I woke up just like every other day. My eyes were weary from the strenuous house chores I had been coerced into doing the previous night by my mum.
"Ngozi, wake up, it's time to clean up the house." My mum jammed her hands. Her voice was as sharp as a needle smoothly piercing into a piece of cloth.
"Oooh," I complained, wriggling my teenage body on the large mattress where I lay.
"My friend, be fast." She furiously added.
At this point, I jolted up real quick. The anger and sudden switch in her voice were more than enough to bring back one's senses.
"It's 8:00 AM. You should have had the house cleaned up by now."
I walked towards the kitchen to start my usual routine when my ears caught a sound—my little brother’s mocking laughter.
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"Thank God I'm not the firstborn," he whispered to me, trying to conceal his irritating voice away from the ears of my mum.
I started with the dishes, then cleaning the place up before preparing a meal for my two siblings: Ben and Charles.
I heard the familiar steps of my mum across the small hall leading to the kitchen.
"My God," I sighed.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"Nothing, ma," I replied while washing the dishes without having to look back at her face. I couldn't bear looking into her eyeballs, as my temper could rise alarmingly.
"After you're done, go to the market and get some vegetables for the soup we're going to cook in the afternoon." she added.
The scent of her perfume spread across the kitchen. It was quite pleasant to the nostrils of anyone, but to me, it was a reminder of the unbearable burden I had to carry out as a thirteen-year-old girl who had just attained puberty.
Just as she left the kitchen door, she paused, pulled her head backwards...
"Remember, take care of your siblings."
"Okay, ma," I replied. My face wore a frown, a familiar one my brothers were used to.
"Wash those plates fast," Ben snuck in after she left for work.
I turned back, devastated by his incessant, childish taunts.
"If I hear you talk again, I swear to God you won't eat this morning."
I knew if there was one thing my brother couldn't condone, it was not being served his meal. His lips went silent as he realized no one was there to protect him—Mum had gone to work.
Meanwhile, in the parlour sat Charles, the calmest amongst the three of us. He never bothered about anything. My mum handled him with a much softer hand, not only because of his age but his obedience to his elders. He was indeed, the only one who never got on my nerves in this annoying house.
"Ben! Charles!" I called out their names, getting ready to leave for the market.
They both gathered in front of me, standing still. It was time for some breakfast.
"Alright, I've served you breakfast in the dining table. As soon as you're done, please wash the plates, the work is too much for me."
"Yesss! It's bread and egg sauce," Ben screamed in excitement as he opened his plates.
I paused in my steps. But no, I chose not to react to the sharp, piercing voice that reminded me of Mum. I felt a resolve and walked outside the door.
"Lock the door Ben!" I shouted in the distance as I left for the market. The time was already fast spent.
"How much is this vegetable?" I asked.
"Excuse me, young lady." A man violently pushed me aside as he walked by. I looked behind but saw a whole lot—no reason why the tall man did so—not like he was fat.
Traders sold vegetables spread over large sacks on the ground across both sides of the large field, leaving a narrow space for people to pass.
As if the day wasn’t stressful enough, a call came in. It was Ben, my brother.
I reluctantly picked up. "Why're you calling?"
"Charles is choki ..." I heard him say.
"Choking? What did you say?" I asked him again, as I needed to be sure I had heard correctly.
"Hello? Hello?" I asked, but there was no response. I heard nothing except the static sound arising from the phone due to the poor network.
I started running with the vegetables in my hands, my heart racing faster than you could imagine. My pants were so loud that passersby had their eyes fixed on me.
For the first time, I felt truly worried as tears brimmed in my eyes. I intermittently stared at my phone while running, hoping for a good network signal so I could put a call through to my mum or neighbors.
"Ben! Charles!"
I frantically called out as my voice broke.
"What's happening?" Mama Emeka asked. But my ears and senses were flooded with so much emotion, muting every sound and voice around me.
I hit hard against the entrance door before it finally gave in, tripping me to the floor.
"Welcome!" a voice called out.
I looked and sighted a dark-skinned leg. It was a familiar one. How could I forget whose leg that was— it was none other than Charles.
I stood to my feet, and there he was, smiling innocently as if nothing had happened. "But I thought you said..."
"April Fool!" he shouted in unison with Ben, who stood some meters away. Their laughter was more annoying than the prank itself.
I sat on the couch, thinking of what to do: smack them so hard that they both cried? Report to my mum? Or do both?
"What's going on?" my mum asked from behind me. What a surprise.
I startled, jumping from the couch, while my two brothers shut their mouths, leaving silence to have its way.
"Ah, what's all this?" she pointed at the entrance where the vegetables had scattered on the floor during my frantic ordeal.
I narrated what had just happened while neighbors watched from behind, craning and stretching their necks to get a glimpse of the drama unfolding before their very eyes.
After hearing my words, she looked over at Charles. "Even you too? I'm disappointed."
She punished them for their unthoughtful, childish action. Ben got double of whatever punishment she gave Charles—he was the mastermind afterall.
The sun was already setting, paving the way for the now seemingly dark clouds to cover the Earth's surface. And here I was, in the kitchen yet again. But this time, I wore a smile on my face, knowing Ben had gotten what he deserved.
"Are you okay? Don't worry, go and rest. I'll cook and do the kitchen today."
