Category : Books-Non-Fiction

Sub Category : History

Hi! Everyone. My name is Yvette. Yes, Yvette. The first letter pronounced as ‘I’ in English Yvette. My life isn’t as interesting as my name. It’s opposite. My life is full of torments, traumas, acrimonies, unfulfilled dreams, difficulties, pains and allows me to stop here. I was born into a very rich family. The family I later learnt as my worse enemy. Both my parents want me dead. My parents though were one of the richest in the country and they control billions of naira every week. You might be wondering why they want me dead. It’s simple. They wanted to be immortal just like me. Funnily, I don’t even know I’m immortal. Even my sister who I later learnt wasn’t my sister want to take away every little happiness I ever had.
     When I say my parents, my mother to be précised. My father is like a nomadic farmer who never stays in a place. The maximum days he ever spent with us every year is three. It’s only I and Mum. Yes I have a sister, Lillian. I and Lillian were sisters not until she clocked Ten years of age and was taken away by Dad to overseas. 
     It’s been eight years since I set my eyes on Lillian. Dad never allows her to come home and Mum never queries Dad on it and I never know why. 
     Now it’s my 20th  birthday tomorrow. I’m clocking 20. Thus, Mum made a promise. A promise that led to my downfall and doom.
“Pearl! You’re still in?”  
“Yes Mum”. I yawned noisily on my bed as I hopped down. I slip on my slippers and headed to the door. I turned the knob and jammed the door opened. Mum is standing with her hand in a knocking position. 
“Well, can I come in?” she asked. 
“Of course”. I told her. 
     I paved way for her to enter as I made for my bed. She didn’t sit. She occupied herself by rubbing her fingers on the faces of the photographs I hung round the room. Lillian’s photos. 
“You missed her?”I asked.  
“We all did Pearl. Didn’t we?”
“Of course Mum.”
     Yes, we did. Dad always brought her photos every year and I’m glad to realize how old she’d grown. When she was still with us, people usually mistook us for Siamese. Now she’s more grown and matured more than me. Beautiful too. But last year, Dad didn’t bring any of her photos.
“What do you want for your birthday this year?” Mum asked sitting on the stool.
“You’ve never asked me that question before Mum.”
“And I just asked.”
“All right! Anything. Just anything from you Mum is a gem.”
“I have a surprise for you”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Wait till tomorrow.”
“Oh no Mum. Let me have it now.”
“Mum?!!”
     It was as if I never heard, but little did I know that that was the beginning of torments for me.
     Throughout that day, my joy knew no bound. I was jubilating all days. Even, Mum was full of joy and all our households know something special is up and coming. I followed Mum to shop and I shopped a great deal for Lillian too. I shop for the same clothes I saw her put on in most of her photos. And I anxiously look forward to seeing my sister whom I’ve never seen in the last eight years. And tomorrow is my birthday. That will be the most pleasant birthday I will ever had.
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     The day I’ve been expecting is here. I and Mum with three of our workers joined in decorating the house. I had chosen Lillian’s best color for the decoration. I made the party looks more like a welcome party in lien of birthday. And it fascinates me. Mum is glad after all and everyone is hopefully on the lookout. I’ve decorated the room adjacent to mine for her. And Mum testified to the settings and touching.
     At exactly three in the afternoon, the Rolls Royce drove into the compound. I stood at the front of the house with a paste saying “Welcome home twin sister, Lillian” with a smile on my face.
     Dad was the first to alight and he opened the other car and my expectation grew in ten thousand folds. And she stepped out, with a muffin pops on her head. Her hair dangles to the back and her face was very white. She has the big sun – glasses and her dress is something to behold.
     I dropped the paste and run as fast as my legs could carry and jumped on her. I hold her tightly in my arms but she shows indifference. She didn’t hug me back and she stands like stagnant water.
“Welcome back home Lillian,” I uttered happily.
“Yeah” That was all she said and grudgingly.
“Come with me.” I said neglecting Dad and Mum and some of my company’s workers that came for the welcome party and my birthday.
     We entered the room and I expected her to marvel at the decorations. We actually called the best Decorator ever in the country and everything looks like the palace of Queen Elizabeth. But no. she didn’t even seem moved. I made her sit on the sofa not minding her recklessness towards everything, she didn’t wince.
     Mum and Dad entered with other guest and I greeted Dad.
“Welcome Dad!”
“Really?! Now, I existed.” He commented and almost everybody laughed.
     The party ended at somewhere around five in the evening and everybody bid us goodbye and they embark on the journey to their various houses.
     I took Lillian to the room I specially decorated while Mum and Dad were busy in their room.
“Here is your room. I decorated it with the touching”
 I said happily.
“Yeah. I see. I don’t really like bears and foot rugs. Secondly, pitch isn’t my best color in anyway. And lastly, please I don’t want you around most of the time. I hope you can minimize that.”
“Lillian?! Really? I did all these because of you. The decorations, shopping and settings. Here” I said bending down to retrieve the bag of clothes I shopped for her.
“I really don’t need all that baby sis. I’ll order if I need anything. Now, I need to rest.” She said not allowing me to check the bags.
“Yeah. Okay”. I said angrily as I dragged the bag out of the room. I went straight to my room and locked the door. I sat on the bed and dropped the bag non – challantly on the floor.
     My hope is shattered. How can she be so cold? I never closed my eyes for a second in sleep ever since I learnt she is coming home. And now, that was dashed. Dashed. But why? She isn’t the jovial and ever cheerful Lillian I’d known for all the ten years of my life.
     Something is definitely wrong.        


