NOT OF GOD✋✋✋
Episode 7.
©Miriam Edem
“Mama what happened to her? Chinedu asked his mother holding Agnes up from the ground.
“I can’t remember when we exchanged blindness Chinedu, should I not ask you what happened when I can’t even see her, She replied.
“I’m feeling heat everywhere, my bo-dy is burning, Agnes cried and Chinedu saw her bo-dy reddish and rashes on her bo-dy.
“What am I going to do now? Wait here let me get a bike for you, Chinedu said and ran out and His mother smiled looking into the calabash, for that is where she has her sight.
Chinedu returned with the bike and carried Agnes on it,
“Mama I’ll be back okay, he said to his mother.
“Don’t worry you can go, she said and he sat on the bike and drove off to the hospital.
The doctor had some checks on her and told them the baby is safe,
“No doctor you’re not sure, stop lying to me. Last night I could not sleep I thought it was another miscarriage and this morning I had severe pains also, Agnes said.
“I don’t know what you want me to say but your baby is safe and doing good, I can’t tell you otherwise, The doctor said.
‘But what then happened to my wife some minutes ago? She was in serious pains, Chinedu said.
“I don’t know, with what I am seeing on her bo-dy she must be allergic to something. What did you eat or touch? The doctor asked Agnes and she quickly told him what she ate that morning,
“You didn’t to-uchsomething? He asked.
“I tou-ched leaves around, I was just cutting and throwing them while I was waiting for my husband, she replied.
“Probably you tou-ched a leave that is not good for you and reacted, The doctor said.
“What kind of leave will react giving her such pains and marks on her bo-dy? Her husband asked..
“I can’t tell, but just try to stay clear from anything you are allergic to and I will still repeat myself, your baby is safe, the doctor replied and Agnes was calm.
“Thank you doctor, thank you, she said.
“Its okay, just keep taking your drugs and I’ll give you something to use for your bo-dy. Don’t worry you’ll be fine, please excuse me, the doctor said and left and Chinedu held Agnes hands.
“You made me scared today, and from now on you will stop touching leaves or even go into the bush, Chinedu said.
“But dear I’ve been going into the bush na, she said.
“Yes i know, but now that we don’t even know the plant that did this to you it will be better you stay clear totally, he said.
‘Okay if you insist, she said.
“I insist, he said and she weakly smiled.
“You didn’t even give mama the herbs you picked for her, she said and he heaved.
“My dear, you two will not kill me before my time but I’ll drop by again. I don’t un-derstand why she is this stubborn, how can she survive alone in that condition? Who will be her eyes? He worriedly asked.
“You know you have a br@ve mother, I can’t imagine her fighting a snake at her age, Agnes said and Chinedu cleaned his face.
“Who will believe that she is 85 years? She’s more stronger than all her age grade that they got intimidated and she stopped on her own to go out with them. But no matter how she thinks she is strong, let her accept she is old na and she nee-ds help. The thought of me leaving her alone there is giving me goosebu-mbs already, she does not want treatment or anyone to stay with her even for the night, abeg am tired, Chinedu said and Agnes heaved not knowing what to say.
Agnes returned home that afternoon and Chinedu quickly prepared something so they can eat and take some to his mother.
When he was done eating with Agnes, he asked her to take her rest while he goes to see his mother,
“Alright dear, don’t stay long, Agnes said and he smiled and left.
He got to his mother place and saw her sitting outside still holding the calabash,
“You’re back? She asked not looking at the direction he entered from.
“How did you know its me? Chinedu asked when he approached her.
“I know your footsteps and I can smell you, so how is she? She asked.
‘She’s fine and we are back, I brou-ght food for you, He replied and she smiled.
“But I’ve eaten, she said and he looked at her.
“You’ve eaten? How? Someone gave you food? He asked and she laughed.
“Anyway what did you bring? She asked ignoring the question.
“Mama I don’t un-derstand you again o, he replied bringing the food out.
“How will you un-derstand me? When you visited me in the morning did you come with food? Did you bother to ask if I was hungry? She asked.
“Ahh mama I actually came to cook for you here and not bring food and my wife came up. Its not like I don’t care or something and tomorrow I am bringing someone to help you out here, he replied.
“I have told you not to bother, who do you think can take Care of a blind person? Not even you Chinedu, one day you will get tired and complain, so let me be here in peace I’ll be fine, She said getting the flask from him while he weakly looked at her as she ate on her own.
“But mama this your calabash won’t you keep it down at least? What’s inside sef? He asked.
