CAMARADERIE TROUBLES

Selena hesitated for a brief moment, then went ahead to hug the older woman. Who would have thought she and Mrs Simon would actually get along after all that happened. But it seemed people are not averse to change. Mrs Simon had changed drastically since her husband reprimanded her, and slowly, she had tried her best to work her way back to the hearts of the children. For Amanda and Solomon, it was pretty easy. A few gifts here and there and she was the queen of the world in their hearts. Selena had required a lot more but Mrs Simon, ready to make up for her mistakes had been patient. Selena loved cooking, Mrs Simon had realised and harnessed that, teaching her how to cook and creating a motherly atmosphere around her. It had kept Selena's mind busy - which was a good thing - and also won her the little girl's heart. Mrs Simon and Selena were inseparable now as Mrs Simon became a mother and a friend.

Selena was just pulling out of the much needed hug when she heard the shrill.

"Daddy"

Selena spun so fast as her siblings ran towards the towering figure of her father, seeing as he scooped up Amanda and Solomon into his strong arms. Selena blinked severally. "Dad?" she ran forward, as she also gave her father a hug. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest. She was so happy to see her father after several weeks but she was also scared, really scared. She couldn't tell if this was a good development of a bad one... a very bad one.

Selena tried her best to hide her anxiety and put a smile on her face as her father squatted before them but for the first time, her feelings were not easily masked.

bimbo saw the anxiety in the face of his children and his heart broke. Tears were not an easy thing for a man but bimbo has been doing a lot of that this past few days and weeks. "How are you children? I've missed you all so much" he put a big smile on his face for the sake of his children.

"You didn't come to visit us" Amanda accused instantly as Solomon stayed poised in his father's arms. Mr and Mrs Simon watched the children silently from a distance.

bimbo rubbed his hand on Amanda's cheek, smiling softly at them all. "I'm sorry, but now, we are going together"

Everyone's eyes flashed with delight. "I'll see mummy?" Solomon mouthed.

bimbo grinned at the baby of the house. "Yes, Solomon, you'd all she mummy"

"And IK?" Selena asked pensively. Everything depended on this question.

bimbo stared at his eldest daughter for a second, then nodded. "Yes, Selena, and IK"

Selena stared at her father. She couldn't read his face the racing of her heart had pretty much engulfed her senses. IK is alive! "He is better now?" she mouthed again. There was something she couldn't read in her father's face. Surely, she was imagining it and over thinking things like Mrs Simon said she does. But why was he much quieter than his usually quiet self?

bimbo smiled widely. "He is alright now"

Undiluted happiness filled Selena. Surely her instincts were wrong. Her father couldn't lie; he had never lied to her before. "Alright kids, why don't you go pack some we can get going"

In a flash, Selena and her siblings dashed into the house. Mrs Simon turned. "I'd help them pack" she mouthed, leaving the two men alone. They surely had much to talk about. Weirdly, Mrs Simon was sad thinking she'd not be seeing the children again. Despite her initial reception, the children had grown on her till she developed deep affection and love for them; she was probably missing her own children too much.

Mrs Simon helped the children pack and watched them fuse their clothes into bags carelessly, too impatient to worry about folding them. Selena had never looked to do excited and enthusiastic. Mrs Simon hoped to God that their hopes were not bashed. She hoped bimbo told the children the truth.

*****

The taxi wasn't moving fast enough. It didn't look like they were going to their house. bimbo had told them that they were going to another house but it seemed so far away. As long as IK and their mother was there, the children couldn't ask for anything more.

Selena took her eyes from the road, turning away from the window. Her large eyes met her dad's as she asked for the umpteenth time. "How much longer?" bimbo smiled and repeated what he had been saying over and over again. "We would be there soon"

Selena sighed lightly, turning back to the window. She continued her daydream of what she'd tell IK. And what he'd tell her. She just wanted to see his face and hear his voice. He'd be so shocked when she told him that she could cook now... that she could cook so many things. Selena smiled to herself in anticipation, already envisioning his stunned face. She doubted she'd be able to catch a whim of sleep tonight.

She stared at the road again, it never seemed to end, she thought with a frown. Patience. Patience!

Finally, after a few prolonged minutes, the taxi pulled off the road and into a large compound, with tall buildings. The place was beautiful. Way more beautiful than their former apartment, this place looked like it's meant only for the rich.

Selena started towards the first staircase she saw.

"Selena, won't you carry your bags?" bimbo called.

Selena nodded and backtracked hastily. She grabbed two small bags from the trunk of the taxi as bimbo handled the rest. bimbo led the way, followed closely by Amanda and Solomon. Selena trailed behind them.

Suddenly, she became apprehensive. What would she say to IK first. She had never premeditated words with her brother, but now, she was suddenly feeling shy. It's been months. What if her brother wasn't how she remembered him to be? What if he had changed? Selena sighed. Well, she'd just have to see for herself, wouldn't she?

They arrived at a door and bimbo put down the bags on one hand to push open the door. The children stared at the door as it pushed open, unconsciously holding their breaths for whatever laid ahead.

*****

"Mummy!!!"

The children ran into the waiting

arms of their mother. Florence knelt down on the fug of the moderately large sitting room, enfolding her children her arms. Tears filled her eyes and spilled over as she felt extreme happiness. "Oh... My babies" It was like nothing she had ever felt before. It was pure bliss. The distance could have pulled them apart but instead, it brought them closer than they were before.

Florence pulled back, inspecting them to see if they held up well. She never wanted them away from her again, not even for a minute.

"Mummy missed all of you, so much... so so much" she muttered.

"I missed you too, mummy", the children murmured simultaneously. Amanda and Solomon wiped at the tears in their mother's eyes as Florence wiped at their.

The children's eyes started going round almost instantly. Something wasn't right. Someone was missing...

"Where is IK?" Selena mouthed the unspoken question as she shrugged out of her mother's arms, looking around, wildly. Her heart raced fast.

"Selena..." bimbo began.

"Where is IK?" she cried, her voice rang out in the room as she stared at every corner, only seeing walls and doors. "You said he is here!" she screamed at her father. "you said he is here with mummy" this time, Selena couldn't control the tears that filled her eyes and spilled over for the very first time.

"Selena... honey, calm down" Florence gasped out. Amanda and Solomon looked on in confusion as they started tearing up also.

"No!" Selena yelled. "I want to see IK! I want-"

"Love"

Selena froze in place as that voice that she knew so well beckoned. The voice that belonged to only one person.

"IK!" Amanda and Solomon squealed as they ran in one direction.

Selena turned around slowly as her eyes connected with the one person she really wanted to see. He was smiling in that familiar way she knew so well as he bent fractionally, lifting Solomon into his arms, while holding Amanda by the side. They were all smiles and less words, as they reminisced in the reunion of the family. IK lifted his smiling gaze till it connected with Selena's.

"IK" she gasped out. And for a weirdly unknown reason, Selena started crying. And once the tears started, they never seemed to stop It wasn't what she had imagined their reunion to be, she surely hadn't thought she'd be crying like Solomon -like a kid. But she was 'still' a kid and for once, she was

glad about it."^^^^^^^^^^^^