MY MOTHER TOLD ME

I used to have a mum once. She was light skinned, fine and tall (I wonder why I didn't get the height). She was fund of me and of course, she beat me often. The beatings, although, were borne out of love. One day, I can't remember what I was doing, but I'm sure it appeared naughty as was the norm those days. She told me something. She said "son, how come your body is always good to beat?" Funny aye, but true.
And then I remember when I went to a new school and I was going to write an entrance exam into primary two or so. The teacher asked me to spell "English Language." And I wrote only 'English.' Because I wasn't sure how to spell the rest and I didn't want to disappoint my momma. You see, Just before I entered the exam hall, she had told me "I know you will always make me proud." I didn't want to disappoint her.
I remember sometime when I was between 2 and 4 years. My mummy was sleeping and her legs were open. I and Mimi went in and secretly looked to see what's between her legs. That day she beat me and rubbed grinded pepper all over me as punishment. But of course she couldn't stand it. So she got water and soap and washed me almost immediately. She carried me up and held me close and said to me "Ferny, don't do that again. I know you are a good boy, don't join your sister to do such things again."
And there was this time despite her warnings, I wanted to wear Ijaw native attire to my school end-of-year party. So I took my white top, a walking stick and wrapper and ran to school. Several minutes later she came to school and saw me. I was proud of myself but I didn't know if she would spank me or hug me. She looked at me funny. And then she said "this boy you will not kill me. Look how you wore the wrapper inside out." Then she dressed me properly.
Oh and when I fasted. It was supposed to be a three day fast. But she and the rest of the house couldn't do it. I decided to. I went to church and stayed two days and a night without food, water or company. She was really proud of me, my mother. After the second day, I went to her shop, and asked the help to give me something to eat. You see, there were no mobile phones then and there wasn't a landline in the shop. So, the help refused, stating that she would only do that with mummy's permission. Luckily, mum came some time after and when she was told the story, she smiled. She said "do you want to kill my son? This my great son that is doing the things I cannot do." She believed in me, that woman.
On a certain evening, my neighbor blew me a balloon. I thought it looked familiar and so I said what I thought. I said, at 5 or so years "the balloon looks like my mummy's breast." Oh naughty me. Everyone laughed and word got to my mom. She just looked at me with a mixture of disdain and love. And then all she said was "this boy, you won't kill me."
Unfortunately, she didn't live long enough to say a lot of other things to me. She died when I was ten. But I remember when she told me to be a gentleman, and when she hugged me. And I remember she loved me. She was proud of me and had absolute faith in me, before I even had faith in myself. I couldn't afford to disappoint her then, and I cannot afford to disappoint my momma now. And with tears in my eye I am writing this 15 years after her demise. I've almost forgotten her voice...but I remember her words. I'll miss her. I am missing her now. But alas, I won't forget my mother and all the things she told me. I will always remember my mummy -
 DAUGHTER NANYO-OBIENE.
By 

Fernandez Marcus Obiene