The atmosphere was tense and raw as the air heated up with Nike's words. The weather outside that had previously dulled turned into an intense downpour.
"I don't even care how you feel right now because you can't take the truth!
You don't love yourself- you never have and that's why you've been unable to date because you're incapable of loving anyone! That's why it's so hard for people to be around you." Nike sputtered. She was so upset that she couldn't even stop to look at Rena's expression.
She continued as tears walked down her cheeks;
"That man practically loves you, but he's human and can make some mistakes! You can't just demand perfection from him.
I mean look; you're planning to leave the state but you didn't even deem it fit to inform your best friend! You just expect everyone to be there when you need them but you don't deserve it... You're an insensitive bitch!" She picked her tote bag and dashed out of the bedroom, slamming the door hard.
Rena stood still at the spot and wept bitterly as her body quivered but at the moment, she didn't feel any sadness or ... self-pity as Nike had put it.
It was ... anger!
Suddenly, she snapped and violently flung the bedroom door open. She dashed across the corridor, searching vigorously for Nike.
She soon spotted her standing at the top of the stairs, drying her tears so Mr and Mrs Dawson would probably not notice they'd fought.
"How dare you!" Rena yelled at the top of her voice. "Do you think you're any better than me?!" She approached her menacingly.
"What are you even talking about? Are you the better one?! You're a sad loner and practically everyone that comes into your life is two things; unlucky or a blessing to you." Nike snapped right back.
Rena chuckled cynically. "At least I have people in my life, Nike. You're just jealous that my life is better than your miserable one and you're no longer the centre of attraction."
"You can never be better than me." Nike replied bitterly.
"Oh please. I have a wonderful loving family and a man that could die for me. As for you, you're not even sure your parents love you." Rena slowly mouthed the words with a glint in her eyes.
Nike paused for a while. Her heart thumped as she tried to process the words.
Suddenly, her face reddened as she dove at Rena and gifted her a heated slap. She didn't stop there but grabbed her hair and yanked on it.
"Nike!!" Rena yelled and hit her but she wouldn't budge.
Nike was about dishing out blows when Rena mustered all the strength she could and pushed her off.
Rena breathed heavily as she watched her- falling... She felt relieved that she was off her but it was only a matter of time before she realised that Nike was struggling for balance.
She reached out her hand to grab her but it was too late. Nike's body crashed against the stairs below, flipped over and fell on the carpeted floor at the foot of the stairs with a loud bang!
"Rena, is everything fine?!" Mrs Dawson yelled from the kitchen where she'd been prepping lunch.
Rena felt her body vibrate with fear as her stomach wrenched. She saw it- blood! ... sipping out of the back of Nike's head and soaking into the carpet.
Suddenly, Mrs Dawson dashed into the scene as she'd received no response.
"Jesus! Rena!" She exclaimed in dread, lifting the palm oil-stained spatula in her hand to her head. "What happened? Let's get her to the hospital!" She shrieked in fear and hastily scrambled around for the car keys...
•••
The morning sun filtered into the bedroom as the alarm went off for the umpteenth time that morning.
"This thing has been ringing for an hour, Rena. Get out of bed!"
The girl stirred and turned in the bed until she was finally awake. Her eyes snapped open as they scanned the wooden cream coloured ceiling- she had seen him again ... in her sleep.
It was about the third time since the night they'd spoken.
"Good morning, mummy." She greeted sluggishly and sat up on the bed.
"How are you today?"
"I'm ... fine, I guess." She responded sluggishly.
"Did Maxwell show up yesterday?" She asked.
"How should I know?" Rena asked and plunged back into her pillow and sheets.
"He told me he was coming. You mean you didn't let him in?"
Rena shrugged indefinitely. Mrs Dawson pulled her up by the hand. "Don't you think you're being too hard on him now? ... By the way, you should put yourself together; everything with Nike was an accident, right?"
"Are you also doubting me?" She questioned with shock in her eyes.
"Now I didn't say that. I'm just asking a question." She explained.
"Honestly mummy, Nike practically hates me right now. I'm just glad it was just a minor head injury."
"Nike wouldn't stay mad at you because she is your friend. A good friend would understand it was an accident that she was equally responsible for." Mrs Dawson explained.
