"You mean she wasn't born mute?" Lisha questioned again in stupefaction, she was still finding it hard to believe what Sindara just told her.

Sindara bobbed her head, "Yeah, everything started about three years ago, at first it was selective, she only spoke to me and her siblings but not her dad and his family but she became completely mute last year," she explained and Lisha blinked her eyes.

"Wow, I haven't heard of that before, and you think there's nothing that prompted it? You know you mentioned her being a zestful girl before she recoiled."

Sindara nodded, "I can't think of any possible thing, I think it just happened."

Lisha sighed before crossing her legs, "Well, that's something, did you take her to the hospital?"

She shook her head and Lisha's eyes widened, "You mean you didn't take her to the hospital for check up or something?"

She nodded in response," I didn't think there was any need for  that, maybe it just happened."

Lisha scoffed, "It just happened? Who knows it might be psychological or something?"

Sindara opened her palms," I never thought to that extent, whereas I didn't have any money to take her and my husband was this non-chalant kind."

Lisha sighed yet again, "Wow, I guess we'll take her to the hospital this weekend."

Sindara blinked twice before a smile graced her lips, "Really? I'm so grateful, you're so kind, I'm indebted to you and I just don't know how I'll pay you."

Lisha smiled, "You can pay me by going back to your place, preparing your children's meal and awaiting their arrival," then she rose to her feet.

Sindara looked up at her, "Is there any other way I can pay? You know I'm hardworking, I can work here or at your workplace."

Lisha smiled, "Hmm, we'll discuss that when I come back, see ya," then she strolled out of the house gracefully while Sindara stared at her retreating figure with a grin.

***************

"Come back here," Christy dragged Cherry's collar after realizing she attempted to run.

"What is it?" Her sister turned back to look at her.

After letting go of her collar she replied," You're too stupid for my liking? How will you think of running there to hug those things?"

Cherry puckered her brows as she glanced at Mimi and Lola before turning back to her sister, " Why? I was only surprised to see them in your class and courtesy demands I greet them, after all they stay at our place."

Christy quickly covered her sister's mouth as her eyes quickly scanned the classroom hoping no one heard her.

"You're dumb, I don't understand why you took everything from mummy, why would you even think of associating with people like them?"

Cherry squeezed her face, "What's wrong with them? They're human like us and they stay at…"

Christy cut in, "Shut up! If I hear they stay at our place again, you'll hate yourself, nobody must know we house them,you can't tarnish my image, you hear me."

Cherry stomped her feet on the ground, "But what's wrong in saying that? They're…"

Christian who had been quiet since their banter started decided to intervene, "Cherry that's enough, not everybody has to know what goes on in our house, just ignore them as Christy said, it wouldn't do you any harm, you can talk to them at home but not in school, you…"

Cherry hissed scathingly before walking away as she headed to where her car was parked.

"That girl is too rude for my liking," Christy complained and Christian ignored her as he strod out of the class to where his car was also parked.

Christy hissed at his actions before entering her car. Good thing they had their different cars now if not they might just argue till they get home. She hated how indifferent Christian behaves.

**************
Mimi tried concentrating on the novel she was reading but Lola and Fara's voice kept on disturbing her. Ever since they got back, Lola had taken pleasure in gisting Fara about Christy and her friends-Rissa and Mirabel, they'd been screaming about the whole thing while they kept on scrolling through Instagram, watching their videos and reading about them. 

She glanced at Lara whose eyes were focused on her school book. Most times, Mimi do wonder how Lara found school books interesting, to her they were boring with no storyline, plot or suspense, there was nothing amusing about the whole thing yet Lara always enjoyed it. She enjoyed reading both school books and novels, reading was life to Lara but to Mimi, novels were the only source of her joy, they were the only things she could relate to.

"Can you guys just keep your voice low or go to the other room? I'm trying to concentrate here," Lara voiced out and Mimi nodded in agreement.

"Gosh, Lara, this is still the first day and you're already reading, isn't it boring?" Her twin sister queried.

"It isn't boring, you guys should just go to the other room, you're disturbing Mimi and I."

Lola rolled her eyes while Fara replied, "But it wouldn't kill you if you don't read."

"And it wouldn't kill you if you read," Lara retorted and Lola rolled her eyes yet again while Fara responded.

"Girl, you need to catch fun oo, just join our conversation, the one you and Mimi are always reading yii, I hope…"

Lara cut her short, "Will you go or I should leave?"

Lola wanted to respond but the appearance of their mother beat her to it, "Mimi, come over," she called.

Mimi glanced at the others before standing up to join her mother in her room.

Sindara patted the space beside her while Mimi looked around the cozy room painted in the green, it was in the same color as the whole house, she hadn't entered her mother's room since they moved in few days ago.

"I hope you enjoyed your first day at school?" 

Mimi tore her gaze from the large painting on the wall; the one she'd just taken interest in, one she decided she'll take to her room.

She nodded in response to her mother's question and Sindara smiled.

"You'll be visiting the hospital on Saturday," she announced and Mimi stared at her for a long time before nodding.

"Is there something bothering you? You know I'm your mother and I know when something is wrong."

Mimi scoffed internally as she remembered how her mother had failed to notice when something was wrong with her. Though her mother was this observant person but when everything started, she'd fail to notice it, she squeezed her eyes shut for some seconds as the memories flooded through her head.

"Are you okay?" 

Sindara's tap and voice snapped her out of her thoughts, opening her eyes slowly, she nodded in assurance while Sindara creased her brows in confusion.

"Do you think there's something that made you mute? You were okay until three years ago and I can't seem to remember any traumatizing or agonizing thing that could have made you this way."

Mimi chewed on her lips as she tugged at the hem of her shirt, everything started back then, what made her mute started three years ago but no one knew about it, she'd always been this secretive person who found it hard to open up to others.

"Mimi!" Sindara tapped her laps and she looked up at her mother before bringing out her jotter.

I can't remember any traumatizing thing that could have prompted it, maybe God just decided to make me mute or punish me.

"Punish you for what?" Sindara raised her brows.

I don't know

Sindara sighed, "Well, I hope there's a medical reason for your condition."

Mimi nodded before she pointed at the painting on the wall.

"You want it?"

She bobbed her head before Sindara stood up, after removing the painting from the wall, she handed it over to Mimi who gave her a big smile; one that made her eyes twinkle. Sindara couldn't remember the last time she saw her daughter smile that way, just as she wanted to talk about it, Mimi strolled out of the room.

Mimi decided against going back to the room where the others were, she decided to go to the other one which was her own room in order to feed her eyes. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she trailed her hand on the painting and stared at it.

It was a painting of the beautiful ocean that looked calm, to her it spelt peace and she wanted peace in her life.

So, do you believe something must have prompted her muteness?
What could have happened three years ago?
Comment your thoughts and don't forget to vote.