Pa James sat there staring after them as they walked away. He knew it. She was only a pretender, waiting to explode, but he would never allow her into his family. Never.
Still deep in his thoughts, Amanda returned from the market and walked up to him, still sitting on the floor before the gate.
“Oh,” she said, and ran to him. “Papa, did you fall down?” she asked, already trying to lift him off the ground.
Pa James acted weak again.
“No, my daughter,” he said. “A young lady from this compound pushed me down.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Amanda apologized. “That’s my sister. I am so sorry. She is not always like that. I am sure she is not in a good mood today. Are you okay? Hope you weren’t injured.”
“No,” Pa James said. “I need a cup of water.”
“Just water?” she asked. “Anything else?”
“No,” Pa James said.
“Okay, let’s go to my shop,” Amanda said, leading him by the hand to her roadside shop.
After Amanda had given him the water, Pa James smiled inwardly.
“What is your name?” he asked her.
Amanda smiled.
“My name is Amanda.”
Pa James was confused for a bit.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “I thought your sister’s name is Amanda. Do you both answer the same name?”
“No,” Amanda said with a smile. “She is Mirabel and I am Amanda.”
Pa James was confused.
“What is happening?” he asked himself.
He thanked her and walked away.
