Indoors episode 23 – 24

indoors

EPISODE 23

*

Felicia cursed her step mum in her mind for giving her such a shock. Now she had acted suspicious and that would make her step mum have more doubt about her motive.

“Well… I… I… I… I just… I… ” She thought hærd of what to say but had no clue. Her brain was empty.

“You are making me doubt you more. I am sure you are going off to see a boy. That’s why you are sneaking out like that ”

“No Mum. That’s wrong. I am not off to see a guy. I am only off to collect… to collect… to collect…”

“To collect what? Have you suddenly forgotten what you want to collect?”

“No mother. Not at all. I just want to collect my books from the driver” She lied hoping the lady buys it.

“After shaking and trembling like a leaf, you expect me to believe that lie. You are so poor in lying. How do you expect me to believe that? What the hell will a driver do with your textbooks? ” Emerald asked. Felicia scratched her hair realizing she was right. Her excuse was lame.

“No mum. Not that way. Actually, I dropped it with him because my textbooks got w-t so I wanted him to help me dry it under the sun” She explained.

“How did they get w-t? What did you do that made it get w-t? ”

“Why do you want to know? I have no time answering your questions. I really have to get them before it gets dark” Felicia asked rudely tired of lying spontaneously. She attempted to approach the exit but her step mum next warning stopped her.

“if you step out if that door, I will involve your dad in this ” She warned. Felicia stared back at her knowing trying to get past her was difficult. She rolled her eyes and decided to put up with her act.

“Report to him. What do I care? At least, I am not doing anything wrong like you. There is nothing for me to be scared of. Do it”. Emerald got shocked at her gallant attitude. She watched her walk off helpless on what else to do. The girl acted so innocent that she wasn’t really sure if to involve Mr James or not. He would only support his children as always. She felt crazy and decided to put the matter at rest. She was sure to catch the girl soon.

*

Felicia finally met up with Becky who was already very impatient.

“Where you so busy at home that it took you ten minutes to come out? ” She asked angrily.

“Don’t be angry my friend. I am so sorry. It was my step mum as usual. She got so suspicious of me and began asking me so many questions”

“I thought so but it’s okay. I snuck into your house anyway. I expect nothing better ”

“That reminds me. How did you sneak in? ”

“It’s easy. Your backyard fence was low so I jumped in”

“You what? ” Felicia asked in shock.

“I jumped in. It’s so easy na. There is no dog anyway so I have nothing to fear” She responded without any guilt.

“You love taking risks Becky. You do scare me with your super girl act”

“I am not a scardy cat Felicia. There is no good thing in fear you know ”

“What brings you here Becky? Someone might catch us talking now”

“Actually, I didn’t come here to cause trouble. I desperately wanted to speak to you about something. You know what I promised you while we were in school. I promised to teach you lots right? ” Felicia nodded recalling when she said it.

“Yes I remember. What does it have to do with now? Did you come here to teach me something or what? Are you crazy?” Felicia blasted at her with a stunned look. Was that why she went through all the stress with her aunt? Just to be taught some senseless things”

“No silly. I didn’t come here to teach you. I came here to invite you to a birthday party” She finally went straight to her point. Felicia got tensed on hearing it.

“Birthday party? No Becky. I can’t go. My dad won’t let me”

“I know he won’t but I have planned everything. The birthday will be on Tuesday next week”

“Tuesday will also be my birthday. I don’t think I want to get myself into trouble on my birthday. Look Becky, I am sorry”

“Now I see why Gregory calls you a weakling. You really are a weakling ” Becky mocked in anger.

“No! Don’t call me that”

“But you are. Accept it”

“Fine. I will follow you to this birthday party if that’s the only way to prove that I am not a weakling. How we will go is just what confuses me”

“Say no more dearies. I will do the shopping for you and all. All you have to do is sneak out if your room by 8 that evening. Then I will meet you at the backyard. We will go over to a friend’s house where I will prepare you for the party. Everyone will be there. The senior students from our school, some friends abroad…”

“Sneak out at night? You are crazy Becky. I am not going”

“Was that the only one thing you heard me say? Come on Felicia”

“I can’t sneak out of my house. I Won’t Leave for any party”

“Felicia… ”

“Try and understand Becky. I can’t do this. Sorry” She declined and walked back slowly in,side the house. Becky raised her eyebrows.

