chapter 43

Mama stormed into the living room in which Sewa was seated with her legs sprawled on the center table. She looked heavily pregnant and her swollen face and feet was greater than normal. On her large tummy seated a big bowl of vanilla ice cream in which she had eaten over half of the container.

Nylons of chocolate and candies littered the tiled floor and the white cushions that was gradually turning to brown. She noticed mama but decided not to greet her.

"What kind of woman are you, Sewa? No matter how heavy you are, what kind of wife wakes up on a Monday morning, late at that and then sprawls herself like this eating junks in a very dirty environment. The kitchen is full of so much dirty dishes that the houseflies are beginning to turn it into an habitat for their eggs. The chairs are as dusty as anything, yet you're seated here watching TV." Mama snapped.

"But you know that I can't bend now which means I can't sweep. And as for the dishes, since Fikkie has refused to repair the dishwasher since it developed a fault, the plates will remain there because I can't even dip my hands into any soapy water, the doctor said that it's bad for my health." Sewa replied mama as she went back to digging into her bowl of ice cream.

"Wonder shall never end! Please, are you the first woman who would be pregnant? Soapy water is bad for your health? Do I look illiterate to you? Even if I didn't attend university, I finished my secondary school education and I even have my ND. So what are you telling me? Sewa, before I open my eyes, stand up from there and go to that kitchen to clean it up!"

"See this woman o! Is it weed? No, like, are you high? And you'll come and be talking anyhow to me, who you be sef? Oh, I don't blame you, you must have thought that just because I do your wishes all that time that I fear you or something. See, I don't have a mother o, I never knew my mom, so I don't respect anybody's mother. If I slap you, you'll meet yourself in synagogue..."

"Ah" Mama exclaimed but Sewa wasn't done as she finally stood up and moved closer to mama who was now moving backwards as she walked to her.

"Ah kill you there! That mouth will tear! Every mother in law that I know will be carrying their daughters in law like egg and petting them just to make sure the baby is safe but you, it's as if I came to do slavery here. The first few months, you used chores to kill me, with your it's pounded yam that I want today, Sewa, cook Egusi for me. Sewa, I can't eat leftover breakfast as lunch. Sewa, I like fresh food. You think I enjoyed been troubled like that? I was just trying to make you keep liking me, and now I can't do shvt like that anymore. We don't even know why you turned to Mario in this house, go to your house, mba, you want to die here and be controlling as if you put one maid here."

"Are all of these insults for me, Sewa? How dare you speak to me in that manner? Do you know that I can tell my son to send you packing this instant and you would be out on the streets within a twinkle of an eye?" Mama managed to reply even though she was scared of what Sewa could do.

"When both of you aren't mad? You will send who packing? You don't know what they call me on the streets? Oh, is it my gentle face? Is that what is deceiving you? I'm mad o, I didn't even complete my injection in the psychiatric hospital before I escaped. I'm very mad! If you think I'm like Ify that you can be treating like trash, then mama, you have missed the way. You that you'll soon be washing my clothes for me if you keep crossing your boundaries. Your own elder does not make peace in the home, it disrupts it. Better get away from my front before I use my backhand on your face!" Sewa concluded as she at down back on the couch and sprawled her legs once again.

Mama's mouth hanged open as she stared at the lady who had been so respectful for some months she knew her, the lady who had been so obedient and did everything to please her, the lady who she thought was the best one for her son, the lady who had her grandchild in her. She wondered if it was the pregnancy that was making her mad since there are some cases of pregnant women who are not usually mentally stable during this stage of their lives. Mama was so shocked that she didn't know that she had zoned out for quite a while until Sewa kicked her legs.

"Get out of my face or are you transparent? Better come and clean up this place too, because, I'm not cleaning up shvt!" She snapped not bothering to use all formalities again.

Mama reluctantly stepped away from the spot as she kept on looking back at the lady seated on the couch.

"I really allowed the devil to invade this house." She murmured to herself before she walked into the kitchen to start washing the dirty dishes.

TO BE CONTINUED...