" Tema! Where is that stupid woman!" Eli yelled, as he sways towards the door. He swayed back and forth with a bottle of wine in his hand.
" Tema!" He yelled again, his raspy voice echoed through the room.
" He is drunk again, how did I end up with such an idiot!" Tema complained.
" Where are you? I'm hungry. Fix me something to eat."
" I'm right here, Eli." She gestured for him to see her. Swaying to where she was, he spoke.
" What are you doing? Do you have any idea how long I've been calling you? He gasped.
" Will you keep your voice down, you will wake him up." She whispered, ushering him to speak softly.
" Wake him? So you now bring your lovers to my house. You're a shameless woman!" He cursed, raising his voice.
" Shhhh! You will wake the baby up with your foolishness." She spoke, her voice sounded reprimanding.
" Whose baby have you stolen now, woman? Take the child back to his mother at once!" He yelled even louder, pissing her off.
Why am I so unfortunate. How did I end up with a man like this? She questioned her self.
Twenty-One years ago, Tema met Eli in the plantation for the first time. He was transferred from Master Gera's cotton farm. It was love at first sight for them, a year later, they got married. Eli was a gentle and caring man, he loved and respected her. Till one day, an incident happened in the plantation, Eli was accused of stealing a large amount of money. He was punished severely. Every since then, he developed a drinking habit. He drank himself to stupor anytime he was confronted with any difficulty.
" Your drinking habit is becoming alarming, Eli. I didn't steal the child. Master Gera gave him to me, he asked me to raise him." She said with a frown.
" I don't have to explain anything to you. Your food is in the kitchen, you can help yourself." She said on a final note.
Eli tried to say something but he was too tipsy at the moment. He took a couple steps towards the kitchen, but he swayed back and forth.
Seeing the way he staggered, Tema shoke her head. The man in front of her was a complete different person from the one she married years ago.
" Hush now little angel, don't pay attention to your father, he is just going through a rough time. I promise to love and take care of you as my own." She spoke, while rocking the wooden crib.
" The gods has finally answered my prayers, they've blessed me with a child of my own. I will name you, Mashgad ( my own). A bright smile appeared on her face.
Tema raised Mashgad like her very own child, she gave him all she had; her time, love, care, and attention. She would not think twice to give him the world if she had the opportunity to. Eli was not too pleased with Tema's decision to raise the child. He wants a child of his own, not someone else's child. Seeing how much she loved the child, he had no other choice than to accept him.