with caramel coloured skin which she rarely paid attention to , even though she was usually complimented for it. Some of her mates have said to her that she needed to work on her appearance. Wear good clothes and touch up her make up game. They added that this will compliment her looks and showcase her beauty.

The only problem she had was her conscience would not let her be.  Where would she tell her mother she found the money? Her mother trusted her to make good decisions.

In addition, she does not want to disappoint her father. This dream was for both of them.

“Fiyifoluwa!”

“Ma,” she replied

“Did you hear anything I have been saying?”

“Yes ma.”

“So, deadline is tomorrow evening, if you don’t come up with something better, I am calling her.”

“No problem.”

“Fiyi, are you sure?” Her brother asked

“Doesn’t look as if I have an option,” she shrugged stretching out her legs on the space her youngest brother vacated.

“I am thinking of talking to some of my friends maybe they can help”.

“At what age, how many of them have money of their own, are they working?”

“No now, just the normal hustle. Help people with cutting of grasses, do minor chores, learn a trade or something”.

Fiyi smiled sadly. “You can’t do that, I want you to focus on your exam and being the good boy that you are. I will come up with something”.

“I know you are doing these things so that I don’t join bad gang and all. I appreciate it sis.”

“Ehn! so you can call me sis.”

Her brother just smiled knowing that despite the fact that they teased each other everytime, the love is real.

They watched their mother walk to her bedroom and continued to talk about other things.

“Man of the house, when you are done, lock the doors and make sure the security lights are on”.

Fiyi burst out laughing. Their mother would not allow him live that down.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME. Keep the votes and comments coming.