Dinner was served early that day, and the mother and children were seen outside sitting in the corridor, with the moon in full light. The boy and the girl listened attentively to their mother as she read them a book. Their ears perked up as they would after the story tell their mother what they learned.
' And that would be the end of our story this night '. The woman said as she closed the book to hear her children murmur in displeasure.
' Mommy, continue '.
' Mommy, don't stop '
She chuckled when she saw them make their puppy eyes, beckoning on her to continue. But every mother has to be strong-willed, to be soft-hearted only at rare times.
' No my dears. It's too late. The environment will soon be filled with mosquitoes. Let's go in, please. Mommy doesn't have money for drugs '. The woman begged as she got up to gesture her children in.
' Please Edward. Pls, Olivia, Mommy will make sure to read your favorite stories to you tomorrow '.
Edward being the senior was the first to understand their mother's plight. They were poor and lacking in some things. They got the steeps, the walls, and their stoves to amend. Food too was a necessity and they were sometimes short on it, buying drugs now would be a burden. He understood with his little head that daddy was in heaven, and Mommy was the only one taking care of them. Mommy needs them to be obedient.
' It's okay, Olivia. We have school tomorrow. We need to sleep so that we can wake up early and not go late '.
His mother could only smile when she heard his words. He was mature beyond his age. She felt a lightness of heart, a sense of respect when she looked upon her son.
And so her daughter got up, yawning and stretching herself to full length. Her baby was sleepy but wanted to devoid the sleep for her storytelling. She smiled and fell to her knees to hug them both. Her eyes filled up with them in her embrace.
' Mommy, I love you '. She heard her daughter speak.
' I love you too, Mommy '. Her son's voice followed.
Her eyes welled more. She could not be the least thankful for the children she had. Her husband was dead but her little ones were double folds of blessings. She would not at any time, in any place, reject or not appreciate them. She was blessed beyond measure, she was slowly realizing it.
' I love you both more than anything in the world. Let's get inside the house before our tiny enemies come and eat us all up '. She said as she pushed them in the direction of the house. ' Quick, quick '.
Her little ones laughed with her as they all ran with her into the house.
**
Years passed and Edward was seen in his early twenties harvesting crops from large farmland. On his head sat a woven hat with a rope tied below the chin, shielding his head from the rays of the sun and casting shade beneath him. A large basket also woven was seen at his side as it was quarterly filled with tubers of yam. Uprooting two more tubers, he rose to stretch a little and went back to his work.
Far away a girl carried a bag of packed food. Her steps were calculated and steady with her legs coming to rest on her heels. Her gown hung tightly to her body with the edge flying in the wind. She walked at a slow pace till she got to where Edward was. Dropping the basket to the ground, she hugged him from behind.