       TWO


Now, everybody is engrossed in Lillian, completely neglecting me. What am I suppose to do? Even Mum seems far – away some times. Ever since her first day in the house, we never talked to each other. She is either avoiding me or I avoiding her, either way round. And it seems I’m better off that way. Mum doesn’t want to talk about it and Dad is never available. Every now and then is about Lillian and nobody else. But thank God I have Madam Ruth; she is more of a friend than a cook in the house. We talked and joke and chat away the time that at times, I wish for something very bad.
     Before the arrival of Lillian, Mum and I were preparing my admission into Heritage University and this morning, she called me to her room. That will be my first time of entering her room after Lillian’s arrival.
“Yes Mum?!” I asked as I sat on her bed.
“I’m sorry Yvette. You won’t be able to attend Heritage University again”. She blurred out.
“Why Mum?” I asked rather angrily.
“When showed the school, Lillian didn’t like it”.
“Really? Okay. So?”
“Marvelous. You’re going to Marvelous.”
“Whoa! But you told me I’ll never go to that University. Now that Lillian wants Marvelous, you accepted.” I retarded.
“Not that Yvette. You really need to understand”
“Of course Mum. She is my sister after all and I’ve been wanting to go to Marvelous quite a well. It’s just a blessing in disguise. It’s always a hit. Anything for sister”. I assured her smiling broadly.
“Thanks for your understanding Pearl.”
“It’s fine Mum”.
She moved close to me and hugs me tightly and I hugged her in return.
     I left Mum’s room hiding behind my feelings on her decision. Everyone has changed. Even Dad. And I think I understand but not anymore. I dart into the sitting room and Lillian is sitting on the sofa eating snacks and watching T.V. I sit exact opposite to her.
“Hi Lillian!”
“Can I help you?” she demanded harshly.
“Not really. I just …… wanted to greet”. 
“But I think I told you ……..”
“Okay. That’s fine. You did tell me. But since Mum said we’re attending the same school, I think we should get a bit used to each other before then.”
“Oh! I really don’t need that. I’m better off without you”
“We’re sisters Lillian. Sisters. I am Yvette. What has come over you?”
“I should ask you that question”.
“Why?”
“Are we really sisters? Or someone is foster?” she demanded and stood from the sofa. She grabbed her tray of snacks and walk into her room while I watch with mouth agape.
“Foster?!” I mumble the word once again.
As I stand in confusion, Dad walks in through the door. But I think he notice my confusion state as he walk towards me.
“Hi Yvette”.
“Welcome Dad”.
“Is everything alright”
“No, I don’t think so”
“What’s that?”
“Lillian. She said something”
“And what was that?”
“Are we Sisters Dad? I and Lillian?”
“Of course. Why?”
“Then who is foster?”
“Foster? Did she say that?”
“I think I heard”.
“That’s so touching. Look here Yvette,” Dad said putting his hand on my shoulder “You don’t have to mind Lillian. She isn’t the girl you know anymore. She’d grown and changed. If she didn’t want you to get along maybe you should stay away so you wouldn’t get hurt. I’m so sorry darling”. He apologized cuddling me.
“It’s okay Dad. I know she’d changed. I only thought I could have my sister back. Now I realized how wrong I am” I said and left for my room. Things were actually falling apart.
     I locked the door and turn on my T.V and my favorite program popped up. It’s VIEW and they were talking about a very famous archaeologist, Michael Coleman.
     My torment flew out of the window at once as I sit to watch and learn who Michael Coleman was actually and why Mum hate to see me read his collections.