Bastards

The evening sun cast long shadows across the compound as Michael Kanu ushered his nephews, Victory and Destiny, into his modest home in Onitsha.

It was a fresh start for the boys, an opportunity to leave behind the chaos their father had left in his wake. Yet, as they crossed the threshold, a storm brewed within the house.“Oh my Michael, what is the meaning of this?” Tolani, Michael’s wife, erupted as she stepped into the living room. Her voice was sharp, filled with disbelief.

“So you left this house to go and bring your bastard sons?”The boys froze, her words landing like a slap across their faces. Michael raised his hands in a calming gesture.

“Tolani , please, lower your voice,” he pleaded. “They are not bastards. They are my late brother’s children, and I brought them here because they have no one else.”“Did you even think to discuss this with me?” Tolani retorted, her eyes blazing. “You just decided to disrupt our home without considering how I’d feel about it? And what about Adah?”

“They are family, Tolani,” Michael said firmly. “I couldn’t leave them to fend for themselves. We will all adjust. Please, don’t make this harder than it has to be.”At the corner of the room, Victory and Destiny stood silently, watching the argument unfold. Destiny’s fists clenched at his sides, his face dark with anger. “Victory,” he muttered under his breath, “why don’t we teach this woman a lesson?

She called us bastards , that’s adding salt to injury.”Victory frowned, his expression torn. “I know, but let’s not act rashly. We just got here.”

Before either boy could act, Tolani’s tone shifted. She caught sight of their wounded expressions, and her anger wavered. “I’m sorry, boys,” she said, softening. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.

We’re family, and from now on, I want you to see me as your mother.”Destiny smirked internally but outwardly gave a polite nod. “Okay, let’s teach her a lesson another time,” his voice rang out in Victory’s mind.Victory sighed and replied aloud, “We appreciate that, ma.”Tolani seemed relieved. “Adah!” she called toward the hallway. “Come and take your brothers to their room.”

Moments later, a young woman stepped into the living room. Adah was strikingly beautiful, her features delicate but commanding. She offered a warm smile to the boys. “Welcome,” she said. “Let me show you where you’ll be staying.”Destiny’s gaze lingered on her a moment too long, earning an annoyed mental shout from Victory. “She’s your sister, you dimwit!” Victory snapped telepathically.

Destiny rolled his eyes but grinned slyly. “Relax, I was just appreciating her beauty.”Victory groaned internally. “This kid hasn’t even begun producing hormones yet, and I already weep for the opposite gender.”Adah led them down a narrow hallway to a small but tidy room.

The boys placed their bags on the beds, and as they unpacked, Adah made small talk. “So,” she began, “how was your journey?”

“It was fine,” Victory replied politely.Destiny, however, was more curious. “Are you the only child here?”Adah nodded. “Yes. My parents had me late, and the rest of the people you’ll see around here are apprentices. My father believes in helping others learn trades.”The boys exchanged glances. “You seem nice,” Victory said.

“Thank you,” Adah replied, smiling. “I hope you’ll feel at home here.”As the evening wore on, Tolani seemed to warm to the boys, though the initial tension still lingered in the air. Over dinner, Michael tried to ease the atmosphere by recounting stories from his childhood, making everyone laugh.

Even Tolani cracked a smile when he exaggerated how he once saved his brother ,Noah , from an angry goat.Destiny, however, remained guarded. He couldn’t forget the sting of being called a bastard, and he noticed Victory was equally cautious. They both knew it would take time to fully trust this new environment.Later that night, as they lay in their beds, Destiny turned to Victory.

“Do you think we’ll be okay here?”Victory stared at the ceiling, his voice steady. “We’ll have to be. For now, let’s just watch and learn. We can’t trust everyone yet.”Destiny nodded, a flicker of determination in his eyes. “Alright. But if anyone tries to mess with us again…”Victory smirked.

“We’ll handle it together.”In the days that followed, the boys began to settle into their new lives. They learned that Michael’s home was a bustling place, with apprentices coming and going as they trained in various crafts under his guidance. Adah often helped her parents manage the household, and she quickly became a comforting presence for the boys.Destiny, true to form, was both curious and mischievous, often testing boundaries.

Adah, however, handled him with surprising patience, earning a newfound respect from Victory.As for Tolani, her initial hostility gave way to reluctant acceptance. She watched the boys closely, noting their quiet resilience and the bond they shared. Though her outburst had caused a rocky start, she began to see them as part of the family.One afternoon, as Adah helped the boys unpack more of their belongings, she paused and looked at them thoughtfully.

“You know,” she said, “I think you two are going to do great things someday.”Victory raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”Adah shrugged, her smile mysterious. “It’s just a feeling.”Destiny laughed. “Well, I hope you’re right.”Victory, however, felt a strange weight behind her words. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but he was certain of one thing: whatever challenges came their way, he and Destiny would face them together.