CHAPTER 3:
Unappreciative son.

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Kesi was greeted with long faces as she walked into the living room. Both father and kids sat for the early morning devotion that was held every Saturday. Well, everyone except one person.

She looked around, "Why is Yemi not here?"

"She is still in her room," Laye replied.

"Doing what?" She questioned.

Laye was about to speak, but Bubo spoke first, "Who knows? She is probably sleeping. That's all she knows how to do right."

Laye shot a look at her immediately. "What about you? Isn't eating the only thing you know how to do?"

Bubo rolled her eyes at him, "I knew it. I knew that Yemi's spokesman would talk." She
clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Before Laye had the chance to fire back, Kesi shushed him by placing a finger on her lips. Telling him she wasn't ready and didn't have enough strength for that right now.

"Let the prayers start na. I'm tired." Nimis whined. He was not happy that they cut his sleep short all because of family morning devotion.

"Bubo go and tell Yemi to come," Ben spoke for the first time since his wife entered the room. He had been busy with reading the Nigerian Tribune newspaper. It was obvious he was avoiding her after what happened last night, not even sparing her a glance.

Though he had forgiven her for what she did, he still couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye. Bubo murmured at the mention of her name. She stood up and stomped her feet to show reluctance. Though she didn't want to do it, she did anyways. She dare not disobey the head of the family. She wanted to avoid being added to Ben's hot pepper soup.

Bubo came back a few minutes later with Yemi dragging her feet behind and rubbing her aching shoulder with her hand. The harsh slap Bubo had given to her, all in the name of waking her up, still hurts. It felt like a bee sting.

"Good morning Pa and Ma," Yemi greeted in a low voice.

Everyone was shocked. She spoke for the first time.

"Morning," Both parents responded in unison.

"How are you?" Ben asked with a pleased smile on his face.

"Fine," She said.

"That's good to hear. Did you sleep well?" asked, Ben.

"Yes sah."

"Have a seat," offered, Kesi with a thin smile.

Yemi searched for an open seat next to Laye. She wanted to sit next to him, with him being her only friend and the only one who treats her like a sister. Their eyes met when she found him sitting close to Nimis on the couch. They both smiled at each other. Bubo noticed their exchange and eyed Yemi up and down.

Laye gestured with his hand asking Yemi to sit between him and Nimis. She complied and Nimis stood up and changed his position. Bubo smiled when he sat with her instead. She feeling satisfied with his actions. It wasn't the same for Yemi. Her face fell. She didn't understand why Nimis disliked her so much even without her offending him.

Laye noticed her face and whispered into her ear when others weren't looking. "He will come around when he gets used to having you here. That's how he is, you don't have to worry about him. I'm here for you."

She only smiled and blinked the tears back. She wasn't going to cry after surviving everything life has thrown at her. She didn't want to let Nimis' attitude get to her. But it did anyways.

Ben cleared his throat loudly and gave the instructions, "All eyes closed and heads bowed, let us pray..."

After the prayers, the kids engaged in their different house chores for the day.

"Can I help?" Laye asked Yemi when he got to her room and found her struggling with dressing her bed.

She nodded with a small smile indicating he should.

"First, you have to wipe away the dust from the bed. Spread your bedsheets and tuck the sheets in." He showed her how to do it while explaining it to her.

"Thank you," She said after they finished.

"Don't mention it. If you need anything else, make sure to call me." He advised.

She simply nodded in reply.

Meanwhile, Kesi was busy in the kitchen waiting for the tea water to warm. But that didn't stop her from checking the routine list for whose turn it was to wash the dishes. She took a deep breath when she saw Nimis' name written underneath it. She was sure he knew it was his turn, but he hadn't done it on purpose. Probably just to annoy her.

"Nimis!" she called.

No response.

"NIMIS!" She drawled even louder but still no response. She was sure he was nearby and didn't respond on purpose.

