THE K1LLER’S KNIFE
The K1ller’s Knife – Episode 18
Three months later
” Jacob! Jacobbbbbbbbbbb…where is this føølïsh boy!
I heard my name being called several times but I ignored it and continued sitting on the bench at the backyard.
My hands were on my chin and I was staring into space thinking about how life has treated me unfairly.
” Jacob….!!!!! Jacob…!” I heard my name again for the umpteenth time but I remained adamant to answer.
From the tone of the voice, I already knew it was no other person than Flora. She is the one who now calls my name like I am her houseboy.
I miss mother so much. Staying with Flora has helped me better understand the saying that nothing beats the love and care from a biological mother.
It’s been exactly three months since that day father sent mother out of the house.
Amidst her pleas, father still didn’t reconsider and let her in.
Instead he bluntly told her to go with her children if she desires, that he doesn’t care about us.
Mother left with Angie after seeing that father’s mind was fully made up. I wanted to join her too since I hated father so much, but mother begged me to stay for father’s sake.
I don’t know why she keeps being considerate of father even after everything he has put her through.
The next day, I was washing the dishes when I heard father talk to Flora over the phone to meet him at their usual spot that he has found a way out.
I was wondering what he meant by that but I shrugged it off since it’s no business of mine anyways.
It was not until two weeks afterwards that Keto, Flora husband’s dëäth was announced in the church. The cause of the untimely dëäth was untraceable so I suspected that something just wasn’t right.
A date for the bμrial was fixed and exactly a week after that, Flora along with her daughter packed in with us as father’s unmarried wife.
Gosh! She’s such a shameless woman and I dislike her just the same way she dislikes me.
” Jacob!!!! So you were here all along…? Didn’t you hear me call your name….?” Flora asked in annoyance and I sighed standing up to answer her
” I heard you Flora. Any problem…?” I asked nonchalantly like I usually do
” Sometimes I wonder what’s always bringing about this arr0gance in you. Jacob do I look like I am your mate…?” Flora queried with her hands on her waist indicating tr0uble loading for me
Oh Lord, not today please. I’m seriously not ready for this woman’s drama.
Everyday she keeps bringing up new things so as to report and paint me bad in front of father. I wonder if her aim is to send me out of my father’s house too.
” I’m sorry but I did not hear you flora. As you can see…where I sat is a little far from the house” I said dismissively in order to avoid problems with her
” Oh, so I am suppose to be using a microphone right…? Why are you even sitting in the backyard in the first place…or has the house now become too small to accommodate you….?” Flora blurted out in an attempt to stir tr0uble
” That’s not it Flora. I just needed fresh air a little bit. That’s all!” I answered calmly, trying to sound responsible but Flora was bent on upsetting me
” I asked you this morning to go to the market and purchase foodstuffs but you refused with an excuse that you’ve never done so. Tell me Jacob…is there never a first time for someone or you want to turn me into a market woman because I married your father…?”
I laughed inwardly wondering which marriage she is referring to when father and her aren’t married yet. I remained composed and answered her calmly
” Flora I have never gone to the market before. Infact mother always advised me not to attempt it at this age…so I will not put myself in hårm’s way with vehicles…even father knows about it!”
” L¡ar! Your father will never agree to something like that…” Flora shouted as she then paused to inhale and exhale
She continued talking afterwards
” Let me not talk too much until your father comes back. I must tell him about this your new attitude! N0nsense!” Flora concluded and then began walking back inside the house
I wanted to sit on my seat again when flora came back almost immediately and said disdainfully
“…what do you think you are about doing…? Common! will you join me to prepare food for your father. And you better don’t let me arrive at the kitchen before you or be rest assured that your father will hear about it too! Mtcheeeew…” Flora said hissing loudly as she turned back and walked inside
” I’m not surprised!” I murmured inaudibly under my breath as I followed her into the house and from there we moved to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, I assisted in my little way by running errands for her ranging from picking the food items at where they were kept, slicing onions, pounding the pepper, and cutting the vegetables.
Soon the food was ready. I watched in silence as Flora scooped for herself and Claire who was dressed for school without bothering to scoop mine.
I wasn’t perturbed as depriving me of food isn’t really a new occurrence.
She does it most of the time especially when father is not at home.
Normally, whenever things like this happen, I simply pay a visit to mother’s place in the neighboring town. It’s there I’ll eat well and play with my siblings.
Mother opened a small kiosk and was selling vegetables with some of the money she had saved up. She hasn’t yet healed from father’s mistreatment and his marriage to Flora, but she’s coping just fine compared to the first month.
The last time I went there, she was behaving so lively and even her body was well nourished. I’m glad she’s taking care of herself for me and my siblings who love her very much.
After tidying the kitchen, I went to the general bathroom, I took my bath before going to my bedroom to get dressed.
I’m now sharing my room with Claire but each time I come inside the bedroom, it reminds me so much of Erica and Angie because I shared this room with them when they were here.
Oh, how I miss them so very much!
Erica was discharged from the hospital two months back and she has been with mother since then. I can’t wait to see her again today as well as my little Angie.
My thoughts were interrupted by the continuous bantering in the sitting room. It was as though people were quarreling and exchanging words.
I’m wondering what’s going on. What’s causing the pandemonium…? Because ever since mother left, there has been no quarrels or problems in the house because of how father adores Flora.
Or could it be that Flora and the neighbors are at it again…?
Unlike mother who was a quiet and peace loving woman, Flora is the exact opposite which gets her disliked by many including our neighbors. So it isn’t really a big deal to see them engage in serious arguments once in a while.
I continued with what I was doing but I still felt unsettled. It became obvious that the voices I was hearing came from the sitting room not outside.
Well maybe it’s Flora rebuking Claire for soiling the floor with food as she usually does. I concluded inwardly and I shrugged it off
Instead of going off, the voices became even louder.
And then it was followed by a loud shrill and thereafter sounds of falling objects.
It occurred to me that whatever was happening out there was more serious than I thought it to be
I hastened my dressing and afterwards I picked my cross bag on the bed ready to start going to the sitting room.
My plan was that after finding out what was causing the problem in the sitting room, I’ll begin on my way to mother’s place.
but what I later saw when I reached the sitting room left me startled!
It was something that I wouldn’t have believed if I was told by someone else.
(Do not take credit or Plagiarize AMAH’S HEART stories)
