Three Empty Words – Episode 4

 

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“Blood is thicker than water, but isn’t rubbery thicker than blood? Cornstarch too.” Winnie

 

*

 

I looked at myself in the mirror for the millionth time, I was nervous and I really wasn’t sure if I was going to go through with the visit.

 

It had been over three months since Xeno had left, no word from her but from time to time she talked to mum; I wasn’t surprised that she was treating me the way she was because from the photos she posted on Facebook, I could see that she was happy with dad and Zaria who she now referred to as her best friend.

 

‘Xenia are you ready?’ mum screamed from the hallway

 

Ready? I wish there was something to do just for me to claim that I was ready. I was and always have been plain so I didn’t see the reason why she had insisted that I put in an effort in my looks this particular evening.

 

High waist skinny jean, yellow crop top with a big white jumper. I wore my favorite Jordan’s and pulled my hair into a messy bun. Added little to no makeup on my face and sprayed my favorite deodorant.

 

‘I am ready.’ I yelled walking to the kitchen as I took some photos of myself which of course I would keep in my phone gallery for no one else to see.

 

‘Baby can you.’

 

She didn’t finish her sentence

 

‘Xenia really?’ she asked looking defeated

 

‘What?’ I asked pretending as if I didn’t know what she was talking about

 

 

‘This dinner is very important to your father and that is why he insisted that we dress formal.’ She said

 

‘Well, Xeno is there and you will be going. If my clothes are not presentable I could as well just remain home.’ I said feeling frustrated

 

It was hard enough that I was going out there pretending to be happy with people I

 

had never met and so I would only do myself a favor by wearing what I saw fit.

 

‘Fine, wear what you want but I don’t want you to blame me when he gets

 

offended.’

 

‘Who? Dad?’

 

She looked at me with a disapproving look.

 

‘Come help me with my neck lace.’

 

I went over to where she was and stood on my toes as I helped her with it.

 

‘If only you were wearing heels you wouldn’t have to stand on your toes.’ She said dryly

 

‘I am perfect just the way I am.’ I said trying to convince myself more than her She grabbed her clutch and we walked to the vehicle, my mother was a woman of class and I often wondered why she was still alone when a million men were always chasing after her. This time she chose an army green dress that hugged her figure, it had sleeves made of lace and was open on the back. It perfectly reached just a little below her knees, on her feet were black stilettoes that made her look like she was on top of the world; she had little make up on and today she choose to wear her twelve inch Malaysian curled blonde hair with chocolate lipstick.

 

‘I can feel your eyes on my back.’ She accused unlocking the vehicle I laughed.

 

The drive to Salama Park was a noisy one, we kept singing along to our favorite west life jams. Something that I and mum had in common, we still crushed on the band.

 

She drove into the yard and both of us looked at it in awe, we had a beautiful home but this one was just perfect in all its form.

 

She turned to face me before we got out of the vehicle.

 

‘Promise me that you will behave yourself.’

 

I looked at her not sure if I was hearing her correctly

 

‘I need you to be the mature one Xenia, I know your sister and what she is capable of but please promise me that you won’t stoop to her level.’ ‘Okay.’ I responded

 

‘Xenia promise me.’ She said with emphasis this time ‘Mother I promise I will be the mature one.’ I said

 

 

Mothers’ instincts, we walked into the house and came face to face with Xeno, dad and Zaria. They were in matching colors, dad had on a black tux with a grey shirt. Whilst Zaria and Xeno were both in flared black dresses with grey heels. I swallowed hard, I turned to look at mum and saw just how much she was trying to conceal what she was feeling in that moment.

 

‘You came.’ Dad said coming to kiss mum lightly on the cheek She pulled away quickly

 

‘You must be Zaria.’ She said extending her hand ‘And you must be Francie.’ Zaria said dryly

 

I almost laughed, she was looking at mum from head to toe. I guess she thought mum was some dirty looking black lady but I am certain she got the shock of her life.

 

‘Xenosah.’ Mum snapped withdrawing her hand ‘Mother.’ She said coming to hug mum

 

She didn’t even bother to look at me and I didn’t give a rats head.

