DOUBLE SCANDAL

I woke up so early this morning feeling so refreshed, happy, cool, bubbling and excited about this new day. It was 4:30 am already. I looked beside me, my husband was still sleeping soundly on the bed. I bent over him and gave him a little peck on the cheek. He reacted sleepily by turning over to the other side. I giggled and covered him properly, before jumping off the bed, to start the new day fully!

My name is Sonia Tinket. The one and only special wife of Alexander Tinket, a handsome, loving, wonderful man, husband and father of my two children, Marvin and Marvela Tinket.

Alexander Tinket, the love of my life, my darling and my whole world, is a smart working class millionaire. The manager of the biggest textile industry in the whole of Africa. He's very brilliant, handsome, cute, hardworking, very generous, a sweetheart, a true father and the best husband ever.

I could remember vividly the first time we met. I think it was love at first sight. He was caught in love and so was I. Though, I thought it was never gonna work out due to our busy work schedules as we never had time to really meet, hangout and talk. But as heaven would have it, we both went on a business sponsored vacation to Waterford, Ireland. That was where we reunited again. We used the opportunity to get to know ourselves more, talked, went to see some movies, went sightseeing, went touring and spent a lot of time together.

We returned to become closer and closer and closer, though our jobs still tried to keep us apart, but we didn't relent till we tied the knot and later on got married, ready to live happily ever after, till death do us part.

We were blessed with two kids in this beautiful marriage, Marvin and Marvela are two beautiful twins. Marvin the boy and the eldest and Marvela the pretty damsel. They are eight years old and in their third year in the primary section. They both were the apple of our eyes. Aside my husband, the next thing I don't ever joke with are my two kids. They are so lovely and believe me, you can't stay with them for a minute without being relieved. I love them so much.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth which after I was done, I washed my face. I went to the kids room to check them up, Marvin was sleeping soundly when I checked him up, I kissed him on his forehead before leaving his room. Then, I went to Marvela's room to check on her also. I knocked before sauntering in, I noticed the a glimpse of light going off. She must be awake, this little girl never ceases to amaze me. I wonder what she's up to this time around. I walked up to her bed, she was pretending to be asleep. I sat on her bed for a while before calling out her name.

"Hey Marvela, hey" I said, touching her cheek.

She couldn't stop herself from smiling as I did that. So she had to give up on her little prank, since she realised I had found out.

"Good morning Mommy." She said in her tiny but sweet voice.

"Good morning baby girl. You're awake this early. What are you up to?

"Preparing for school" she replied

"Vel, it's too early to prepare for school. You didn't check the time when you woke up? I asked her.

"It said 5:30 am when I woke up. Since it was just 30 minutes to our normal waking up time, I decided there was no need sleeping anymore. So, I uhm..." she paused for a while, not wanting to complete it.

"You what Vel?

"I decided to read my comic book."

"Vel, it's so early to read that okay. By the way, did you read your Bible and pray this morning before doing that? I asked, knowing well that I didn't either and never did. But, I still teach them to do it despite that.

"No mommy. I would do that when it's 6 O'clock." She answered.

"Listen baby, let that be the first thing you do every morning before any activity, no matter the time you wake up, okay? I said while rubbing her face with my palms.

"Okay mommy. I would pray for my twin brother, I will pray for you and also for daddy."

"That's my baby girl. You know I love you right? I love you." I said, kissing her plump cheek.

"I love you too mommy."

I smiled cooly at her and left her alone. She picked up her Bible and then covered her hair with a headtie. I could hear her tiny voice saying some prayers as I headed to the kitchen which was downstairs.

I opened the kitchen door and went in, while leaving it open. I could feel the joy bubbling in my heart. You know why?

Just yesterday, I got a promotion to become the manager of my company. A foreign cosmetic and body care company which had a branch here in the country. It had been my dream for a long time to become manager, but I wasn't expecting it so soon. I was really surprised when I got to work yesterday and I was called by the previous manager and handed a letter. The joy that filled my heart when I saw it. The previous manager was transferred to a different country while I was given the privilege to replace her.

I will be going to work today as a different person all together. Different title, different office, different level and top notch. But, that would also mean more responsibilities. Hmmmm, I thought, yeah, that's true. I have to make sure to see that it doesn't affect my relationship and household obligations as well.

What should I cook now, I thought. Something light but special at the same time. I should also prepare lunch we would take to the office and my kids to school.

Still wondering what I would prepare for breakfast and perhaps lunch also, just then, Nancy came in. Nancy, Nancy Ishiek is my house help and a real helping hand to me. God bless her. She knows her duties and does it so well. Even with her around, I still cook our meals most of the time, because my husband loves my miracle fingers. Though, except on occasions where I am not fine or I am so tired.

"Good morning Madam" she greeted.

