"Daniella! Daniella!" At first, I thought someone was calling me in my dream but when I felt a tap on my bare legs, my eyes shut open and I saw aunt Caro standing in front of me.

"Good morning aunt." I slurred, lazily getting up from the bed and rubbing my eyes with my fist.

"Morning. Are you that much of a deep sleeper? Look Daniella, you'd have to change that in this house. You're no longer in the village where you'd sleep until nine o'clock. In my house, you'd have to wake up very early to sweep everywhere, warm the leftover and wash all the dirty plates. So now stand up and get to work. By the way, today is Sunday so you have to do the chores really fast so as to get ready for church." That said, she walked out and shut the door behind her.

I was staying in the room downstairs. The room had nothing but my luggage, a small bed and a standing fan facing the bed. To me, it felt comfortable. At least more comfortable than the room mama and I slept in the village, which was quite stuffy. I was happy with the fact that I was the only one sleeping in this room. I could do whatever I wanted to do without anyone disturbing my solitude. But thinking about it closely, in this house, could I?

I stretched out my limbs and yawned at the same time as I stood up completely from the bed. I walked out from the room and went straight to the kitchen, which was a few steps close my room.

When I got there, I contemplated what to do first—sweep the house or do the dishes? I reached a conclusion that doing the dishes first was better. While I did that, uncle Henry walked in making some disturbing noises with his slippers probably so as to get my attention. Not like I was ever going to pretend like I didn't notice his presence anyway.

I turned to greet him. "Good morning sir." I remembered him correcting me yesterday not to call him uncle.

"Have you warmed the soup and stew?" He asked, completely ignoring my greeting. Now I could say I didn't like this man and I didn't think he liked me either. It was a mutual thing.

"No sir. I wanted to wash the plates first before I do that." I didn't want to sound nervous but my voice failed me completely.

"Is your sense not supposed to tell you to warm the food first before you wash the plates? Or do you want the food to get spoiled?"

To be honest, I actually thought of doing that first but I realized that I couldn't use the gas cooker, so I discarded the idea. In the village, what we used in cooking or warming food was stove or firewood when there was no kerosene in the stove and that is what I was used to. I was literally intimidated by gas cookers because of the ugly tales I had heard about people's house burning down owing to the fact that they had carelessly handled the gas cooker or they had forgotten to put off the gas once done using it. And I was scared of that happening because of me.

"No sir, I actually wanted to warm it first but—"

"Then why didn't you?" He asked immediately, cutting me off.

"Because I cannot use the gas cooker."

"Becosh I cannur yush the gash cooker." He mimicked me, mockingly. "When you knew you couldn't use the gas cooker, why didn't you call someone to help you out?" Immediately he said that, aunt Caro walked in.

"Darling, what is it?" She asked.

"It's your niece o. She was telling me that she didn't warm the food because she couldn't use the gas cooker and I asked why she couldn't call someone to help her with it when she knew she couldn't use it." He explained to aunt Caro and a look of disappointment crossed her face as she looked at me.

"Daniella, how many times will I tell you to ask questions when you don't know something eh?"

Just once.

"Sorry aunt, I just didn't want to disturb anybody."

"You just didn't want to disturb anybody? Next time if you don't know something, ask questions. Don't keep your mouth shut like a dumb person."

"Teach her how it's done. I want to go and have my bath." Uncle Henry said as he made his way out of the kitchen. "And you," He pointed at me, "Boil rice so we can eat it with the small stew remaining before we leave for church."

He walked away and left only aunt Caro and me in the kitchen.

"This is how to put the gas cooker on." She demonstrated it for me and although I got what she did, I still wanted her to repeat it.

"Please aunt can you do it again." I requested. Aunt Caro did it again and stepped back for me to try. I did exactly as she showed me and I was so happy that I had learned how to put on a cooker.

"Now that you know how to use the gas cooker, warm all the leftovers and boil small rice for the family to eat this morning. Do everything quickly so that we can prepare to leave for church." She said and walked away.

Some hours later, the family was done having breakfast and they had all gussied up for church. I was the only one still looking for a cloth to wear. The car horn blared outside for the second time, warning me to hurry up.

I quickly took out one of my old blue dresses that mama had bought for me in the village from my luggage. It was getting a bit too tight for me but it was covering my knee. Because it had been in my luggage since, the dress was a bit creased. But there wasn't any time to iron it, so I hurriedly slipped into it. I took my headscarf and my small Bible from the luggage and scurried off to the car.

It seemed like they were ready to leave when I got outside. I ran to the backside of the car and tried to open the door, but it was locked. From the window, either Amanda or Annabelle gestured for me to wait so they could open the car door for me, which I did and the car opened.

I clambered into the car and the twin that opened the door for me adjusted for me to sit. Uncle Henry was in the driver's seat, aunt Caro was in the passenger seat in front, while the twins and I were sat at the back of the car.

"Have you locked the door to the house?" Aunt Caro asked.

"Yes." I responded.

"What of the gate?"

"No."

"Why? C'mon go and lock the gate!" She shouted.

"No, there's no time for that." Uncle Henry said as I was about to come down from the car. "We're running late for church already."

"Honey, are you sure she does not need to lock the gate?" Aunt Caro asked, skeptically.

"Since the house door is locked, there would not be any need to lock the gate again. And I really don't think any robber can break into the house at broad daylight. The Muslim neighbors would catch them before they even try to." Uncle Henry said to his wife as he turned on the ignition and the engine came to life.

