Thorn between episode 8 – 9
TITLE: TORN BETWEEN
WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI
FAMILY LIFE 3…….
Mama Uk stayed with Adim and his family for five months to enable Eucharia to write two examinations. When she was leaving, Adim went on a shopping spree. He loved how she took care of his wife, child and the home. He didn’t want Dumebi to be placed in a Daycare after Mama Uk left. When Eucharia had classes, she would have to drop her there. Eucharia suggested he invites his parents to come on a visit for three months. It was their turn to do omugwu. Adim was worried his folks would listen to Flora’s false accusations and take sides with her. But Eucharia had more faith in them to be reasonable. They decided since they would be travelling to the village for the Christmas holiday, they could as well come back with his parents.
Adim’s father declined to travel back with them. He asked his wife to go and stay as long as she liked. His brother had retired from work and had come back home. He spent most of his time with him. He believed his brother’s wife would not object to feeding him. His other son, Paul’s fiance was also a regular visitor. She was awaiting admission into the university. She came to help them in the house and had agreed to check in on Papa everyday and make at least a meal for him. It was settled. Mama Adim went back to Lagos with them.
Adim, in his wisdom, did not tell Flora that their mother was in Lagos until two weeks after her arrival. She stormed the home in anger and confronted Adim in his home. Adim did not care about her rage; he did it on purpose. He wanted his mother to experience Eucharia without a negative influence from Flora. It was easy for her to poison their mother’s mind towards his wife. So far, they had got along very well. Their neighbours did not even know she was Adim’s mother; they thought she was Eucharia’s mother. Unlike Eucharia’s mother, Adim’s mother loved to stroll. She walked with her daughter-in-law every evening around their estate. She was always excited each time Eucharia came home because she came bearing gifts for her. They had bonded before Flora got to know.
“Mama, you came to Lagos and did not ask for your Ada. Adim hid your presence from me. He has changed. He is now very secretive and cunning. Why would he not want me to know you are around? You will come and spend some weeks with me now you are here,” Flora said to her mother.
“Ada mmadu! You look so well. Don’t blame Adim and Eucharia, it happened so fast that is why Adim did not tell you. I cannot visit you for now and leave Eucharia who invited me to her home to help her watch her daughter while she goes to school. I cannot leave the house until Eucharia is on holiday. How would she cope with her child, the house chores and school? She needs me. When I go back, she can bring her mother back.”
“Eucharia, you have turned my mother into your nanny. Why would she be working for you, cooking, cleaning and taking care of your child? Why not employ a maid to render—-”
“No o, that’s not what I said. She does the cleaning, cooking and other house chores. I stay home to take care of Dumebi. She has not turned me into a maid; what is wrong with caring for my grandchild? It is every mother’s dream. Eucharia has been amazing. She treats me as her mother. We go out together every evening for a stroll which I enjoy it. It is the best omugwu I have been to so far.”
Flora felt dispirited that her mother did not want to stay with her. She told Adim that she would like to visit her mother whenever she wanted to. Adim refused stating he had to be home for her to visit. She tried to argue but stopped when he offered to chat with her husband. She was upset. Why was everyone against her including her mother? She didn’t want Eucharia to manipulate her before she could plant the seed she needed to germinate, but it was too late. Her mother had fallen for Eucharia’s antics already.
She knew she had lost this battle. Her mother stayed with Eucharia for six months. When she was leaving, Adim went shopping with Eucharia for her and his father. They were very grateful for all the help. Mama Adim was so excited. She did not know when she said, “Your sister did not give me a quarter of this when I stayed with her. Adim, you married a good wife. She will be a good leader for the other wives in the family. Eucharia, please don’t ever change. You are a good girl. Continue on this path and God will bless. You will give us more children, both boys and girls.”
