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MAMA EJIMA

MAMA EJIMA.

Chiamaka stood to answer the door bell.  It had better be who she was expecting. Her guest should be here by now,  she had called from the airport thirty minutes ago.

Amaka looked through the peephole and quickly unlocked the door,  her facing brightening at the sight of her guest.

The door opened, revealing an old woman in top and wrapper, and a big jacket on the top. She was shivering uncontrollably.

"Mama eeeeee" Chiamaka screamed and hugged her mother tight.  Now everything was going to fall into place. She had been worried on  how to cope with her new child as her mother in law was late and her own mother had told her she won't be able to come for the omugwo,  because Amaka's twin sister had given birth few days after Amaka.

Mama Ejima,  her mother had claimed she would rather stay and do omugwo for Chidiebere,  than come to freeze to death in Amelica..  That's her mother's way of calling America.

Imagine her joy at finding her mother at her doorstep that morning. Amaka wondered what Mama had told Ebere that made her release their mother to come do omugwo with Amaka.

They had a bitter argument few days ago about it and each daughter had claimed right on their mother.  The conversation ended in Ebere dropping the call angrily on Amaka.

Amaka was planning on getting a professional baby care worker when her mother called her from the airport this morning to say she was in Amelica.

She hugged her mother again and drew her into the comfort of her home, putting her new born in her mother's arms.  Mama Ejima sat,  still shaking uncontrollably as she rocked her grandchild.

Amaka went to the kitchen to get her mother hot beverage. She brought it back to the living room,  and proceeded to Facetime with her sister,  to thank her for allowing their mother come to America.

"Nwanne, kedu ka idi?
 Eji m aka na arudi gi?   How is my son doing? " Amaka asked her sister cheerfully.

"Nwanne,  Ọdi mma oooo.  Your son is doing okay.  I am so sorry about the other day. The quarrel was uncalled for. "

"That's the reason I am calling. My sincere apologies too.  I want to thank you for allowing Mama come over to help me here. " She looked over to where her mother was bottle feeding Nnamdi.

" Aghotaghi m. Biko, kwuo ihe i kwuru ozo. What are you saying?  Mama is right here with me now. What do you mean she is with you in America?

"But Mama is here now. " A confused Amaka directed the phone's camera to where their mother sat.

"Chineke meeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! I don't believe this.  Otele mbgeke eeeee. Mama is seated right here with Kelechi " A distraught Ebere turned her own camera to where their mother was seated with her too.

Both girls looked at the pictures on their screen and screamed together...... 

Back in the village,  Mama Ejima's body was stretched in the dibia's spell room,  her body covered in different charms, waiting for her spirit to return from the two different journeys it has embarked on.

©Ogbeni Adeyeye

image by @adubimydaz_makinde

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