As he started to drive, the twin sitting beside me asked, "Why is your dress so creased?"

I turned to look at her and I realised she was Annabelle, the nicer twin. "I was rushing so I didn't have time to start ironing the dress." I said, tying my headscarf around my head.

"Since there was light yesterday, why didn't you iron it?"

"I was too tired to and besides I forgot yesterday that today was Sunday." As I finished tying the headscarf, I asked Annabelle how it was and she only shrugged. I took it that the way I tied it was good enough.

Annabelle picked up her big phone from her purse and started to fiddle with it. Only then did I notice that Amanda had been silent throughout. I looked over at her and she was fiddling with her phone too. Her phone was as big as Annabelle's own but hers was wearing a blue pouch.

I looked at them with admiration. They looked so cute and posh in their similar outfit. They were both wearing a peach off-shoulder mermaid gown with their pulled up braids uncovered. I wondered why they weren't covering their hair. In the Catholic Church I attended back in the village, a female was never allowed to go to church with her hair uncovered. It was a taboo and the church frowned at it. But I guessed in the city, it wasn't that much of a big deal.

Before long, we got to the church and I must say it was big— but not as big as the Catholic Church in the village. Inscribed in front of the church building was "Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)". It was apparently a Pentecostal church. To think aunt Caro and her family would also be attending a Catholic Church!

We got into the church and I followed Annabelle and Amanda to the teenage church. When we got in, everything, the whole procedures and doctrines, were a far cry from that of the Catholic Church I attended in the village. Even the teenagers looked different. To me, some looked like showoffs; some also looked like they came for a night club or a party, while others looked pretty much decent. And that was the category of people I fell in—the decent ones. But really, the way I looked compared to the teens in this church made me feel like I didn't belong here. Some people turned to look at me like I was some piece of shit. I felt so uncomfortable around this environment and funny enough, it was a church. Wasn't everyone supposed to be comfortable in a church?

Annabelle and Amanda found their way to a seat, obviously running away from me, so it wouldn't look like I came to the church with them. I only shook my head at what they did and found my way to one seat at the back.

When the service was almost over, one of the church workers called for first time members. This was exactly what he said, "If you're worshipping with us for the very first time in our teens church, please signify by raising up your hands."

I didn't dare to do that. I mean, I couldn't possibly do that. That would only draw more attention to myself and that, I didn't want. I looked around to see if anyone was going to raise their hands up, but nobody did. That could only mean two things, it was either I was the only new member in the church or there were some other new members that were also feeling shy or embarrassed to raise their hands up.

***

"...And by the way, one of the ministers called for first timers, why didn't you signify Daniella?" Amanda asked as we entered into the house. She had not said a single word to me since we were in the car. She had been so engrossed talking about how the service went with Annabelle.

Annabelle, on the other hand, asked me how the service was before we got into the car and I simply told her it was fine, even though it wasn't for me. I was so self conscious throughout the service.

"Because I didn't want to." I answered Amanda curtly.

"Or because you were so embarrassed by the way you looked and you didn't want the teens in church to laugh at you." Amanda sniggered, making mockery of me. After which, she strutted away.

"Ah ah Amanda, that wasn't fair." Annabelle said in my defense. "Daniella don't mind her jare. She's just jealous of you." She said, smiling at me but I didn't smile back. Not because I didn't want to, but because I didn't feel the need to.

I was utterly surprised at the way Amanda was treating me. To think I was even so excited to see aunt Caro's twins! I thought they were going to be nice and loving. Actually, one of them was, but the other was just something else.

I was completely disappointed by the way things were turning out in the city. I never bargained for all of these. I came to the city hoping that life was going to be better and more interesting for me, but it was playing out to be the opposite. I was missing village already. It was more peaceful and virtually everyone there was so friendly and nice. One never had inferiority complex in the village, unlike here in the city.

I really wanted to go back to the village.

Evening came quickly and I was called by aunt Caro to the living room. When I got in, she and uncle Henry were sitting on a two-seater sofa watching channel news on TV.

"Sit down." Uncle Henry said in an authoritative tone and I obliged. "What class are you now in school?" He asked.

The question took me aback but because I knew where he was heading, I answered without hesitation.

"I'm in ss2 sir."

"Interesting." He nodded his head. "Darling, what class are Amanda and Annabelle in now?" He directed the question to aunt Caro.

"They're in ss3." Aunt Caro responded.

"Oh I actually thought she and Amanda and Annabelle were class mates or at least she was their senior in class." Uncle Henry said, "How old are you, Daniella?"

My brows knitted quizzically as I answered, "I'm sixteen years old."

"Amanda and Annabelle are also sixteen years old, right?" Uncle Henry asked his wife and she answered "yes."

"Oh great! I guess you started school late then." Uncle said, "Well the reason for all these questions is that, starting from tomorrow, you'd be attending the school my daughters attend."

For some unfathomable reasons, my heart skipped a bit when he said that.

____________________________________________

Hello guys! Double update! You know I said at the beginning that I was going to be updating regularly if I can get positive feedbacks. Well, I actually am getting heartwarming feedbacks from you guys, that's why I decided to give you all something to read before you go to bed.

I know I didn't end the chapter well, I actually wanted to continue but I'm kind of feeling sleepy. I started writing this chapter this night and I finished it this night. I think I deserve some accolades!😄😄 That statement is actually cliché.

Please guys vote, comment, share and follow. Thanks.

Love y'all.