CHAPTER TWO
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Friday morning, I woke up early and got the children ready for school. This has become part of my morning routine, wake the girls up, bathe them, get their breakfast ready & drop them off at school.
Then afterwards I head straight for work, I am a teacher by profession, I teach the grade sevens. Clarence won’t be coming back for work she sent Tasha a text and told her to find someone else.
I don’t blame her for quitting, my wife is unbearable, she can talk for days and she doesn’t whose feelings she hurts in the process, she treated that poor girl like trash and made her feel worthless.
I am making breakfast when the girls come downstairs, Tailor looks furious, she is not a morning person, waking her up every morning is a struggle, she cries and whines the whole time.
‘Daddy can you fix my hair?’ Talia asks
‘Of course darling,’ I respond as I pick her hair up and put in on a pony tail.
‘Breakfast is ready,’ I announce after a while.
I set the muffins in front of them and then I put the coffee next to each of them.
‘Thank you daddy,’ they say in unison.
‘You are welcome.’
I pull a seat next to Tailor and sit down we eat our breakfast in silence. Tasha is quiet strict about her table manners, she doesn’t allow anyone to talk while eating, I guess we are all used to eating in silence now.
After breakfast, the girls grab their bags and we rush out of the house, they get into the passenger seat while I go round and climb into the driver’s seat. I start the car and drive out immediately.
When we get to the school, I kiss the girls goodbye as they head to their separate classrooms. I get back into my car and proceed down the road into town, just quickly enough to avoid the usual daily traffic.
I pull up at my usual parking spot, grab my bag and step out of the car. I immediately head towards my class. I walk into the class full of chattering and laughing.
As I walk to my table, my footsteps echo on the tiled floor catching the attention of my pupils and they keep quiet. I put my bag on the table, open it and remove some books.
‘Good morning class,’ I greet
They rise to their feet, ‘Good morning.’
‘How are you?’
‘We are fine thank you and how are you?’
‘I am fine, sit down.’
‘Thank you sir.’
With that, they all sit down. I ask one of the girls to pray for us before we begin our lessons, as soon as we say Amen, the bell rings indicating first period.
‘Do we all have our home work books ready?’ I ask
‘Yes.’
I go round colleting the books after I collect all of them I place them on my desk. I stand in front of the class room and start explaining the first lesson of the day.
The day flies by so fast and before I know it, it’s time knock off.
The pupils stand up and start packing their belongings as I walk out of the classroom, I leave some books in the staff room before I say bye to some of my colleagues and march out.
‘Fred!’
I turn to find Anna running after me, Anna is and I have been friends more than five years.
‘Buddy,’ I smile at her.
‘Where are you rushing too?’ she asks
‘I have to get the kids from school I am even late as we speak.’
She shakes her head and I know what she is about to say.
‘Let’s just leave Tasha out of this,’ I say
‘I didn’t say anything.’
‘I know you were about to say something ill of her.’
She scratches her head, ‘Any chance getting a new house help?’
‘Nop.’
‘SO you are officially the maid,’ she laughs
‘Yep.’
‘I have a friend that has a cousin, who is in desperate need of a job.’
‘Okay.’
‘So what do you say?’
‘Let her come home tomorrow, we can interview her.’
‘Sure.’
‘I will see you tomorrow.’
‘Say hi to the Bambinos for me.’
‘I will.’
When I arrive at the school, the girls are waiting for me at the front most of the pupils have left.
‘Daddy!’ Tailor squeals hugging my leg
I scoop her up and she crawls into my shoulder till she gets to the top.
‘How was school?’ I ask Talia
She yawns loudly, ‘Hectic daddy, we did long division today in Math and I got two wrong, it’s so frustrating.’
‘We will go through it when we get home.’
‘Okay.’
Once in the car, Tailor begins to hum to herself while happily kicking her feet in rhythm with the tune.
‘Someone is in happy mood?’ I say looking back at her through the mirror.
‘It’s been a good day,’ she says and I burst out laughing.
‘We thank God.’
We get home a few minutes after 18 and the girls rush into the house, I carry their bags and run after them. Then I change their clothes & give them something to eat before I start cleaning the house.
By the time it’s 19, my wife is not yet back home and I am exhausted, I order us some Pizza and as we wait, I help the girls with their home work. When the Pizza finally gets delivered, I set the table and we sit to eat.
Tasha walks into the house just as we finish eating.
‘Mummy!’ the girls run up to her
After a couple of quick hugs and kisses, they rush towards their bedroom to brush their teeth and prepare for bed.
‘Hey,’ I walk towards her and kiss her forehead.
‘Hey.’
‘Rough day?’
She yawns, ‘Yes.’
I get her hand bag from her and walk her to our room, she throws herself on the bed and I slip her shoes off her feet. She closes her eyes as I stroke down her ankles and around her foot to press into the arch.
I slowly work out the ache in her foot, stroking, probing and pressing.
‘Feels good doesn’t it?’ I ask
She gives a soft sigh.
‘How was your day?’ I ask
‘Busy as usual. What have you cooked?’
‘Didn’t have time to cook, I just ordered pizza.’
Her eyes snap open, ‘Pizza? You fed my children Pizza? What happened to healthy home cooked meals?’
I shrug, ‘I didn’t have time to prepare anything.’
She pushes me and stands up, ‘What time did you leave work?’ she enquires.
’16: 20,’ I respond.
‘Your class ends at116:00, why did you leave school at 16:20? What were you doing in those twenty minutes?’
‘Well, I had a mini discussion with Anna.’
‘Anna again, haven’t I told you I don’t want you associating with that woman?’
‘She is my friend.’
‘I don’t care if she is your friend,’ she snaps, ‘you must cut off all ties with her, you are a married woman what do you have in common with an old single woman?’
‘I don’t want to fight with you, just let this go.’
‘I will not let this go, you have to tell me why you are so bent on being friends with that woman? Have you been sleeping with her?’
‘My God Tasha,’ I shake my head.
‘Don’t take me for a fool Fred,’ she grabs my shirt roughly and holds it.
‘Mummy,’ the door creaks open and the girls walk into our room.
Tasha let’s me go instantly.
‘Yes sweethearts,’ she smiles at them
‘Can you read us a story?’ they ask
‘Sure my darlings let me just change into something comfortable, go to your room and I will oin you soon.’
‘Okay.’
They walk out happily.
She undresses and changes into her yellow pajamas.
‘This is not over,’ she says before she walks out of the room.
**