Rena heaved a weighted sigh, got out of bed and went to stand by the window. "Mummy please bring me some of those spicy chocolates he used to bring." She asked, referring to one of Maxwell's peace offerings.
"Rena, you don't acknowledge his gestures. All you want is the gifts he brings?!" She scolded.
"I ... look mummy, this is a lot. I don't even have the energy to feel anything right now- except guilt of course.
All I want to do is shower, eat the spicy chocolates, cry, pray and sleep. Can you respect that, mummy?" Rena melodramatically asked.
"I can." The woman replied and rose from the bed where she sat. "You can come right down for breakfast ... and the chocolates too.
And in everything you do, don't fight it." Mrs Dawson advised and left the room.
"I want yoghurt with it!" Rena yelled back just as her mother was shutting the door.
"Okay!" She replied from outside.
Rena relaxed on her bed again in her cream coloured two-piece pyjamas as thoughts raced through her mind- she was sure Nike would be sore furious with her. Though she didn't know why, but she was sure she would..
Memories of Nike's words from that night flashed through her mind; 'Paranoid, self-pitying, self-absorbed ... incapable of ... love...' She sighed and sat up on the bed, palming her forehead in frustration.
Nike never lied- at least not to her or not one that would harm her. The girl was too right about all her flaws- she was paranoid and lucky to have Maxwell in her life.
Maxwell, she thought to herself. She silently hoped she hadn't ended up pushing him further away; except her family and Nike, he was the only friend she could boast of and Nike was also right- he did love her.
"...don't fight it?" She recalled mummy's words.
Her body quivered as she broke down in silent sobs. Suddenly, she stopped and dried her tears, consoling herself.
"I need to apologise to Nike," she thought aloud. "...but he doesn't deserve my forgiveness; he hurt me bad ... and I'm sure Stella is consoling him just fine."
Rena immediately got off her bottom and dashed into the bathroom to wash up.
•••
"I can no longer console you, oh. You're getting very annoying with all this your heartbreak stuff ... honestly, me I'm tired; I'm leaving."
There was no answer from the young man. He was lifelessly seated on the only clean space in his bedroom; the desk chair by his mini library and clad in a large, white hoodie.
"Maxwell! You're not even saying anything?" Stella clenched her leather purse to her side with arms at akimbo as she spoke. "Well?"
"She didn't even come down to see me. She was home alone that night and she didn't even open the door ... It was raining... when she finally did, she..." He explained as his words slurred.
"So is it the fever that's affecting you like this or still the breakfast?" She asked intensively.
"Rena did not break up with me!" He snapped. "She's just fighting her feelings." His tone softened as a distant look appeared in his eyes.
"But it's been months now. What woman do you think will indefinitely hold on to anything for that long?" She asked.
"Stella, just leave." He muttered and wrapped his arms around himself as though he was cold; and he was. He'd caught a cold on the night that he had visited Rena while she was home alone.
He had never felt so much emptiness and distraught in a long time... He recalled;
***It was about a few minutes past 7:00 that fateful evening when he stood in their driveway and spotted her up in her bedroom window.
Yea, it was most certainly possible that it could have been a shadow caused by all the reflection of the flashes of light or simply his imagination but, something inside of him knew it was more- he'd seen her! ... for the first time in weeks.
She didn't move on the spot but he knew that she saw him. Maxwell waved both arms in the air, signalling to her to open the door.
Earlier, he'd pleaded and reached an agreement with Mrs Dawson that he would visit when it was only the girl at home so he could speak to her in privacy and she on the other hand will have no choice other than to speak to him.
"Rena!" He called out as the downpour drenched him over and over again.
She was immovable, simply standing at her window, staring at him from above.
"Please open the door!" He yelled out as the rain drowned out his voice.
She still didn't budge. He resulted to going back to his vehicle to warm up but he was adamant and returned at the next minute, gesturing to her like a mad man.
Maxwell felt his heart sink into his stomach when he realised by his wristwatch that several minutes had passed already and she was nonchalant; unmoving.
As he readied himself to give up, the door knob turned and the door swung open. Lo and behold, she stood there in a large grey sweater and leggings, staring.
He was frozen in wonderment, radiating with joy because she'd opened the door and hopefully would let him in ... And she did!
"Come in," he read the words on her lips because the rain was too severe to let him hear anything.
He was lost in thought for a while as he took in the sight of her- she looked gorgeous on that evening and even cuter in the large sweater.
