Chapter 4 4

"Maxwell! Maxwell!! Maxwell!!"Helene, Isabella and Samuel squealed happily rushing to hug their cousin brother.

He smiled hugging them within his reach,"mummy good afternoon"He greeted Mrs Chima who just smiled with a nod.

"How are you??"She questioned.

"I'm fine"came his soothing response.

"What of Mummy and daddy??"She further asked,"They're fine..they asked me to greet you"He explained.

"Oh I see"She mumbled,"Come in then"She added opening the door for him.

"Wow,Maxwell is a grown kid now"Francis commented admiring the young lad in front of him which got Clara eye-rolling.

"As if he's not the same way!"Clara murmured to herself.

Maxwell just smiled shyly dropping his gaze to the ground,"Stop flattering me"Maxwell stated shyly.

They all walked in, Maxwell chatting heartedly with Helene while Clara just sat on the stool nearest to her.

They all engaged on the discussion about the family chatting with joy.

*****

Sunday Morning

The whole family prepared for service except Mr Chima who went for work.

They got to church early but due to their pattern of worship it wasn't so enjoyable but the kids managed to flow along.

"Let's welcome the new kids to sing for us"The pastor stated from the pulpit as Clara eyes widened in shock.

What the heck??!.

She stared at Annabella and Helene who had the same look.

"Come on dearies"Their mum turned to them with an encouraging look as everyone clapped for them.

"Not cool!"Clara muttered getting up followed by Annabella and Helene.

The choir gave them microphone which they took without hesitation.

Francis had an evil grin on his face,"hehe you guys have been caught"He whispered from the far end gaining a bombastic bad side eye from Annabella.

He chuckled "hoyoo!! Go on girls!!"He yelled out mockingly waving his hands.

The three girls scoffed eye-rolling at th same time as they started their songs.

It was quite a disaster because their tune was rhyming and soon the pastor dismissed them which made them smile in relief rushing to their sit.

"Such an awful voice"Francis teased them from behind.

"Whatever"Annabella responded eye-rolling as she folded her arms.

Soon,the service was over and they all departed without haste.Helene kept humming the new song she learnt from them,"can't you allow us hear something??"Clara spoke us as they sat down.

"The song is nice and besides It's in their language,I need to learn more about it"Helene responded.

"Your choice!"Clara mumbled walking away.

The house was quite full due to the deaconess children alongside Mr Chima's friends and children.

"Oh f**k it! seriously??"Clara murmured in frustration covering her ears due to the noise.

She so hated noise and those guys were worsening her case.

"Clara go and wash the dishes"Her mother's voice resounded in her ear.

Uhhhh!!!!!- she sighed in frustration as she flung her legs rapidly on the bed.

Why me??!!!!!- She couldn't help it.She knew the plate were much for her,the more the visitors came, the food they prepared and served and the more plates get dirty.

"Clara mummy sai....."

"Will you shut up there??!"She interrupted Maxwell before he could even say a thing.

She stood up grumpily walking to the kitchen to wash the plate .

"Ha!!"She gasped sighting the pile of plate inside the sink.

"Yo!!!who and who will wash this??"She half yelled in anger.

"You of course"Annabella replied chopping some onions.

"Mum!!"She yelled rushing out.

"What is it??"Mrs Chima responded giving her a bad eye side.

"I can't do the dishes alone!it's too much"She whined. "Helene and Maxwell should join you"Mrs Chima stated.

"Better!"She grinned inwardly rushing inside.

"Maxwell,Helene! Follow me to the kitchen"She commanded in a rather mocking voice as she danced funnily which angered the kids.

"Ugh Whatever "Helene eye rolled moving to the kitchen while Maxwell sat gritting.

"Maxwell!"Clara called out.

"What!"

"Come and join me to wash these plates"She commanded.

"And if I don't??"He questioned.

"Oh I see....you've grown wings huh??"Clara walked up to him dragging him up,"move to the kitchen "she pushed him forward as he struggled from her grip.

