When I got to my mother's shop in the afternoon, she was busy with her customers. Some people were losing their patience. As I greeted her, her response alone made it known to me that she had no chance for me. I hurried and started helping her. Since I wasn't accurate with the price of goods, she would bargain the price with her customers, then I packaged it for them.
It was a few minutes later when we had settled the customers that she asked whether I read and followed her instructions as she wrote on the piece of paper. That flashed me back to what happened between Damian and me in the pharmacy. I knew not to continue being angry about what happened or not. Though j did enjoy some moments. For some seconds, I was lost in thought.
"Yes, ma!" I was replying to her and also nodding my head at the same time.
"Rose, as you're acting this way, are you certain that you did exactly as I said?" She questioned with so much curiosity. The look on her face alone threatened me more than I could imagine. Since I know my mum, If I ever mumble, whichever word I say, she'll consider it as a lie. As a result of that, I looked her straight in the face and answered her.
"Mum, I did what you wrote on the paper. You asked me to do the house chores and also go to the pharmacy for my injection. And that's precisely how hat I did."
"Ok oh! I want to avoid hearing any strange stories in the evening. That's why I'm questioning you like this" She said again.
"Mum, thank Goodness you're not a soldier. Barracks Could've been better than our house. Imagine the way I already started bitting my tongue just because of how strict you were while asking"
I replied to her jokingly.
"Rose! You won't kill me with your amusing words. Have you eaten your lounge?
I know you've eaten. But go and check the flask under the table. I couldn't eat the food I brought from home." She replied.
"My trap caught nothing. I thought you bought another piece of food. I ate while coming" I replied while laughing.
"You eh. Is not better if we make the meal of our choice at home than eat here? It won't satisfy you." Mummy replied.
"Mummy, don't you know that market food has a different taste from the one we cook at home? It's sweeter" I commented jokingly while still trying to lure her to believe in what I was saying.
"That's the first stage of becoming witchcraft. You're a woman who must cook to eat. I won't buy you any food" She replied blatantly.
I already know my mum. My words won't move her an inch.
"It's ok, ma".
Later in the evening, we locked the shop and packed some foodstuff for home. Just as my mum earlier said during the day, what we prepared during the night showed that she meant what she said in the market. Though we'd been cooking rice and stew so often, how she garnished the stew made it a different one from what we normally cook.
" Mum, are we having any visitors? Your pot is confusing me" I asked out of curiosity because of the way meat was wedging the long spoon I wanted to use and fetch stew.
"What do you mean, Rose!?" She also questioned me in response.
"It's been a long our pot spoke this language, OO. Or business paid off today? Or am I the one making some mistakes?" I asked again.
"Rose! I sent you there to fetch some soup so that we will eat our dinner. I'm so tired and I need to rest. Only you know how a pot can confuse someone. " She replied with a bitter voice. Though I knew she wasn't annoyed, just that she didn't want us to discuss the topic in the approach I was discussing it.
"Is the woman angry just like that? Please don't be. I was just trying to let you know that I love what I'm seeing. Had it been we being balancing our meals with meat and other condiments used in this meal daily, maybe, typhoid and malaria won't know our house address." I continued cracking jokes with her.
"Chai! Olodo! Meat doesn't prevent typhoid and malaria. Besides, now is not the best time for this your jokes. I want to hasten up so that I can catch more sleep. My eyes are swollen. Remember, I left home on time, and I have my upper eyelid had not touched the lower one since then. I guess I would faint on the bed tonight and not just normal sleeping. That reminds me, don't bring up your unnecessary disturbance tonight. As you can see, I'm tired and needs rest. So respect yourself." From the way her voice sounded, one was required not to look at her face before determining how serious she was.
"Yes, my iron lady. I've heard you."
I concluded and took the food to her where she was already sitting and situated a table before herself. We continued eating the meal quietly until she bites a stone.
"Jesus Christ." She screamed while still having some food in her mouth.
"Rose, I gave you this rice to select. Now stone almost breaks my teeth. What happened? Where was your mind while doing the work?
" Mum is confused as well. I know the number of minutes I don't try to make sure that no stone would follow the rice into the pot. But I can't just tell what was happening." I replied while trying to prove myself innocent.
"I heard you. You meant once you stayed long while selecting the rice, you must be selected all the stones. Grow up, Rose." Grow up, Rose.
"Yes, mummy. Rose is growing up "
I replied to her.