More than that, she could tell the man did not like her and only tolerated her for his daughter’s sake. He looked at her like she was a maggot and sometimes she felt he came to check on her classes with Amanda to make sure she did not infect his daughter with her terrible ways. No wonder he didn’t want her singing around his house.
She couldn’t understand what he found so disagreeable about her, she knew she wasn’t all that special but generally, people tended to like her. Besides her cousin, Tiwa, no one had disliked her so quickly before and she hated that it was someone she happened to like and respect that didn’t like her back. It lessened her self-confidence and made her feel really stupid and awkward in his presence.
Fiyin: “So, what are you doing?” Fiyin asked Amanda as he dropped her back in her seat.
Amanda: “We are learning a rhyme, ring around the roses…..”
Fiyin: “Oh, that was one of my favourites when I was young, your aunties and I used to play games with it.”
Amanda: “Really?” Amanda asked, trying to picture her father as a child.
Fiyin: “Yes, baby, really.”
Amanda: “Well, we can’t sing it, Aunty Femi said you said we are disturbing you. Are we disturbing you, daddy?” She asked innocently
Fiyin: “No, I…., I of course, I didn’t say that,” he sputtered, looking accusingly at Femi, “I don’t know where your teacher got that idea!”
Femi: “Sir, but you said last week that is should not…..”
Fiyin: “I said you shouldn’t sing, did I say you should not teach?”
Femi: “How would i teach a rhyme without singing it?” She muttered.
Fiyin: “What? What did you say?”
Femi: “Nothing, nothing sir.”
Fiyin: “I thought as much!” He said in triumph, noting that she still had on her ugly lipstick. “Alright baby, bye, I will check on you when I get back.” He said as he kissed his daughter’s head.
Amanda: “Bye, daddy.” Amanda returned as he gave Femi a dirty look and left the room.
Amanda: “Does that mean we can sing now?” Amanda asked.
Femi: “Yes, I think so.” Femi answered, her thoughts faraway. He succeeded in making me sound like an idiot as usual, she told herself sadly as she heard his car start and drive away.
***************
One day, one day she promised herself, I will be something, I will have a wonderful husband and I’ll be slimmer with very nice clothes then I’ll go to his hospital and register there.
You’ll see, Doctor Arowolo, you’ll see!
Question: I don’t see it coming the friendship between Femi and Fiyin. Do you agree?
To be continued