𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

~~ 3.~~

Daniel looked at her and sighed. As much as he wanted to understand his sister's pain, he couldn't. But he knew she was hurt and she was trying so hard to hold it in. He love her and wanted her to be happy. She had been more than a sister to him. She had been like his mother and she sacrificed everything for their family - him, their father and their little cousins.

"If you say so. I'm hungry." He whined.

"I had packed your food. I kept it in the usual place." Lola said to her brother.

§§§§§

Lola came out of the room she shares with the twins. She had just told them a night story. It was a tradition since they were little. And they made sure to do it every night as some few parents with their kids out there do. She loves to do anything that would make the kids happy. And that was one of them.

The poor children don't have a father and their mother was late. She had died while giving birth to them.

She took the thought of the twins from her mind as walked into their small living room and looked up at the wall clock. It says ten fifteen pm. She decided to wait for her father. She does that anytime he was running late. Like that night. He was supposed to be back. But she knew they were reasons he wasn't back early. The Lagos traffic was one.

She felt for the man. He had been working so hard to make a living for them all. First was their grandmother that was in the hospital having a kidney problem and high blood pressure, then was her brother and the twin school fees and other expenses. There was also the house rent and their feeding expenses.

The money she makes from sewing clothes for people was just to help with the expenses. It wasn't much. And it is not helping. She stopped working when she took the time to learn fashion design.

She wished there was something better she could do to help him.

Although his work as a driver for a particularly wealthy man was a dream come true. The salary from his work had been a great help to them. The man paid him well. He even gives some foodstuffs like bags of rice, small provisions and extra changes during the festive period. But they already had a huge debt before he got the job and they were still recovering from it.

She sat there, staring at the wall deep in her thoughts when she heard a knock on the door. She quickly got up to answer the door. She sighed in relief when she heard her father's tired voice. She quickly opened the door for him. She embraced him immediately because he knew he was tired.

Her father was in his fifties but he was a very tall man. He was even taller than her in height.

Lola rest her head on her father's chest and the old man hugged her back and looked down at her with a heartwarming smile. She quickly pulled away so that he could step into the house.

"What is it Tiwalolami?" He asked.

"Nothing. I just miss you. Welcome. How was work today?" She asked.

He walked inside dropping the bread he bought on the centre table together with his wallet.

"The usual but I give glory to God. Where are Daniel and the twins?" He asked.

"They are asleep. You should go and take a shower. I will set the table for you." She said to her father.

"Alright." He nodded and he stood up. He went in the direction of his room.

Lola went to the kitchen to warm his food and helped him set his food on the table. He came out just in time and he sat down to eat in comfort.

"So how was today? Were you able to finish those clothes you were sewing?" He asked as he dug into his food.

"Not everything but I will be done by tomorrow." She retorted.

"Okay." He shook his head in response.

She watched her father in silence as he eat his food.

"Dad."

He looked up at her. "Yes, dear. What is it?"

"Dad, Mummy Precious is already asking for her money." She told him quietly.

The man paused for a while. Then he spoke up. "She had been patient with us. When I get my salary we will pay her." He said rubbing his forehead with his left finger.

"The house rent is also there. We promised the landlord month end."

"He will have to be patient with us. I still owe the hospital some money for your grandma's dialysis. And she needs another one soon." He said looking tired and helpless. "He will understand. Maybe when you receive that sowing contract we will be able to pay him half of the money." He sounded hopeful.

He had already lost his appetite for eating but he didn't want his daughter to be worried, so he forced himself to continue.

"I want to get a job." She deadpans.

"I thought you want to open a shop of your own. How will you cope with your sewing?" He asked.

"Yes, I want to but..... I don't know when that is going to happen. It's been almost eight months now since I finished learning fashion design. And I have been at home. I'm not making enough money to help you with all the expenses. And I will find a way to cope with my sewing."

"This is fine Lola. I can handle this. You've done more than enough to help me and I'm grateful. The rest is my responsibility." He said.

"I'm twenty two dad. I will be twenty-three soon. I'm old enough to help. It's hard watching you do this all alone. I want to help but the money I get from sewing is not enough. I need another job. Moreover, I still want to go back to school dad." She said.

He looked at her with sadness in his eyes. He wanted all his children to be educated. He wanted them to have a good education. And he was ready to do anything for them to do so. But Lola had to wait two years after finishing her O'level to write JAMB and fortunately, she got admission to study English Language at the University of Benin. But she had to drop out during her first semester because they couldn't make up for all the payments and then her brother fell sick and was so serious that he had been so lucky to survive.

He knew how hurt she was but she wanted the best for her family and she understood the family's condition. So she made sacrifices.

"If you say so. I will help you ask around for a job too. You can check out some on your own or ask your friends." He suggested. "Everything will be fine Lola." He tried to assure her and himself too.

She smiled at him. "I know that dad. You should finish your food so you can go and rest."

He nodded in agreement and he continued eating his food.

#####

Here is another chapter of 30 Days Deal. And you've met our female lead character Tiwalola Bamidele.

Glossary
*Tiwalola means Wealth is Ours. Pronounced Tee-wah-lor-lar
*Bamidele is Got home with me. Pronounced Ba-mi-day-lay.

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