MARRIED
TO
VICTOR STEPHEN
📚EPISODE_18💞💞💞💞
After the whole afternoon drama, I noticed Queen had been hiding herself from Victoria. Temi could not st©p laughing when the girls left. She told us how shocked she was to see her little girl cried with the little prank Victoria pla-yed on her. “Victoria, I can’t believe Queen just knelt down for you. She had never done that to anyone,” she confessed.
Victoria turned to her cousin. “These children can’t be more smarter than us. This is how you handle them. If you keep spoiling her that way, it will get to a stage you might not be able to talk to her and get her to listen anymore. This is the time to train them well.” I was proud of Victoria. She was right about the children. There is nothing like a child is too young to know between what is wrong and right.
They know, but the moment you correct them. They wouldn’t want to repeat it because of the punishment attached to it. But sincerely, I was expecting Temi to be a strict mom. It turned out she wasn’t. It was almost getting late at night. Everyone couldn’t wait for the next day. The big day. Everything was all set. Preparation for the p@rty made, and everything was in order. I was alre-ady back to my room, alone. I was going throu-gh my Instagram account, and replying my whatsapp messages when the door bur-st open.
“Mommy!”
“Mommy!”
Both Emmanuella, and Emmanuel ran inside, with Queen, and little Tommy trailing behind. Emmanuel who was laughing, and covered in sweat jumped on the be-d rolling on it. “Emmanuel,” I immediately called. “Stand up from that be-d, and re-move those dirty clothes. It’s late alre-ady. You should bath.”
“Mommy and me too,” Emmanuella quic-kly said.
“And me too,” Queen was starting to re-move her clothes. Little Tommy who doesn’t know what was happening just shouted, “me too.” I dropped their dirty clothes inside the laundry basket given to us, while they all entered the bathroom at the same time. I stood at the entrance watching them, and giving them instructions.
“Emmanuella, is that how to wash your bu-m bu-m?”
“Mommy, I’m washing it,” she said, ru-bbing more soap on her b©dy instead. “Mommy my tooth brush, I want to brush my teeth.”
“Mommy, my tooth brush too.” Emmanuel reminded me as well. Queen was just jumping un-der the shower, showing her dancing steps. There wasn’t any song pla-ying, but later realized she was singing, and dancing to it. Little Tommy who just followed the crowd started crying when he was tired of the whole show. My legs were getting weak alre-ady, and immediately I ushered them out of the bathroom.
💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞
Everyone was dressed in their night wares. They sat before me and started gisting me all that had happened since they arrived here. I got to know the school Queen was going, her best food which was bre-ad and fried egg. She told me she would love to become a nurse, and a singer. She said a lot of funny things, and I couldn’t help smiling. She was a sweet little girl.
“So, you go to church every Sunday?” Queen asked, somehow surprised, when Emmanuella mentioned about not missing the next Sunday.
Emmanuella nodded. “Yes. There is always biscuits in my church every Sunday. Even Emmanuel can testify.”
“I like your church,” Queen said, and I smiled. I
guess she like it because of the biscuits. “But my Mom is always washing and busy every Sunday. That is when my mom has time to wash our clothes, and rest from work. So we don’t really go to church every Sunday.”
When I heard that, I didn’t know whether to talk to Temi about it or not. I didn’t want her to feel less of a mother. I had been taught this in my home, and now, it was working for me, and it was something I decided to practice, and trained my child with. Back then, even if my Dad missed morning prayers, Mom would never. Both of them don’t joke with church. It was something I was brou-ght up with, and that made it very easy for me to train my children that way.
I wouldn’t say that about Temi because I didn’t know how she was brou-ght up, but I was sure, one can learn being a great mother, and doing all you can to train your children.
“Emmanuella, teach me that song you sang in the bathroom, I like it.” Queen must really like listening to songs.
“Okay,” Emmanuella started cl@pping to add beat to the song.
🎶 Gold is good, oh yes!
Silver is good, oh yes!
But they are not my right.
They are not my right!
My right is to be educated…
Education is my right.🎶
“Common re pe te!” Emmanuel decided to back up, and I laughed at the phone I was pressing.
“Let me teach you this too,” Queen said.
🎶 Mommy, I want to go to school
When I grow up tomorrow,
I will be a teacher, engineer, professor, doctor and
lawyer. Daddy, you must s£nd me to school. Cause,
when I grow up tomorrow… I will build you
mansion. Buy you cars, and jet to fly. Dash you
money everyday…
Mommy I want to go to school.
“Wow!” Both Emmanuel, and Emmanuella cl@pped their hands together. “I love your song,” Emmanuel said.
“Mommy, when I grow up, I will make sure I buy you and Daddy a very big car,” Emmanuella exaggerated. I dropped my phone, and faced them. “That is why you nee-d to face your studies now, and re-ad your book very very well okay. If you do well, and become someone great in the future, you will be able to buy Mommy and Daddy a big car. And you too Queen.”
“Yes ma,” they chorused. Then all of a sudden, Queen started singing again.
🎶 Parents listen to your children..
“Children!” The twins chorused.
