“Daddy” Stephanie shrilled in excitement.

“Happy birthday my princess. You’re officially 10”, her Dad said, as he enwrapped her tiny body in his arms in a warm hug.

“Daddy, what of my birthday gift?” Stephanie asked, as her dad released his grip on her.

“You will get that ok, but let me quickly get upstairs and change my uniform to a more decent wear so we can go out and have some fun.” Stephanie’s Dad said as he pecked her on the forehead and then trailed the stairs up to his room.

Stephanie was her dad’s favorite. He was very fond of her, and to him, she was more of a little girl, with the maturity of an adult, an old woman.

Her dad was a policeman in the city of Wisconsin. On this fateful day, he was on a night patrol and had to return home early to prepare for his night shift.

“Stephanie!” Someone shouted, and it was Stephanie’s elder sister, Kimberly who was 14. An introvert, bossy, rude, and also very quick to anger, but Stephanie still regarded her as the best sister anyone could wish for. Kimberly would always claim that Stephanie got all the beauty, something that made her jealous of her sometimes, but Stephanie still loved her despite all her flaws.

“Kimberly I am here,” Stephanie shouted back, the sound of her voice leading her to the very spot she was in the house.

“Stephanie, is Dad back?” Kimberly asked immediately she came upon Stephanie.

“Yeah, but he went upstairs to dress up,” Stephanie replied.

“Really? But I thought he just came back now; so why is he going out so soon?” Kimberly asked.

“Dad is taking me out. Sure you have forgotten today is my birthday. I am ten today, Kimberly”. Stephanie exclaimed, with pure excitement.

“Ooh! Birthday girl. So when are we going to eat your birthday cake?” Kimberly asked.

“We will get some cupcakes for everyone while coming back,” Stephanie replied.

“It’s gonna be the worst birthday ever,” Kimberly said, rolled her eyes, and walked away.

Stephanie had to sit back in the living room and wait for her dad. It didn’t take much time before her he stepped out and both of them walked out of the house together. He drove to the mall where he could get birthday gifts and cake for Stephanie. And once inside the Mall Stephanie’s dad took her to the toy section first.

“I love this!” Stephanie screamed immediately as she saw a pink teddy bear.

“And do you want it?” Stephanie’s dad, Jordan asked.

“I want it, Dad,” Stephanie said, smiling.

Jordan paid for the Big pink teddy bear, coupled with other toys Stephanie picked as they both headed out to the fast-food where they could be able to get some cakes for Stephanie’s birthday celebration. They later stopped at the boutique and picked two gowns for Stephanie before heading home.

Stephanie alighted from the car immediately it came to a halt as Jordan gave her the Birthday cake to carry inside while he carried the bags containing the goodies he got for Stephanie. They both walked inside happily.

“Mum! Kimberly! I am back!” Stephanie shouted immediately as she got inside.

“Hey honey,” Jordan said pecking Elena’s forehead. Elena was his wife of 15 years. Both of them fell in love while still in High School, and a few years after, once Jordan was able to secure a job with the police, they got married. And ever since then, it had been pure bliss, with the coming of their two girls adding to the beautiful ambiance of the family.

“Hey birthday girl. So tell me; how did today go?” Elena asked.

“Mum, Dad got me so many things including this big pink teddy bear,” Stephanie said smiling, clutching her teddy bear.

“Aww, that’s so lovely and I hope…”

“Mum, let’s forget about that for now. Where’s the cake?” Kimberly rudely barged into their discussion, in her trademark ill manners.

“Here it is,” Stephanie said pointing at the cake on the table.

“So let’s get down to business first. Do you want us to sing a birthday song for you or should we just start eating the cake?” Kimberly asked as she went straight for the cake.

“Kimberly don’t be too fast.” Elena chided her. Kimberly just rolled her eyes and sighed, obviously exasperated.

“Young lady I am still your mother,” Elena said, clearly disappointed with Kimberly.

“As if I don’t know,” Kimberly responded, sighed again, and walked out of the sitting room to the kitchen. Shortly after she returned with some plates and a pen knife to cut the cake. She sat down on the couch and drew the table closer to her, taking the size of cake that would be enough for her as she stood up to leave.

“Have fun. I will just eat this inside. Happy birthday, baby sister.”She said and walked out.

