CHAPTER 4

Anita goes back home with her father and mother, who arrive at her school to witness her final convocation ceremony. Her mother is very happy, but her father keeps his usual non-smiling face as he drives them home. He is proud that she didn't allow her beauty to cloud her judgment and deter her from becoming successful in life. Nonetheless, he is still confused as to how she is the prettiest among all her siblings.

Even though his wife did not bear him a son, he isn't bothered about that. Their custom permits a woman to inherit her father's property, even though she is already married to another man. He sighs as he drives towards their home, which is closer to the university.

Upon arriving home, Mr. Joshua Baker drives into their simple compound and parks. Their home is a simple house, a flat, consisting of 4 bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and 5 toilets with bathrooms. Mr. Joshua is the proud owner of the house, having acquired it from the direct landowners. He parks his car and steps out while Anita and her mother, Mrs. Tonia Baker, alight next. Her sisters—Flora, Esther, Favour, Lisa, and Glory—are all inside, but none of them step out to welcome her or their parents.

Mrs. Tonia walks into the living room first while Anita follows, dragging her two suitcases. Her father remains in his car, answering a phone call.

"Mom!" Esther and Favour rush to their mom while Lisa and Glory step out next. They have separate rooms they share: Anita and Flora share one, Esther and Favour another, and Lisa and Glory share the last room, which sometimes doubles as the guest room.

"Welcome back home, Mom. How did the event go?" Favour, an 18-year-old, asks their mother. "Fine. Why don't you ask your big sister about it? She won two awards: best overall graduating student and the best in her department," Mrs. Tonia responds with a faint smile. Favour frowns. "Who cares, Mom!" she retorts.

"Shut your mouth, Favour. Anita is your big sister, and you should show her some respect!" Mrs. Tonia warned Favour. Esther quickly responds, "We don't care, Mom!"

"Esther!" Mrs. Tonia warns Esther, too. Esther rolls her eyes from where she stands by the entryway, holding the curtain.

"It's okay, Mom," Anita says, walking up to their mom and tapping her shoulder softly. But Mrs. Tonia responds, "Your father caused all this."

Mrs. Tonia almost bursts into tears. "Caused what?!" Mr. Joshua asks as he walks into the living room, while Mrs. Tonia quickly wipes off her tears.

"Nothing, I was just discussing something unimportant," Mrs. Tonia quickly walks into the kitchen while Mr. Joshua's eyes narrow at Anita, who smiles faintly at him. She isn't an albino, but her beauty is overwhelming; her dimples and chubby cheeks alone make her look angelic.

"Alright, take all these bags inside. And where are your sisters? Flora, Favour!" Mr. Joshua calls out, and they respond, "Yes Papa! Good evening, Dad. Welcome back home."

Flora walks past Anita, who's dragging her suitcases, and gives their father a welcome hug. "Assist your sister and take those suitcases inside," Mr. Joshua instructs Flora after giving her a warm hug. She bites her lower lip angrily and finally helps Anita carry her second suitcase to the room they share.

Anita remains silent as Flora carries her suitcase to the room. As Flora turns to leave, Anita finally says, "Thank you," but Flora doesn't respond. She walks out of the room and heads back to the living room to find her father sitting on the couch, removing his shoes.

"How was your day today, Flora?" Mr. Joshua asks. Just then, the rest of his daughters step out. "Father, do you remember your promise to take me to a private university?" Esther asks.

"Yes, I remember, but you still haven't passed your JAMB exams yet, and this is the fourth time you're taking the exam with your younger sister, Favour. Can't you both learn from your elder sister, Anita?"

"No, father!" Esther and Favour both respond, surprising their father.

"What has come over you girls? If you fail your JAMB exams again this year, forget about going to university. Look for a trade or handiwork to learn. I cannot waste my hard-earned money sponsoring you both through a private university when you cannot even qualify for a government university. Now leave my sight, foolish children. I'm sure you all inherited your dullness from your mother. Can't you learn from your elder sister for once? Don't you see her good grades, despite being more beautiful than you all?"

"Father!" Flora, Esther, Favour, and Lisa all exclaim sadly.

"Shut your mouths and don't bother me. I have been a good father to you all, yet you cannot be good daughters in return. Fail your exams this year again and see the other side of me!" Mr. Joshua warns, standing up from the couch. Just then, his wife steps out from the kitchen and stares at him and her five daughters in the living room. Anita is the only one in her room.

"Excuse me!" Mr. Joshua walks past his daughters and into the room he shares with his wife. He knows it is entirely his fault. He has shown more love to the rest of his daughters than to their elder sister, Anita, making her feel like an outcast. Now he's regretting it. He's also facing challenges at his office. Some missing funds from a transaction were detected under his records, and if the error isn't corrected, he's on the verge of losing his job as a banker in a government-owned bank.

His brows furrow as his wife steps into their room a few minutes later.

"Aren't you being too harsh on our daughters today?" Mrs. Tonia questions, but Mr. Joshua just glances at her and looks away. Loosening his necktie, he takes off his long-sleeve shirt and undresses.

"I'm preparing dinner; it's getting late," Mrs. Tonia informs him, but he doesn't respond as he undoes his trouser belt.

"Honey, you aren't saying anything in response?" Mrs. Tonia finally asks, and he replies, "What do you want me to say? Can't you see that I'm busy?" He walks past her and steps into the bathroom to take his bath while Mrs. Tonia sighs and shakes her head in sadness. She knows all is not well with him. He has been behaving unusually, acting happier when Anita was announced as the winner of the award for the best graduating student. He jumped up and screamed "Yes!", not minding the other parents and relatives around, standing to witness the awarding of the best graduating student. When he saw Anita approaching, his smiles and happiness faded as Anita didn't smile at them. She thought he hated her and wasn't proud of her achievement.

Mrs. Tonia smiles faintly, remembering how her husband reacted to his daughter's wins. Although the school rewards weren't much—they awarded Anita some cash and medal rewards—she believes her daughter's certificate will land her one of the highest-paying jobs in their country.

Mrs. Tonia sighs again and finally walks out of the room she shares with her husband. He's already taking his bath, and she can hear the sound of water splashing in the bathroom. She walks into the kitchen where the okra soup has already heated up. She serves it out into soup plates. Just then, Glory walks into the kitchen to assist her and to carry the soup to the dining room beside their living room.

Glory, a 14-year-old girl, is in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3).

"Mom, I want to become a business admin, just like big sister," Glory says as she carries the tray of soup in her arms and looks up at their mom.

"There's no problem with that. You should study hard as well. You have your big sister here to guide you," Mrs. Tonia smiles at her.

"Okay, Mom, is sis going to get married soon? Chika told me her big sister won't be returning home as she's already pregnant and expecting a child for her fiancé," Glory asks.

"No, Glory! Although I don't know about that, Anita will get a job first before she settles down. You know your big sis is hardworking and wants to become an independent woman first, rather than depending on a man for money," Mrs. Tonia replies.

"Oh, so Mom, do you depend on my father too for money?" Glory asks, surprising her mother.

"No, Glory! Now, that's enough conversation. Carry the soup out before it gets cold. Oh, Anita is already here to assist us," Mrs. Tonia says, smiling faintly. Glory turns to face Anita standing by the kitchen door.

Anita overhears their conversation and smiles faintly too. "Why are you standing there and staring at us? Come and assist us in serving dinner. I'm sure your father will be out soon," Mrs. Tonia says.

Anita's smile quickly fades when she hears her father's name. She doesn't like him either.