MY JOURNEY AS A SINGLE MOTHER.
By Authoress Rhoda.
Part 1
“Mummy, come and see Taiwo. He is about to jump inside the well.” Kehinde shouted as she ran to where I was.
“Ehen! Taiwo mi, about to do what?” I asked as I dropped what I was doing and ran to the backyard.
On getting there, I passed out when I found my son inside the well. My sharp daughter brought me back to life with her cry. Her cry drew many people’s attention.
To cut the whole long story short, a man was able to bring him out of the well, unfortunately he was unconscious. A nurse was called upon by a man immediately. She came and brought him back to life.
I was called all sort of names. They told me I was careless to have allowed him to enter the well. I was really accused. I managed to calm myself because it was as if I should kill the boy for such an embarrasement he brought to my life.
As if one of the women read my mind. She told me not to be harsh on the boy. She told me to deal with him with love so that he could voice out the reason behind his action.
“I don’t want to know what made him do such a thing. He is in hot soup.” I said in annoyance.
“If you know you cannot train a child, give him to me to train since I am still looking for the fruit of the womb rather than killing him.” Another woman said.
I didn’t say anything. After some minutes, everyone left. Before they left, I appreciated them for coming to my aid.
When my children and I went back to our room, I brought out my cane and flogged the hell out of Taiwo.
” Mummy, you are a wicked woman. I want you to beat me to death. I want to die.” Taiwo said in tears.
I was speechless.
“Mummy, I also want to die.” Kehinde said. She said that in tears.
I became more confused.
I couldn’t help but sit on the floor to process things well in my mind.
I broke down in tears. Looking at their faces, I wept uncontrollably.
Mother couldn’t console her children. The children couldn’t console their mother.
We were all lost in our different worlds.
What actually happened?
Should I continue?
©️Ojo Rhoda Ayanfeoluwa.
