Yellow Tales of a Nigerian Housemaid (completed)

Chapter Fifty Five

Due to the immense darkness and sudden rush, I hadn't notice uncle Ugonna wore just his jean shorts and white singlet while rushing aunt Onyi to the hospital last night. His eyes were pale like someone who'd been denied sleep for years, his hair rough, feet muddy with his torn slippers dangling in his hand. But in all of this, his lips were wide with smiles...

"And?" I asked jumping up. I didn't need to wait for him to say it, his smiles had said it all.

"I have a son" He replied, with an even bigger smile. I screamed in happiness, jumping and clapping. In excitement, I didn't know when I jumped on him, hugging him really tight. But when I realised where I was, whose body I voluntarily clung to, I jerked off with my smiles still intact.

"And why are you screaming this early morning.... " Mama asked walking towards the gate, her voice riddled in anger. But when her eyes found uncle Ugonna, she paused, a quick smile spreading over her lips. "I do have another grandchild right?" She asked with even a wider grin than my uncle's.

When her son nodded, she clapped her palms together, shutting and lifting her eyes so the early rays could spread on them.

"Thank you Jesus!" I heard her murmur.

"It's a boy Mama" Uncle Ugonna announced in a heroic tone.

"Wow Ugonna. This is absolutely good news" Mama replied full of smiles.

I ran back inside singing, intentionally spreading the news through my songs.

Aunt Onyi spent over a week in the hospital after delivery which wasn't so for aunt Oby; in her case, she'd come home the next morning. At a point I got worried and kept asking uncle Ugonna if all was alright. But when she finally came home with the little boy, I didn't need to be told he was worth the long wait. Though really small, he was still a complete copy of his dad. They didn't need a DNA test to prove the child was their blood. His birth will put the gossips to rest.

Having two little soldiers at home isn't a joke. Unlike aunt Oby who wouldn't let me touch her son, aunt Onyi left hers for me whenever she needed to rest. Few times, I had to sleep on the cushion in the sitting room so as to take care of the baby while she and my uncle slept. Even though the little boy was a town crier, I never really cared since it afforded me the opportunity of holding and checking out every single part of him. His tiny legs which always turned red when I touched them, little fingers, crying lips and those two bright eyes. Thinking about it now, I guess it might even be among the reasons the little boy cried, maybe I was disturbing him much.

Poor boy!
*****
Today is the last day of WAEC and believe me, this exam period had been a bumpy ride for me. I wouldn't blame myself a bit if I come out with all E's.

With chores and many more chores, helping out in the shop, caring for and helping in the care of the little additions, assisting Mama and all, lack of sleep, no time to study plus my own personal issues don't in anyway sound like a good recipe for making A's.

The giant school hall served as our exam centre. Our exam numbers were written on our lockers with a temporary marker, and the lockers arranged alphabetically in the hall. Before the commencement of WAEC proper, students were requested to take their lockers into the hall after being issued their exam numbers. The lockers stood in the spot where the students' number fell. My locker stood at the left end of the wall, right in the middle row.

The hall was quiet even though a good number of students were seated in. Everyone had their head lowered a bit above their lockers, reading.

I settled in my seat after struggling with the padlock for a short while. The clattering sound it made while I struggled to open it got angry eyes sending daggers my way. Finally open, I lowered myself on the chair without even bothering to wipe the dust off it. Without warning, I let my head lay on the locker, closing my eyes to a deep reassuring sleep.