The Interview | The Inkwell Creative Nonfiction Prompt #38

RDNE Stock Project

With my shoes on my left hand and file on my right, I ran out hastily because once Father turns on the ignition of his car, he would speed off. That was my father's trait for paying anyone of his children that would cause him to go late to any function. On this occasion, I was lucky to slide into the rear seat of the Sienna car as my father was just settling into the driver's seat.

Will you shut that door now or…….

Before he would vent his anger on me, I shut the door and he drove away. Whereas, my sister was still in her room rubbing all sorts of ointment on her face for God knows reason.

Amara is the reason I am late today. We share the same bathroom but I seldom allow her to enter the bath before me because she spends more than necessary time scrubbing her body.

Can you just rinse your body and get out of the bathroom?

I spoke with my hoarse voice but Amara kept singing on top of her voice as she bathed.

Daddy is ready to leave, please come out.

Amara became louder the more. I got so frustrated that I had to go to Mom's room to have a shower. She had been in the kitchen, else I dare not use her bathroom.

Amara and I have been scheduled to attend an interview with a new-generation bank through Dad's connection. All we needed to do was to get there early enough but Amara was going to mess everything up. She had spoken about how she would dress snatchily on her first day in office but would also not appear badly for the interview.

No one can convince my dad when he has made up his mind. I read my dad's countenance and saw rage all over his face and I just kept quiet throughout the one-hour journey to Broad Street, where the interview will be held. He zoomed off after I had alighted.

Luckily for me, the interviewers were just arriving at the office when I entered. It was then I discovered that my shirt wasn't tucked in. I quickly readjusted and joined the queue as we filed into what seemed like a board room.

We entered the hall where registration for the early birds for the interview would be taken. All the while, I wondered where Amara could be. She probably would be applying her mascara or something. If she doesn't make it to the interview, all hell is going to let loose.

Out of about thirty of us that say for the interview, I was lucky to make it to the last four standing but there wasn't any trace of Amara.

At the end of the day, only three of us were selected. It was at that final stage that Amara walked in like our father is the owner of the bank. No one even looked at her face. From where I was seated, I shook my head in pity for what would happen to her at home.

The three of us that qualified from the screening were scheduled for training in Plateau state for a month. All necessary documentation would be done after one week.

I was so happy because I don't like to be idle. From the office where the three of us that were selected were being attended to, all that Amara was doing was chewing gum and crossing her legs as she concentrated on her phone. Little did she know that her presence here was a waste of time.

After all the necessary bio-data and certificate confirmation had been completed, we were released to resume after seven days when we were expected to have gotten ready to travel for the training.

I stepped out with the other guys and walked through the door, pretending not to have any affinity with my sister.

She hurriedly followed me, trying to find out what she could do.

Babe, you will need to tell daddy how the day has gone.

That was all I said to her. Of course, I was so elated that I narrated how it all went at the bank interview.

Then came the lashing.

I knew you were going to mess it up.

A job that you could have gotten on a platter.

As my dad lashes out on Amara, Mom just watched and didn't say anything while Amara was just there sobbing.

For the next one year, anytime Dad remembered how Amara flopped, he would take it hard on her.

I'm glad that I kept to time, else, I would have just ended like my sister, Amara.