ITS NEW

Michael began his distraction by sitting on the dinning table and staring deeply at Deji his cousin. He watched how the young man casually flirted with Jenny like a professional womanizer. The irony of the matter was that Jenny laughed so innocently that it irked him.

"Deji do you remember Nina? She asked about you today" Michael suddenly said as he balanced at the dinning table, pressing his phone. He pretended not to be looking at them from across the room. Yet, he watched them sternly from the reflection on the ornaments he could see at the dinning table.

"Which Nina? You mean Matilda's friend? I thought she was not in Nigeria"

Deji responded quickly.

It was clear to him that the silly boy was still head over heels with the girl who didn't 'like him. As he returned his gaze to watched them, their team won the game and suddenly Deji gave Jenny a high-five.

The closeness and body contact was irritating him. He needed it to end before Jenny generates affection for the no good fellow.

"Well she is back in Nigeria, working with the ministry of interior. I can give you her number if you want" Michael added.

"Where did you see her? I thought she traveled to Australia?" Deji repeated.

"Oh she's back in the country. Anyways I invited her for Stephanie's birthday party."

"That's nice bro. Please let me have her number."

Immediately Michael gave it to Deji. The young man was more than grateful as he got up with his phone in his hand. The others continued their game while Deji excused himself from the game to make a call. Michael carried his plate of food, smiling and moved to the kitchen.

He needed Jenny to be around him but he couldn't call her. His mother had made it clear that he was not to disrupt their game with his request. So, he put on the microwave, after a few minutes, he turned it off, brought out the food with his bare hands.

He cussed out loud as the food was so hot. He behaved as though he was in great pains.

Jenny quickly ran into the kitchen at the sound of his voice. This was what he admired about her. He knew she would come. She was that caring. The way he had seen her attend to his family members made him feel they were loved by her.

"Sir what happened to you?" She said as she entered the kitchen with her eyes racing all over his body.

"I burnt myself"

"I'm so sorry. I should have been the one doing this. Please accept my apologies"

"Its nothing Jenny" He said, frowning and blowing on his hand.

"Stephanie please give me the bottle of honey. It's in the medicine drawer in the room. Please run upstairs and bring it quickly." Jenny said from the kitchen.

"Okay. Am coming" Stephanie responded.

"Michael is it the food you wanted to warm that you heated up to the point of burning yourself? Did you not time it properly? please be careful oh" Mrs Bose cautioned from the living room. Michael could tell she was frowning and indeed she was.

"Yes mum I will be careful." He murmured still frowning.

"I'm so sorry sir" Jenny apologized again.

"Just go and sit down. let me serve the food for you" Jenny said.

"Thank you" He replied but he didn't move an inch.

"Are you okay sir" She asked.

"I'm fine. It doesn't really hurt so bad " He replied.

"Let me put some cold water on it sir"

"Jenny it's okay I'll manage"

"I tried to meet up with you guys in church." Michael whispered.

"I.....didn't know you wanted to go to church. I would've woken you up sir"

she said.

"I wanted to"

"We will go together next Sunday then. Should I wake you sir?"

"Of course you should" he replied

"Okay I'll do that" she smiled.

Stephanie brought the bottle of honey and Jenny applied a little portion on Michael's left palm. He watched her as she touched him. His body reacted with an explosion of hormones firing to his groin.

Jenny carried his food in a tray and together, they left the kitchen.

" I'm sure your hand will be okay" She assured him as he sat down to eat

" Thank you so much Jenny"

"You' re welcome sir"

"I was thinking, you know, Michael i would like to go to London for at least one month. I want to check up on Jason" Mrs Bose said as soon as he began to eat. Jenny did not return to the floor where his mother still sat down. Rather, she was seated in the couch with Stephanie who was looking sleepy. The young girl had placed her head on Jenny laps while Jenny stroked her hair. It was such an emotional sight for Michael.

"Grand ma" Stephanie grumbled in relation to his mother's request.

" I just said one month Stephanie and I will be back. I promise. Don't grumble. Besides, you have Jenny here now. I will leave after Jenny comes back from the village"

" Okay mummy. Its noted. I would make the travel arrangements" Michael said.

