Angel Of Mine – Episode 4

Angel of mine

by Amanda Mofiat

Ins**t 4

I don’t like sitting around and doing nothing. You know back at the village, I am always busy trying to get things done in time. So anyway I wake up early that morning at around 4 am. My son and his wife are still sleeping. I thought of cleaning the house and preparing some breakfast before they wake up after all I hærdly slept with my back pain but that shouldn’t stop me from helping out. I brush my teeth and put on my shoes. I walk to the kitchen where I find a broom, the house has got tiles, the ones you put cobra and the good thing I had come with some homemade cobra from the village and I will try it.

The house is big but I don’t mind, it’s better than sitting and doing nothing at all. I really appreciate what these two are doing for me. Taking me from the village and paying for my hospital bills, he married a good woman and even if she was rude to me yesterday, I understood she was coming from work and she must have had a bad day. I finish sweeping and apply the cobra on the tiles. I don’t want to wake them up and so I make sure that I am not making any noise. I am so glad the cobra is shining so brilliantly on the tiles. I am almost done with the rooms when I heard a door being opened.

‘I hope I didn’t wake them up,’ I say to myself while continuing with what I was doing.

Well no one comes down stairs and so I move to the toilet to clean it. I am almost done with everything now, I feel tired but I ignore the pain. These people work a lot and I just want to be helping them wherever I can. I finish off cleaning the entire house and start wiping where there is dust. I am just humming to my catholic song when someone taps my shoulder; it’s my daughter-in law. I smile brightly,

‘Mamukasei (Good morning),’ I greet her but she just looks at me.

‘You cleaned the entire house?’ I look up and there is my son.

My daughter-in law is still standing there, actually she wanted to say something but because of Jamal coming downstairs, she couldn’t say anything.

‘Yes, I did. I wanted to help you,’ I say to him with a smile spread across my face.

‘Woow and its shining more than it ever did,’ he says, ‘thank you Ma but aren’t you experiencing any pain?’

‘Not at all, I am fine,’ I don’t want him to worry.

‘Thank you so much.’

‘You don’t have to thank me. I have to help wherever I can. You can go and take a bath, I will prepare breakfast for the two of you,’ I say and excuse myself.

I wash my hands with soap before I start making breakfast for them. I am just glad that I had finished cleaning the house when they woke up. Jamal is the only child that I have with my late husband. Just like Abraham and Sarah’s story from the bible, it took me a while before I finally got pregnant. People telling me all sorts kinds of things, relatives mocking me saying that I was barren. I once told my husband to get himself another new wife. I was useless at that time, I couldn’t give him any children but he didn’t want that. He was a loving man, cancer took him away from me and I was left with my Jamal. At that time he was just 18 years old and his father was the only person working. He was working as a driver at one of the chief’s shops. When he died we were stranded but I worked hærd, did some part time jobs like herding the chief’s cattle so that I can educate Jamal.

I was happy when I heard that he had found a sponsor who was willing to pay for his education once he leaves the country. I was scared to lose Jamal when he left for abroad, I remember how much I cried the day he left. Afraid that I will never see him alive but then I knew he was going to take good care of him, the Lord almighty. I thank him every day for bringing back my boy safe and here he was running his own company and married to a beautiful woman, I could never be more proud than this, he made me the happiest woman on earth and even I die, I will die knowing that my son is loved by someone and he will never be alone in this world.

I set the table once I have finished preparing breakfast and its already past 6. So my son and I are still waiting for the results from the doctor. I don’t know what’s wrong with me and I pray that it’s nothing serious. I had been experiencing some back pains up to my leg. But since the doctor gave me the pills, I have been feeling much better than before. I have finished doing everything and just smile to myself. I have always wished for this, cooking for my son and his wife, it had been my wish since he got married. It’s just that my daughter-in law wasn’t able to visit me; I understood she was busy with work and waited patiently for her. I had even kept one chicken for her and had planned to slaughter a cow or a goat just for her. She deserved the kind treatment for she made my son happy. I never looked at much, what I am trying to say is I just wanted a good woman who made my son happy. I am someone who doesn’t mind at all and will never choose a woman for my son. I believe, every child deserves to get married to someone that he loves. I was happy Jamal found that someone, I thanked the Lord for finding a good woman for him and I always prayed for their relationsh¡p to grow stronger and for them to grow old together.

I walk out of the kitchen and my daughter-in law is putting on some shoes as she sitting on the sofa.

‘Breakfast is ready,’ I say to her.

‘I am not hungry,’ she says.

‘Are you okay?’

I am concerned and worried at the same time. Last night she didn’t eat and today as well. I don’t know what’s going on with her but I just want her to know that I will always be there for her. I go and sit beside her and hold her hand but she quickly yanks it away.

‘As if you care,’ she clicks her tongue.

I do care for her, she is not just my daughter-in law but she is my daughter as well and I promised myself that I will always make her feel comfortable in the family.

‘I am worried about you and I do care about you Emily. You are my daughter.’

‘Why are you trying so hærd to get along with me?’

I don’t know what she means by that but I have no grudge against her or do I hate her and I have no reason to hate her. Where I come from we are not allowed to hate anyone, I love Emily and I wish she could see that right through my eyes.

‘Emily, I know living with your mother-in law can be hærd sometimes but I am not here to stay for long and I would never mistreat you or try to turn you against my son. I love you as if you were my own daughter.’

She laughs out loud while clapping her hands.

‘Me, your daughter. I would rather die than being called your daughter. Look at yourself and the way you dress up.’

I look at myself and I see nothing wrong with my dressing.

‘I am sorry,’ I apologies to her.

‘For what?’

‘If I ever did something to offend you.’

‘I won’t accept your apology until you leave this house,’ she whispers, ‘can’t you see that you are not wanted here? Are you blind?’

‘No, I am not,’ I respond very calm.

‘Then why don’t you leave this house?’

‘Mum!’ Jamal calls out.

He walks in the dining room and I don’t know what I did to Emily. I thought maybe it was work. Could it be that she was stressed with work? I didn’t know my presence here will make her feel uncomfortable and I threatening their happiness. To be honest that is not my intention, to turn my son against his wife. I love Jamal too much that I will never destroy his happiness like never; I swallow hærd when my son walks in on us. He just smiles us.

‘The two women that I love the most.’

Emily smiles back and I am now confused with her reaction against my son.

‘I was thanking your mother for cleaning the house and preparing us breakfast. Right mother?’ she turns to look at me and I just smile.

‘Yes and I was telling her it’s nothing really. I did what I had to do,’ I say, ‘excuse me,’ I said getting up, ‘breakfast is set on the table,’ I say before leaving to my room.

I walk to my room and open the door. I just sit on the bed thinking about what just happened in the dining room. I am there thinking about it when Emily opens my door.

‘I am here to make some things clear to you.’

I wait for her to continue as I listen attentively.

‘This is my house and I won’t have you or anyone else destroy what I have built with my husband.’

‘I d…’

‘b***h, I am still talking,’ she says and I don’t know what that means, ‘You trying to impress us by cooking and cleaning the house should stop. I will clean this house when I find the time and I will cook for my husband. Woman he is now mine and I don’t expect you to be cooking for him. He is not yours anymore. Please just stop with the pretense, and we never had this conversation. Please amai kana ma results abuda dzokerai kumusha kunorima (please mum if the results are out, go back to the village and farm). I am done with you,’ she says and walks out of my room leaving the door open.

A tear escape my eye, I know she doesn’t mean what she just said to me. Maybe something is stressing her or maybe I might have done something to offend her. I love Emily and I would never try to hurt her.

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Amy