Eucharia took care of Dumebi for a month while on holiday. She knew the next session was going to be tough on her. She planned to place Dumebi in a Daycare. She was older now and stronger. She had to focus on her education if she intended to excel. House chores were easy for her; running after a toddler was the problem. It needed her full attention and focus. She knew she needed help urgently.
It became an emergency when she fell ill. It was at the hospital she discovered she was pregnant. She was devastated. How would she cope with Dumebi and school while pregnant? She cried until she got home. She struggled to prepare food for Adim. Everything made her nauseous. She then had to stay with Dumebi. Dumebi surprisingly did not make her day tiresome. She seemed to understand her mother was in a predicament.
“Hello, is anyone home?” Adim announced as he entered the house. The sitting room was dark. He had to search for the switch to turn on the light. He saw Eucharia and Dumebi fast asleep on the floor. It was strange. He turned off the light and went into the room. He took a bath and went to the kitchen to help himself to some food while they slept. He went into the room to rest but couldn’t so he came back out. His movement around the house must have stirred Eucharia from her sleep. She stood up and turned on the light.
“When did you get home?” she asked him.
“It has been a while. How are you? You seemed so tired. And I was surprised Dumebi complied with you.”
“She was of her utmost behaviour today. Should I serve you food?”
“I have eaten. You look tired and your eyes are swollen, what happened?”
“Nothing serious. I was at the hospital today.”
“That’s true, what happened there?”
“I am pregnant.”
“The withdrawal method didn’t work?”
“It didn’t. I wanted to wait until Dumebi was two before having another baby. I needed to plan. This will affect so many things. This pregnancy is different, I am nauseous. I don’t know what to do.”
“There is nothing to do but have the baby. We will be more careful next time.”
“I have two more years to conclude my training. This pregnancy will affect me. My hands are full. No one to help me.”
“Do you know what, maybe you should travel for the remaining two weeks’ break? Your mother can look for someone to help with the house chores and Dumebi while you focus on school and the pregnancy. I will help out too. You need help, and I can see that now.”
Eucharia went to her parents-in-law for a couple of days and then went to stay with her mother for a week. She told her about her condition and how stressed out she was with the pregnancy. She asked her mother to look out for someone for her.
“Why do you need someone when your sister can live with you? Helen is the right age you need and you can train her well. She is twelve, take her.”
“Are you sure, Mama? You don’t need her at home?”
“What do I need her for? Her other siblings can do the work at home. Her father is ‘spoiling’ her too much. She will be of service to you. I wanted my brother to take her but he got an older woman to help him with the cooking while his boys cleaned the house. Make sure you see him, he misses you.”
She went back to her parents-in-law with Helen. She asked Mama Adim to assess her with Dumebi. She left them for two days to visit with her uncle. Her uncle was delighted to see her. They talked at the shop for hours before they went home together. She told him about taking Helen and asked his opinion. He supported the idea. He said, “Nobody will treat your child better than your blood. But you have to go easy on this pregnancy thing. After this baby, wait until you finish school before you have another baby. Adim should stop disturbing you, tell him I said so.” Eucharia was embarrassed and smiled shyly at her uncle.
Mama Adim loved Helen. She was no different from Eucharia. She woke up and handled house chores. She set water for bathing Dumebi and called Mama Adim to bathe her. She helped with making breakfast. She spent most of her time with Dumebi. She allowed her to play outside with the other children but kept a close eye on her. She would proudly tell anyone who cared to listen that Dumebi was her niece.
Read – The new girl episode 19 – 20
TITLE: TORN BETWEEN
WRITTEN BY OGECHI ALABI
FAMILY LIFE 4…….
They went back to Lagos together. Helen was so excited about going to the big city. This was a dream come true for her. She had promised her mother to be on her best behaviour and not bring shame to the family. The journey was long and tiring but she gladly endured it. She had heard from her mother about Eucharia’s house, she could not wait to live there. And, she would attend a modern school as a bonus. Her leaving the village was her greatest heart desire. Her mother promised her that if she ‘served’ her sister well, she would leave from her house to her husband’s house just as Eucharia left from her brother’s house to her husband’s house. Helen decided it was the highest honour she could give her parents.
