Chapter 5 WHAT IS FAMILY TO YOU

Betse walked down the streets of Duntel City in the quiet twilight of the evening after she succeeded in getting her dress and returning it back to the rent shoe and having a lil chat with Ola. She strolled languidly toward her house, her mind ensnared in thoughts. She walked slowly almost like she was counting every step by minute.

Charles spotted Betse as he came out from the house and he ran to her. He was worried, "hey, Glitz, are you okay? What's eating at you?" he inquired.

Betse was startled, she looked up and her eyes met Charles's.

"Nothing. What are you doing here?" She looked around realizing she was almost home, "oh I'm home already."

"What does nothing mean to you? Huh? You look miserable. You don't even know where you are"

She gasped, "that obvious?" She checked her face out with her phone screen.

"Yes. Didn't everything go as planned?"

"Better than planned"

"So what's wrong? Shouldn't you be happy?"

"I am. Just lost in thoughts."

Charlie was not one to miss a chance to tease his sister. He playfully poked her sides, causing her to jump. "Well, well, little dreamer, lost in the clouds again, aren't you?"

Betse can't help but roll her eyes, her burden seemed to ease a bit due brother's familiar antics.

At this point, they were already making their way back into the house. Betse pulled Walters who was walking ahead of her back and both paused.

"I hope Mom isn't aware?"

"Of course not. It's just between the two of us. I promise."

"Thank you."

"I got you"

They resumed their walk into the house.

"Good evening, Mom" Betse greeted her mother as she walked into the house.

"Welcome, dear. How was work?"

"Hectic as usual but everything was fine."

Betse didn't like the fact that she was lying to her mother but she had no choice. She got fired at her last job. She didn't want to let her mother down. She was her mother's only hope at this moment. Charle's job was barely paying him enough to feed himself. She has to keep up with the lie until she finds something she can manage with.

"Thank God! You're right in time. Dinner will soon be ready."

"I'm not really hungry."

"You're working too hard, you have to eat something, please dear."

"Where is Dad?"

She didn't answer. She just walked away pretending not to hear her.

"He's inside." Charlie responded. "I think you should know not to ask her that by now."

"I forgot. It was so wrong of me to ask my mother about my father, her husband's whereabouts."

"It's not wrong but for now, you need to acknowledge and accept some certains things even when it's not okay for peace's sake."

"I'll just go in and refresh. I'll be back for dinner."

***

Dinner was all set. Everyone was seated except for Mr Evans Walters. Few minutes later, he walked in and took his seat.

"Good evening, Dad," Betse greeted him.

"Good evening, my child. It's good to see you. You've been scarce these days."

Mrs Ema Walters cuts in, "when she is doing all what you're supposed to do?"

"It's okay. Dad is also trying in his own way."

"We're all trying in our way, mum. Take it easy on Dad." Charles stood up for his father.

Everyone buried themselves in their meals, they couldn't continue conversing with each other and exchanging the corrosive toxicity they were all letting off at this point, especially Mrs Ema. The atmosphere was drained of all sounds except silence.

"Hmmm," Evans cleared his throat, suddenly tearing the veil of silence. "So, fill your old man in, what has been going on with you? Any boyfriend? Anything new or interesting?"

"Like your laziness affords her the luxury of love and interests." Ema mumbled rudely but Evans was unyielding in his stand to ignore her.

"No, dad. Nothing new. No man, no love, nothing interesting. Besides, those aren't important to me right now."

"Well, you should try to live a little darling, you're young. Don't wait until you're old like me."

Ema scoffed and suddenly blurted out "I think you're mistaking lazy for old."

"For goodness sakes, Ema! Can't I have a conversation with my daughter without you butting in like an uncivilized street rat!"

"This uncivilized street rat feeds and clothes your so-called civilized arse." Ema clapped back.

"Oh heavens, Ema. What is wrong with you? It's been a while since all of us sat for a meal together. Why can't we just enjoy it as one happy family?"

"What is family to you? Do you actually know what it means?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm not trying, I'm actually saying it. A real man who knows the value of family, and the value of duty. You, Evans, you're no man, you don't know what family means and you have no value or duty."

"Geez mum!" Betse tried stepping in.

"What did you say to me?" Evans questioned Ema, ignoring Betse.

"You heard me. Or have your ears gotten lazy also?"

Evans banged the table with both his hands. "I have had enough! I will not sit here and be insulted by your treacherous self."

"Everybody, shut up!" Betse screamed so loudly that everyone at the table had to cover their ears with their hands. "What the hell is wrong with both of you, huh? I mean, why don't you two just get a divorce and get it over with. Because there's no love here, not anymore. What you two are doing is just playing house, toxic house. Jesus! Now I've lost my appetite."

"Wha–" Ema tried to speak.

"Zip it, mum! I don't want to hear it. I get you're my mother and all, but do you ever shut up? Huh? Do you ever stop talking and ask yourself if you're saying the right things?"

"Betse, have you forgotten–"

"...who you're talking to?" Betse completed her mother's sentence. "Oh, so it hurts you when people speak out of turn to you, even when you're being a bitch! But you are constantly nagging father, no matter the effort he puts in. God, I'm too exhausted for this crap."

She pushed her plate forward and left the table, leaving a cascade of emotions in her wake.