pure

1.

           Peeping through my mother's window
I could see the faint light that illuminated my father's gandu( an ancestral hut passed down to generations) which was directly opposite my mother's hut.i slumped on the    wooven mat spread across the high clay mould just some meters below the window after my attempt to eavesdrop had failed,I hoped to catch even a few words but it seems they were having a whisper-conversation . "they"?who were these people it was more of a rhetorical question. I furrowed my brow's in realization i hadn't seen there faces clearly but I saw them exchange pleasantries with my father who in turn led them to his gandu, a place where  trivial matters were discussed ,my curiosity peeked at the thought of what was being discussed in that ancient hut.
           "Abena" I was startled
"Mama" I exhaled deeply "you startled me"
"Why" " nothing" I said sharply
"I think there's good news" " what's that mama" "a marriage proposal"my eyes almost fell out from there socket
" Kumate( my goodness) mama who's getting married" " I don't know ,I'll ask your father later tonight,now go fetch oil for our lamp at kwasi' s place" " yes ma".
           I got the oil jar and headed straight to the old lady's hut,  a stone throw from my father's  compound .her face beamed with smiles the moment she saw me  "matela( my queen)" " mama" i reciprocated the gesture "how are you my child" I bent over to give her a kiss on the cheek " I'm blessed mama""that's great"
     " Oil ?" I nodded  ,after getting the oil we had our usual chit chat before I left for home.
           The next morning  I noticed the strange glances being shot at me, nobody could keep a steady eye contact with me which got me more perplexed.
     "Abiba" "ish!!" This girl is always carefree, nonchalant is an understatement .
            " Abiba!!! I shouted ontop of my lungs And that's when she rushed out ,I gave her a very deadly glare that made her apologize at once .
          Abiba was a friend,and a sister I never had, though she's my paternal cousin but we get along quite well,we went about our daily chores together singing to any song she suggests, nothing else mattered when we are in our own little world.Abiba was more of an extrovert she loved singing and dancing while her biggest dream is to get married to a good suitor and have lots of kids as for me I wanted to study abroad.
          We were laughing heartily to a joke Abiba's mom cracked when my mother called me I nearly sprinted to our hut.
   "Mama"  " my baby" I sluggishly went into her warm embrace,with my arms wrapped around her waist she stroked my long dark hair gently as she whispered something  I dragged my head up to look at her,my mum was crying!, she was really crying
        "Mama"i called as my heartbeat slowed down  she wiped the tears that were threatening to fall off her cheeks as  she led me to our mattrass without saying a word
I sat down with a small push from my mum
   " Listen to me baby, whatever I'm about to say is for your good okay,I know your big dreams, studying abroad and bringing us progress ,taking care of us, your family but everyone has a fair share of life" my eyes were already beginning to tear up I knew that whatever this so called thing was,it spelled Doom for my now and future,I exhaled deeply for the third time  since i came into this hut it'something I do to ease tension . "Speak maa"
          "The marriage proposal..... it's for you"
I could visibly see my world  crumbling at my feet .
        Hot tears running down my cheeks,my mum knew better not to console me, I slipped my hands out of hers as I faced the hard wall ,when her sobs became distant  I knew she was no longer in the hut like that was some leverage I was looking for i cried my eyes out.
      " Matela"
  " Mama" "it's been five hours now aren't you tired of crying ,get up and eat your food before it gets cold ,I made your favorite"
           " Thanks maa but I don't have the appetite"   "ok" if  I've never been grateful for anything I'm so grateful for the much needed space my mother was giving me.
     I had so much thoughts going through my head when I drifted off to sleep , falling into this pit of darkness.