Best of Both Worlds

Chapter Seven

The cereal slushed in the bowl as I tried to hoist myself further up the couch. Urgh... Lord, I'm tired of this. I released a sharp exhale of breath and rolled my eyes to the ceiling as I put down the white cereal bowl beside me. I picked up my laptop from my lap and placed it on the handrest then used my other hand to push my back up the couch.

"Okay..." I returned the laptop to my lap and picked up the cereal bowl. "Let's begin," I mumbled as I tapped the space bar of my laptop. The new episode of my favourite Nigerian web series 'Skinny Girl in Transit' began to play.

The golden rays of the early afternoon shine filtered into the living room, and bounced off my laptop's screen, into my eyes. I would stand up and shut the blinds, but that would mean I'd have to leave this comfortable position. Instead, I angled the laptop 45 degrees to the right and gobbled down three scoops of cereal.

Three minutes into the episode, my phone lit up and a soft melodious chime filled the empty living room. I pushed my laptop off my lap with a quick glimpse at the screen and shot out of the couch. My mother was requesting a WhatsApp video call. Jesus Christ. I rushed into my bedroom and snatched my robe from the dressing stool.

My mother and I spoke to each other every other day because of the different time zones and high call rates. We actually spoke two days ago but it was just a regular voice call on WhatsApp. The last time we did a video call I didn't even know I was pregnant and it wasn't evident.

I threw the robe on as I raced back to the couch and grabbed the phone. I swiped right to accept before the ringtone stopped. Her face popped up on the screen.

"Mummy, Good afternoon, ma," I said with a plastered wide smile on my face.

"Afternoon my dear, kedu?" She replied in our native language, Igbo. (How are you?)

"A dim mma. Ke maka gi?" (I'm fine. What about you?)

"A nom ofuma, ayi ncha di mma" (I'm fine, we are all fine) she said, adjusting her thin rimmed glasses. The action drew my attention to the lines that etched her dark skin, at the corners of her eyes.

"That's good," I said with a stiff nod.

"You didn't go to work today?" she inquired, eyeing my appearance.

"Mba, I have the day off actually" (No)

"Oh okay," she studied me for a quick minute then said. "You've added weight o. It's like you're enjoying over there"

I sputtered out a chuckle and tugged the sides of my robe closer. "Really?" I glanced down at myself like I was trying to see what she was talking about. "I haven't even noticed"

Tell her, now... Just do it. It shouldn't be too difficult. I'm preg—Aish, I can't.

"Anyways, I'm at Ifeanyi's place, to see the baby. Let me give the phone to Amaka, so you can see the baby too" she got up from her chair and the camera faced the ceiling. The camera shook around and I heard a little shuffling sound before Amaka's face popped on the screen. She let out a little squeal once she saw my face.

My immediate elder brother's wife beamed, even with a face void of makeup and a head of cornrows. Out of my two sisters-in-law, I was closest to her.

"Amy, how far now?" I asked, propping my elbows on the headrest of the couch. (How's it going?)

"I dey o. Ginwa kwanu?" (I'm okay. What about you?)

"I'm doing well"

"You look like you're doing more than well, look at your cheeks. You've added a little weight," she said gesturing at my face. I heard my mom agree with her in the background.