"Thank You Michael. Jenny I was also thinking, you know, you are good with both cooking and teaching. So how about you take a course or a program that gives you international advantage."

" I've been researching about it recently ma, while using Stephanie's laptop and I realized that advance programs are rare and expensive". Jenny answered.

"Wait a minute, why Stephanie's laptop?Don't you have one of your own?"

"Am sorry ma. I have not bought one yet ma" Jenny answered soberly.

" Michael this young lady is like a member of the family and she doesn't have a laptop? Michael come on, i know you have like three laptops upstairs" Mrs Bose scolded him.

" I didn't know she needed one. Jenny as soon as I finish eating, i will configure one laptop for you okay?"

" You don't have to do that sir. Ma, that's too much" Jenny protested.

"Jenny it can never be too much. You need a laptop in this day and age and you need to consider it's nothing for Michael" Mrs Bose said.

"Thank you so much ma. Thank You sir for the laptop"Jenny said.

"Who is getting a laptop" Deji asked as he entered into the house. He had excused himself and went outside to make a call. He returned smiling.

"Its for auntie Jenny. She needs it for school" Stephanie said sluggishly. It was obvious she was almost sleepy.

"That's cool. So which school?" Deji asked.

" I have not made up my mind. All the school I have seen so far is quite expensive. So i want to apply for a scholarship first" Jenny said.

"Scholarship? Why?"

Michael asked as he was almost through with his meal.

"Pick any school Jenny, Michael can afford it" Mrs bose said casually as she packed up the game.

"That's the truth. My cousin can afford it and even if he doesn't, I would gladly contribute to your advancement academically" Deji said smiling and Michael saw his mother smiling with him.

"Jenny i can afford it. Take any school of your choice. Pick a program, I will pay for it fully"

"Thank you so much sir. Thank you so much Mrs Bose. You always do extraordinary things for me. I literally lack words to show my appreciation tonight" Jenny said as she began sobbing.

"Aunty Jenny cries often this days. I have seen her cry in Daddy's room and now. She said she misses her Daddy. Don't cry" Stephanie said as she touched Jenny's face.

"Its good, you will be going to see them. Sometimes when we miss our loved ones so much, we tend to be extremely emotional Stephanie.I am sure by the time her Dad and her mum hugs her, she will be fine" Deji said to Stephanie and Mrs Bose nodded.

"My hmm mm... my hum"

"What is it Jenny?" Deji asked

"My father is late and I never got to know my mum"

"Jenny!!" Mrs Bose exclaimed looking at her.

"You mean you are practically an orphan yet you are so thoughtful of others?"

"i have a step mom with six children. i have to be responsible for them as my father is no more" Jenny answered.

"Are you the first child?"Deji asked and Jenny nodded.

"You really are a gift Jenny. I must say you're the best gift I have ever received as a person into this family. You take care of all of us and You are never tired. You act like Stephanie's mother and you shower her with so much affection and attention."

"Thank you ma. Its the least I could do for all the wonderful ways you treat me ma. Besides, I love Stephanie as though she was mine."

"I am yours"Stephanie giggled and everyone laughed.

"In fact no more Aunty Jenny. Its Mummy Jenny" Stephanie declared and everyone laughed again.

"I am so tired Jenny. I think I need to rest" Mrs Bose stated

"Its okay ma. But, I was supposed to give you a scalp massage today."

" Scalp massage?" Deji asked

"Oh yes that's true. Jenny always massages my scalp every Sunday. its quite therapeutic and soothing."

"I like it too" Stephanie admitted.

"Well am I entitled to a scalp massage too? Deji asked.

"Of course sir Deji. let me attend to grandma first upstairs so that she can rest"

" Can I come upstairs too Mummy Jenny?" Stephanie asked.

"of course my love you know you can always come along with me."

Together, the two women and the young girl walked upstairs. Michael thought of throwing his cutlery straight into Deji's chest just for saying he wanted Jenny to massage his damned scalp.