RIGHT ON TIME

chapter 40

Oblivious to what was happening just outside their house, mother and daughter slept on soundly. 

After a little while, Ayanate stirred awake and noticed that her mother was still sleeping. 

Knowing her mother too well, she perceived that after last night's emotional exhaustion, her mom wouldn't be waking up early today. 

"That's alright," she mused, "let her have her beauty sleep." 

The world would not abruptly transcend into oblivion if Barrister Righteous Adiaha Green didn't wake up early. 

Careful not to make any sound that would interrupt her mother's peaceful sleep, Ayanate quietly slipped out of the bed, walked soundlessly to the door and closed it behind her as she stepped out into the hallway. 

She went into the bathroom just down the hallway and responded to nature's call. 

After that, she slugged downstairs to the living room and did her routine one-hour morning devotion. She was done by 5 a.m. 

Not wanting to kill time idling around, she immediately made her way into the kitchen to start preparing breakfast for her and her mother. She contemplated a while before finally deciding on what the breakfast would be. Her mother loved cake a lot. Not just her mother, but it was one of the favorites of both mother and daughter. Baking was one of her hobbies, and thus, Ayanate settled for chocolate cake and tea for breakfast. 

She confidently went to one of the kitchen cabinets and groped for a packet of butter and sugar. She took them and set them side-by-side on one of the kitchen counters. 

After that, she reached back for the remaining items and also dropped them besides the previous ones on the kitchen counter. 

Before she started mixing together the ingredients for the cake, she picked up an electric kettle, placed it directly under the mouth of the water faucet and turned it on. She turned off the water faucet as soon as she perceived that the water was enough. 

Just as she was about to plug in the electric kettle, she remembered that the functioning water dispenser in the dining room still dispensed both cold and hot water, according to the user's choice. She changed plans and dumped the electric kettle in the sink as she went to the counter where the other items were waiting. 

Ayanate emptied the packets of butter and sugar inside a round bowl and began mixing them. When she was sure that it had perfectly blended, thanks to touch and taste, she measured her baking powder, flour and a few other dried ingredients and began mixing them too in a separate bowl. 

Next, she took out four eggs, broke them one after the other and poured their gelatinous contents into a separate bowl. She poured just enough quantity from the bottle of squadron inside the bowl that contained the eggs. Before mixing it like she did the previous ones, she added chocolate and vanilla flavors to it. 

The funny thing was that Ayanate didn't measure the contents for the cake as was professionally required. As an African, this was not peculiar to her alone. Except you were some sort of chef or you just liked keeping meticulous details, many Africans didn't care for such things. 

There was even a joke attributed to it. In Africa you don't measure salt; you just keep pouring until the ancestors say it's enough.

After mixing the eggs and the last ingredients to her satisfaction, she began pouring the contents of the last two bowls into the first one which contained the butter and sugar and carefully mixed them one-sided until everything was perfectly blended. 

She took out three small baking pans and poured out the contents in each of them and then carried them towards the oven. 

As she approached the oven, Ayanate remembered that she had wanted to bake some cookies and meat-pie yesterday, but she had taken a break after mixing the dough, to go and watch her favorite television program. After the program, she couldn't return to the kitchen again because of what happened between her and her mother last night. 

The pie dough was still good. There was nothing she could do about the cookie dough, since it had stayed open overnight and was most likely contaminated by bacteria, so she regretfully discarded it and started mixing another fresh dough for chewy chocolate chip cookies. She would indulge her sweet tooth on them later in the day. She could pack some of it for her mother's lunch. 

She finished with the cake, baked enough cookies and meat-pie that her mother would take to work that day and set them on a cooling rack. She'd bake her own later. 

Meanwhile, she took out a food tray and placed two plates that contained cakes and two cups of hot cocoa, and carried the breakfast upstairs to her mother's room. 

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Still feeling groggy, with her eyes closed, Righteous reached out her right hand and felt for the spot where her daughter slept last night. It was empty. 

Sharply turning away, she turned on her bedside lamp, looked at the clock and gasped. It was six-thirty in the morning. One hour thirty minutes later than her usual waking time.

Righteous groaned, mentally chiding herself for sleeping for so long. Before she could get up from her bed, her daughter quietly waltzed in with a food tray. 

She smiled, her eyes dancing with satisfaction at what she was seeing. Ayanate occasionally gave her special treats with her top-notch cooking skill. She was excited that today was another one of her lucky days. Breakfast in bed. Room service. All from her sweet, blind daughter. Just imagine what her precious little angel would do if she could see. 

"You have done it again, sweetheart."  

Ayanate jerked, almost spilling the content of the food tray. 

"Mum!" she cried. "You almost scared ten years out of my life! I thought you were still sleeping." 

"I'm sorry I startled you so much. It was not intentional." Righteous let out a little laugh. 

"Well, I said I should serve you breakfast in bed," her daughter added with a smile as she walked towards her mother. 

"I'm sorry I became such a child last night." 

"And I'm happy I got to play mum, and you were such a cute little child." Ayanate pouted.

"Well, you were a terrible mum," Righteous deadpanned, "See how late your child woke up!"

With a shrug Ayanate said, "It's not easy to babysit a middle-aged woman." 

Both mother and daughter laughed. 

"I can see you're still playing your mum role. And as an obedient daughter, let me go and brush my teeth,"  Righteous said with mock seriousness. 

"Please go ahead before your breakfast gets cold," Ayanate gushed. 

Righteous finished her bedroom duties and sat down at the edge of her bed with her daughter, the breakfast situated between them. There was no missing the glee in her voice as she thanked her daughter and munched on her food in delight. 

"I'm so happy you made this, sweetheart," Righteous cried, a mouthful of spongy cake goodness swirling in her mouth. 

"I'm glad you like it," Ayanate said with a small smile. 

"Oh, I love it!" 

"I baked cookies and meat pies that you would take to work today." 

"You know I can't resist that. You will make me fat with all this junk food." 

"At least, one good thing that will come out of it is that we’ll keep the gym owners in business." 

"And we shall do that with your school fees and allowances," Righteous quipped, taking another bite of the cake. 

Before Ayanate could give another comeback, Righteous joyfully thanked her in advance for the lunch and the two women continued the rest of the breakfast, occasionally chatting and discussing random topics. 

Both mother and daughter got so engrossed in their discussion that it continued long after the breakfast. Their gist was so interesting to the extent that Ayanate had to shove her mother out of the house and into her car.