SLEEPLESS

It was an early morning, the dark sky looked hazy because of the dew. Little drops of water bounced off the ground, the moist atmosphere made everywhere seem cold which made me shiver a little as I looked out the window.

Few people walked hurriedly to the place of work. Mostly market women and civil workers who are trying to beat the traffic.

"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING" the alarm clock resounded alerting me that it was already morning.

'Oh shit I didn't get any sleep…..again', I thought to myself as I stood up from the bed to switch off the alarm that was alarming the aches in my head. As I switched it off the door opened, I saw my brother's face pop from behind the door. His name is Joseph. He had made it an habit to check if the alarm woke me up although I have complained many times that it was not necessary he still does all the same.

"Did you get any sleep?", he asked.

"A bit'' I replied.

"Don't lie to me little man, I know you didn't" he walked up to me with his eyes looking at me as if was peering into my soul. "If you did your face will not be looking this grumpy" he paused as he tapped the alarm clock on the table his mind drifting a bit. "Is it about what happened that day?"

"Of course not", I blurted out immediately. Yep I lied it was what happened that day but something else happened which no one knew about and I couldn't tell anyone yet.

"And also you have to stop checking on me every morning I am not a kid anymore".

"Of course you are" he said mockingly "you're still wearing pajamas and also remember you're still a virgin, hahaha", he laughed at me. A light chuckle also came from the door.

"Stop eavesdropping you baka-dono", I shouted at the figure standing behind the door. A light-skinned girl in her mid –teens with brown hair made into a native style called 'all-back', funny name right I think we stole the hairstyle from.....whoever happened to have created it, the young girl who happened to be my sister walked in looking like all those proud princess from those Disney movies.

"Don't shout like that, you know I'm just checking on you". she said as she walked in.

"You?... checking on me...never heard a better lie in my life".

"What do you mean? Can't I be worried about my big bro?", she said with a creepy smile.

"I think I should be more worried with the fact that you're calling me big bro especially when smiling like that" I mused.

"Why should you be worried?" she asked me with a quizzical look on her face. "Aren't you my big bro?"

"You know you only call Brother Joseph big bro so give me that shit"

"Don't you like it?" she looked at me mockingly "or ….should I call you small bro?" she said as she let out a light chuckle. I could have sworn I heard a chuckle from my brother too.

"I don't give a shit what you call me as long as you don't have any evil intention behind it, besides…" I paused just to get her attention "don't you have anything to do this early morning…. baka-dono?".

"Hey I told you not to call me that again you piece of sh…"

"That's enough you guys" my brother interrupted my sister who was about to unleash her morning anger on me, "can't you guys just stay ten minutes without jumping at each other's throat?, and you know you guys shouldn't be swearing" he looked straight at me "I need you guys to be ready to by 6:30 or else am leaving you, remember you guys still have fetch water to bathe. Anyways I am going to wake Tobi up, so don't be late alright", he said as he strutted out of the room .

"You know this isn't over Peter" she looked with that bombastic side eyes before leaving.

Yep that's my little sis for you. Her name is Racheal, a legendary female in the art and act of stubbornness. Only my elder brother Joseph has shown the capacity to contain her.

As they left, I walked over to the corner of the room where a small blue bucket was and was about to pick it up when a rat bigger than normal sped right through the corner startling me.

"JESUS!" I shouted unconsciously, it's kind of ironic I become spiritual when I am scared. 'Damn rats' I thought.

I heard rushed footsteps approach the door, Joseph appeared from behind my half closed door with a young boy following right behind him with drowsy eyes.

"What happened?" he asked with concern written all over his face as he used his eyes to search the room for the potential problem.

"Our freaking housemates that's the problem", I said with annoyance "they are everywhere...damn"

"Sigh…..they will soon be evicted" he replied with a tired voice "anyways get ready quick, you know I will have to sign you in today before 12:00 p.m. and we still have to get you and your some provisions before you resume"

"You know provisions are banned in our school right?" I looked at him amusingly.

"Of course I know but I can't let you guys suffer hunger" he smiled "so you'll have to smuggle it like you have been doing for the past five year's", he said with a smug look on his face. I can't believe this guy is supposed to be our guardian.

"Just so you know I am not a criminal" I said as a matter of fact.

"Of course you are not, hmmm I guess no provisions for you guys then". He said with a serious look.

"You aren't serious about that right?". I couldn't believe he was taking me seriously.

"Of course I am, I don't want my little bro to be a 'criminal' right?" he said with a smile that was anything but nice. Yep now I am sure of where my stubborn sis got her mischievous characters from.

"Whatever, I don't give a shit"

"Hey no swearing in front of my kid" he barked out.

"Oh shit, I forgot Tobi was here" I said immediately. I had forgotten that Tobi my brother's son followed him in. Tobi my brother's only child, his mother ditched him since he was two probably because she almost died due to his crying.

"And you just have to cuss again" my brother muttered again while covering Tobi's ear "let's go bathe son, goodbye stubborn Uncle Peter", he said as he walked out of the room. But he didn't leave without shouting at me not be late one more time.

So I took my bucket and was about to leave for the bathroom when I realized Racheal was doing what she does best… eavesdropping "trust me very soon you'll soon be homeless, I'll make sure of that"

"Blah blah blah" she mocked. What a spoilt brat.

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

Brother Joseph cooked rice and stew for breakfast and it was good except that,

"The rice is too hard, there is too much salt in the stew and is that raw Maggi I'm tasting?" Rebecca said immediately as she tasted the food Joseph served her. She had unconsciously squeezed her face like she just ate bitter leaf.

"Do you have to complain every time besides you know Brother Joe was in a hurry and the food we eat in school is way worst"I said as I checked if Joseph heard what she said as he returned to the kitchen to carry his own food.

"Of course I know the last time he was taking care of Peter, the time before the last he was making a call". I guess she is making a point, "besides we all know he is losing his cooking skills we can't be eating trash in school and still be eating it at home, and besides you're a better cook sooo….. when will you resume cooking for us" she said to me with a sympathetic look, you know the ones dogs normally do unfortunately it triggered the wrong kind of feeling in me.

"Who is this dog?" I said to her as I gave her a disgusted look demolishing any and every cuteness she thought she was building up to impress me.

"Hey man don't call your sis a dog, she is too cute to be a dog" Joseph said as he entered the dining with his plate of food and a small plate of food for Tobi who was closely following him behind, this little guy never jokes with his food, "and Racheal don't disturb your brother he will start cooking when he is ready also I know you guys don't deserve this but sorry for this delicious food I cooked, I'll try to improve my cooking skills so let's eat and get the hell outta here".

"No cussing big bro".

After breakfast we went to the market to get school stuffs and I get to see my brother amazing pricing skills, even if the product is cheaper than we planned since we got to the market early he would still try to see if the price could go any lower. We almost got cursed by a Yoruba woman. We managed to make it back home safe and sound in two hours.

We added the stuffs we brought to our packed bags as fast as we could under the direction of our shouting brother and got ready to leave for school.

I stood in the middle of my room admiring like it was going to be my last time in there, as I looked around I noticed my jotter on my study table, I had forgotten to pack it. As I carried I noticed a piece of folded paper fall off from the jotter, that surprised me because I don't tear my jotters especially this one, so I picked it up but immediately I saw the content I froze with horror the clear words sent chills into every part of my body,the words seems to be unraveling a memory I have been trying to forget, a sin tried to escape. The words scribbled on the paper were clear as daylight

'I KNOW WHAT YOU DID'.