Kesi turned off the gas cooker and went to the living room. He was playing a race car game with his android phone.
An unexpected, heavy slap on his cheeks, caused him to jerk up
from his seat. He held his phone tightly so it will not fall off his hand to the floor. It was so dear to him and he couldn't afford to repair a cracked screen. It would cost him the monthly allowance his parents give him.

"What are you doing? The others are busy with their chores!" his enraged mother asked.

"I'm busy with my phone la," he replied with a deep frown.

"So that's the reason why you refuse to answer me or has the phone blocked your ears?"

He puckered his lips out, not answering. He had a frown that never seems to leave his face whenever it comes to his mother.

"Why haven't you washed the dishes?" She asked with a calm voice. She was trying to control her anger so she doesn't jump on him and claw his face with her
sharp nails.

"I am not a girl. My chore shouldn't be washing dishes." He said.

Kesi quirked her eyebrows and nodded her head as if to say she understood why he didn't want to wash the plates.

"Oh... I get it now. Your reason for not doing what you are expected to do is because boys aren't supposed to do such chores. Right?" Kesi asked.

"Yes." He gave the obvious answer.

"What class are you?"

"I will be in senior secondary class two by the time school resumes," he replied. Knowing
well that his mom was aware of that.

She smiled at her son's obliviousness. "So Nimis tell me as a soon to be senior prefect. In which bible verse or the Nigerian
constitution, is it written that boys shouldn't wash plates? That it's the duty of females?" She
asked with arms folded against her chest.

Instead of an audible reply, he grumbled. This only angered Kesi more. She shouted at him with twitching eyes "You better go into that kitchen and start washing
the plates right now unless you want me to take your phone."

At the mention of his phone, he ran into the kitchen without even wasting time.

"It's not necessary to be shouting this early, woman."

Ben entered the living room, buttoning his blue sleeve. Kesi turned to him at hearing his
voice.

"Well, tell your son to respect himself and be obedient so I don't have to." She defended.

He raised a brow at her, "And whose fault is it that he's disobedient?" he asked.

Her lips formed an 'O' in her surprise.

She blinked her eyes, "So you are saying it's my fault now, abi?"

"I never said that," he defended, acting like he didn't understand what she meant.

"Whenever a child is unruly, it automatically becomes the mother's fault. But if the child
does well, then the father disciplined him." She said and shook her head sideways. "I don't blame you."

"Was I born to be blamed?"

She hissed in reply and folded her arms. She knew she was too gentle with her kids. That's why they could pour their feelings out to her without holding back. But sometimes, Nimis' misbehavior was too much. Sometimes, his attitude left her wondering if he was her biological child, or if her baby had been switched at birth. He should be happy that he had a calm mother and should thank God for her existence. Many orphans would kill to have a mother like her.

Kesi watched her husband as he put on his shoes and headed for the door. Her eyes widened a little out of surprise.

She called after him, "Honey, are you not going to eat breakfast before you leave for work?"

"I am already late for work sweetie. Sorry." He said.

"Okay... Let me wrap some slices of bread for you and blue band butter." She pushed further with concern.

He faced her and placed a small peck on her forehead. "Don't stress yourself. I'll get some snacks on my way to work."

Kesi wasn't satisfied, but she covered it up with a small smile.

He left.

Immediately the door closed behind Ben with a soft thud. Followed by the sound of glass
shattering on the floor.

"Who is trying to destroy everything in my house?" Question Kesi.

She rushed into the kitchen with fear that someone got hurt. But when she saw the mess her son had made on the floor, anger shook her body. She forgot about what might have happened to him.

Nimis' stood with shock blank on his face. He had broken his mother's favorite plate. It was given to her on her wedding day. Kesi touched her chest. Wide eyes watering that looked like they would bulge out from their sockets anytime soon.

"Nimis, you broke my plate." She started, still looking at the pieces on the floor.

When he said nothing, she repeated herself.

"Nimis, YOU BROKE MY PLATE!"

The tension in the kitchen was too much for Nimis. He began to sweat.

"Mommy, it was a mistake."

Speaking was a mistake. Kesi turned and aimed her anger and frustration right on him. It was all she needed to pounce.

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