Imaan (14 years old)

2011

Clad in a beige wrap dress, black heeled boots and the amazing leather jacket Daddy got me on my last birthday I shot a look at Amaani who was tying the shoelace of her white sneakers.

"I'm ready." She announced, bouncing around on the balls of her feet.

"Let's go."

This was the first time Ya Abdullah was visiting in four years and to be honest we don't know what to expect from him because a lot has changed over the years. Daddy calls us his little ladies now.

Lina has grown into the bombshell everyone knew she was going to be as a grown up, her sass and snobbery has grown tenfold too and one month ago she graduated from secondary school.

Amaani hasn't changed much, she's still the go-to girl for her usual outfits, her closet is so filled with white, lilac and sky blue t-shirts and shirts they could make one's eyes hurt. Despite all she says about Lina and I being health freaks she is one helluva neat freak.

Ya Abdullah and Ya Sadiq graduated from the academy two years ago, only Daddy got to attend their passing out ceremony because we weren't on school break but we sent all of our love to them in poems, gifts we wrapped up ourselves and after Daddy got back we went on a celebratory dinner without the graduates. One thing all four of us have in common around here is eating out.

There are two women in charge of cooking at home, we have another maid who sees to the house everyday. Only Lina has a little bit of passion for cooking, I and Amaani could make do with foods from boxes or what's available in the refrigerator. We're not lazy per se, just that we have better things to do and no one's complaining.

The two of us raced to Daddy's Ford Edge with each wanting to ride shotgun. In my heels I barely made it before Amaani's shoe came skidding off the gravel.

"Bleh, who cares about shotgun when there's so much space in the back anyways?" Amaani shrugged, that was pretense. She loves riding shotgun.

"Sore loser." I stuck my tongue out, got comfortable and took out my phone, Daddy got us each an iPhone 4s on our birthdays, mine was black and Amaani's was white. Due to the fact that I was born a month before Amaani was, we picked the date that fell in between our birthdays and celebrated on that day. That didn't mean we weren't celebrated on our actual dates, no. Our chosen date was more so our friends could celebrate with us on one day and be done with it, we also accept presents that day.

Half an hour later we were in the waiting area searching for Ya A with our eyes. We've seen pictures of him over the years and we talked over video call so many times, so the moment he came into my line of sight I gasped and pointed at him finding it hard to stand still. He looked so much older and so much taller. His grin was wide as Daddy gave him a side hug, he crouched, parted his arms and squished us into one big embrace.

When we got into the car I couldn't tell who chattered louder than the other but I know that Amaani and I competed over Ya Abdullah's attention so hard, one person's voice overshadowed the other's and vice versa, we talked and talked until Daddy suggested we relax and speak one at a time.

I went first, I told him all about our school, caught him up on all he's missed from the last time he was here with Amaani interrupting repeatedly, when it was her turn to talk to him I interrupted too because there was no way I could let her sneak into my time and not exact revenge when it was due.

At home there were "Welcome home" banners everywhere and balloons and even a cake which was baked by Lina, Amaani and I made cookies, that's where our expertise lies. We knew he was appreciative of everything because of how he kept grinning all through, we had dinner at home after which Daddy insisted we let him take a rest from our incessant talking.

We agreed, considering the journey he had but thankfully the next morning was a Saturday so as early as 7am I was knocking on Ya Abdullah's door with breakfast in a tray.

He was obviously sleeping when I went but because I was determined and had no intention of leaving anytime soon until I heard all the stories about his work, which he promised to tell me all about the last time we talked on the phone, the same day we were told he was coming to visit, I stayed.

Most times, Daddy lets us talk over Skype on his computer until we slipped it into our Saturday afternoon routine. Having Ya A around in the flesh made both I and Amaani feeling too overexcited.

True to his promise he told me stories about all the places he's been to, he told me a few stuff about his work and how dangerous it could be, that part made my stomach churn in all honesty.

"You cheater!" Amaani growled from behind us. I grinned in return knowing what she was accusing me of doing.

Last night we had an agreement of sorts, it was agreed that whoever wakes up first among us gets to spend the first half of the day with Ya Abdullah while the last to wake spends the other half. I might have turned off the alarm clock after it woke me and tiptoed my way into the bathroom to not wake her from sleep. She needs her sleep.

I have no regrets.

"Ya A, she cheated." Amaani growled louder. I took in the sight of her with her hair all over the place and her right cheek looking like it was flattened by a rolling pin and grimaced, that I did only to spite her.

"Have you looked at yourself in the mirror at all Amaani?" I teased, she scowled, glared hard at me and stomped away.

She's not one to hold grudges and neither am I, so it's no big deal that she's stomping away like a gladiator and I'm finding it all too humorous.

Ya A shook his head, a small smile was pulling at his lips as he spoke "You two are something else."

Lina's salaam turned our attention to her and in graceful steps she sat on the chair beside Ya Abdullah's. "Don't mind them, the only times they're not bickering like two old women are when they're sleeping or praying, every other time, they are competing over something. I warn you, don't let them drain all of your energy." She paused, took off her scarf and ran her hands through her hair.

"That urchin plays basketball in school, this urchin here plays football, both of them are into sports so don't let yourself argue about either sport with them. Hide any and every talent you have from them or you'll wish you never came home." She grinned devilishly.

"Excuse me Ya A, Lina here has a boyfriend." I smirked after delivering my message.

Said girl's eyes turned as large as saucers while I fought my grin away so hard. Amaani's head appeared at the doorway and she gave me a thumbs up.

Ya A turned to Lina looking not as laidback as he was just a few moments ago. I didn't feel bad one bit.

"Aren't you too young for that?" He swallowed, "You're just 17."

"I'm turning 18 next month and I'm soon taking my A-levels. Besides, it's not true. I don't have a boyfriend."

"Assalamu alaikum," Amaani walked back in wearing a goofy expression, "actually Ya A she does." She turned to me and in unison we spoke, "His name is Khaled, half Nigerian, half British."

This was the same way Daddy found out about Lina's half British boyfriend. By us blurting it out in unison after she snitched on us for painting our handprints on the wall in our room.

"Hanifah." Ya A began and we took it as our cue to leave. We got our own share for snitching on her by Ya A but Daddy made up for the little scolding we got. He got us brand new quad roller skates.

....

We thought having Ya A around was going to be like perfect. Yes we love him, yes we follow his every step like dogs on a leash attached to their owner. Yes we look up to him but he made rules, he came up with new rules and forced them on us which included covering our hair at all times, that affected Lina the most, no bangs to be seen, no ponytails to be left open while wearing baseball caps, no somersaulting with the male neighbors for Amaani, no boyfriends, the list went on and on. For me the worst of all was no leaving the house alone. I love going out on refreshing walks alone.

During the time he was around Uncle Ahmad came to visit with his wife whom we all refer to as Maama, none of their sons came with them because Ya Umar was studying/training in the Nigerian Defense Academy just like Ya A and Ya Sadiq did, Ya Maleek was in the Police Academy while Mujaheed at 18 was in his first year at university studying Medicine. I was awed by his choice.

All three of us were at our very best behaviors while they were around, our manners were impeccable as always but something about Daddy seemed off like he was preoccupied.

It was until after they left that we learnt that Daddy was getting married to Maama's younger sister whose husband had died and that the widow had a daughter that was just a year older than us. Lina didn't hide her displeasure, Amaani and I though were ecstatic to hear that.

All we cared about was a new friend or sister and a new mother.