Chapter 35: A Fraction Of The Truth

Chapter 35: A Fraction Of The Truth
Mum was acquinted with Tee, Mr Whitehall in a more personal way than my Dad was. To the outside world, my parents were a power couple but I knew what they were, I knew everyone's secret cause unlike other silly, playful children, I was watchful and attentive. I knew what everyone smelled like, I knew what everyone was whispering in the dark, I knew what everyone said about everyone in secret, I knew everyone's weak buttons and I had delight in the fact that despite being the absolute villain, every other person was still deceived by my innocent look.
" Awww, look how cute she is " People cooed when they saw me
" She's so nicely behaved " They'll say patting my head while i smiled sweetly. I knew when to smile, when to say sorry and just when to cower in tears begging to be pardoned for the situation i set myself up in. It was such a wonderful power i held dear and perfected over time. . . .
We lived in Greenwood as a family of four then or should I say seven, if I'm including our next door Neighbour, Uncle Tee, Aunty Enny and their daughter Rain, The Whitehall family. It seemed like the perfect coexistence straight out of a movie. A simple family with simple neighbours
" Come feel your sister moving or go play with your brother, don't sit by yourself " Dad always encouraged when I sat in the corner of the room pretending to play with my toys while plotting.
Mum would always scold him " Let her play by herself lest she hurt her siblings or do something that might hurt us "
" That's a very harsh thing to say about our daughter Gisele " Dad fumed everytime
But my mother knew the darkness in my soul " I know what I'm talking about. She can deceive others but i know those eyes "
It's true that Dad couldn't see through me at the moment but Mum could. She had this knowing look on her face everytime I got into a fight with Nathan or I fell from her hits and got hurt.
When Renae was born, She became even more cautious of me. Her eyes watched me like a hawk but she wasn't the only one watching, I was too. After Renae's birth, the connection between the Greens and the Whitehalls became even closer, she subsequently sent Renae away to be raised by someone in Nothernham cause she was scared I will kill her defenseless child which made Dad furious but he didn't protest, he just comforted me.
" She's just like my Grandfather and at least dying her hair blonde will change something about it " Mum got defensive whenever Dad scolded her about dying a child's hair
Dad scoffed everytime "Stop comparing my daughter to a serial killer "
I was there in the walls when they discussed about wanting to venture into politics in Northenham and pave way for my Parents to rise to the position of power while Aunt Enny made tea. I was also there in the wall, when my father talked about how much power one will get from control Agriculture, the main source of economic balance for Northenham and her neighbours. I also know why they picked Northenham, it was because Dad had someone that could support him there and Whitehall was already appointed by Thompson Colbert for something.
The night that changed it all was the thanksgiving dinner at the Whitehalls' house. When the brought the topic up and sill fifteen year old Nathan chipped in with my brilliant idea.
" Sally talks about this non stop, she said if the reproduction rates of the seeds were super short, it'll have the farmers coming back for more. Isn't that silly? " He laughs and everyone joins him
" That's silly, are you trying to start a riot Sally?, the people will be furious if they get to know that we deceived them " Uncle Tee says
Being called silly stirs something dangerous inside me, I was the smartest one at the table and being called silly by a cheating, double crossing bustard made my blood boil but I smile sweetly.
" No one will hold you accountable for promises you don't make " I shrug.
I have to use every bit of power in me to stop myself from smirking when I see that my words moved everyone at the table. After dinner, Mum cornered me in the kitchen and demanded I tell her my idea.
I start with " I know it's a silly teen idea but . . . " Then I tell her about creating a seed that could produce in and out of season. One that didn't take up to half the time demanded to produce fruits, if the seeds produce foods that don't go bad within a short period of time, no one will care that they can only produce twice. They will have the power over production and distribution which meant they also had power over the people they were distributing to and if they wanted to take it a hit further, they could buy lands ahead of time so that they'll give fertile lands as disaster relief when the seed induced drought comes gaining the people's trust. Mum scoffed at the idea but our attention is drawn to the commotion in the living room. Uncle Tee had gotten trapped in a rat trap, beautiful.
Sadly, he didn't lose his feet and I know he saw the disappointment on my face when the doctor announced that. When Dad came into my room that night, I told him about my idea and about how I suspected that Uncle Tee might cut ties with us over something silly when he moves to Northenham but He assured me i was thinking too much.
Finally, I wasn't in the walls listening to their conversations but in their midst. After pitching my idea and adding that for this plan to work, there must be a powerful scapegoat. One that'll be used to endorse the seeds to the people and one that'll take the fall when everything goes south, I go back to bed with a smile on my face. Uncle Tee was becoming wary of me, I noticed that he added purple hibiscus to his scent but that is not enough to keep me away from him.
Just like I'd predicted, Uncle Tee cut us off after rising to power and I made sure of that as I sneaked all the letters he wrote us. Then all of a sudden, he brought Rain that he'd kept in the spotlight into the picture. I felt my blood boil, I knew where this was headed, he'll try to get his daughter to marry the man my parents wanted me to marry to execute the plan. I knew my parents hurt by the betrayal will never let it happen and then we moved to Nothernham . . . . .
I stir awake, I'm welcomed with that familiar comforting scent and pat on my back. I smile to myself, knowing I'd won.