🎶 We are the leaders of tomorrow
“Tomorrow!”
🎶Try to pay our school fees, and give us sound
education.
“Education!” They cl@pped to it. When I checked the time, I realized the time had gone. “Now it is time to pray. Prayer time!”
“Blessing time!” The twins chorused our usual reply. “Who will pray for us?” I asked, and immediately, two hands were up.
“So you can pray Emmanuella?” Queen asked, somehow surprised at everything she was seeing.
“Very well. I pray in school, in church, and at home too,” Emmanuella boasted, her smile showing her thirty milk teeth.
“Will you teach me how to pray? Only my Mom knows how to pray.”
Emmanuella nodded. “My mommy will teach you,” she pointed to me.
“And you can come and live with us so that you can go to church every Sunday,” Emmanuel added. I was almost laughing, but managed to stick to the smile on my face. I saw Queen shook her head. “I don’t want to leave Isabelle, my Mom, and Dad alone, and if I come, Gideon’s mom can just sell me.”
This time, I excused myself to laugh, and poured out the laughter had been holding on to. We sang worsh!psongs, and prayed. I managed to teach Queen how to pray, and she was happy, telling Emmanuella… “I like your Mom.” I was happy she was willing to learn, and promised to call once she got back to Abuja to pray for both Emmanuel and Emmanuella.
After much talk, sleep took them, and I could finally call it a day. A day full of fun, lessons, and more fun with the children. I got down to take the second be-d when I saw the door slightly opened. It was Temi. “You can just let her sleep here,” I said, knowing she c@m£ for Queen.
“I’m not here for her.” Temi was careful with her steps as she walked in very close to me. “I just c@m£ to say thank you. I overhead everything you guys discussed when I first c@m£ to check on her. I decided not to come in, and stayed out there. I’ve really missed so much. Today is my first time to hear her say she would love to be a nurse, and a singer.” Temi confessed.
“Thanks for teaching her how to pray. Our prayer is once in a while because I’m always in a hurry to get to work, and on Sunday, is the day I set aside to wash, rest, and get re-ady for the coming week. I’ve learnt so much from you and Victoria since I c@m£, and I’ve promised myself to be mother they can be proud of. You both are doing a great job. Thank you so much. Victor must be very lucky to have you,” she said, and I could see a true, and loving mother stood before me.
I held her hands. “I’m proud of you too dear. I know you’re putting your best, and I know how stressful it can be, especially being a working mother, and still have to take care of your home. Not easy at all. I’m glad they have you, and your husband is one lucky man to have someone like you.”
She chuckled, and smiled at me. “You always know what to say Suzy. You should rest now. And this stomach doesn’t look like it’s one. I can see three pla-ying in there,” she joked, and I laughed. One, two, or three, they are greatly welcomed.
“Good night,” she turned to leave, and closed the door slowly immediately she was out of the room.
📺➖➖➖➖➖📺
The day we’ve all been waiting for. Just as bright, and shinning as every other day, but different from every other day.
“Mommy.”
“Yes,” I replied my little Emmanuella who had been calling me.
“Mommy,” she called again.
“Yes for heaven sake,” I replied, refusing to turn back which I knew that was why Emmanuella kept on calling me. Victor had called very early in the morning, to remind me to get the children re-ady on time for church, but at that time, my b©dy was too weak to stand up. All I did was give him the reply he would love to hear, and went back to sleep.
I was still slee-ping when I heard the door opened, and Victor’s mother walked in with one of the girls working for them. After rolling right and left, the noise of the children finally woke me up. By then, Victor’s mom had bathed for them, and the twins were alre-ady in their un-der wears. When the children greeted me, Victor’s mom turned around to greet me as well.
“Morning my dear. Hope you sle-pt well? Debi will bring their breakfast to them, and immediately they are done eating, you can dress them up,” she said, referring to the girl with her. I couldn’t thank her enough for coming over to help again. She had been the one bathing for both Emmanuel and Emmanuella, but I thought I would have to do it myself that morning. I was wrong, she c@m£ very early, and did that for me.
“Thank you ma,” I sincerely did my best to appreciate her.
“Thank you so much ma.” She left with a smile on her face, reminding me she was taking care of her grand children.
“Mommy, you’re not facing here.” I thought I was done with that girl yelling my name. Finally got everything I was looking for. I began to arrange it accordingly. “Mommy is arranging your clothes okay. And where are your manners. You don’t talk when you’re eating.” I faced her, walking towards both of them.
“Mommy, I told her,” Emmanuel cuts in.
“You’re doing the same thing as well,”. I immediately told him, and he kept quiet. Emmanuella rushed her last spoon of jollof rice, and drank her jui-ce in a rush to quic-kly talk to me, but only to have her looked at her stomach. ” Mommy, I’m too filled. I have to use the toilet,” she announced.
What! After eating all that.
She ran to the toilet door, and entered. I looked down at Emmanuel who was still consuming his food too. “Emmanuel, if you want to use the toilet, you should now,” I told him, before we get to church. I wouldn’t afford to start parading in front of everyone with my big stomach. If it had been my normal shape, I wouldn’t mind walking around like a beauty peagent.
