THE CHAT ROOM : PART 21 – 30
THE CHAT ROOM PART 22
By Temi Akintade
“Don’t you think it is a foolish idea? Leaving Zuba for Gwagwalada?” Mama Judith asked after three days after Hadassah was discharged from the hospital.
I shook my head. My mind was made up and not even her hard face could change my decision. We were currently at the house Frank rented for me at Zuba.
I flung my clothes into the brown leather suitcase that mama Judith gave me as a gift recently.
As soon as I was done putting my clothes in the suitcase, I began to gather Hadassah’s toys and clothes into a mini ghana-must-go bag. Our luggage was not much. Only one large suitcase, one mini ghana-must-go bag, and some little belongings.
I already told mama Judith to sell my wardrobe and mattress but I was taking some of my kitchen utensils along with me.
“Or are you leaving here because of Frank?” She cuddled Hadassah who was peacefully asleep on her lap.
I ignored her just like I have been ignoring Frank’s calls and messages for the past three days now. As far as I was concerned, I needed to stop my communications with him since the discovery.
“You are just 18, you can’t stay alone with a 9-month-old child!” Mama Judith poured her frustration like a wailing beggar.
My hands stopped working and I turned to face her. “Let me ask a question ma. How old were you when you got married?”
She shrugged, uneasiness crept into her face. “17.”
“How old were you when you gave birth to your first child?” I folded my arms.
She chuckled. “Where are you going with this? I’m only concerned for you that’s all.”
“You told me that you were 18 when you had your first child! So what makes you think that I can’t succeed on my own with my daughter?” I half-yelled.
“Because you are a single mom! I had a husband remember?” She shook her head.
And that was when it occurred to me that I was a single mother. And single mums were stigmatized in this part of the world.
I remembered how I caught the nurses in Hadassah’s ward gossiping about a single mom who has just been put to bed.
I didn’t want to be called a single mom neither do I want to be seen as one. But that was my situation now. I had to wear my name tag boldly.
“I will be fine mama Judith. I will live in my mother’s house. Thank God she bought it from the government already. I will start my baking business and I will apply to be a teacher in a school. Everything will be alright.”
“What about church?”
“I will find a small local church to attend around here.” I walked towards her and hugged her stiff body. “Thank you for being a mother to me.” My throat thickened with tears.
THE CHAT ROOM : PART 21 – 30
The following day, mama Judith gave me a hundred and fifty thousand naira to start my business. She said Frank had sent it to her to give me.
There was no way I could reject the money, so I tucked it into my black bag, and carried Hadassah into the van I rented to move my things down to Gwagwalada.
The ride to Gwagwalada was a smooth one, the roads were motorable but when we got to my street, the potholes in the untarred road, woke Hadassah.
“We’re here Hadassah. I grew up here.” A smile played on my face when I saw some naked children playing beneath the sweltering sun.
I will never allow my Hadassah to mingle with kids like this, I will protect Hadassah With my whole life!
THE CHAT ROOM : PART 21 – 30
A few hours later, after the whole house has been neatly set and arranged, I took a stroll around the neighbourhood to know what church to attend.
That was when I strolled past Tayo’s house. I was tempted to knock on the black familiar gate but I knew better. I took a long walk away from the gate and never turned back.
I finally located a local church not too far from where I will now be living. The church was a small one. It wasn’t too small, neither was it too big. It was just okay for me to build my life and begin afresh.
I was still surveying the church when I heard a car horn. I turned towards a black Jeep and a tall broad-chested man slid out of the car. His grin turned broader when he sighted a bubbly Hadassah latched on my waist.
“Hello, baby!” He dragged her cheeks. Hadassah chuckled deeply alongside. Then he turned to me.
“Hello ma, how are you doing? I see you are surveying the church are you looking for someone?” He asked.
I couldn’t stop staring into his bright eyes because they held the same familiar look that mama Judith and Frank have always had.
A satisfying kind of look. I made a mental note to ask him about it later.
“I am new here, so I’m in search of a local church to attend.”
“Glory be to God! Well, I’m the pastor in charge here. I just got transferred to this branch. Meanwhile, you are welcome. We will love to have you in our church.” He shook me and persuaded me to join the evening service for that day.
I did and afterward, he dropped me home insisting that he doesn’t want Hadassah to catch some cold because of the frigid night air.
By the time I got home, and laid Hadassah to sleep, that night, I got on my knees and folded my hands in prayer.
“Father, I am new here. I want you to help me. I don’t have a job or a shop yet please tell me what you think I should do next with my life.
Father, there is also something I need to tell you, I don’t know how to take care of my daughter. My mother was not a good mother to me but please help me to be a perfect mother to her.
Help me, Lord! And help me to know you and as you give me more wisdom to train my child, I promise to serve you more!”
That night, I didn’t hear God but I was certain that God heard my prayers
THE CHAT ROOM : PART 21 – 30
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