By Susan George
Push, push, it's coming out, you are close, the head is out. It's a booooyyyy!!! The midwife screamed. Okon couldn't hold back his joy when he heard about the arrival of his long awaited child. So I will be called a father, who would have believed that after all these years, I, Okon Etekudo will be called a father, Okon said holding his chest. Within two minutes he collapsed and was rushed immediately into the ward, doctors tried all they could but all to no avail. Okon is gone, he is dead.
Intorobong and Okon have been married for over twenty five years without an offspring. They have visited different doctors, pastors, herbalist just to get a solution to their problem, but nothing worked. There where times when Intorobong and Okon couldn't mix up with friends and villagers because they will become topic of gossip, gest and laughter. Every morning instead of the sound of a cock crow, they hear the voice of Okons mother, who comes to their house as early as 4:00am to shout, curse and render different abuses at Intorobong. Intorobong faced dejection, rejection, pains until the day people saw she was pregnant. Okon couldn't stop beaming with smiles when he heard about his wives pregnancy, he made sure he provided anything with everything Intorobong tells him to buy. Now the child is here, the long awaited desire has arrived, Okon is no more. Intorobong was thrown out of the village by Okon's brothers assisted by the village youth.
Intorobong made away with her son Edet to Uyo the capital city of Akwa Ibom state, where she started life afresh. Intorobong and Edet slept in people's stores at night in the market and move out very early in the morning before the owners of the shop arrive. Every night Intoro escaped murder, rape, abduction of herself and edet. Itoro wash plates, clothes, throw dirt and most times clean people's houses just to make ends meet. She did all these menial jobs for about two years and was now able to save little money to start up her own busines. Every morning Intoro hawks her food in the market, in the afternoon she takes them to construction sites and in the evening she sells in front of her house. Because of Itoro's hardwork, consistency,and of course how delicious her food tastes, she was able to gain enough customers and send Edet to the community secondary school. Edet Started his primary education at age of six. There is no day that passes without his teachers commending him for his hardwork and intelligence.
Life suddenly became so good for Itoro as she was able to rent a better house and shop were she continued her restaurant business. Edet finished his primary, secondary school and was admitted into the Cross river state University of science and technology to study engineering. Edet comes back home almost every weekend to see his mother, during weekends he isnt chanced, trust a mother of an only child, Intoro will go to Calabar well loaded. Buying both necessary and unnecessary things, flasks filled with different types of food all for her son. Today is my son's convocation all my wasted years, my years of sorrow have turned into blessings. I am now a mother of a graduate, Intoro said to the cheering audience, when Edet was given an award for excellence for becoming the best graduating student. He was given two hundred thousand and a job after his NYSC.
Few years later, Edet was having issues at his place of work that Almost cost him his job. "There is a man here.... Rabbbaaaabaaaa(speaking in tongues) the pastor said.... You are having serious issues in your company. Where is your mother young man, pastor pointing towards Edet. She's at home, he muttered, well the truth must be told, your mother is a witch and she's the cause of your father's death and problems you are facing in your work said the pastor. No sir it can't be, my mother?, my beloved mother, it can't be, my mother has been there for Me, she provided all I ever wanted edet said. Edet went home that day thinking about what the pastor told him. This can never be true, my mother a witch, God please I don't want to believe these. Few days later, Edet told few of his friends about the revelation or vision the pastor told him, and he was advised by one of his friends to chase Intorobong out of the house. Mama, Mama, Mama come out here.!!! What is it Itoro asked edet curiously, did anything happen to you Edet, she said, trying to get hold of Edet. Please don't touch me, Edet screamed, witch, witch how could you mama, you killed your husband, you killed my father and made me believe in your lies. How could you mama?!!! What on earth have I done to deserve these. Please Edet I don't understand why you are saying all these things to me, I have never told a lie about myself or the death of your father, so wherever these is coming from, please don't believe it. Ohhhhh mama so you think you can get me these time around, no you've failed. Once beaten twice shy, Mama leave my house this moment. Itoro was chased out of the house. Edet were will I go to, I turned down every body around me just because of you, I sold my wrappers, jewelleries all to educate and make you a useful man. All I've ever worked for, I gave them to you. Every day of my life, I toiled day and night just to make you a better person, hoping that one day all my suffering will come to an end. Why didn't those vision seers, those socrers tell you that I your mother is a witch, when I was suffering under the rain and sun just to pay your fees, to feed you. Just that moment when I thought all my sufferings are over, those prophets of doom have come to show there ugly faces. Look at me, here on the streets were I started from, waiting for you Edet to come to your senses and take me back home.
Heartbreaking😢 (didi)
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