"Lemme alone!"he yelled out crying.

"Come here!"Clara kept dragging,you think I'm Helene??",I'll beat the living hell out of you!"She warned him as they boy kept struggling for freedom.

"And what is wrong with the both of you??"Mrs Chima interrupted their fight.

"Mummy Maxwell don't want to follow us...."

"Mummy it's a lie,Clara did not even allow me,she was busy dragging me to move to the kitchen"Maxwell interrupted Immediately.

"What??"Clara yelled in disbelief as she sought to slap him.

"Enough!"Mrs Chima voice interrupted her.

"So does that mean that the two of you can't comport yourself Clara??,you're already eight years old!"Mrs Chima half yelled.

"But mum...."

"Just shut up!"She interrupted again,"both of you should go and wash that plate and if I hear any noise from there,you'll both recieve it hot!"she added going back outside.

Clara stared at Maxwell in range while Maxwell had an evil grin,"The very next time you try this,you won't escape,watch me and see!"She said in gritted teeth.

"We'll see about that"He chuckled with folded arms as he left her.

Clara breathe heavily watching him leave.

This boy really knows how to get on my nerves!!

She shook her head fighting back her anger as she walked to the kitchen.

*******

At Night

*Everyone drifted to bed after the nights prayer but Clara couldn't sleep. Everywhere felt so hot and uncomfortable "is it that I'm the only one feeling this heat or what?"She lamented sitting down as she pulled off her clothes,she sat on the bed fanning herself.

Woah!- she breathe in relief getting herself but was amused when she touched Samuel who wasn't sweating at all.

He was so cold like there was enough air touching him.She placed her hands on Isabella and then Helen,back to Isabella but their temperature was alright.

What the heck??!.

She moved her hands towards Maxwell to touch him as his body was so hot like a flame.

"Ouch!"She winced in pain dipping her fingers inside her mouth to cool it.

Why's he so hot like this??,is he sick??- She murmured to herself.

"Mum?"She called out but no response.

"Mum??"She called again,"mm"came Mrs Chima response.

"Please on the touch light"She requested which Mrs Chima did immediately.

"I think Maxwell is running temperature"She stated.

"Huh??"Mrs Chima questioned staggering up with sleepy eyes.

"Now now he just came he's running temperature already"Mrs Chima hissed angrily.

She walked up to their bed touching him,"Clara which one is he's running temperature??"Mrs Chima fumed.

"He is mum"She argued touching him but his body was warm this time.

"Huh??"

"Mummy his body was hot just now, I'm not lying"Clara defended looking confused.

"If you know you don't have any important thing to do this night just go and sleep, stop your imagination"Mrs Chima stated walking back to sleep.

Clara was confused.

That's so impossible!.

She stared at Maxwell then back at her hand.

Was she exergerating things??- she questioned no one I'm particular as she sought to touch him again.This time his body was damn hot and then she realised she was sweating again.

"Jesus!"She screamed shifting back.

"What is it??"Mrs Chima sprang up immediately.

"Nothing mum!"Clara responded sharply laying back on the bed.

Mrs Chima hissed laying back as she drifted to bed.

Clara kept staring at Maxwell body in the dark as she felt like he has turned facing her,"how was it??"she could hear him whisper as she gasped closing her eyes immediately.

She began sweating profusely for real as her body shook,"was she hallucinating??what the hell is happening??"She whimpered silently in fright, tightening her eyes the more.

"Do you like it?"She could hear a voice close to her ears as she swung her arms in fright,"Go away!"she whimpered back folding her self.

She prayed silently for the sun to rise again as the night felt so long.

"Don't worry I won't bite!"this time the voice was so near like he was beside her,"I said LEAVE ME ALONE!!"She commanded opening her eyes as she felt a cool breeze blew her instantly.

She could sense Maxwell turned away backing her as she sighed in relief,"that serves you right idiot!"She smirked victoriously closing her eyes to get a good night sleep.