" Watered down dreams and a mist. If I'm to be honest, it's because I didn't get the chance to further my education, but you do." 

“ Daddy, I'm sorry...”

“ Sorry will not change the fact that you looked me in the eyes and lied. Where do you think I get the money? From trees whistling in the forest or eagles with glad tidings?”

“ Nnanyi, what's the matter? Your voice has stolen sleep from my eyes.”

“ Ask your daughter what she wants extra seventy-two thousand Naira for? Why does her tuition fee read ' One hundred and forty four thousand' when the last increment brought it to seventy-two thousand naira?”

" Madam, is this true?" She asked.

“ Mommy...my foodstuffs are not enough. Most times, I go hungry.”

“ Whom did you tell? Apparently, you thought we wouldn't know. You should have explained the situation to your father.”

“ Get out of my sight!”

“ Nnanyi, wait. She has a good reason but a bad approach. If she wasn't such a bad liar, she might have gotten away with it. Thus, we wouldn't get the chance to correct her.”

“ Chickens have gone to roost. Let her have the whole night to examine her thoughtlessness. I will speak to her tomorrow.”

" If you say so, but keep it in mind she might cry herself to sleep and wake up with fever. You have seen this before. Eberechi is a tree branch easily swayed by the wind. She couldn't have made this up herself.

 Eberechi...have a seat. Talk to your father, and get rid of that hollow already forming on your cheeks! Nnanyi, I will be inside if you need me."

“ Eberechi, do you know what our people say would happen to the ears that do not listen...”

“ When the head is cut, it will fall with it.”

“ That is good. I have told you severally that my kernel was never broken by a benevolent spirit. I worked like a madman. I starved like  an orphan. All because, my father preferred polygamy, thereby birthing children he could not raise. I have the money, but I don't accept splurging. I love you all, but I can't tolerate deceit and lies. You know this, yet you brazenly presented this doctored figures to me!”

“What...what can I do? I didn't think you would listen to me if I told you the items I receive every semester doesn't sustain  me until exams are over.”

“ You should have asked...”

“ Daddy, my older brothers met you on the same issue. You didn't listen. They are the ones that suggested this to me. All you care about is paying tuition fees, accommodation fees and buying textbooks. You don't care whether we eat or not. You were starved. So you know how it feels. I'm sorry but....”

“ It's okay. I have heard you. I see my fault now. When are you leaving?”

“ Next week...”

“ You have to stop crying if you want this conversation to continue.... Good. Now, I want another list. Make estimates for everything as right as they should be. Okay?”

“ Yes, daddy.”

“ Come. Off the record, I will like to apologise as well. I never wanted any of you to pass through my trials.”

“ Daddy...”

“ No more tears, my princess. In return for your honesty, I promise to be a better father to you all.”