In the space of time - Episode 2

 

'’Mummy I don’t want to eat porridge na’’, Adaugo looked down, it was Tabitha. She was holding her left leg and whining, faking tears. Ada knew her daughter was just faking the crying in order to escape the meal. She liked ‘sweet things’ like most children. Somtochukwu was like that when he was her age. He refused to eat vegetables claiming they gave him stomach pain . Those where just excuses to eat any other food, she knew this was in fact true because  as he grew older, he started eating it without complaining. Their father was the exact opposite, he loved vegetables and always complimented his wife’s own specially. She wondered if he was always like that from childhood or if he had grown to love vegetables. Anyways, a lot of things about Odogwu had changed, they say change is the only constant thing in life. She just hoped all the changes in her family would be for the good. She looked at Tabitha again who was now sitting on the tiled kitchen floor, pushing her legs back and forth and still crying. Her voice had increased now. Odogwu was resting, she didn’t want Tabitha to disturb him. ‘’Alright love’’, she began bending to reach Tabitha’s level. ‘’tell me what you want to eat and mummy will make it quickly for you, like swifty’’.  Tabitha looked at her mother wondering if she was serious or she was just pulling one of her tricks

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/in-the-space-of-time

. ‘’Mummy, remember morning devotion this morning?’’, where was this little girl going with this, Adaugo nodded and went along with her anyways, ‘’of course love, I remember, what is it?’’ Tabitha, uses both palms to wipe her eyes, rigorously, ‘’you said children of God don’t lie and the devil; the bad guy is the father of liars, I just hope you’re not lying to me right now”. 
Of course this girl just had to use the morning devotion she had taken against her. Adaugo smiled and took Tabitha’s hand, and they both got up. ‘’I’m serious. What do you want to eat?’’ Tabitha let a smile out. ‘’sweet potatoes and fried egg’’ , ‘’finish’’ she added. ‘’promise mummy something, if you eat potatoes now, you would definitely  eat the next vegetable meal I prepare okay?’’ it was a deal she knew Tabitha was sure to take. ‘’I promise, yay!’’, she said turning around to do a spin and then a bow. ‘’who are the those making promises all around?’’, it was Odogwu, ‘’daddy!’’, Tabitha screamed, running to hug him. Odogwu carried her up and threw her in the air about three times, then four, then five, ‘’Odogwu, this child will fall”, Adaugo stated, using the knife she was using the cut the vegetables to point at what they were doing. ‘’whose child will fall?’’ Odogwu said throwing Tabitha in the air again, this time higher and wearing a wider grin on his face.  ‘’Just be careful with her’’, ‘’please’’ she added. Odogwu paused and gave her a serious look, whilst still carrying Tabitha, ‘’are you saying, I’d intentionally fall my own child to the ground? that I’m a bad father?’’ Of course Odogwu would say something like this. Typical. ‘’you know that’s not what I meant’’ Adaugo answered turning back to face the vegetables she was cutting and low key hoping Odogwu would just drop it. ‘’oh so you’re mother of the yeah huh, the best mother in the whole universe!’’ Odogwu added, sarcastically. Oh Christ,  Adaugo just silently sighed and faced what she was doing, ‘’because you take care of our kids, which should be your job as a mother, your job! For crying out loud, which mother complains about their job?, ehn Adaugo, gwanu m! (tell me!)’’ Adaugo knew he was no longer referring to Tabitha’s case. He had delved into the housewife-career matter. ‘’daddy, stop scolding mummy, I’ll agree to  eat the porridge with you guys, just stop, scolding mummy’’ she was teary now, and so was  Adaugo. She went and carried Tabitha away from her father’s arms, ‘’c’mon love, go do your home work. I’ll call you when dinner is ready’’. 