"Good morning dear. Hope you slept well?

"Yes ma, why won't I sleep well after all the jolly jolly we did yesterday. Of course I slept well."

I chuckled calmly. "That's good news. So, uhm, I was thinking of what to prepare for breakfast and lunch also. What do you think?

"Madam, you are the superior ma, I cannot dare to think, I don't know o. Anything you say we'll cook." She replied.

I forgot I was talking to Nancy not my husband. She has never brought up any idea on what to prepare. She always give the excuse that she's not in the position to do so. I give up, let me do my thinking myself.

"So I cannot ask you to assist me with that eeh, why can't you think of anything to cook? Did anything happen to your thinking faculty? I asked jokingly.

"Ma, eh, it's not like that na eh ma, it's just that, ha, me I am just eeh an ordinary..."

Just knowing what else she was about to say, I cut her off immediately.

"Shut up. I don't want to ever hear that in my house again, ever. Did you hear me? I warned sternly, though I wasn't as serious as I sounded. I only wanted her to stop the attitude.

She shuddered before answering "yes, yes ma. I would not try to say that again ma, I swear ma." She said, using her fingers to swear as proof to me.

"Whatever, that shit doesn't work anyway. Uhm, I think I should just fry some eggs, we will take it with bread and tea for breakfast. Peel a tuber of yam, we will take yam and tomato or egg sauce for lunch."

"Alright ma, alright ma. I will do that right away." She answered me then left quickly for the store room at the next door on the left, to get the tuber of yam as I had instructed.

I took some eggs from the crates and broke them. I whisked it for some time while humming a popular song, capable God by Judikay. I sliced some onions for the eggs. I spiced the egg to my satisfaction. Then I washed some tomatoes and sliced them too.

"Madam, I am not sure this yam will be enough o. You know oga likes plenty of it." Nancy called out from the store room.

"You can add one more, any one that is smaller to make it bigger." I shouted back, though making sure I didn't really strain my voice.

"Okay ma, I will do that.

I heated my oil and put my onions and tomatoes, adding some spices, I then allowed it to cook in the oil before putting my whisked egg.

After a while, I was done with frying the egg. So I put the kettle with water on fire to make tea.

Nancy entered with a bowl filled with yam.

"You're done already? Did you peel everything?

"No o, I wanted to peel everything but it might waste. So I left it, so I can fry it later, when we want to eat fried yam." She answered me.

One thing I liked about Nancy is her truthfulness and sincerity. I have tested her a lot and countless times without her notice and she always and always pass my test. If she takes anything, she will let me know, even if I'll scold her. The next time she does it again, she will still come back to tell me what she did. I could trust her with anything, though with caution anyway, because we are still humans.

"You can fry it later in the day if you feel hungry then, instead of it wasting." I said

"Ha, ma there's no need. Since we will prepare lunch, instead, I think we should eat fried yam tomorrow, maybe in the night or so. Just saying ma."

"Alright then, that's okay." I replied. "Em, please wash the yam and put it on fire. Then, prepare what I need for the sauce. These kids will be up by now. I'll go check them up later.

I tried to be as fast as I can to make sure I finish up with what I was cooking before breakfast. Nancy helped me to get everything ready, while I did the cooking myself. Not long after, we were done. Thank God for her, she just made things easier for me.

I left the kitchen to go upstairs and check for the kids then my husband. I went to Marvela's room. She was almost dressed, just her socks and shoes left.

"Hey baby, you're almost dressed. Breakfast will be set in a jiffy. Just came up to check you guys."

"As usual. Mommy, I'm no longer a baby you know. You don't have to come upstairs tomorrow. We will meet you downstairs. Deal?

See this little pie, hahaha, well, I have to agree to that anyway, if not she might cause nuisance for me.

"Okay deal."

"And Pinky promise." She said, stretching out her smallest finger for me to bring out mine.

"Alright alright, pinky promise." I replied, clicking her smallest finger with mine. I smiled.

"You know you can't fail on a pinky promise mommy. You taught me that."

"Yeah yeah. I've heard you. Don't forget your homework booklet and your..."

"Writing materials, your pen, pencil, razor... Mommy, I know all of that. You say it almost everyday. I know Mom. Thank you." She said, then she climbed her bed and gave me a peck on my cheek. I smiled and kissed her lips.

Does she realize she's just ten. Gosh, she acts more matured than her age. Anyway, that's so sweet, I like it.

I left her room and headed to her twin brother's room, Marvin.

I got to Marvin's room. Then I knocked twice before opening the door.

"Hi Marvin" I said as I walked into the room. I was stunned, shocked and surprised by what I saw. "Marvin, oh my, Marvin, tell me you're not dressing for school like this? I screamed as I saw Marvin dressed on black suit and a tie, then buttoning his shirt.

