Meeting Mrs Hembadoom II

"Wow, here I am thinking no one knows. " She said as she stared at Dwayne. Dwayne raised his hands up," I didn't tell her anything. "

Mrs Hembadoom laughed at the two and said, "don't worry dear, I won't tell a soul. My son didn't tell me anything, I saw it the moment you walked in and when I held your hands. In our time, our parents didn't need medical result to know if you were pregnant. they check your eyes, hands and other part and they can tell, but most parent now because of civilization, they depend solely on English medicine, that a child will be at home with you for months and you wont know she is pregnant but thank God they are still a few of us left, "she said smiling.

Wow Sky said smiling. "My mom isn't very good at it ma'am but she said she would have caught me with my saliva. You are good ma'am, I think I should bring my little sister here every month, she's the female version of Dwayne. No offense ma'am."

"None taken my dear. She said as she smiled. now pick something so you can eat. "

Dwayne watched as his mom and Sky conversed and smiled. "Mom why don't you give her today's special? Plus she seem to be in love with your ogbono soup(a local soup made in Nigeria)."

"Ok dear." Mrs Hembadoom said as she went into the kitchen.

"Oh, Sky said... remembering something, I left something at the backseat of my car, please help me get them Dwayne . Thank you."

Sky was left alone in the restaurant, she looked around and noticed there were no customers and the place was small. Hmmm she thought to herself.

Dwayne came in with a fruit basket and a big bag, and went back to get the remaining things from the car.

Mrs Hembadoom came in then with the food. Sky smiled brightly and clapped her hands as she perceived the aroma of the food, I love you maam she said. she washed her hands and started eating.

"Ummmmmmm, this is heavenly...ma'am seriously you are the best, I've never eaten anyone's food that taste like my mom's but yours does with a different thirst, did I tell you I love you? "

The woman laughed as she watched her eat, the young girl reminded her of herself when she was pregnant with Dwayne. "Yes you have. Thank you dear. "

Feeling uncomfortable as Dwayne's mother watched her eat, she paused and said "Please ma'am, eat something, I feel bad eating alone."

"I'm full dear. Please excuse me. "

Mrs Hembadoom went out to do something when she heard her son on the phone and frowned. She went back inside as if she didn't hear a thing.

Sky was humming amd eating. "That reminds me ma'am if you don't mind, I'll like to talk business with you," she said to Mrs Hembadoom as she walked back in.

Ok? Mrs Hembadoom said, as she sat down opposite Sky.

"Don't you have any help here? I know restaurant work can be really stressful." Sky asked politely

"I do dear but she only works half day, I can't afford a full time employee now. She doesn't work in the evening as business is always slow during this time. Dwayne was talking about enlarging the shop or moving into the city but I haven't given him the chance to talk."

"Concerning that ma'am, Dwayne is right we need to refurbish this place, but no need to move. You are in a good location. Your food is really good. I could barely see the sign on the road when we got here. We need to do a big sign...with light with your shop name on it. Then we need to start making deliveries, start taking orders and takeout. We'll do advert on TV and the papers. I can help with that."

"This is a very good spot ma'am, Travellers can stop and eat here and people from the city can place orders online. Also you should have an ice cream stand to attract the kids who will bring their parent here. oh and candy floss too. The ice cream cone should be very big with the ice cream showing different colours, just beside the sign. "

"We can have music somewhere there, and a small stage where anyone can perform, I have some kids who'll love to do that, in no time...this place will blow...I have alot of ideas."

"We can make a polo with your shop name on it..." Sky remembered she wasn't in a meeting and that she's been taking nonstop, "Oh I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't ask for your permission."

The woman listened as Sky talked, what a smart young lady, she said to herself, She has a lot of ideas. she herself has thought of a few like the stand and expanding but because of lack of funds, she hasn't been able to do anything. And she smiled as the little girl said 'we' in all her sentence.

"No it's not rude dear, no need to apologise. I like your ideas but I don't have the funds. And I'm not going to accept your money."

"Think of it this way ma'am, it's not my money but an investors money, I like to invest and why not do it here, please ma'am, don't say no...if you do I'll come everyday...even when I'm very big, and I live very far away..I'll bring my assistant too and trust me, he won't let you be until you say yes. "

Mrs Hembadoom bust into laughter, "ok dear I'll think about it."

There's something else I want to talk to you about ma'am, Sky said as she looked down. "I know it's shameful to have a child out of wedlock but I carry mine proudly, it's what I want ma'am, and your son isn't the father but he accepted me and my child. I don't want it to come as a surprise if you find out later that it's Dwayne's child. I can't lie to you about that, the baby is not his. please forgive me."

Mrs Hembadoom took Sky hand in hers and said to her, "look at me dear, it's not shameful and I'm not one to judge. At least you want it and you planned it and you can take care of the child. Then it's fine and thank you for telling the truth, and thanks for taking care of my boy, I can see some changes in him."

"Awwww thank you ma'am." Sky said as she hugged the woman.

Dwayne has been standing outside the door and heard everything, he's chest tightened as Sky talked about business to his mom, she really is an angel. He went in with the remaining bags from the car.

"Sorry I took so long, I had an urgent call.

Mrs Hembadoom watched as Dwayne put the bags on the ground and looked at all the stuff the lady brought.

Sky washed her hand as she stood up and took Mrs Hembadoom's hand and led her to the other table. "Now ma'am, please accept these, I couldn't come empty handed, this is my first time here. My mom taught me better"

"It's not as if we are having a party, this is too much dear, I can't accept this."

"Mom please you have to or she'll cry. She's been tearing up lately, I think it's cause of the pregnancy."

"I don't cry Dwayne, liar....I told you I had something in my eyes that day."

"How about the other day, when we went to the technician and you saw a man who looked so fine but was walking aimlessly and we found out, he just lost his mind two months ago and he's been like that and can't go to the hospital cause his wife can't afford treatment?"

"I had something in my eyes too. Sky replied him."

"Ok how about when that little girl refused to take money from you and you cried till I took you home.."

"Dwayne..." Mrs Hembadoom said..

signalling her son to stop as she saw Sky's mood changing.

"It's not me, it's the baby, that's why I think it's a girl..." Sky said...looking away.

Mrs Hembadoom opened the bag and was surprised, the basket was filled with fruits while one bag contained wrappers, Ankara. The other bag contained lace material with matching gele for blouse and the other contained box of jewelries.

"My mom helped me pick all these ma'am please don't say no."