Emmanuella c@m£ out of the toilet, looking so pale, and immediately relaxed her b©dy on the be-d. “Mommy, I’m hungry again,” she said, as she sat up straight on the be-d. I was expecting her to ask for food again. She was always like that whenever she comes back from the toilet. I gave her the cu-p of cornflakes I alre-ady prepared for her.
The door eased open, and Victor carefully stepped in, looking more handsome than I used to know. His beard was neatly shaved, and had a new hair cut that looked extraordinary done, and nice. He must have done all that yesterday just to be more good looking for the day, and he succeeded. Just looking at how cute he was, I thought of his admirers, and I knew he would surely have, especially in his office.
Victor threw me a wi-nk, along with a cheerful grin, and I bec@m£ mesmerized. Why do guys look more cuter the more they get matured? He was alre-ady in his white T-shi-t made for everyone close to the family.
“Cornflakes again!” Victor exclaimed when he saw Emmanuella lifted her spoon of cornflakes in her mouth. “Emmanuella, tell Daddy why you love like eating so much,” Victor joked, as he helped me with Emmanuel, while I dressed up.
Emmanuella chuckled and crossed her legs. “Daddy is funny. Everyone knows Emmanuel can eat gala more than me.”
“But Emmanuella, did Daddy mention gala now?” Emmanuel replied, and that caused Victor to smile. Academically, Emmanuel was more brilliant. He t©p the clas-s all the time. He was always taking the first position, while Emmanuella would take the third or fourth position. But between those two, Emmanuel could pl@yall day, and pl@yin his dream if permitted to do so. But Emmanuella never jokes with her as-signment, and every other thing given to her in school.
I had taught of it, and have decided I would hire a lesson teacher who could help, and take them after school just to favour Emmanuella more. No child is dull, and their level of thinking can not be the same. But once the parent notice a child is not doing well academically, the solution is not to tell her those who are doing better, but find a way to help him or her improve.
That made me remember my primary school days. There was this boy who was always t©pping the clas-s since he joined us in primary four. Till we got to primary six, he doesn’t miss the prize, and on the day of graduation, he was crowned the most brilliant student of my set. Then, I was just an average student. But with the help of lessons, and consistent re-ading, everything changed.
He was p@rt of those people who c@m£ to write the scholarsh!pexam I went for in ss1. When I saw him, I felt a little bit intimid@t£d knowing he was super brilliant, but when the result c@m£ out, the way he congratulated me, I could see shock written all over his face. He was gifted a sum of five hundred thousand with the eight others who did well. Since that time, I’ve un-derstood that no child is dull, and to those ones who are brilliant from the start, congratulations to them.
By the time I was done dressing, Victor had helped me with both Emmanuel and Emmanuella. He was brushing Emmanuella’s weavon when I turned to look at him.
“Won’t you guys go downstairs and greet Grandpa happy birthday?” I heard him say, and I knew he was trying to steal the time for himself. The twins ran out immediately in competition to see the first person to get to Grandpa, and wish him a happy birthday.
I smiled to myself, as he walked towards where I stood. I was right this man had his reasons. “Hey, you didn’t even bother asking for your husband?” He said, leaning close on the standing mirror. I looked up, and gave him one of my sweet smiles. “It’s very obvious you’re doing well.”
“Without a k!ssfor about one week!” He sounded like he had been starving. That got me laughing, and I couldn’t hide it. I adjusted my wig well, checking if it was okay or not, before I replied him. “You should start enjoying the practice now, because a k!sscan lead to something else, and can get me pregnant again. Remember what you told me?” I reminded him, grinning in return. I was enjoying the whole thing.
He chuckled lightly. “Are you whinning me! What are you now trying to say? You want me to die before my time shey? And I can’t remember anything,” he lied.
I laughed, and moved away from the mirror as I packed the things I would be nee-ding inside my purse. It was so easy for him to say. And now… I was dragged gently away from my purse. “Come here,” he drew me closer, and I knew what he was trying to do.
“Awnn… My stomach.” I feigned a worried look, before slowly looking up to meet his eyes, as he bur-st into laughter. His laughter was undeniable. It was beautiful, sweet to hearing, and a music that nee-ds no beat to sound good. He knew I was just pretending, and that made him laughed at me more.
“Do you think I just married you today? I know you too well. Now come here,” he bent his head, and his softl-ips met mine slowly. I couldn’t deny that I’ve wanted it as well. God! I’ve missed him. I’ve missed this. I returned his k!ss, and turned his slow k!ssinto a little fierce one. I was sure we lasted more than a minute before he withdrew from me with a grin on his face.
“This wasn’t how your mouth replied in words,” he tea-sed, trying to boast.
“Must you rob it on my face,” I said to him, before picking up my purse. I headed straight to the door, but he st©pped me, with a grin displa-yed on his face. “We can still…”
“Hmmm….” Whosoever opened the door cleared his throat. “Time up. The twins told me you are here. Everyone is set for church,” Yomi said, and I immediately left before anyone could say a word again.
✒✒📢To_Be_Continued✔