Stephanie was completely pissed off with her sister’s attitude, disappointed that she could even do that on her birthday, still a recluse even on her sister’s birthday, electing to stay alone inside.

“Don’t worry my dear. Don’t let her spoil your mood. It’s your day baby girl and you deserve to be happy.” Elena said as she tenderly pecked Stephanie’s forehead.

“So, let the party begin,” Jordan announced.

Elena helped in cutting the cake and handed over the plates to Jordan and Stephanie. It was the best birthday ever for Stephanie but deep down she wanted her sister, Kimberly to be in their midst.

After taking in the goodies that Jordan bought for her, Stephanie had to take her bath because it was already getting late. When she was done bathing, she went downstairs to the kitchen to make coffee for her dad, and while mixing the coffee, she heard a sound of a ringing tone. And as she left the kitchen to know whose phone it was, it happened to be her mum’s phone. Promptly she took it upstairs to her parent’s bedroom, to give to her mum, Elena.

* * *

“What do you? You mean that Tessa was here?” Jordan asked, fuming.

“Yes, she was, but I told her you weren’t around,” Elena said.

“I so much hate her”, Jordan said, clenching her fist.

“What does she want? Why did God curse me with such an evil sister? Who knows what evil she might have done this time?” Jordan asked.

“That’s why I had to send her out immediately because I wouldn’t want you to see her, and you know how much the kids hate her too, all because of her evil nature. And I didn’t want her to ruin Stephanie’s birthday.” Elena concluded.

“Since she came around today it means there is something bad that will happen today but the question is who will be the victim?” Jordan wondered.

“She made a statement before she left,” Elena said as she just remembered.

“Which is?”, Jordan asked, very much worried.

“She said she was gonna take someone very important in the family and after that, the family will fall into chaos and for the next eight years, another will be struck with an ailment and she will die in the third month of the ninth year. These were her words before she left here.” Elena said, also worried.

“She dare not hurt my family. She might be a witch or whatsoever, but she shouldn’t dare come close to my family, not after wiping our parents from the surface of this Earth.” Jordan said as he tightened his fist.

“Mum, you left your phone downstairs and it was ringing,” Stephanie said immediately she entered her parent’s room while they talked about Jordan’s evil sister.

“How long have you been standing there?” Elena asked.

“I wasn’t standing there, and I just came in. Is there any problem?” Stephanie asked.

“No, there is no problem baby girl,” Jordan said, smiling.

“I can sense it, but I hope you both fix whatever you are worried about so there won’t be a case of transferred aggression in the future because it might not end well,” Stephanie said, letting out a wry smile.

“What do you mean?” Elena asked, a bit agitated.

“Nothing. So Dad are you set for work?” Stephanie asked, directing her gaze on her dad, as she handed the phone to her mum.

“Yeah, I am a baby girl; and just about leaving,” Jordan said as he and Stephanie walked downstairs.

“Dad, I made some coffee for you; should I bring it before you leave for work? Stephanie asked when they got downstairs.

“Sure, you know I love your coffee,” Jordan said, smiling.

Stephanie walked into the kitchen and met Kimberly there, and wondered what brought her into the kitchen.

“What are you doing here?” Stephanie asked.

“I figured I left my camera here on top of the refrigerator when I came into the kitchen, and it has been on the recording ever since, and now the battery is low,” Kimberly complained to no one in particular.

“Alright, just switch it off. Maybe when you’re done charging it, you can check the recording and delete it.” Stephanie suggested.

“I already know, talk to you later kiddo,” Kimberly said and walked out.

Stephanie took the cup of coffee and walked back to the sitting room and handed it over to her dad.

“You still here?” Elena asked as she came downstairs, too.

“I’m about to leave sweetheart,” Jordan said as he gulped down the cup of coffee, pecked Stephanie and Elena before leaving. Elena locked the door and turned to her daughter.

“Why are you giving me those judgmental looks?” Stephanie asked.

“Sometimes you talk way older than your age, which scares me, and …”

“If you’re about to ask me the meaning of what I said earlier in your room, forget it because it just came to my head and I blurted it out,” Stephanie said.

“That’s not what I wanted to say…”

“Cut the crap mum, you’re the worst person ever when it comes to lying. Goodnight mum and sweet dreams.” Stephanie said as she walked out of the sitting room and headed back to her room.

“Here she goes again; something I just complained about now. A ten-year-old?” Elena muttered softly to herself.