Adim was surprised to see Helen. He had not spoken to Eucharia since she travelled because he had also been away. He had travelled to another state to do some audit work. He came back in time to receive his family. When they got home, Eucharia explained to him why she chose to bring Helen instead of a stranger. It made sense to him. Also, she had the approval of her parents-in-law. Adim welcomed Helen the following day with ice cream. She had never tasted it before and she loved it. She liked Adim instantly and was loyal to the family.
“I don’t like the clothes she has on. She can’t go to church looking like this. Get her a few clothes and toiletries, and on Saturday I can stay home with Dumebi while you shop for her.”
“Di m oma, thank you so much. You give me so much joy. You are such a kind man. I am sure I am the envy of many women.”
“You give me peace of mind. Since we got married we have never had a misunderstanding. You are calm and know when to approach me with issues you want to be discussed. You take very good care of me and our home, why won’t I take care of you and those you love? If she is anything like you, there is hope she will have a great future.”
When the new session began, Eucharia enrolled Helen in school. She bought her uniforms, schoolbag, sandals and books. Helen was so excited. She worshipped the ground her sister and her husband walked on. She was hardworking and focused. She was just like her sister; she was calm and did not get into any trouble. Her coming to their home was a blessing.
Flora heard about Helen when she travelled home. She was upset. Why didn’t Eucharia take someone from their family? Why take Eucharia’s sister? She wondered if Adim had his head correctly screwed. Her helps were from her husband’s village. Her husband insisted on people from his place and she obeyed. She didn’t have a choice but to treat them right. They were also spies for him so she had to be careful around them. She was also wise to draw them close and connived with them on issues.
With Helen in the house, Eucharia had stamped her authourity. She was on the path to abolish poverty from her family. She was using Adim and he could not see it. He was carried away by her complexion. She couldn’t understand what was special about her. Adim was too handsome for a girl like Eucharia. Apart from the height and colour, she had nothing to offer. She came to visit and saw Eucharia was pregnant again. It made her mad seeing her in that condition. Her first child was not even a year old before she conceived. What was wrong with her?
On that visit, she saw Helen. She didn’t have Eucharia’s height but she was more beautiful than her sister and had a darker complexion. She was young and cute; even her husband observed it. She also observed how protective she was of Dumebi. When her children tried to play with her, Helen stopped them sometimes if she felt they were been rough with her. She never left Dumebi’s side unless Adim or Eucharia were holding her. Flora could see Eucharia had a good plan which was working perfectly.
She tried to advise Adim against having his sister-in-law in the house and that they could connive against him. He quietly listened to her. When she was through, he asked her, “To what end? If they kill me, the money will stop flowing. Eucharia and Helen will drop out of school. The new baby is on its way. What would they gain from doing evil to me and my loved ones? With the current status quo, they stand a chance of enjoying themselves. Helen has been a blessing. She is obedient and sharp. Eucharia taught her how to go to the market and she was able to go and come back. She is streetwise and I would like both of them to raise my children. It will be an honour.”
Flora realised her brother was gone. He was blinded by his love for his wife, and had conditioned himself to take whatever she dishes out. How could he support her like that? She was not talking about them killing him but using him to improve their family’s lives. She failed to accept that Adim had also done more for her parents than he had done for Eucharia’s family with young children. She had to restrategise.
Eucharia gave birth to a daughter. They named her Mmesoma. The family was growing and expanding. Mama Uk came to stay for three months. Helen was excellent at helping with Dumebi and the new baby. Mama Uk didn’t need to stay long. Mama Adim came next and stayed for six months. She fell ill and had to remain to receive treatment. She enjoyed her stay at Adim’s home. She appreciated Eucharia’s love and care and Helen’s work in the home.