CHRISTMAS DATING
Episode 18
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Pregnancy! Hmm!
I had always heard different versions of what pregnancy does to a woman. I, personally had been an eyewitness of what pregnancy could turn a woman into. Mine? I couldn’t explain it.
I pushed Jojo to the extreme. My tommy weighed so much that I almost needed a helping hand to carry it about. He was the only one I had, off course. I tried to learn to get used to it, but the mood swings were terrific.
My pregnancy was six months down. I couldn’t explain how that I was always craving burnt Jellof rice. It surprised me how I became so in love with Okra soup. I couldn’t explain why I had to wake up every midnight just to demand for fried eggs. Everything about my body system changed completely.
And Jojo, God forgive me for what I put that man through, was at the receiving end. He would help me do some laundry, wash the dishes, clean the house, and even cook. I begged him to get us a house help but he refused. He went through all that stress and yet, he went to work everyday.
I didn’t like how I suddenly became a nagging wife. I complained about literally everything. I couldn’t even explain why. It made me see the sides of Jojo that I never saw before. I never knew he could stammer. I saw him stammer a few times when he got pissed with my incessant nagging.
During my first trimester, he was always awake at midnight. He was either boiling eggs for me or he was making Okra soup. In fact, I didn’t realize that his asthmatic condition didn’t entirely heal until one evening when I demanded fried eggs. My waist was hurting, and my legs, burning really hot.
He was breathing heavily and looked life he would give it up when he passed me the eggs on the centre table. I saw him dash into our bedroom. I followed him immediately, holding my waist with one hand and with the other hand carrying my tommy that seemed like it would cut off. He was taking in the Ventolin in his inhaler when I walked in.
I was surprised. He never mentioned that he still struggled with the thing. I felt ashamed for putting him through so much. I broke down in tears as I pore into his weak eyes. What if he had died? What if he couldn’t reach the bedroom in time?
He was awake many nights. He lacked sleep because of me. He would manifest that human aspect of him when he got really angry. But it didn’t last any longer than ten to twenty seconds. He would apologize for flaring up, caress my tommy gently and kiss me.
By the time I was seven months down, he already got used to being awake late at night. Those days he did every other thing without flaring up. He was always all smiles when I ordered him about like my house girl. He kept his cool. He seemed to understand my every next move, so that he did most things I had in mind even before I asked him to.
A great man will go any length to make certain sacrifices that his pregnant wife can’t help but love him the more. When I saw him help with every little thing he could, my spirit was lifted and I looked above my pains and weaknesses. I forced myself to do certain things just to reciprocate his kind gestures. He didn’t like it, but I did try to be of help in my own little ways.
That he appreciated those efforts I made by giving my entire body a thorough massage every evening meant the whole world to me. He would lay me down after dinner, strip me of my clothes, and massage my body back into comfort. What more could I have asked for?
I knew he was tired and couldn’t wait to have me deliver the baby already. He really loved his peace of mind. But he signed for it, and he was having it in every fashion. I just felt for him sometimes. And although he got used to every thing, I still had that feeling in me that he wished, sometimes, that I could do more than just sit back and give orders.
It was a Tuesday evening when I delivered my baby. It was a tough run. I was in labour from 2AM that same Tuesday morning. By the time I was delivered of the baby it was already past 4PM.
Jojo was brought into the delivery room to talk to me. The doctors wanted me to go through CS. But I was afraid of the operation. I didn’t want Jojo to go through another series of sleeplessness and stress. He stood over my head, kissing me and pleading with me to allow them do it.
“Sugar,” he kissed me and cuddled my hair. “You will be out before you know it. Just let them do it, please.” He was calm.
“Baby, I can’t put you through this again. Just let me try harder.” I was weak. Very weak.
“But I’m not complaining, my love. Please. . .biko.” He said ‘biko’ in a way that if I had not been in labour I could have had a great laugh.
“Please, let me try one more time. I promise you they can go ahead after this last trial.” I pleaded with him.
“Are you sure, baby? I don’t want to lose you, please. . .” a tear dropped from his eyes.
“I promise you,” I wiped the tear of his face. “I won’t leave you.”
He asked the doctors to give me on last chance. He made to leave the delivery room but the doctors asked him to stay. He stood over my head, holding my hands and breathing heavily. I could feel the breath from his nostrils. He kept encouraging me to push harder.
And strength from nowhere came upon me. It was as if he injected his strength into me. Not too many pushes, the baby was out and fine. The room roared in yeahs and wows.
Jojo was smiling broadly. He bent over and kisses me so gently, he must have thought the baby came out through my mouth and he didn’t want my mouth to feel much pain. I held his neck and had him stay as long as I desired. He had done me well. He had given me the one thing I asked for.
It was a baby boy. Little Jojo. A Shakespeare groomed in my womb. A hero like his father. I already knew it would be a boy. I and Jojo bet on it.I would buy him a car if it was a girl. And it would be the reverse if it was a boy. He wanted a girl first. He said he wanted to make me jealous, she would be his newly found love. But I won. It was a boy
That evening, while he called our parents to inform them about our baby, his parents broke a news that sank our joy.
Pa Banjo died in his sleep the night before. Jojo was down in tears.
I was heartbroken, myself. Jojo couldn’t contain the pain he felt in his heart. I asked him to sit by my side, and I rubbed his back as he rested his head on my shoulder.
I had two moments in one day — Joyful and sad moments. Just like I had two babies to take care of — Sweet Jojo and little Shakespeare.
Typing episode 19. . .
📷: Not mine
— Michael Ituma
