“Go and claim her from her dad since she is your twin.” My mom always teased me back.
I wish I could deny not being obsessed with staring at Tolani’s picture but I was wrong. This was possibly because my older brother and only sibling, Akin attended a boarding school in far-away Enugu, which is about a thirteen-hour journey by road. Perhaps my obsession with having Tolani as my sister and companion made me feel uncomfortable in two of her several pictures that I had. Tolani’s smile seemed forced and only a keen and deep stare like mine could picture that out. I shoved it off as though nothing serious, life was never a bed of roses. We had spoken a few times over the phone through our parents’ phone since we were not allowed to own ours yet. Tolani’s biological mom was late and she lived with her dad and stepmother.
Mom and Dad were home already, Mom was in the kitchen while Dad was in the sitting room. On the sofa where I loved to sit was Tolani, dressed in a simple green Ankara gown. She turned just in time where our gaze collided and her smile at me was heartwarming. I hastened my steps towards her and held out my arms where we enveloped each other in a bear hug.
“You smell nice Debby.” Tolani complimented as she disengaged from the hug. Her dimples swept me off my feet once again.
“You don’t know how happy I am to see you T baby,” I screamed with all smiles.
My dad cleared his throat purposely to get my attention. “We are too small to be sighted, ehn Deborah Lawanson.” My dad said, purposely calling out my name in full.
“I’m sorry Dad,” I said and walked up to him where he sat, knelt as per the Yoruba culture, and greeted him.
I led Tolani to my room afterwards where an extra bed had been arranged for her to stay for the three weeks she intended to stay over in our house. She was yet to resume Junior Secondary School due to some constraints which I was not privy to.
“Your room is beautiful Debby.” Tolani complimented.
“Thank you. I hope you like it. I asked.
“I love it.” Tolani smiled.
“Here is your space, right beside me,” I said, pointing to a well-laid bed with a pillow on it. “Feel at home, anything you need, let me know.”
“Thank you, Debby, I’m grateful.”
Tolani and I spent the evening gisting and gossiping. It took repeated threats from my mom before we stepped out of the room for dinner and we were quick to revert to our talks. I was more of an extrovert as I noticed she smiled often rather than contribute verbally. It took the intervention of my dad before we slept as we threatened to continue our talks late into the night.
The next few days were fun for us, thankfully it was a weekend and my dad took us around town for sightseeing and light shopping. Tolani did not come with many clothes but since we had similar stature, I was willing to share some of my clothes with them. I enjoyed compliments from neighbors asking us if we were twins and oftentimes, I was tempted to say yes.
A week into Tolani’s stay in the house, we grew fond of each other and I realized she had become more open with me. Mom and Dad stepped out of the house after Sunday church service and Tolani and I had some girl moments. Tolani stepped into the kitchen to do some light dishes while I buried myself with Glow’s Fashion magazine we both perused earlier.
It was barely three minutes after Tolani left for the kitchen that I heard a loud and crashing noise of the breaking of ceramics. I left the magazine immediately on the bed and navigated my way to the kitchen. I saw Tolani standing over and amid broken pieces of a ceramic plate, frozen and tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Just stay right there T baby,” I said to her and picked a broom and parker which I carefully used to sweep the broken pieces away. “It’s okay T baby, you don’t have to cry. It’s just a broken dish.” I said to her as I hugged her. I was surprised to realize Tolani remained fixed where she stood, tears nonstop. I gently pushed her back into the room and made her sit on my bed while I wiped off her tears with a handkerchief. Rather than the tears abate, they flowed more freely and I realized there was more to the tears. I let Tolani cry all she wanted before probing further into why she broke down that way.
“My stepmom always finds fault in everything I do. She maltreats me when my dad is not around and makes me do all the house chores and dishes. My heart skips a beat every time I do something wrong. Today reminds me of such days. I’m sorry I broke down that way. Promise me you would not tell your dad or mine. I don’t want to ruin my dad’s happiness with my stepmom.” Tolani said, wiping off the remainder of the tears that lingered on her eyelids.
I stared at Tolani for a brief moment, unsure of the best response to soothe her. yet again, I spread my arms for her to fall into. “It’s alright T baby, you are a strong girl and I am proud of you,” I whispered into her ears.
“Dad, can I ask you for a favor, please? Promise me you’ll oblige.” I went into my dad’s room two days after Tolani broke down.
“This one that you are serious and on your knees for a favor. Shoot baby girl.” My dad said, sitting up from his supine position on the bed. My dad looked intently at me with a concerned look.
“Can Tolani continue living with us? You know I have always wanted a sister and she is like my twin. Please, Daddy.” I said and bowed my head, scared to have an outright and negative reply.
“Are you for real?” My dad asked, staring at me as though he were searching for answers.
"Yes, dad,” I replied, nodding my head vertically and severally.
“Alright, I’ll discuss it with your mother and also put a call through to my brother. Go and pray.” He said and ended chuckling after saying the latter.
I stood up and gave him a bear hug. “You are the best dad in the whole world,” I said with a smile.
“I know right? Just go and pray the other parties accept.” He waved me off as I left his room.
I didn’t disclose the request I made from my dad to Tolani. I wanted it to be a surprise if eventually it worked out. I waited the following day for my dad to inform me but he didn’t. By the third day of being intentionally humble and submissive in the house, I summoned the courage to throw my dad a direct question since i could no longer hold my apprehension.
“Dad, it’s been three days, any show?” I asked and he burst out in laughter, making me a bit confused.
“Call your mom and Tolani.” He said after his laughter subsided. I called my mom and Tolani to the sitting room. Mom sat just beside my dad while Tolani joined me in my favorite sitting spot, the Sofa which was just adjacent to where my parents sat. “Your daughter was asking me for the show as per the discussion between father and daughter. She has been unusually gentle these past few days.” He continued with a chuckle and my mom reciprocated with laughter.
My fingers were itchy just as my heartbeat raced. I didn’t dare to look at my parents or Tolani.
“Tolani, your dad has approved that you stay with us henceforth.” My dad said.
Tolani’s eyebrows widened and for a moment, those dimples I loved to see decorated her smiling face. “…But, on the condition that you will go visiting when you are on break. Okay?” My dad concluded.
I saw Tolani nod severally and her face beam with joy. We hugged each other and I heard a whisper of ‘thank you’ from her as her eyes became teary.
You have done your best to ask her to stay since staying with her stepmom was a threat. You match each other to the brim.
Thank you very much. I'm grateful
Debby is a very good friend and honestly, they are twin from heaven who came separately to the world. Its sad Tolani has been going through a time in the hands of her step mother.
Debby is a very good friend and honestly, they are twin from heaven who came separately to the world. Its sad Tolani has been going through a time in the hands of her step mother.
Debby is a very good friend and honestly, they are twin from heaven who came separately to the world. Its sad Tolani has been going through a time in the hands of her step mother.
Painfully, we have people like Tolani who absorb the hurts from others only because they do not want to hurt their loved ones. Thank you for your kind comment
You see that part of gossiping and gisting, that is what makes a friends visit memorable.