 

‘Hai.’ I said looking at Zaria

 

‘And you must be Xenia, exactly how I pictured you.’ She said ‘Zaria!’ dad said

 

‘What Scott, I am just stating facts here. She is the total opposite of our Xeno.’ She said

 

‘Francie, please feel at home. I will ask some waiters to attend to you.’ He said pulling his wife by the hand and Xeno followed suite

 

‘Our Xeno?’ mum asked gnashing her teeth I looked at her with pouted lips.

 

‘I should act like the mature one.’ I repeated her words to myself as I moved around the room looking for a waiter

 

‘Excuse me.’ I said to an older looking lady who was having what looked like an orange juice

 

‘Yes.’ She responded

 

‘Oh Lord.’ She said again before I could say another word ‘What?’ I asked touching my face

 

‘I had no idea you guys would be this identical.’ I laughed.

 

‘I get that a lot.’

 

She smiled, she looked like a nice lady.

 

‘Vanessa by the way.’

 

‘Xenia.’ I responded extending my hand

 

‘Hospitable person.’ I heard a voice say behind me

 

‘What?’ Vanessa asked now looking at the man that had joined us ‘Her name, Xenia means hospitality in Greek; right?’ ‘Right.’ I responded before looking at him weirdly

 

‘Vanessa I need to check on mum, it was nice meeting you.’ I told her with a smile I walked away before he could say his name, he spelt trouble and I wasn’t ready for that. I kept looking around the room but couldn’t see her until I heard voices from outside and decided to follow them.

 

‘What is the meaning of this?’ she was asking furiously looking at dad with a brochure in her hand

 

‘I am only trying to help.’ He responded

 

‘Trying to help?’ I have raised these girls on my own for twenty good years and you think I needed help from people?’

 

‘Francie Xenia needs a heart as soon as possible.’ He defended

 

‘And you didn’t think of asking me first before making this big dinner just to announce to the world that you have a daughter that is dying and a well-wisher can donate something towards her operation?’

 

For a minute I felt like this was all a joke, how could he do this to me? ‘Xeno.’ I said loudly then both mum and Scott turned to face me ‘My baby.’ Mum said but I was already running towards the house ‘How could you?’ I asked when I found her with Vanessa and Zaria ‘What?’ she asked rudely

 

‘Xeno I might be a walking corpse but I don’t need you making important decisions for me.’

 

She laughed.

 

‘So it’s that.’ She said sipping on some wine

 

I wanted to say another word but mum held my hand

 

‘She is your sister, act like the mature one.’ She told me softly

 

I looked around the room as tears fell, people were now surrounding us and watching what was happening. My heart was broken that my sister could do such to me and more that I had to bear it all, suck it all up because she was my sister.

 

..

 

#THREE_EMPTY_WORDS

 

RECAP

 

 

‘What is the meaning of this?’ she was asking furiously looking at dad with a brochure in her hand

 

‘I am only trying to help.’ He responded

 

‘Trying to help?’ I have raised these girls on my own for twenty good years and you think I needed help from people?’

 

‘Francie Xenia needs a heart as soon as possible.’ He defended

 

‘And you didn’t think of asking me first before making this big dinner just to announce to the world that you have a daughter that is dying and a well-wisher can donate something towards her operation?’

 

For a minute I felt like this was all a joke, how could he do this to me? ‘Xeno.’ I said loudly then both mum and Scott turned to face me ‘My baby.’ Mum said but I was already running towards the house ‘How could you?’ I asked when I found her with Vanessa and Zaria ‘What?’ she asked rudely

 

‘Xeno I might be a walking corpse but I don’t need you making important decisions for me.’

 

She laughed.

 

‘So it’s that.’ She said sipping on some wine

 

I wanted to say another word but mum held my hand

 

‘She is your sister, act like the mature one.’ She told me softly

 

I looked around the room as tears fell, people were now surrounding us and watching what was happening. My heart was broken that my sister could do such to me and more that I had to bear it all, suck it all up because she was my sister.