Sharp Tongue

Episode 12

Sheila left the library and walked back to
her hostle. She needed a warm bath and
something to eat. Something good, delicious and
relishing.

She felt like indulging herself. She was in no
mood to cook. She glanced at her wrist
watch, it was 6 p.m. Some of the restaurants on
campus would have closed. She had la!d out plans on how she would spend her money. She would be drilling a hole in her allowance if she
decided to leave the campus and eat out. If only her parents would increase her allowance. Her phone vibrated, she pulled it out of one of her blue jeans trouser pockets.

It was her father. Why was he calling? She
had spoken with her parents two nights ago.
She wondered why her dad was calling.
Probably he wanted to inform her that they have decided to increase the money they give her monthly.

Wishful thinking. Her parents were not
ready to increase her allowance anytime soon. She pressed the answer key.
“Hello, Dad good evening.”
“Evening pumpkin, how are you doing?”
“Okay… ”

“Are you free tonight?”
A frown creased her brow, now what? If
they want her to come home for whatever
reason, there had be a catch, preferably in cash. “It depends,” she heard her father chuckle. May be it was high time she stopped going home every weekend. That was one of the
disadvantages of schooling close to home. She was now a big girl and would be twenty soon. Once a month was okay, except when she needed something.

She would discuss it with them during the
weekend.

“Baby girl… Are you there?”

His voice pierced through here thoughts,
“Hmmm… ”
“Sheila… ”
“Yes… Yes dad.”

“Your mother and I are trying out a new
Chinese restaurant, we thought you might like… ”

“Chinese restaurant! Tonight?”
“Yes, tonight.”

“Fantastic. I am free! I am free! I am
coming home straight away.”

“Hold your horses girl. We will come and
pick you up.”

“Great! Fantastic! Thanks dad, you are the
best!”

Her father laughed and hang up. Sheila half
ran and half walked the rest of the way to her
hostle.

Free dinner! That was extra cash for her.
No need to touch her dwindling allowance. That was the best news she had heard that week. It was so cool being an only child. Although,
sometimes she wished she had a sibling or two, but most times,
she saw the benefits of being an only child.
Her parents and all they had were at her beck
and call.

xxxxxxx
John led his wife and daughter into the
Chinese restaurant. They found a table close to the window. They settled down and made their
orders.

“Can you imagine the crowd in this place?”
Eureka looked around. All the tables were
almost taken.

“Lagosians and food,” John grinned.
“We are here for the same reasons.”
Her parents turned to look at her, trust their
daughter to hit the nail on the head. A
waiter brought their meal and another arranged
their drinks on the round table.

“Chinese food… always fresh,” Sheila picked
up her cutlery and dug into her food.

“Did you say your prayers?”
“Hmmm… ” She lifted her head and met her
mother’s disapproving gaze. She shook her
head and swallowed the food in her mouth. She
said a quick prayer and continued eating.