Precious left that morning and never returned, Bethel's heart could feel her trouble and he could help. He expected to see her in school but he didn't see her. She never came that night and he knew she was gone.
Precious was sad she never said goodbye to Bethel before leaving, They had that same morning to her uncle's place.
They arrived at banana island, Ikoyi at almost twelve in the afternoon. It was obvious my uncle never expected her to come live with him considering she was meant to come on Saturday not on tuesday.
Precious uncle opened the door leading Precious and her mother into his house, Precious took a glance at the house. Painted in cream colour, the living room was spacious with an LED TV placed opposite the wall that faced the door.
There was a dining table with five chairs. The floors were tiled too.
Precious could trace some facial similarities between her mother and her brother as they had the same lip and forehead.
There was a chandelier in the living room with rug carpet.
"Good afternoon," Precious greeted her uncle.
"How are you?" He retorted pulling her in his embrace.
From the way Precious spoke, Gideon could sense something was wrong but he was going to help her settle down first. He led Precious to one of the rooms as she settled her bags inside.
The room was painted in cream colour, it had a window and a balcony, a table and a chair for reading with a computer on top of the table.
Precious didn't know the conversation that went on between her mother and her uncle before her mother left and she wasn't curious.
Precious laid down on the bed, she was bored, she had grown attached to Bethel. She heaved a sigh, she wanted to sleep.
She had different thoughts running through her mind; could he be missing me like I am? Although he wasn't her boyfriend, they confessed to liking each other.
There was a knock on the door, Precious answered and the door opened revealing her uncle.
"Do you wanna go to the amusement park?" Gideon asked.
"Of course," she smiled, maybe that would take her mind off Bethel.
Precious had so many questions to ask regarding her grandparents.
She wanted to know if he knew her father and her curiosity said to ask him believing she might give her an answer unlike her mother.
The gate to the amusement park was opened, the uncle paid money to the men at the gate so as for them to watch his car. It was a normal principle.
Because it was on a Tuesday, there weren't many people.
The uncle went to get a card for payment of the rides before they could pass through where the roller coaster, ferris wheel, the carousel and stimulator ride was.
She watched in awe as if she was in a movie.
Precious went on the roller coaster as it was the perfect ride to let out of frustration.
After trying four rides, her uncle got her candy floss and vanilla ice cream.
They both sat down on a bench while devouring the items in their hands as she told him about herself.
It was easy for her to tell him about herself and he was really a good listener.
"I have a question to ask," Precious spoke out of the blue, getting Gideon's attention.
"Go on," he ushered.
"Did grandma and grandpa regret their decision chasing my mom away?" She asked.
Gideon was taken by shock when Precious asked that question. He never expected her to ask.
He sighed, rubbed his eyes with his hands before replying. "My mom did, and that caused the rift between my both parents." Gideon spoke.
"My mom did not send sis Grace away, she knew Grace was changing in her final year. She knew Grace probably had a boyfriend, she wasn't sure but she knew girls of their age did and she blamed herself for not being able to teach Grace ahead of time. She did not actually blame Grace completely, she blamed herself." Gideon spoke. Memories of what went down seventeen years ago resurfaced. He and Grace were really close, he loved her so much.
He paused and continued. "The first time Austin came to visit and my mom wasn't around, that was the first time I caught them kissing." Gideon said.
"My mother suspected but she removed the thought believing Grace would not dare have a boyfriend without her consent, she trusted her and I couldn't tell, I loved her a lot to tell on her and if dad knew, it would be really worse."
"Whenever Austin came he would give me gifts and stuff and at night Grace would sneak out to go meet him and her friends."
"Then one day sis Grace came home the next morning at five, mom was worried but did not let dad know because of the consequences. When Grace came, she told my mom, she was at Trisha and that Trisha's friend was celebrating a birthday and she helped out but before she could finish, it was late and she decided to stay there."
It was later, I overheard her on the phone with Trisha telling her what had gone down with Austin and Her."
By the time he had finished saying all, Precious was already crying. She was not crying because she was sad. She was crying because her mom thought she was going astray, like following in her footsteps.
Grace thought Precious was going to do what she did after all what you do when you are young, your child will do.
"Don't cry." Gideon's uncle consoled Precious while she hid her face in his chest.
"Who is my father? What does he do and where is he right now?" Precious asked.