Episode 7
TOO HARD TO LET GO
Standing before me at the door, were my mother and a young lady.
The lady had a big sack bag on her head.
I watched them for a while, wondering why they have come all of a sudden, before I realized myself.
“Welcome, Mama”. I muttered, making way for them to come.
“So how are. you?”.My mother asked, stepping in behind the woman.
I locked the door before I was able to reply her.
“I’m fine, thank you. This one you came without notice, hope all is well at home?”. I asked.
“So, I cannot visit my son again anytime I feel like?”. She teased.
We walked together to the living room and sat down.
I was curious to know what her mission was, but she was busy telling me about her farms and how my father’s brothers were maltreating her.
I was listening for almost an hour before I had to interrupt her.
“So Mama, who is this young woman with you?”.
She smiled at her.
“I thought you’re not going to ask. This is Deborah, Mazi Uche’s second daughter”.
I was nodding, expecting her to continue, but she stopped at that, and instead started whispering something to the lady
“Okay. Let me guess, you’re taking her to meet someone”. I said, impatiently.
She paused, to take a look at me.
“Not really, I brought her here for you”. She replied
“As..?”. I asked.
“A wife”. She answered, smiling.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. How could my mother come all the way from the village to my house with a girl I don’t even know?… without asking from me?.
I stood up.
“Mama, can I have a minute with you?”. I requested.
“No, dear. Whatever you want to say, say it here before your wife, or what do you think, Deborah?”. She asked, looking at the lady.
That one smiled, nodding her head.
I shook my head and started moving towards the exit.
“Douglas”. Mother called out.
But I didn’t turn to look at her. I continued moving until I found myself outside the compound.
I walked aimlessly about with a heavy heart until I got to a park. I sat down and watch the children play.
Watching those kids gave me joy. At a point, I found myself, envying them… they have nothing to worry about.
The thought made me hate Lucy even more.
When I got home later at night, the two women were in the dining room, eating.
“Your husband is back”. Mother announced.
I watched the girl washed her hands, stood up and started coming towards me. I watched her, wondering what she was going to do, I waited until she was an inch away from me, before I stopped her.
“What were you trying to do?, hug me?. Are you alright?”. I shouted angrily at her, causing her to shiver.
“What is the meaning of that, Douglas?. You don’t have to be mean to that innocent girl, she mean no harm”. My mother was saying from the dining room.
I turned to look at her
“Mama, why are you doing this?, have you forgotten that I’m already married?”. I asked.
“Married kwa?, to who?, a prost!tute?”. She said.
“Mama, please, I know that Lucy stabbed me on the lungs, but I won’t have you or anyone call her names before me”. I blurted out, surprise at my outburst… I shouldn’t be defending Lucy, she is everything they said.
“I’m not surprised”. My mother said.
I angrily went into the room.
The first thing I noticed as I opened the door, was a br@ hanging on the wardrobe, before my eyes went to the bag placed at the foot of the bed.
I ran back to the living room.
“Mama, why did you ask this girl to take her things to my room?”. I asked, angrily.
“Where was she supposed to keep them?”.
I turned to face the lady.
“Look, I don’t know what my mother told you, but I want you to know that I am a married man. If you’re smart enough, you would have seen those portraits hanging over there…”. I pointed towards our wedding pictures, that should be hanging on the wall, and that was when I noticed, they were gone.
I walked closer and checked behind the cushions, closer to where they should be hanging, but they weren’t there.
I saw those pictures this morning. I thought, as I searched under the cushions.
But then, I noticed my mother’s unusual silence,… she must have removed them.
I stood up to face her.
“What is this, mama?, why did you remove our wedding photos?”. I asked, and when she wasn’t saying a thing, I ran into the visitor’s room, where she kept her things. I ransacked the room before I found the pictures, hidden under the bed.
I took them to the living room and hung them back on the wall, as my mother and her wife watched on.
“Nobody should tamper with these pictures again”. I warned.
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