🗼EPISODE 1🗼
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THE BENSON'S RESIDENCE
The coffee machine beeped to a halt and I moved over to the cabinet top to switch it off.
Zoe loved hot coffee whenever she came back from school no matter the hot weather and I always gave it to her- the apple of my eye!
Humming Joshua Bamiloye's 'there are forces against my soul' song, I went into the store, picked up 5 pieces of big yellow plantain and came back into the kitchen.
'I am gonna make my baby fresh sweet chips. My little baby' I said aloud, smiling happily.
If you asked me what gave me joy to still remain in my unfortunate marriage to Zack, then, I would say it was my only child, Zoe! I loved and adored her!
As I started turning the almost brown chips in the frying pan, I heard the honks of Zoe's school bus.
"My baby is here" I said aloud, moved to the window, drew the curtain and then I saw her as she stepped into the compound, looking as cute as always.
I quickly drained the first round of the chips and then introduced the other set into the hot, boiling oil.
"Hello mum, I am home" I heard her voice as she scampered into her room.
"Welcome my baby girl. How was school today?" I asked with a raised voice
"Cool" came her short response. She must be very tired!
"Make sure you pray o" I shouted again
"Ok mum" she replied softly.
Few minutes later, she came into the kitchen in a beautiful white camisole and a short blue corduroy skirt and my eyes widened as I saw her.
"Zoe! Why would you wear something clean when you have not even had your bath, huh!" I exclaimed.
She looked at me briefly, sauntered to the coffee machine, poured out some and sipped it without looking at me.
My ten year old Zoe would always behave like an adult!
But something is not right as whenever she looked at me briefly, she had something bothering her but I had told her severally that this could be very disrespectful.
"Zoe, isn't it you I am talking to?" I asked her loudly and she looked up at me and smiled briefly.
"Your respect thing again shae? Ok mum, good afternoon. Howdy?" she said and looked into my face with a 'Isn't that enough' look on her face. I saw the dark circles under her eyes and I gasped.
"Are you okay?" I asked and she looked away quickly.
"Is there something you are keeping away from me?" I asked but she did not reply and instead downed another cup of coffee. I looked on, amazed.