"Thank you." He muttered as he shook with the cold that had bitten into him and stepped into the living room which was way warmer and quiter.
He stood there, soaking the carpet at the centre of the living room as she walked away and disappeared into the dining room.
Maxwell waited in obliviousness for only a little while before she returned with a towel and handed it to him. "Take it." She muttered and sat at the extreme of the living room.
His hand brushed against hers as he received the towel and he could almost feel her irritation- rather her resistance to the short-lived spark that ignited.
His heart melted due to her hospitality as he simply stood- staring.
When her fierce gaze met his, Maxwell averted his eyes, feeling embarrassed and ... dumb.
"Sit." He heard her say ... or rather order.
He sat and watched her get up and leave again. This time, she returned with a few male clothes and gave it to him.
"Am I supposed to..." he stuttered.
"The guest room is over there." She pointed to the far left corner, insinuating that he should go in and change into dry clothes.
Then she started going upstairs.
"Rena, wait." He jumped off the chair, dripping with water. "I need to talk to you." He said and wiped the wetness off his face.
She paused on the staircase and looked down at him. "I'm listening."
"Sit ... at least, please."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I said I was listening. Do you want me to go upstairs?"
"I'm sorry- I mean for this, for her and for the outing but isn't this taking it too far?" A short-lived look of dread flashed across his face as he muttered; "You're hurting me, Rena."
"Look," she begun with a blank expression. "We can't work. I mean I've tried, you've tried. It's only been two months so, let's make this easier and less painful for the both of us. Goodnight, Max." She attempted climbing up the stairs again but he called her name again.
"Rena, you know you can't end this. I ... still love you. This is outrageous."
"You don't deserve to tell me what is or isn't outrageous. Leave my house!" She spat and stormed upstairs.
He heard her room door bang shut and his heart shatter further.
"Just like that?..." he muttered to himself.***
"Max!" Stella interrupted his thoughts. "You look awful. We're going to the Institute right now. Work environment should cheer you up."
•••
Rena paced across the hallway of the medical institute with a note in her hand and a fat cellophane bag in the other, scanning each door with her eyes as she repeatedly muttered; "Room 101" to herself.
She soon came across the hospital room which was also Nike's room where she had been admitted in for a week. Rena took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
As she entered, she spotted a girl sitting on the bed in a hospital dress with her right leg judiciously wrapped up in cast and her head, equally bandaged.
"Hi ... Nike," her voice trailed off in unease.
Nike's head snapped to the side and she caught sight of her- she didn't speak a word.
"How are you doing now?" She asked as she neared her. There was no reply. Instead, Nike just looked away from her, staring at the blank wall.
"Nike, I'm really sorry about everything. I just ... I didn't mean to; I just lost control." She stood at the spot as she apologised.
Nike turned to face her with amusement in her eyes. "Yeye girl, I've forgiven you!" She exclaimed. "Your mom has been visiting me- told me the condition you were in just because I was mad at you. I couldn't stay mad, na and I said terrible things to you as well; I'm sorry.
But you're sha lucky it wasn't the other way round cos I would have beaten the hell out of you. But I still miss you- I was waiting for you to visit. " She explained.
Rena chuckled in wonderment and hurried over to embrace her friend. "So you were playing me."
"Na you de play yourself, oh." Nike teased with a mischievous giggle. Rena shortly followed and so did a brief moment of silence.
"You know, honestly..." Rena broke the decorum. "Everything you said about me that day wasn't quite far from the truth." She confessed.
Nike's face sank and suddenly brightened up again as she spoke; "you mean you've forgiven Maxwell! Are you guys back together?!"
"Forgiven him, ke?"
"Rena what is wrong with you?- even till now?"
"Nike, I've been thinking about what you said and I realised that I haven't been a good friend. That's why I want you to come along with me to the Capital."
"What?!" Nike exclaimed with her expression mingled with shock and excitement.
"Yea!" Rena exclaimed in genuine excitement. "Look." She took out a sheet of printed paper and put it in her hand. "It's due in a month."
"Next month!" Nike exclaimed.
"No, in a month."
"Next month. That's what I said."
"No, in a month. It's different."
"No, it's not." Nike painstakingly adjusted herself on the bed. "Does he know?"
"Who?"