When she got back to the kitchen, her husband was still standing there, leaning on the tiled kitchen wall. Adaugo took a sit. It was a big kitchen. Odogwu had quite the money and had worked hard to build a suitable house for them in the richest area of Enugu state. They lived in independence layout, where top business men and high government officials had built their houses. Odogwu had specifically planned the layout of his house. That was his area of specialty.  Odogwu had always been a hardworking man. Little wonder he graduated from UNN with first class honors in civil engineering. He and two other guys from his class were the only ones who graduated with a first class. That added to the reasons he was picked easily by the Navy. Tabitha and Somtochukwu were given the best education in the whole state. They went to really expensive schools, Tabitha attended spring of Life primary school, while Somtochukwu went to a mixed private boarding school; Miamater Elizabeth High school in  Emene, Enugu state. ‘’Odogwu, what was that all about? what exactly is your problem?’’  Odgowu, stood straight, ‘’My problem? I should be asking you that question Ada, what is your problem? Ke kwanu otu e ga esi me m ihere n’ihu aunty m Ezinne ehnn?(why did you disgrace me like that in the presence of Aunty Ezinne). What? Did he say disgrace, oh please. ‘’who disgraced whom? Don’t make me laugh Odogwu, who is the one that has been facing constant disgrace every day as a housewife? O gi?(is it you?). ‘’so now, taking care of your children is disgraceful to you right? I don’t even understand you anymore, that is aghotam gi  at all, sam sam!(I don’t understand you at all). Do you know what most women would give to be in your place, while you stand there ranting and being an ungrateful thing!’’
Adaugo could not hold it in anymore. She let the tears fall. She hated being weak. Scratch that she hated Odogwu seeing her as weak. But that is how he had always seen her. ‘’Odogwu how can you say that to me? Odogwu, you open your mouth and utter those disgusting words to me, me your wife Adaugo”. She was crying profusely now, whilst hitting his chest with her right palm which still had little pieces of the ugwu(vegetable) she was cutting a few minutes ago. She bent down subsequently, still crying. Odogwu was touched. Or at least he looked like he was touched, because he bent down and held her arms, ‘’that is why I’m saying just stay home and take care of the kids, until they are fully grown and can take care of themselves, then you can work anywhere you choose to, if you want to travel to atlantica for your job, no wahala. But for now, stay home and stay pretty’’. He said, wiping a tear off her right cheek. ‘’nne, (my wife)  I’ll keep footing the bills just tell me what you want, I’ll change your wardrobe, I’ll change your phone to the latest iphone, is it XS or what, I could even change your car if you want. I’m Odogwu! The man of the house, gwanu Odogwu ihe I choro (tell Odogwu what you want).  Adaugo was tired of this, he always thought money could get him anything he wanted. For the past ten years she had stayed indoors and stayed pretty. She was tired, she wanted to get her hands busy. ‘’Odogwu ogini du?(what is it) am I the only married woman in this country? Other married women are working and taking care of their children, why can’t I be like them, nke m  o di iche?(is my own different?)
Odogwu was getting angry, she saw it in his eyes. But guess what? she didn’t care anymore. What’s the worst that could happen? Better for her to state her mind now than regret it later.

Read " Kenny's Story " by the same author ( Ijeoma Okorie )

. ‘’Okay, Ada m, what is it that you say you want to do?’’ Ada couldn’t believe her ears, was Odogwu finally bending his strict rule because of her lamenting? if she had known this would work, she would have done it a long time ago. She took the opportunity now anyway. ‘’Odogwu, I’m a writer, I want to…’’, he cut her off. ‘’very well then, write your bed time stories from home. I’ll always make the internet available, even buy you a new laptop if you want’’, he got up, ‘’is that all?’’ Adaugo couldn’t believe her ears again, so she moved to speak, ‘’but Odogwu you didn’t even listen to…’’, he only looked at her and gestured to the pot of food that was now burning because of their heated discussion. No, not discussion, argument is the word. Their heated argument.‘’Great!, I’m glad we’re on the same page. Don’t feed me burnt food this woman, you claim to be mother of the year, act it! Please’’. With this, he walked out of the kitchen. Adaugo stayed on the floor for some minutes before she went to put off the gas knob. What kind of man had she married?