"Not dressing for school. I'm dressing for work. Just like Dad. I'm tired of school already, it's tiresome." He replied, still buttoning his shirt.

"You've got to be kidding me." I said, mouth agape and still shocked by what I saw. What's going on with kids of nowadays. Seems I'll need to go and meet their teachers for sanctioning. Or maybe it's I that needs one.

"Good morning Mom. How are you? Sorry about my manners." He said

"You know what will make this morning greeting you gave me good? When you remove your clothes and change into your school uniform and right now. I am not joking about that Marvin." I said in a harsh tone, hands akimbo and with a frowned face.

"I'm sorry Mom. I'm just tired of school." He said, then sat on his bed like someone who just heard a bad news.

I came over to his bed and sat beside him. Then I crossed my arm over his shoulder.

"Tell me, why? Why are you tired of school? I asked very much concerned about him.

"I don't like being bossed around. Told what to do every single time. It's time for classwork, it's reading time, it's this and that it's this and this, I'm tired of it Mom. I just want to be like Dad. No one tells him when to go to work or not. He's a boss of his own. He does what he wants, when he wants and no one does anything about it. That, it what I want."

I had to stop myself from laughing so hard. Does this little guy knows what he's asking for? You know, when we were kids, we want to grow up, but when we grow up, we end up yearning to be kids again. I hope he doesn't miss out on his kid adventures now that he has the chance to.

"Marvin, let me tell you something." I said, coming closer to him and looking at the clock in his room, to make sure I'm still on track. "You see, your Dad didn't become a boss in a day, just like you wanna be boss In a day. Things don't just happen that way you know. It's step by step. Dad went through nursery school, primary school, secondary school and tertiary, what we call University. He still did his masters and PhD to get to where he is now." I explained while he listened attentively.

"Wow, that's a whole lot. Hmmm. He really went through nursery school? Wow, that's cool."

"Yeah, Dad did. He was once a kid like you too. So was I. We went through all these processes to be where we are now."

"I did not know that." He said, holding his chin up with his palm.

"Do you still wanna be like Daddy? I asked, smiling

"Yes Mom. I wanna be like Dad."

"Then dress up for school, and don't be late for breakfast, it's almost time. Let me help you with your writing materials."

"Okay Mom. I won't be late."

He quickly removed his clothes and dropped them on the bed, while I picked them up and hung them. I helped him arrange his books inside his bag, making sure to leave nothing out. Then I kissed him on his forehead.

"Don't forget to come down early for breakfast Marvin."

"I won't forget."

So then, I left him and hurried downstairs to continue with what I was doing. By the time I got to the kitchen, Nancy had finished boiling the yam and was draining it. While the tomato sauce was already on fire.

"Oh, the yam is done already?

"Yes ma'am. That's what I'm draining. Did the kids give you tough time again?

"Ha ha ha. My dear. It's Marvin o. I saw him on his suit, he said he wanted to go to work like his dad." I said laughing so loud.

"Seriously, ha, he thinks it's that easy to say. Anyway, he's just a kid that is why he's reasoning like that." Nancy said.

"Yeah. I had to explain some things to him, so he won't think his Dad just woke up one morning like he did today and decided to stop school."

I stirred the tomatoes that was on fire gently and waited for it to be done, so I can put the necessary ingredients and go prepare for work.

"Ma, it's almost done. Why not go ahead and dress for work. It would be breakfast soon." Nancy said, stretching her hands to take the wooden spoon from me.

"Don't worry dear. You know I like my sauce prepared by my miracle hands. Ha ha ha. I have prepared everything I have to wear to work. I just need to bathe, that's all." I said.

"It's just twenty minutes to 7 O'clock ma'am. You might be late for breakfast." Nancy argued.

"Just bring the kids food flask and our lunch flask so I can dish out the food. The sauce is almost done." I said, putting the peppers, the carrots, salt and other things I needed to.

After that, I dished out some into the flasks and set them ready. Then she arranged them into our lunch bags and kept them on the kitchen table.

"Won't you also dress for work? I asked.

"Ma, my work is by 10 oo. I cannot be rushing this early morning. By the way, I still have some house chores to complete before thinking about that work."

"You don't like your work? I asked

"Ha, ma, I like it very well oo. I have learnt how to make meat pie and bake cake, later I will learn, emm, egg roll, then icing on cakes. But that will be later. On weekend I will bake some meat pies for you people, so that you will see that what you paid for is not in vain." She said, smiling and proud of herself.

"This girl eeh, you're really funny. I'm anticipating already. Very soon you'll have your own big catering service."

"Yes ooo. Big Thanks to you madam. Big thanks to you. Ehee, madam, it's remaining ten minutes o. Just go and bath let me take breakfast to the dinning room."

"Okay then. Thank you."

"Ha, it's me that will be thanking you o."