BECOMING

CHAPTER 2

Sunday, 06:20

The sound of her neighbour's children crying was almost like an alarm, her bedroom window was just a step away from Mrs Edet's cottage. So everything that happened in Mrs Edet's apartment seemed like it played itself in Mary's room.
"Bassey, where is the baby's poop can I asked you to get for me? Don't let me catch you playing with that water o!!!" yelled Mrs Edet at the top of her voice to her oldest child.
Mary rolled over a couple of times from one edge of the bed to another. She couldn't tell if she was angry or happy they woke her up in time to prepare for church.
"Sister! Sister!"
"Who is that"?
"It's me Grace"
"Come inside "
Mary finally stood up from her bed and sat down on a small white lean able chair beside her bed.
"Sister Good morning, your boyfriend said I should tell you he'll be coming back late today"
"Why"?
" He said he's going to visit his parents in Akampka"
"He couldn't tell me this last night"?
Grace would have said something but she saw Mary was not in the mood. She just turned her face to another side while Mary looked at her furiously.
Mary could sense how bad the rest of the day was going to be. First, Mrs Edet and her offsprings already spoilt her day before she could even live the day. She picked up her wrapper that was on the bed and pushed it forward to tie on her waist and the breeze that followed the wrapper just made the wrapper settle uneasily on her fine figure,She had the curves of a coke bottle, a tiny waist line that carried so much weight down. A nicely curved shape with a big buttocks. She had a small firmed breast that always had a strong hold on John each time she goes unclad. She was a beautiful woman that was not confident in her self because she was unable to further her education after high school. She knew she could have been more if she furthered. But how could she further when she had so much responsibilities, instead, she took it on herself to make sure her siblings get the highest of education. She was ready to work hard enough for that.

She knew she wouldn't go to church again, her morning started off bad. She went to sit outside her cottage while she leaned to a pillar beside her. She watched Mrs Edet's oldest child playing with water that was kept for him to have his bath. How free and innocent he was, scooping the water with his hands and throwing it into the air while trying to catch it. He did this for a while and Mary was lost in how free he was of responsibilities, bills and thoughts.  He was of six years but he looked like a two year old child. Mr and Mrs Edet were short and they always leave people wondering how two short people would meet and just thought to themselves "oh, you the one for me". 
"They didn't do themselves good" this was Mary's words to her sisters every time they talked about them. Mary was enjoying Bassey's play until Mrs Edet came out and slapped Bassey on his buttocks. They poor boy was startled and in pains. One could hear the sound of the slap a mile away.
"You this boy, you don't know you are wasting money? A bucket of water at Mrs okon's compound is 10 naira, I don't even know why that ugly woman would sell a bucket of water 10naira while others are selling 5naira. Common stand here"
She pushed him forward and poured the water on his head after which she scrubbed his body harshly with sponge.
Mary sat and wondered if she'd be this type of mother to her children. She knew she would be more.
She stood up and went inside, Mercy and Grace were in the kitchen preparing breakfast and singing Christian songs.
Mercy was a chorister in Methodist church, she had a good voice . Grace just flowed along because she was feeling the song

"You are my father, you are my king, blessed be your name"
Mary walked in and joined them in singing. Mercy turned and looked at her and smile then went back to frying her yam.
"It's already 9;30, what time will you people go to church"? She asked
" we are not going to church today" they replied.
Mary felt relieved , she didn't want to feel guilty for not going to church. They started singing again.

It was 12;30 and at this time they were just sitting down discussing. Grace was actually grateful they didn't go to church, it made them sit like a family to discuss.
"Chai God! It is too hot. Nepa want somebody to die with this type of heat" said Mercy
"Please open the curtain beside you" Grace told Mary
"Grace, tomorrow you'll go to the post office, papa should've sent us a letter by now" said Mary.
"I will, just give me transport fare"
Their father was all they had. And without him, Mary would never have finished high school even as tough as things were for their father, he pushed himself to make sure they all finished high school.
Mary was not happy, and she didn't know how to tell her sisters that she was bothered. But she knew if she didn't, she would never be okay.
Mercy sensed Mary was not herself, she  asked her what the problem was. She finally opened up. She was bothered about her age, about not getting married and not knowing if after all she's been with John if he'd marry her. Her best friend "Praise" sent her a letter and in the letter was an invitation to her traditional marriage and she was the chief brides maid.
Before praise found her husband, Mary was already dating John, now, praise is getting married and she isn't .  John is not saying anything about marriage. Every time she  brings the topic up,  John either gets angry or walks away.

Mercy was scared for her sister too, she knew it was something to be bothered about. She moved to Mary and held her hand
"Don't you think you should leave John"?

" why are you talking like this, I'm close to 40, who will marry me at this age"?

"And how sure are you that John will? Sister, is better to be alone than take all this from a man you aren't even sure of" Grace added.

The tears that she has been trying to hide finally found its way out. She wiped it off with her left hand. Mary was happy for her friend Praise, but she was also bothered about herself. She didn't know what to do with John or how to talk to him about being with her.
They were just seated in the living room when NEPA decided to grace their moments. Grace jumped in joy
"NEPA thank you very much"
Mary rushed up, "let me look for what to wear before they take this their light again" she ran into the room
Mercy and Grace were still in the living room.
Grace stood up to put on the television.
"Put off that thing, go and help your sister iron her cloth for tomorrow" said mercy.
" aren't you ironing yours? Go and help her".
Mercy looked at her and at that point wished Grace was still a teenager so she'd give her the slap of her life. But she's already twenty two, a grown lady. Grace didn't bother about Mercy, she was busy watching television and even faked a laugh so it would hurt mercy.
Mercy knew it was time to leave the living room, she stood up and went to Mary's room to help her iron.

6;50, the rays of the moon had covered everywhere, everyone was inside and the only thing one could hear outside was the sound of  crickets and frogs. Mary checked the time, it was late... She didn't bother about John. She had her bath and got ready for bed.
"Should I put on the alarm? " she thought to herself
"No, Mrs Edet's children would wake me up early" she laughed and stood up to put off the switch.

*"chai", is an exclamation. "NEPA", is a power supply company in Nigeria. " Edet is a native name. "Akampkpa" a place in cross river state.