MAMA I MADE IT: Episode 1 – 10
Episode 5.
Story by Miriam Edem (Miriam Eyen Efik)
My dad stepped down and immediately my mom saw him, this violent look came upon her that she began to push me inside shouting.
“Mom what is it? I asked refusing to go in as my dad slowly approached us.
“Hilda Calm down I’m not here to take her away from you, just calm down okay, my dad said and I held my mom.
“Mom stop I’m going no where, its just a visit, I said and she quietly looked at me and looked at my dad for a while and went in and I breathed out.
“You came? I thought you said you will never visit, I said.
“You should be grateful I did, I just wanted to see my disrespectful daughter, he said and I nodded.
“Right, so what next? I asked and he looked around and shook his head.
“Is this what you want? He asked and I touched my forehead.
“What do you think? I’m not complaining right? I have every right to make my choice and I don’t see that as a big deal, I replied.
“Purity are you thinking at all? Whoever told you to take such decision hates you so much. Mary came around in the evening, and guess what, she was so disappointed in you. I’m giving you this last chance, let’s go home and make things right. How can you survive here with the way I trained you?, he asked and I smiled.
“I can’t believe you drove all the way down here to say this,I thought you wanted to discuss something relating to my mom and how we can help her out. Mary has her parents, let her mind her business and leave my choice, and i won’t say this again, I’m going no where, I said and he looked at me for a while and raised his hands up.
“Fine since you say so I can’t force or drag out of here without your wish, as if I knew I carried your laptop and few of your things, its in the car, he said.
“That was so thoughtful of you, but I know your wife gave it to you herself, my regards to her anyway, I said and he heaved and strolled back to his car and brought out my big school bag.
I slowly went near and got it from him,
“Thank you, I said and he nodded.
“I’ll check around and get some guys to clear the environment for you, its not safe and I’m sure there may be snakes around, he said.
“I appreciate, I said.
‘And ermmm are you eating? He asked.
” I got bread yesterday, I need to get cooking utensils, I replied.
“That’s right, if the guys succeeds in the cleaning you can use the back for the cooking. So I’ll take you to pick the cooking utensils you need before I go back, he said and I smiled.
“Thank you again, I said and he nodded.
“I’ll go get the guys then, but you can use this for breakfast, he said giving me a nylon and I took it and watched him entered his car and drove off.
I heaved and looked into the bag to see 2 plates of rice and a packet of juice,
“Uhmmm yea breakfast, I said and went in to see my mom hands on her cheeks as she was sitting on the floor so angry.
“Mom you see I didn’t go, I told you I won’t go anywhere didn’t I? I asked taking off her hands from her chin but she didn’t say anything.
I smiled knowing she must be very upset and I need to get her off that mood,
“Mom let’s go out, remember I wanted getting something for you, get up let’s go, I said holding her up and cleaned her face and she whimpered.
“I know you’re angry you don’t need to tell me, but let’s go so we can come back to eat, I said smiling dragging her out.
While walking to the shop I saw yesterday, people kept looking at us, probably they saw a new Hilda in a new dress but none could come out to ask me how I’m related to her.
I got her the tooth brush and got another bag of sachet water which she quickly got it from me.
“Thank you, I said to her and paid the woman who was looking at me surprised but that was none of my business.
MAMA I MADE IT: Episode 1 – 10
We got home and it was he.ll making my mother to brush up.
She constantly swallowed everything before I will shout “don’t swallow” and she will laugh telling me to squeeze in another tooth paste for her.
“This is the last time and I’m serious, when once I brush you up throw it out, is that understood? I asked and she showed me her teeth.
I heaved and attempted again and she swallowed it again and even used the sachet water to wash it down and jumped up happily.
I didn’t know if i should laugh or cry as I looked at her, I just shook my head and took my tooth brush to brush up but she came struggling mine with me.
“Ohhhhhh! Mommy stop nah! You’ve finished swallowing yours allow me to brush mine except you’ll promise me you’ll do exactly what I’m doing, I said and she seriously nodded.
“Now you’re talking, I said taking her tooth brush and applied another tooth paste and gave it to her.
“Just follow me okay, I said and she nodded looking at me and we brushed together.
I rinsed my mouth and she did same and i was so happy,
“That’s good! We will do this before we go to bed okay though I forgot to do that last night, I said but i noticed she was quiet looking at the tooth brush like she was remembering something.
I wanted asking her what’s wrong, but my dad drove in again and came out with 4 guys with cutlasses.
Immediately my mom saw that she shook her head shouting and held me.
“Mom, mom its okay they only want to clear up, they don’t want to hurt you, I said touching her hair and she was so scared.
“Welcome back dad, I’ll take her inside, I said taking the tooth brushes and tooth paste and held her inside but she couldn’t stop looking back.
“Let’s eat, I said giving her a plate but she will drop it and peep through the window to see what they are doing and I’ll take her back.
“Mom let’s eat so that we will start cleaning up else I’ll eat your food o, I said and she collected her food and hid it behind her.
“Come and eat nau there’s a lot to be done here, I said and she stood eating pouring the rice on her body and I heaved knowing I signed this for myself.
MAMA I MADE IT: Episode 1 – 10
After eating i went out to see my dad sitting in his car while the guys were working, when he saw me coming he opened up for me to come in and i sat down in front with him.
“I see what you’re doing for your mom, little wonder you two are going along so well, he said and i nodded.
“I don’t see my mom difficult and I believe she can get well, dad what did you do about her condition? I asked and he turned off the radio that was playing.
“You asked yesterday if I laid with a mad person, that was a very stupid question to ask Purity but i won’t blame you for asking.
I knew your mom in her right senses, she was the coolest and loving person I’ve ever known. Everything went so well and we dated for about 4 months or so if I’m not mistaken until she told me she was pregnant.
I wasn’t buoyant then i must confess, i was still struggling but our relationship had a little problem which wasn’t our fault. Your mom parents wanted giving her to a guy who was lurking around her then, he had the cash but she turned him down. Purity, your mom was pretty and ermmmm… I couldn’t stand her suitors then.
You know that made me to hustle more to be able to win her though she loved me, but i was scared someone might take her away from me.
When her parents found out about her pregnancy, they fought to take that baby out of her, they forced her to take in things to ab©rt the baby, but Purity you were strong headed even in the womb, he said and i smiled scratching my head.
“Yea, when her suitors saw she was carrying a baby, that was how they left and her family all fell on me that I had to leave to the city to run around and gather money.
I was lucky when i cried to one of my senior uncles doing well and he got me positioned in a good place. I quickly sent a letter to your mother that I’ll be back to take her with me where she will be comfortable to give birth.
I waited but got no reply from her and I couldn’t just travel that way… You know i just newly got the job and I was very very busy with it.
Then I got news after a month that your mother is behaving strange. I didn’t understand what they meant by that, and on a weekend I ran over to check on her but she was not in her right senses.
Her situation was on and off….. Like when we are able to make her calm, after a week it comes back more worst than before and in that state, she gave birth to you.
I had to take you away from her and took her to the psychiatric hospital hoping now she has finally delivered, she will be given the right drugs because i was scared it might hurt you but I was wrong.
I waited Purity, I waited for good 2 years for your mother but she never came around and i had to move on. But she escaped from the hospital and found herself here and there’s nothing i can do, its sad i know but i can’t help it, he narrated and my face was soaked with tears as I thought my mom fate is sealed and my dad touched me.
“So there’s no hope dad? I asked and he shook his head.
“I tried Purity, but its too late, he replied and I broke down crying………
MAMA I MADE IT: Episode 1 – 10
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