Episode 23

Last updated on April 7th, 2023 at 06:50 pm

My baby had arrived. I was never trying this again and no one could tell me otherwise. I felt so sore, I couldn’t even explain it. We discovered that he was breached so we had to arrange for a cesarean section there and then instead. It made me relieved, no lies. My blood pressure had not still gone back to normal but the doctor said it was to be expected and that we would monitor it for a while before I could go home.

“See his mouth like his father’s mouth. Lape, you should have done that induction instead of this CS o. Give birth like the Hebrew women.”

“Okay ma, I will tell the doctor to reverse it and put the baby back inside.”

In less than twenty-four hours since mummy had been with me, I had heard all sorts. I had my son yesterday morning, on a Saturday and mummy came in the evening. Jude did not come around until this morning. He did not even say a word to me. He was also in the room currently, looking disinterested. Mummy did not seem to notice anyway, maybe because they had been talking about whatever since he came.

“I am going o, to sort out the huge bills.”

“Ok.” I replied.

“My son well done; you are a man. God will never stop providing for you. Thank you for not putting us to shame.” My mother said.

“Amen, thank you, ma.”

My mummy was obsessed with Jude, it’s as if she was his fan. I couldn’t even describe how she fawned over him. It must be unhealthy. I didn’t know this shame that she was even talking about.

***

I wasn’t lactating yet and mummy was here suggesting different weird options, she had mentioned that I should put a hot towel on my boobs, and drink soya milk and honestly, I was tired. It felt like I needed a break. Sarah hadn’t come around since mummy came; it was even too much to ask of her. My mummy can be real trouble. 

After feeding my son, who, thankfully, was in good health, I put him in his cot and tried to sleep. That’s when mummy decided to talk to me.

“Lape.” She called and I adjusted on the bed ignoring her. She was unmoved, however, “Olape Ololade Kosofe. I know you can hear me, my child.”

“Mummy, don’t you have some nurses around to gist with? I am tired and I need to sleep.”

“It won’t take long Lape. Just a heart-to-heart discussion, woman to woman.”

“Ah mummy, what is it? What do you want from me? Kilode gan?”

“Lape, oko mi, it’s not easy. Ma binu. That’s what it takes to be a woman.”

“Then allow me to rest at least.”

“You can lie down na, lie down and just listen, you don’t even have to talk.”

“It’s the way you disrespect Jude.” She continued, even though I was closing my eyes. “I don’t know who is corrupting you but I trained you to be a better woman than any devilish influence.”

“Mummy, if you want to talk about this then I think it can be later.”

“I knew you would say that. Don’t hurt me and make me cry, my daughter. You are my only daughter and if your marriage is not a success do you know what the world would say?”

“I don’t care.”

“Ah, Lape, don’t say this, please. You have to care. In fact, you must care. Your husband said you treat him like trash, he says he has been the one doing all the house chores and even cooking his own meals. He said you went to his family house and you could not lift a finger, that you kept carrying Dimeji around. Is Dimeji a baby ni?”

“Is that what he told you?”

“Yes, he also said you badmouthed him to the nurse that was assigned to care for you. He said the nurse was rude to him. To top it all, he said you told him he is deaf and insulted his family in the presence of the doctor and other patients. He said some nurses were even there. That he was so embarrassed and he vouched to not come until you put to bed.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Okay? After all this heavy talk?”

“Mummy, but you told me I don’t have to talk.”

“Lape, is it Sarah that’s teaching you this bad habit? Sarah has been married to my son for almost seven years and we have not heard the cry of a baby in their house. She tied your brother up and I know very soon, my God will release him from her bondage. Is that the person that you want to copy? Or is it Vic, the shameless friend you have who can’t even hold down a man?”

It’s funny, those two were the closest to me and they did not even know half of my marital issues. But for mummy to blatantly talk about them like this was something else. I would not even bother with a reply. Fluffing my pillow, I backed mummy and allowed sleep to carry me, all her words falling on deaf ears.

***

I missed Sarah which was funny because we were not close until about three weeks ago. I guess you didn’t need that much time to be on the same frequency as someone. She had this peaceful aura when she was around and she laughed a lot. Who knew? She always seemed so serious when she came with her husband to family events. I really did not know she was jovial.

Thinking about it now, I felt a bit guilty for judging her. I had always thought mummy was doing too much by disliking her and saying nasty things about her, but on a few occasions when I did not know better, I was inclined to almost believe mummy was saying the truth. The past few weeks changed my perspective.

She still called and sent me messages but by an unspoken agreement, we decided she would not be coming around. I was fine with it really. Give mummy the opportunity and she would insult Sarah all day. There was a time she said, “Even Sarah in the bible eventually conceived, we don’t know where you got your own barrenness from.” It was better for Sarah not to come around.