not called Jehovah Rapha (The Healer) for nothing. sometimes we tend
to undermine the power and glory of God. we should understand that
doctors only treat but God heals. have you ever wondered why some
people get sick from a certain illness and get well at prescribed
medicine while some people die from the same illnesses and the
medicine fail to make them better?
for a whole week I was with Laurent at the hospital I realized how
short life is. more young lives succumbed to death and I was so
grateful to God for healing my baby.
finally he got discharged and we went home. in moments like those I
got so angry with Ben. he was out there enjoying life to the fullest
while I shouldered the responsibility. God forbid if at all he had to
come one day and take them away from me. Single mothers I salute you,
its not easy to raise a child with one hand, its a life rendering
sacrifice.
Laurent was his usual self playing and giggling. this kid was happy
naturally,I watched with a sigh of relief as he lifted his arms to
Amanda to carry him.
my mother's phone kept ringing and each time she dissapeared to her
room to answer it. I was so puzzled by her behavior but I didn't ask
who it was.
later that night after eating supper, I went to prepare the kids ready
for bed. we had two beds in the room. one was a double bed which I
shared with Laurent and Amanda while Beatrice slept on the other
single bed next to us. my sister had a sense of humor and we chatted
like old friends.
I couldn't deny the fact that she was growing fast . at sixteen she
looked bigger than her age. I knew boys were beginning to eye her but
I encouraged her to save herself for a better man. the world will
never run out of men,she didn't have to be in a hurry in giving
herself up.I promised her that if we managed to sell well in that
year's farm produce she could enrol at a teacher's college. she
couldn't hide her happiness. I didn't want her to end up like me with
two children and without a man to show for it.she understood what I
was passing through but it irritated me so much because she always
said I would get back with Peter.
we talked in whispers when the kids were asleep until we called it a
night and drifted off to sleep. it felt good to be back to the comfort
of my place. hospitals were never my favorite place in the world. I
slept on the floor while Laurent shared a baby cot with two more
babies. my mother was sleeping on the floor at a make shift guardian's
shelter. it was an open space with concrete slabs to sit on.during the
day it saved as a waiting room. I felt sorry for a certain woman who
lost her baby in the middle of the night,she had to endure the pain of
watching her baby drift into oblivion while her mother was at the
guardian's shelter. third world countries are at a pain to improve
public services.
in the middle of the night I heard the door opening. I was startled
because I thought it was a thief. i heard whispering voice.I woke
up,tip toed my way to the door and opened a crack. I saw two figures,
my mother and a Man they disappeared to her room. I didn't recognize
the man since I only saw his back. some courage though. I respected my
mother and expected better from her. barely six months had elapsed
since my father's demise yet she was already having another man in his
bed. the poor man must have been turning in his grave. it was
disrespect of the highest order and there was no way I was watching
that happening without a fight.
I went to her bedroom door and knocked furiously. I was sure no action
had started yet. there was a few seconds of silence before my mother
came out with only a wrapper around her armpits. she gave me the what
-the-hell-is-wrong look.
"I want to see the man in your room." I spoke while looking directly
in her eyes. it twisted her nerves.
"don't be dramatic. am sure one of the kids is in need of you "
"mama am not playing games here. bring him out, you can't lie because
I have seen him. "I was getting impatient.
"please my dear I will explain in the morning for now go back to
bed".it was evident she didn't want to sort it out my way. I was
adamant to end this once and for all. she had to understand that I was
no longer a baby.
"no way .am not going anywhere." the man heard us and came out to see
what was happening. he was Mr kamanga my dad's best friend since I was
a kid.
he was shocked to see me as I was equally shocked to see him.
"go back inside and put on your shirt , leave before I go and call your wife."
"I…I am sorry. "he stammered. I wasn't in the mood for apologies. my
mum clapped her hands twice in disbelief. Mr Kamanga hurried back in
the bedroom and came out still in the process of getting dressed. I
stifled back a laugh. my mother held his hand stopping him from going.
"don't even think about it" I warned her.
he left and I locked the door, took the keys with me back to my
room,leaving my mother mouth agape and filled with shame…
To be continued…
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