Mama nnukwu was sitting on a relaxing chair in front of the house, by the verandah, with a basket filled with Egusi which she was picking; she sells them in the market and makes more profit when she sell the picked ones.
A wrapper was tied loosely around her body, slightly above her sagging breasts; her hair was cut low and uncombed.
Chukwu abi-ama dalu ooo!!! Umu mu abila ihu mu; “(Almighty God thank you oo!!! My children have come to see me)” She said.
Although she was stooped with age, I could easily see how beautiful she once was. She hugged all of us tightly before asking us to seat on the mat beside her and mother on a low kitchen stool.
Mama joined her in picking the Egusi as they talked, while we sat on the mat playing among ourselves.
Nne, how are you? Mama asked mama-nnukwu.
Am fine my daughter, she replied.
Ndi be gi nko? Mama-nnukwu asked.
We are all fine, my husband sends his greeting. (How bout your family?)
Mama and mama nnukwu talked for some hours about how she was copping and her business was too.
It has being a very productive year for mama-nnukwu as her business was moving find. She sells food stuffs in the nkwo market in the village. And everybody loves her because she was very strong and funny, she would make her customers laugh a lot.
People loved her in the market so she sells more good than her co-traders. Most of the things she sells, like ugu, akwu, ede, bitter leaves, ogili, yam etc she grows them in her farm. So she supplies fresh one to her customers and gets more gain than others. She and mama conversed for some while. And we played in the compound.
I have never heard so much freedom and space to play, as we never leave our house with fear of what papa would do.
It was already 4.00pm and time for us to depart, I wished we could spend the night at mama-nnukwu’s house but that wasn’t possibly. All I could do is wish.
mama-nnukwu went in and brought out some things for us to travel with. It is a normal thing to give food items like ede, oil, plantain etc to people leaving in the city on their way back, when they come visiting.
Mama was very happy in her heart, although she didn’t show it to mama-nnukwu. That was actually her reason of coming, but she didn’t like to make it obvious to her. At least we would have to stay hungry again if papa refused to give her money next time, she taught in her heart. Obinna helped her pack the food stuffs in a sack bag, mama-nnukwu gave him. Mama thanked her for the gifts, while we beaded her bye-bye. And set off back to Onitsha.
At home, papa was sitting at the verandah, waiting for our return; as mama didn’t tell him about our supposed visitation to the village. Mama knew what we would face her doing such. But it was worth the risk. She got what she actually went for.
He was sitting at the corridor when we walked into the house.
We greeted him but there was no responds instead he got up from the white but now brown chair on which he sat on and headed straight to the parlour.
Mama instructed us to carry the bag to the kitchen, while she followed him into the room. Surprised that he didn’t say a word, which was so unlike papa. So i stood beside the door to the parlour, to listen to what they would take about.
Where did you go to? Papa asked.
“I… I… I... mama stammered.
"You what"?
"Talk before I descend my anger on you now" papa shouted at her.
"I…we… we went to nnewi" mama muttered.
"You went to nnewi to do what exactly"? He asked.
this time with rage in his eyes.
Mama kept quiet for some time, thinking of what to say to him, to avoid his rot. But papa’s rot is unavoidable when it comes to disobeying him words. Mama looked up at him and said, I went to see my mother. And you went with my children? He asked.
"What are those you came back with?".
"Food stuffs; my mother gave them to us on our way back". Mama said as she drew back because she knew with papa's temper she was in for it today.
*papa - father
*mama - mother
*egusi - melon soup
*nkwo - one of the market days in igbo Land (eke, orie, afo, nkwo)
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Visible Essence
Non-FictionVivian Benjamin you are a rare gem. I don't know what is keeping you back but keep fighting honey you will win one day. this story is dedicated to my sister and every Nigerian out there. we can't kill ourselves ooo but we will keep pushing because w...