EPISODE 24

*

“Your twins have grown big and strong Lawrence! I can’t believe this ” Mr Peeps told his friend as he pulled the two kids for a tight hug. Felicia felt very uncomfortable in his arms and could smell the bad odour of his sweat. She tried catching her breath as soon as he had let them go. “You never told me your daughter looked this beautiful. I would have married her off”

“My daughter isn’t ready to get married. But thanks anyway” her dad answered with a stern look not taking that serious.

“Well, to be frank this is the first time I have seen them in years. I hærdly recognize them Lawrence. What’s wrong? Why don’t they mingle with their cousins?”

“They are serious students Peeps. They aren’t so use to playing or socializing ”

“Don’t say anything like that. Of course they are fun loving children. They are jovial and aren’t dull, boring, quiet… Right kids? ” He asked them but they were both quiet staring at their father.

“My kids were brought up not to make any friends or mingle with strangers so as they don’t get badly influenced and it’s working. They do know that if they do anything foolish, they will be in very big trouble. I am going to punish them in such a way that they would regret it their entire life” He cautioned them not bothering to take a look at them. He knew they got his hint. They both exchanged gazes.

“You are rather too harsh on them”

“No. No. I am not. I am just been careful especially with the terrible news I hear lately. I don’t want any of them to get in trouble ”

“And you think locking them at home will help? ”

“Yes. It will” He said nodding his small head as if knowing what he was doing.

*

Felicia paced around the room with her heart pounding really fast. She never realized her father would trust them so much. Thanks goodness she excused herself alongside with her brother. She would have began feeling guilty and grow the urge to repent. She knew she was doing no wrong. There was no way she could leave her only friend.

“Why do you keep pacing about like that? ”

“Because I am scared Felix. I am really scared. What if dad finds out? ” She asked hoping he never does.

“Don’t be pessimistic. He won’t find out. I am sure he won’t”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to leave Becky ”

“Calm down dear. Chill. There is no need for you to feel bad when you have done nothing wrong”

“I know I have done nothing wrong. I know. I just hope dad sees that”

“As long as we don’t tell him. We are safe”. Felicia realized her brother made sense and retreated back to the bed. Her thought went back to what Becky has told her the previous day. This got her baffled. She’d felt she could share it with her brother.

“Felix, Becky invited me to a party ” She began picking up his wristwatch which was lying on the side stool.

“Party?!” He asked with surprise. ” What party is that? ”

“It’s a birthday party coming up on Tuesday. She said she would take care of the dress and all”

“I know about the party. Psst! It’s no big deal” He told her smiling really big. .

“You know? What is the birthday party about? You is celebrating ”

“It’s my friend Blaire. She is gonna be sixteen by Tuesday. Both of you have the same dates”

“Wow! This is cool. So her parents will be throwing her the party. I feel better now ”

“Her parents aren’t in town. She will be throwing it herself but she has a simple lifestyle so I don’t expect anything simple”

“Of course. I know Blaire. Anyway, I don’t feel reluctant to go anymore. I think I will accept Becky’s offer ‘

“We will be going together. But I don’t think daddy will let us leave when it gets dark”

“As if he ever let’s us leave. Becky suggested we sneak out ”

“We can’t sneak out”

“That’s our only option”

“No it isn’t. I have another way”

“What’s that? ”

“We will bribe the gateman and make it past the gate. Simple. It’s no big deal”

“Are you sure that will work? ” She asked having doubt on that the gateman would ever accept.

“Trust me. Just leave it to me”. She nodded and yawned feeling lots better than when she woke up that morning. She strived out of the room and headed toward the store room to get an old book of hers. As she walked past the living room, she heard something which stopped her.

“I saw Lisa, your wife. She is still looking as beautiful as you left her” Mr Peeps told her father who didn’t seem to care.

“Why are you telling me?”

“She is running one of the big textile industries in the country. She is already competing with yours”

“What?! Why will she do that?”

“I don’t know but the main thing I wanted you to know now is that she is in town” Mr James squeezed his face in annoyance and furiously dropped the book he had in his hands. Felicia got very excited and rushed back to the room not waiting to break the good news to Felix.

“What suddenly made you excited? ” He wanted to know.

“Mother is back!” She broke the news to him hoping he yells out in joy but to her shock he remained in different.

“After 11 years, how do you expect me to be happy after it? ” He asked with a carefree spirit.

“Don’t talk like that Felix. She is our mother. She is in town. That s should make you happy ”

“Maybe you but it makes no difference to me. I don’t want to see her” He said adamantly and walked out.

TBC…