"Rena stop that. Do you really want to go away and leave Maxwell here?"
"Didn't I mention we're over? ... because we are."
"Rena!"
"Nike."
"Why would you do that?" She asked with pain in her eyes.
"Because some people we meet in life are just meant to pass through and not stick and he is a perfect example of such people." Rena explained, wearing a bland expression.
"Rena, you're fighting your own heart and the consequences of this thing you're doing to yourself will be grievous. You have no idea." Nike warned.
"Abeg, what do you know? We need to get packing. It's about time I left mummy and daddy's house already. Besides all of you, there's nothing left for me here."
"Not even him?"
"Nike, that's a funny joke. Anyway, I brought you these..." Rena lifted the fat cellophane bag off the floor.
"Yay!!" Nike screamed in childish glee.
Meanwhile, right outside the room, Maxwell stood hopelessly, having heard what his Rena had said. His heart sank into his stomach as her words reiterated in his mind.
He felt reality crack before his eyes, on the verge of shattering- she did let him go that night ... but how could she do it so easily?... he thought.
He felt disregarded and ... he felt like nothing.
Besides, it was clear he was exactly that to her and nothing more. He heaved a weighted sigh as streaks of tears cascaded down his cheeks. He tried to muster up some courage at least to walk into the room and question Rena about her decision but he wasn't in any position to do such since he was nothing to her, so he let it be.
"Max, are you okay? Let's go." Stella's voice echoed in the hallway as she stood behind him, with a bag of medicines she'd gotten from the pharmacy.
He slowly turned towards her with the sullen expression on his face.
"What happened?" She asked him.
"Nothing." He replied bluntly. "Let's go out tonight." He uttered with a stern expression and walked away.
"Is ... is that tears I see?..." her voice trailed off as she followed behind him.
•••
"Nike's business has a branch there in the Capital already and we'll be staying in one of the properties her dad gave her as an inheritance."
"It's good to know that you have everything under control." Mummy remarked, feeling impressed.
"So, when will you girls be leaving?"
"Very soon. In about a week." Rena rinsed up the last of the dishes as she spoke.
She heard mummy heave a sigh and turned away from the food she was serving to face her. "I'm very proud of you, dear. But, I just want you to allow things to happen naturally and not force anything, okay?" She advised.
Rena nodded half-hearted ... or rather in confusion because she didn't really understand where the statement was coming from until she heard her say;
"You broke up with him, didn't you?"
Rena felt a pang in her chest as she heaved a heavy sigh.
"Mummy ... why is everyone just trying to make me look like the bad person here? You all are trying to make me feel guilty." She snapped.
"Dear, it's not like we're trying to make you feel guilty. It's just that, whatever he has done to you, you shouldn't let it destroy the beautiful relationship you have with him. Besides, he is sorry. The young man tried."
"But mummy, it's too late, isn't it?"
"My dear, it's never too late for true love." Mummy remarked.
Rena burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hands. "Now you sound like you're quoting a movie."
"You're not serious. Abeg wash these vegetables let me sauté them quickly." She instructed.
"Okay." She replied.
•••
A few days later, Rena decided to visit Nike at her apartment, just to be sure the girl was as set for the trip as she was ... and possibly to help her pack up and to finalise a few plans.
"Rena but I like this table. This is oak. Do you know?! ... I must go with this table whether you like it or not, because if I don't, my life there will be meaningless."
"Nike, for table again? Please, be serious so that we can get everything set already." She scolded.
"But I really love this table-"
"I'll get you a fine, oak wood table. Better?" She interrupted.
"Two." Nike negotiated further, gesturing with two of her fingers.
"Yea, two. Now pack up the rest of this stuff." She instructed.
"I know, I know. But have I told you about this house?!" Nike limped and sat on the bed. "I made research on the style of houses there, the decor and everything. Rena, these people build like the whites.
They use wood instead of mortar and that gives us a higher advantage in case we want to renovate!" She squealed.
"Renovate a new house?!" Rena exclaimed as she folded up the last of Nike's jeans into the second of the two boxes they occupied.
"You know ... just for fun. Dibs on the kitchen." She remarked and burst into laughter.
"Ohh too bad. I really wanted to take a perfectly good kitchen apart and put it back together again."
