Chapter Twenty Six
MY MOTHER'S VISIT
He walked back to the living room and sat before the television. The distance from the last staircase to the sofa was about twenty meters. According to him, anyone living in our house does not need another form of exercise.
Between last week and this week, he had experienced unimaginable things. Losing his job last week and slapping his wife this week. I wondered what could be going on in his mind. These were the character traits that made him dislike his father. Was he gradually taking after his father?
The children and I were having a good time without him. Though I was feeling it; I had missed our weekend love. By now, we would have been nude, walking about in our room and making love whenever the urge arises. I managed to control myself as if he was not there.
'But it was only my wife that I slapped, not the children. Why are the children not talking to me? Could their mother have told them what happened? I doubt. I was the last to go to sleep after my late dinner. Dora does not involve the children in our fights.'
My husband was deep in his thought when Jeff brought him back to the house.
"Dad, Emeka Ezra called me to inform me of the taekwondo training this evening. I would like to go with Jewel if you permit us."
Jeff's request interrupted his thoughts and gave him some relief and the assurance that he was still loved and respected by his family. Taekwondo was Jeff's hobby.
Taekwondo is the traditional Korean art of self-defense, originated from Ancient Korea. It means "Way of the Hand and Foot". It is a skilled application of kicks, punches, strikes, holds and throws. Jeff's likeness for it was developed when his sister was a kid and a boy bullied her. He was so helpless that he could not defense his kid sister. This made him feel so bad. At the age of five, he engaged in taekwondo classes. This also attracted his sister Jewel to it, and he was happy being a coach to his younger sister.
Emeka Ezra was the son of my husband's colleague who lived a few buildings away from ours in the Industrial Area. The Taekwondo training takes place at the Recreational Park in the Residential Area of the Cherry Fields Oil And Gas Group.
"What time does it start?"
Ken asked.
"By 4 pm, dad."
Jeff replied.
"We will all be there. I want to see how good you are now."
My husband accepted so quickly.
"We? Are you and mummy coming to watch us?"
Asked Jeff anxiously.
He was not prepared for the question. He cannot promise that I would like to go with him. He knew that I can be naughty occasionally. If only he knew that just mere asking me to come with him will change many things.
"I said we will all be there, you got it?"
"Yes dad. Thank you, dad."
Jeff knew when to leave.
To him, this will be an opportunity to stroll out, instead of just sitting in doors all day.
At the Recreational Park.
The three youngsters rehearsed the Basic Skills of Front Kick, Round House Kick, Standard Punch and Shoulder Throw. To them, no matter how skilled one is, the Basics were essential. Emeka Ezra was an excellent opponent to Jeff because his skills were great. Though they were thought by the same instructor, Emeka Ezra has his tricks that were not known to Jeff. He had attempted to grasp it, but it had always proved futile. Such tricks enabled him to defeat others but not Jeff anyway.
The Taekwondo class was interesting. Jeff was happy that his father and sister were there with him. He displayed different skills and also brushed Jewel up where necessary to impress the father. With such skills, Ken was confident that his children can defend themselves when confronted with opposition, at least to an extent. A surprise awaited them at home.
After the game, they got home to see my mother – their maternal grandmother, who had her way of visiting unannounced. She was eating as well as watching the television when they got back. She came in as soon as they left for the park and startled me when I went to open the door. I had prepared her meal immediately—unripe plantain oatmeal.
"Welcome Mama."
They all greeted. Jeff and Jewel hugged her one after the other. Her presence always reminded them that they have Ibo (native) names, as she was fond of addressing them by their native names. These names have events connotations.
Jeff's, (which she often called to the full as Jeffrey) name is 'Odera; Odego'—Which means, once it is written by God that something must take place it had been written, nothing changes it.
Jewel is 'Omere ebele'. Ebele for short. It means the child who showed mercy.
I was billed for a Cesarean Section while I was about to deliver her due to some complications, but before the surgeon arrived, she came forth.
My husband stood aside with a discontented smile on his face while grandma and the grandchildren exchanged pleasantries.
"My in-law."
Mama called as soon as she had the opportunity to look at my husband.
"Yes Mama."
He replied with a concealed anxiety.
The children left for their room leaving the three adults alone.
"My daughter had told me what happened"
Mama continued without expression on her face.
"What?"
Ken exclaimed, hoping that it was the slap he gave to me the previous night. While attempting to make a fast excuse to defend himself, Mama continued.
"You see, if one door does not close, another one will not open."
Mama said, ignoring his exclamation.
He relaxed and played along with Mama, having known that she was unaware of what happened yesterday.
My mother, a woman in her early sixties, was still strong and energetic. Despite all she had been through, was still lively. For her age, we are careful with her meal. That was why she preferred unripe plantain to reduce her starch (carbohydrate) intake.
As the evening went by, Ken sought my attention to let my mother believe that he was still the son-in-law he loved so much. I carefully avoided his jokes and questions. He hid himself in our bedroom until Mama retired to the only guest room in the house. She was so used to the house that she does not need to be directed to the guest room.
'Will history repeat itself?'
Ken asked worriedly.
Mama usually spent a week or so with us before leaving. She was a mother of four, and she made it a point of duty to pay all her children visits at least twice in a year.
My father threw her out after she had the fourth daughter, which led to the death of the last girl because he wanted a male child badly.
On that faithful day, she came back from the hospital with the baby after waiting for days for her husband to come and settle the hospital bill and pick her. He refused to show up, having been informed that she had a baby girl again. Mama had no choice but to send a word to her neighbor in the market where she did her petty trading to get her some money. That was how she was able to settle her hospital bill and was released by the hospital.