WIDOWED
CHAPTER 2
After searching for a job for close to a year, I succeeded to get employment as a security man. However, my rise to the top was swift. It started after my observant boss noticed I was educated and had a university degree. My calm disposition and honesty did the rest. Within three years, I had been made a branch manager.
I wasn’t getting younger any longer. So I decided that it was time for me to get a wife. I sent words to the village for my mother to get me a beautiful girl who can take care of the home. I didn’t want to get married to a city girl. Several times, when I went out to relax after a hard day at work, I had seen with my own eyes what these city girls do. I had made up my mind that I won’t get married to any city girl.
Three weeks after I sent words to the village, I got a call from my dad. He told me he had been able to secure for me a beautiful village girl. Her name was Enoma. Luckily for me, it was during December and Christmas was fast approaching. As soon as the Christmas break came, I withdrew enough money from my account and went to the village.
My first encounter with Enoma was exciting. It was like we had known each other for many years. She was not too fair, average height and had a beautiful smile which revealed a nice tooth gap. She was easy going and seemed not to be too expectant. I loved her immediately I saw her and I could feel she felt the same. I met her parents and we did the necessary things that had to be done for her to become my wife formally.
Christmas break was over. I took my wife and headed back to the city. I was now a married man and needed to have some private time to fully consummate my new marriage. I was driving at a normal speed while I chatted with my wife Enoma. She smiled at every little thing I said. I kept making her smile because I loved seeing her dimples.
“Why do you smile at everything I say, dear wife” I asked as we rounded a corner and reached Kumba.
“I don’t know. Maybe I am just excited going to Yaoundé, that big city.” She said laughing.
“I can understand. I had the same feeling when I first came to the city.” I revealed.
“Really, please tell me about your experience.” She urged.
“Not today my dear. Another day baby, please. If I tell, you will laugh so loudly that people will think you are a ‘Johhny Just Come”, I told her. “But come to think of it baby, that’s exactly what you are.”
“So you are mocking me now enh?” She said, playfully angry.
“Am I mad?” I asked. She smiled again and the dimples and tooth gap happened again.
It was late in the evening when we reached Yaoundé. We were home finally and I was starting my day one as a married man. Enoma was such a hard working lady. She performed her marital duties and house chores perfectly. I always helped her whenever I found some time from my busy schedule. She was not very educated, so I enrolled her into a computer school so she could have some sort of employment when she was done. She hated staying home, so she opened a small business in front of the house where she sold provisions after her classes.
Enoma was a virgin and I was very happy when I discovered that she was. I had always wanted to marry a virgin and when I discovered that she was one, I knew it was a dream come true. She was a very fertile woman too and within her first six months in the city she got pregnant. She had always woken up early to see that I had breakfast before engaging the terrible Yaounde traffic to work. However, lately, she had been sleeping a lot and I had noticed some changes.
I woke up one morning and told her we needed to talk. She woke up from bed and stretched her body sleepily and lazily, unlike my energetic beautiful Enoma.
“Are you ok, wife?” I asked. “You sleep a lot lately.
“I don’t know my love.” She yawned. I just feel tired lately. I am hardly able to prepare your meals.
“Maybe you are pregnant sweetheart. When was the last time you menstruated?” I asked.
“About two months ago. My Domestic Science teacher once told us that if and when you skip your menses, it means you are pregnant.” She explained
I was so happy that day. I knew I was going to be father. My greatest wish was coming to pass. I was all smiles that day at work and no one could understand what was happening to me. In my mind I already saw myself as a father. In my mind, I was singing my favourite song from “The Lion King” cartoon, but I changed the lyrics to suit the situation.
“I’m gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware” became “I’m gonna be a mighty dad, so enemies beware”.
A few months later she put to bed. I was at work when the call came in that my wife was in labour. I sped to the hospital and met a nurse who after asking for my identification told me my wife was safe and my baby girl was also doing fine.
My jaws fell. A baby girl!! I wanted a baby boy. Why would Enoma do this to me? My first compulsion was to turn around and go back to my office. I held back myself and moved into the private ward where she was. She smiled at me weakly but my own smile was a fake one. I looked at the baby and she was beautiful and my heart melted a little. But I was still angered. I decided we will call her Bessem.
TO BE CONTINUED……