"Hian! Who says I'm taking it apart?- I resemble engineer for your eye? I'm just thinking of changing the colour scheme cos me I know that they usually make use of whites, creams and ivory to easily match the wood; they're not really attentive to detail since they're building houses in bunches."
"Bunches?!" Rena exclaimed with an expression of shock and amusement.
"Yea, bunches." Nike repeated.
"I'm not sure people build houses in ... bunches!"
"Stop saying bunches like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're forcing out the word- bunches! That's how you sound." Nike replied.
"Because it's funny."
"Anyway, forget about that. It's only five days to go ... Are you sure you want to do this?" Nike asked on a more serious note.
"Am I ready to go to law school?- yes, please."
"No. I mean, do you really want to just walk away from Maxwell's life like that, without his notice?"
"Nike, can we just talk-"
"Shhh..." Nike cut her short. "Just think about the question and give me a good answer."
"Okay." Rena replied and remained silent- seemingly in deep thought. She sighed several times before doing a deep one and responding to Nike; "I ... I don't know, Nike. I'm not sure he deserves this.
Maybe I should at least tell him I'm leaving ... but what difference would it make since we're not together anymore." Her voice trailed off as she spoke.
"Do you want to get back together?.." Nike asked softly.
"Nike, that's outrageous. How can you?..."
"Rena." Her voice was stern this time. "Do you or do you not?"
Rena was still again. She heaved another sigh.
"That night ... when I saw him in the rain, I was angry. I thought he was pulling another stunt to blackmail me emotionally.
But he persisted and I thought it was ... cute." She smiled. "And then, I remembered what he did to me ... and I got angry again, and I pushed him away and ended things with him."
Nike adjusted on the bed and asked; "Did the University really give you only a week to resume school?"
Rena averted her eyes, feeling a pang of guilt. "No." She replied.
"I'm asking because it's going to take a while for me to completely recover and I absolutely can not travel in this condition." Nike proclaimed.
"I actually have a month to resume at Bernard but, I just wanted a quick change of environment."
"Chai! Rena. What are you running from? You have an entire month extra left and you just want to run away like that!" Nike softened her tone and asked; "Don't you think you should ... maybe speak to him before you go and clear things up?..."
Rena plunged into deep thought.
•••
As stupid as it felt to her, Rena found herself at his house in the evening of one slightly windy day. She breathed in deeply at regular intervals to calm her nerves, hoping he would walk out his front door any minute from then, but he didn't.
Though she had been standing there for several minutes, she didn't dare ring the doorbell because if he was to answer ... what then?
It was only a matter of time before she realised that she would actually have to knock on the door if she wanted him to come out- so she did!
Rena lifted her hand and knocked at the door. When it swung open, her heart melted as she saw the-Stella-girl standing before her.
"What the heck are you doing here?" She snapped at her.
"I came ... p-please can I..." her voice trailed off in confusion and embarrassment as she paused and placed a palm on her forehead.
"I came, I came..." Stella imitated her mockingly. "Get out!" She yelled.
"Can I just see him, please?"
"No. Get out before I call the authorities on you or handle you myself." She warned.
"Handle?.." Rena muttered to herself as she retreated.
Rena was quite sure that the Stella was very capable of carrying out all the threats she angrily spat at her, so she gave up for the sake of her own dignity and went home.
•••
Blue crystal moonlight filtered through the window, lighting up a part of the dimly lit bedroom and bathing Rena's skin as she slept soundly.
She soon began to jerk and stir on the bed and suddenly, her eyes snapped open- she had seen him in her sleep again.
She sat up on the bed and peered out her window for fresh air. It was about the third time she'd seen him in her sleep since she ended their relationship.
But why?!- Rena soon began to think to herself.
Why did she in the first place?- she could still feel a piece of him inside her, even though it was so far down that it was almost out of her reach.
She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, allowing the crystalline balls to flow freely from her eyes. She realised in the moment that she didn't want anything else in the world than to share what they used to once again.
She sprawled her body on the bed again as memories of him and them flashed through her mind- it was indeed unnecessary and she really shouldn't have...
Rena regretted it deeply; every part of her actions. It was such a wonderful thing for someone else to feel the exact same thing one feels inside- even the unexpressed.
She heaved a sigh as she cried harder, sobbing lightly at regular intervals. It was then she realised that she needed the man in the white tux.
"I'm sorry. Please fix it." She muttered under her breath as her tears soaked through pillow.
