A Collection of Short Stories

Birthright
Miracle Adebayo
“I won’t take much of your time, ladies.” The lawyer’s eyes settled on Mommy as she patted
a fretful Jason. I concealed my disgust. The boy was just a rotten brat, dismissing the
obvious fact that all toddlers possibly behave in much the same manner.
“This contains your father’s last wishes,’ he continued, as he opened the folder in front of
him. ‘Who is the older sister? Temitope?’
“I am.”
“Your father wanted you to have this,” he handed me a slim envelope. “He asked that you
only open it after the will has been read.”
I nodded and ignored the bells sounding off in my head.
“Now, let us begin.” Taking out a notarized original document, he began to read.
I don’t know the exact second the world began to fade. Perhaps it was when he mentioned
that Jason was my father’s sole beneficiary, with Dara having power of attorney until he
reaches twenty-one. Or maybe it was when he said my father had left me this ramshackled
house he built in the village.
Something was wrong. I turned to look at my sister’s face, to be sure I had not suddenly
become hearing impaired. When our eyes met, I saw what her lips did not speak. Triumph.
I stood up on wobbly knees, too stung to speak. My gaze rested on Mama who looked
like she was torn between pity for me and pleasure for her grandson. Suddenly I wanted to
vomit. In one fell swoop, my birthright, the sole thing that was me and mine, gone.
It wasn’t until I got into my car that I remembered I was still holding the envelope. With
trembling hands, I opened it…
***
24
Tales from the Other Side