“None of your business, she replied and he swallowed……….
3 months after that everything was going on well, and surprisingly the darkness in Chinedu mother eyes was slowly clearing.
That afternoon Amara had to visit despite Agnes gave her the backseat for a long time after the encounter she had at her place, but she could not hold the anger anymore with that happiness of being pregnant for 6 months now.
“Pregnancy looks good on you, don’t get fat more than this I beg you this one you’re eating every second, Amara said and Agnes laughed.
“My husband said the same thing too, I can eat 5 people plates and still feel hungry I cant help it, I think I am too excited, Agnes said.
“You should be when people thought you won’t carry your baby, you just have few months to prove them wrong but girl what did you do? Amara asked and Agnes looked at her.
“What did I do how? Agnes asked.
“I thought there was a problem with you nah and you probably did something to stop it, Amara replied.
“Please I don’t know what you’re talking about, I am pregnant as I have always been pregnant, now you’re sounding as if I was barren or are you looking for something to mock me again with? Agnes asked back.
“Hmmmm its okay let it not turn to fight, I only asked, Amara replied but the question really tou-ched Agnes. Though she once discussed with her aunty to at least go back to white mother to thank her, but her aunt asked if she has money because they won’t be going empty handed but carry lots of gifts and money. She advised Agnes should forget about it and go there whenever she has enough money to please her and she reminded her of the way white mother was angry with them when they first met her,
“Agnes you can’t go like this, this will even Be more expensive than we first went there, so take your time and prepare yourself after all she’s not running away from there we can meet her anytime with the baby she made you conceive, Maureen said and Agnes heaved and looked at Amara. Despite she has known her for years, Agnes also knows that she talks a lot so she decided to keep it to herself that she actually went to somewhere for help.
Few months later Agnes was slee-ping when her stomach began to roll. She woke up and sat up and placed her hand on the wall and it rolled the more,
“Dear, dear wake up, she called out using the other hand to to-uchher husband in be-d when she could not endure it anymore.
“Hmmmmm what is it? Her husband sleepily asked.
“Its the baby, I think its the baby, she replied and he sat up immediately.
“What happened to the baby? He asked.
“I don’t know, I’m feeling uncomfortable, she replied and began to sweat.
“Wait don’t tell me you’re in labor, but its in 2 weeks time na, Chinedu confusedly said but Agnes began hitting the wall with her hand.
“Dear its coming, do something please its coming call for help! She shouted and he quickly rushed out.
I was 3a.m in the morning and the village was dead with silence, he ran back immediately looking at Agnes stupid,
“What are you doing call for help, She cried.
“Help? Dear its 3 in the morning who will I call when we didn’t arrange with any midwife whatever to help you in giving birth, who should I call? He asked and she screamed the more.
‘Hey I will call for help, he said and ran out to the compound next to his, at least there’s an elderly woman there he believes can help.
Before they could hear his voice and open up for him, Chinedu was dripping with his own sweat.
“Please help me, where’s your mother? Agnes is in labour and I don’t know what to do, he said to the man who opened up.
“Eiiii let me go wake my mother, the man said and went in, and before he could take the sleep off from the woman eyes and run down to the compound, they could hear Agnes screams the whole place.
They got in and met her on the floor with her legs open on her own,
“When did her water break? The woman asked carrying the lantern close.
“Water break? I didn’t see any water break o she started shouting on her own, Chinedu replied and held Agnes hand as the woman was getting ready to help her out.
“I’m scared, Agnes cried looking at her husband.
“Shhhh dont say that, don’t even think about that nothing will happen I’m here for you okay, he said and the woman looked at them.
“Okay now Agnes push, the woman said.
“Okay dear she said push please push or should I push for you? Take it easy okay, look at me and push, we’ll push together, okay let’s push together, Chinedu said holding Agnes ti-ght with his eyes closed pushing what he does not know.
“Chinedu please not you, I am talking to Agnes and you’re literally pushing with your mouth, the woman said tired with the noise they were making.
“But I am helping her, what am I to do? Chinedu confusedly asked.
“Help me to concentrate thank you, she replied beating Agnes lap-s to open it wide.
‘Now push! She shouted and Agnes pushed one more time and a cry of a baby was heard. Agnes gasped when she heard that and Chinedu burst out laughing.
“We did it, dear we did it, he happily said.
“Congratulations its a boy, the woman said.
His mother suddenly woke up breathing ha-rd and came down from the be-d and looked into the calabash,
“No it can’t be, it can’t be! She shouted fiercely.
TBC