Very soon, she drifted off to sleep...
She saw flashes of light inside her mind. She saw reality alter and suddenly, there he was!
"Rena, come over here." The man in the white tux called out to her with open arms.
She ran into his arms in despair and shed her tears more freely this time. He let her weep for hours, feeling her heart bleed.
"Why?..." she asked with teary eyes and lifted her palm to him- it was wounded and bleeding.
"Because I am here." He replied and revealed his palm to her- it was wounded and bleeding as well.
Rena broke down further but this time, not in despair and heartbreak but in comfort and the realisation that she didn't feel the pain alone...
•••
Morning had come and Mrs Dawson stood in her kitchen that early morning making eba. The golden rays of the morning sun filtered in, transforming the ambiance into the light show of golden-brown, azure and carton that it usually was at such time of the day.
She lined serving dishes on the slab before her and placed wholesome servings of the baked locally sourced garri in the plates- indeed, she had fallen in love with local dishes. Later in the day, she'd even planned to scout around for more recipes by visiting local eateries.
The woman was on a hot streak.
Right behind her at the sink, her husband was lending a helping hand and scrubbing the dishes clean. Normally, he would be busy with work at the church or his work-work at the time of the day, but the man had taken the time to absent himself from both things having noticed the condition of his precious daughter.
Now it wasn't that he couldn't step in to guide her as a father, but he knew at that point that the situation would pose as a perfect agenda for mother and daughter to bond ... so he let his Rita handle it, trusting her not to mess it up like she'd done with other things in the past.
"Bowls please," he heard her order.
He quickly rinsed out a few of the bowls he'd already scrubbed and handed it to her.
Smiling over her shoulder, Rita turned and received the dishes from him.
"Are you ready?" She asked excitedly.
"I can smell this food would be very delicious!" He remarked and cuddled his wife from behind.
"What!" She softly exclaimed. "That's bad grammar ... and a very bad joke." She teased and burst into laughter. He shortly followed as he dipped his hand into the pot of soup and bit the meat he'd taken out.
"Hey! No, no, no." She said in amusement and held on to the other end of the piece of meat he'd bitten. "Drop it." She instructed amidst laughter.
On the other hand, he was adamant and bit harder on the other end.
"Stop that!" She exclaimed in amusement and resulted to tickling him.
Momentarily, someone walked in on their little activity.
"I'm sorry, I..."
"Maxwell!" Mrs Dawson exclaimed and left her embarrassed husband's side.
"Good morning sir, good morning ma. I was knocking but no one was responding so I let myself in." He explained.
"It's alright." Mr Dawson replied. "You can join us for breakfast then." He offered.
The young man nervously nodded at the offer, rubbing his palms together.
"Did she invite you over?" The woman asked as she held up a part of her long chiffon dress.
"No," he replied and shook his head in the negative- still seemingly nervous.
"Whatever. You're a fan of swallow, right?" She asked and walked back into the kitchen as he followed behind her.
"Hmmm, I order swallow at times." He responded, still feeling uneasy.
"You're not a fan of it, are you?" She pressed on. Mr Dawson helped take the food to the dining.
"Well ... I could manage." He tried to be courteous.
"Don't worry. I've got just the thing for you." She remarked with excitement in her eyes.
"No, it's fine. You don't have to go through that stress," he interjected.
"But I insist." She further urged. "You're like a son to me ... or a son-in-law if you please." She added, with a coy smile.
"Pardon?" He feigned poor hearing.
"You're very well pardoned." She melodramatically whispered to him. "Now, fried or scrambled?" She asked as she took an egg from its crate and cracked it into a bowl.
Maxwell pursed his lips, feeling embarrassed and replied; "Fried."
Mrs Dawson smiled at him and continued to work.
The young man felt his heart warm up; she in turn, was like a mother to him.
It was only a matter of time until Mrs Dawson was finished with making Maxwell's breakfast. He carried it to the table and cleaned up after her.
As he worked, his eyes wandered around the place at regular intervals like he was searching for something.
"Max, what are you looking for?" Mrs Dawson would ask him on such occasion, wearing such a visible expression of amusement on her face.
"Nothing." He would respond until it was finally time for everyone to settle down to breakfast.
Right after the prayer of thanks, he heard footsteps coming downstairs so he looked up in anticipation.
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