These words, though lasting for only a couple of hours, were like melody to my once weary ears.
This is the very first rough work I drafted. I hadn't even started my manual editing here. 
I wake up just like every other day. My eyes weary from the strenuous house chores I was coerced into doing the previous night by my mum.
"Ngozi wake up it's time to clean up the house." My mum jams her hands. Her voice as sharp as a needle smoothly piercing into a piece of cloth.
"Oooh" I complain, wriggling my teenage body on the large mattress where I lay.
"My friend be fast."
At this point, I jolt up real quick. The anger and sudden switch in her Voice is more than enough to bring back ones sense.
"It's 8:00am you should have had the house cleaned up by now "
I walk towards the kitchen to start my usual routine while my ears catch a sound—my little brothers mockery laughter.
"Thank God I'm not the first born." He whispers to me, trying to keep his irritating voice away from the ears of my mum.
I start with the dishes, cleaning up. Then progress to sweeping it before preparing a meal for my two siblings: Ben and Charles.
I hear the familiar steps of my mum across the small hall leading to the kitchen.
"My God." I sigh.
"What did you say" She asks.
"Nothing ma." I reply while washing the dishes without having to look back at her face, I can't bear looking into her eyeballs as my temper could rise alarmingly.
"After you're done, go to the market and get some vegetables for the soup we're going to cook." She added.
The scent of her perfume across the kitchen is quite pleasant to the nose of anyone, but to me, it was a reminder of the unbearable burden I had to carry out as a thirteen year old girl who just attained puberty.
"Just as she leaves the kitchen door, she pulls her head backwards, "remember, take care of your siblings."
"Okay ma." I replied, my face wore a frown, a familiar one my brothers were fond of.
"Wash those plates fast." Ben snuck in after she leaves.
I turn back devastated by his incessant, childish taunts.
"If I hear you talk again, I swear to God you won't eat this morning."
I knew if there was one thing my brother can't condone, it's not being served his meal. His lips go silent as he realizes no one was there to protect him—Mum had gone for work.
Meanwhile in the parlour sits Charles, the calmest of the three of us. He doesn't ever bother about anything. My mum handles him with a much softer hand not only because of his age but his obedience to his elders. I must confess, he's the only one who never gets on my nerves in this annoying house.
"Ben! Charles!" I call out their names, getting ready to leave for the market.
They both gather in front of me, standing still. It's time for some breakfast.
"Alright I've served you breakfast in the dining table. As soon as you're done, please wash the plates off, the work is too much for me."
"Yesss! It's bread and egg sauce." Ben screams in excitement as he opens his meals.
I pause in my steps. But no I chose not to react to the sharp piercing voice that reminds me of Mum. I feel a resolve and walk outside the door.
"Lock the door Ben!" I shout in the distance as I leave for the market. The time is already fast spent.
"How much is this vegetable?" I ask.
"Excuse me young lady." A man violently pushes me aside as he walks by. I look behind but see a whole lot no reason why the tall man did so— like he was fat.
Sellers sold vegetables spread over large sacks on the ground across both sides of the large field.
As if the day wasn't stressful enough, a call comes in—its Ben, my brother.
I reluctantly pick. "Why're you calling?"
"Charles is choki... !" I hear him say.
"Choking? What did you say? I ask him again as I needed to be sure I heard correctly.
The phone begins to
"Hello, Hello?" I ask but no response as I hear nothing except the
I start running with the vegetables in my hands, my heart racing faster than you can imagine. My pants so loud that bypassers had their eyes fixed on me.
For the first time, I feel truly worried as tears brim my eyes. I intermittently stare at my phone as while running, hoping for a good network signal so I can put a call through to my Mum or neighbors.
"Ben! Charles!"
I frantically call out as my voice broke.
"What's happening?" Mama Emeka, asks. But my ears and senses are flooded with so much emotions, muting every sound and actions around me.
I hit hard against the entrance door before it finally gives in tripping me to floor.
"Welcome!" A voice calls out.
I look and sight a dark-skinned leg, it was a familiar one, how can I forget whose leg that it—none other than Charles
I stand to my feet and there he is smiling innocently as if nothing had happened. "But I thought you said... "
"April Fool" he shouted in unison along with Ben who stood a few centimetres away. Their laughter onwards is more annoying than the prank itself.
I sit on the couch, thinking of what to do:smack them so hard that they both cry? Report to my Mum? Or do the both?
"What's going on?" My mum asks from nowhere.
I startle, jumping from the couch while my two brothers close their mouth leaving silence to have its way.
"Ah, what's all this?" She points to the entrance where the vegetables had scattered during my frantic ordeal.
I narrate what had just happened while neighbours watch from behind, craning and stretching their necks to get a glimpse of the drama unfolding before their very eyes.
After hearing my words, she looks over at Charles, "Even you too? I'm dissapionted."
She punishes them for their unthoughtful, childish action; Ben getting double of what ever she gives Charles—he was the master planner.
The sun is already setting, paving way for the now seemingly dark clouds to cover the Earth's surface, and
here I was, at the kitchen yet again, but this time, I wear a smile on face knowing Ben had gotten what he deserved.
"Are you okay? Don't worry, go and rest, I'll cook and do the kitchen today."
These words, though lasting for a couple of hours, were like melody to my ears.
