It was a beautiful day in the Summer of that year. Three little kids were playing "roll-over" on the big mattress which they had pushed down to the floor. This was one game they loved playing whenever there was no adult around to stop them from messing with the mattress.
Nwabu, Christy and Bliss were happy that the summer holidays were finally here, and they would not have to dress up and go to school even on days they did not feel like going. One would think that only kids who don't get good grades would want to dodge school. Not so with these three.
Nwabu, the eldest of the three, was a boy of eight years. Christy was a girl of same age, though her birthday comes about five weeks after Nwabu's. Bliss, who was six years old, was Nwabu's one and only sister, while Christy was the youngest sister of their mother. These three kids always emerged first position in their respective classes at the end of every term, coming home with beautiful prizes.
Nwabu and Bliss had been living with their maternal grandparents for a couple of years now. Their Dad was a soldier, often being transferred from one station to the other. He and his wife, Ada, eventually decided to allow their two children to stay with their maternal grandparents to avoid the unnecessary disruption or interruption of their education due to his frequent relocation. Perhaps, he might have preferred to let the kids stay with his own parents, but he was orphaned at a young age so we may never know.
Ada's parents were living in a cool city called Hilltop. Grandpa worked as a clerk in an Insurance Company while Grandma owned a restaurant in town. They were very strict when it came to child training, and they were not ones to spare the rod. Ada was their eldest daughter, and had two younger brothers and three younger sisters, Christy being the youngest.
Nwabu, Christy and Bliss knew how strict the adults that surrounded them were, so they never played "roll-over" with the mattress pushed to the floor. There would almost always be one or two adults at home with the children as they were never left alone at home. But what made this day different?
After some time, the three children got tired of playing and decided to pick up their story books to read. Initially, they all seemed to be enjoying their reading time until one of them spoke out.
"When are we going to have our snacks?" asked Christy. "It's almost noon, and I am feeling hungry. I don't know why Mama has not been coming home from the restaurant these days, and nobody wants to take us there to see her."
"I have been wondering why Papa has not come home for his short break yet", said Nwabu. "I have been listening to hear the sound of his motorcycle. That's why I suggested that we should put up the mattress. I didn't want him to scold us today."
"I want to see my mummy, and I want to see Grandma", sniffed Bliss. "Why has nobody come to check on us? And I am hungry."
"Okay, okay! Please, don't cry", said Nwabu. "I am sure they will soon come home. They never leave us alone for too long."
"Maybe we should stay in the balcony", Christy suggested. "We would be able to see what is happening on the street while we are waiting."
"Okay!" Nwabu and Bliss agreed. So the trio went out to sit in the balcony, hopefully waiting for their elders to come home.
A few minutes later, a taxi stopped right in front of their gate, and a young man of about 22 years alighted from it holding a small travelling bag.
"Uncle Phil! Uncle Phil!", shouted the three kids excitedly. He was the last person they expected to see at that moment because he lived and worked in a different city far away from Hilltop, and only comes home around Christmas when he is on leave.
Phil was Ada's immediate younger brother. He was always nice to the kids whenever he was around, playing with them and telling them stories. He did not forget to buy biscuits, chocolates and drinks for the three kids who welcomed him with great joy.
Not long after, Ada came home with her other siblings who had left the house early in the morning. They wore grim looks on their faces, and talked with Phil in low tones so that the three little ones could not overhear or understand what they were saying. Before long, neighbours started coming to visit as did some family friends and relatives.
One of the relatives that came visiting was Aunty Kate. She lived in Hilltop with her family, and would usually bring her three children, Ed, Rose and George over to play with Nwabu, Christy and Bliss. However, on this day, she came alone. After a while, she came outside to hug the three little children and ruffle their hair.
" How would you like to go to my house and spend some time with your cousins?", she asked. Her question was greeted with shouts of joy that escaped the mouth of the kids.
"Okay, then", she said. "My driver will take you guys right away. I will bring your clothes along when I am coming."
"Yes, aunty!", chorused the children happily.
The children ran over happily to where Aunty Kate's car was parked. They did not even notice that some of the visitors in their house were wiping tears away from their eyes as they observed them. They were already looking forward to an exciting time in Aunty Kate's house. Unknown to them, their lives would never remain the same because of an incident that had occurred earlier that day.
photo used here designed by me 