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Back to Reality

September arrived like a sudden flood. The days of summer passed by and soon enough the streets became quieter and school had resumed. Events had come to an end. Mrs Alabi was grateful for this, while she got Tosin ready for school. Isabelle and Dami could hear her from Tosin's room, complaining and warning about Tosin returning home in a dirty school uniform.

"If you try that rubbish you did last school year, you know me now, its me and you in this house. Have you heard?" She warned.

'Yes mummy" Tosin's small voice replied.

"Good girl, oya go downstairs and eat your breakfast before the school bus comes. When, Dami you too hurry up o"

"Okay mum" Dami yelled. She buttoned up her school shirt, and turned to look at Isabelle. "I'd give anything to be pregnant right now, just for one more hour of sleep" She whispered dejectedly.

Isabelle giggled. "When you're actually pregnant, you'll retract that statement you just made. Now I'm just going to be laying here with these Braxton Hicks and nothing to do" She rubbed her belly through her pyjamas.

"Abeg oh, I'm protecting myself very well thank you very much ma" Dami replied, smirking.

"Isn't that lipgloss too much?" Isabelle asked again.

Dami laughed. "Sis, I'm in Ss3 abeg. I have to show those people that the real big babe has landed and she's not here to play at all"

"A big babe, indeed. I stan"
Just as she was about to go to the bathroom and take a shower, Dami left for school. The house became empty and then the loneliness just hit.

"Damn" She whispered as she showered. At least Mrs Alabi would be back. Her due date was approaching and she would be staying home with Isabelle till she conceives. There was actually nothing to do anymore.

She thought to call Josiah. He would be a bit busy today, judging from the "hey babe, I won't be able to see you today. The new school has just been launched and my dad wants me there to apparently to help out. I'll stop by later if you want" text he sent at around six am. This was how boring her life was. She couldn't wait to be done with the damn pregnancy.

Mrs Alabi came back about an hour later, looking stressed. Isabelle was eating breakfast and finally settling to watch a show on tv. It was the reruns of Married Again on Zee tv.

"Gosh, this  school wahala, I'm tired, kilode" She walked into the living room.

"Welcome back" Isabelle called out. She walked over to her and squeezed her shoulder.

"Is everything alright?" Mrs Alabi asked.

"Yes ma" Isabelle replied.

"Okay. I'm not tolerating this your stay at home all day plan. I'll take you to my shop, at least you can help me with a few things, before the baby arrives, so you won't get bored."

Isabelle couldn't have heard anything better. "That's perfect, honestly" she squealed in excitement.

Mrs Alabi chuckled. "I could see it in your face. Let me go upstairs and get ready. Did my husband eat before he left?"

He was the one that dished out Isabelle's breakfast. "Yes he did"

"Okay, give me about thirty minutes to get ready. You should also get ready as well."

*********

Isabelle had been to Mrs Alabi's store before. But she had never really stayed in for the day, to observe what Mrs Alabi does to earn money. She knows that she owns a boutique in Wuse Market, but she doesn't know exactly what she sells. Today, Isabelle finds out that she sells women and children's clothes, and she knows that she travels to UK once a year to buy the supplies in bulk and brings them back. She also knows, that she is trying to convince her husband about opening a second store in probably Garki new market or anywhere she could find space, she finds out though the conversation Mrs Alabi is having with a friend.