In the heart of Surulere, in a quiet street just between two almost weathered houses, sat a small bungalow occupied by the Scenarios family. Their compound was popular for the number of fruit trees planted inside. And every evening, the birds will perch on trees, chirping melodious tunes to whoever cares to listen.

The aroma of Mama Chinedu's well prepared pot of jellof rice hit me as I walked into her kitchen that Sunday evening. That familiar aroma of fried onions and garlic, spices, and tomato stew. That aroma that always leaves me without home training. The particular aroma I found hard to escape from. I froze and thought of turning back and leaving. But Mama Chinedu had already seen me and was smiling from ear to ear.

Ninaa heard squeaks and tiny scratches the first night they moved into their new apartment. At first, she never thought about it as something serious,, even though the squeaking felt weird. Tobi had kissed her lips and asked her to relax that it might probably be her mind playing tricks with me, or maybe it was just adjusting to their new environment

They say in our present economy, if you must survive you have to have double source of income.Well, I never did until my salary started dragging like my feet on a tired day. The bills were becoming exorbitant by the day. And my bank account gradually turned into little decimal units.

I was so happy when I heard that Chijioke, my twin brother, was back. And that he came back a different man, wealthy. That meant more money for the family. Just what Papa had wanted. Now Papa will be taken care of by the best physicians in the country.

“You still smell of him, go wash again.” I heard Lami say.I paused, my hand still on the doorknob, and my eyes locked on her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t turn. Neither did she look at me from the mirror either. She just stood there brushing her hair. Her words were blunt yet sharp. She pretended to be ignorant of what her words did to me. Like she didn't just cut too deep in the heart with her words.