Aunty, Can I Be Rude?

Nobody talked.

The only noise made was Gloria's unending clutter in the kitchen. Gloria, eyebrows furrowed and 'kitchen busy', her no-nonsense face which chewed on the bubble gum like it was one of James Bond's resilient fights. 

Abe, Gloria house girl sat dejectedly in the sitting room watching the boy play. A house that used to be a vibrant one turned a graveyard in a space of, say 3 years? 

Abe was confused. She could neither see the T. V nor help Gloria out in the kitchen. Gloria had instructed that she sat on the discarded rug which lay carelessly close to the kitchen door. Folding her arms across the hungry tummy, she gawked at Osi who soon walked up to her.

“Mummy is busy. I don't want to play” Abe said as she shoved him away. Gloria had brought the tension first, anyway. Her mood was worsened.

The 5-year-old, unaware of Abe's statement stood with hands akimbo as a frown played on his lips watching her eyeball to eyeball. Abe unfolded her arms as she noticed the boy's facial expression. 

“I'm hungry,” He said in a way she found weird.

 She noticed that the little boy was trying to give an attitude so a weak smile flashed on her lips.

“Aunty, Can I be rude?” he asked.

“Why are you being rude and unkind to me? What happened?” Abe said as he held him and got him into her bosom. Osi looked at Abe's eyebrows for a while and started crying.

 “I don't know why,” he said amidst tears. "Mom is not feeling well. Right?” He added.

“No no. Mummy is fine. I understand how you feel, I do feel that way too” Abe said as she caressed his dark hair.

“You mean, rude?”

“Yes, and I want to help you because I know how to. What's wrong?”

He paused when Gloria stopped the cluttering. However, Abe ignored it. Her goal was to get Osi out of this mood. 

“I... I... I think. My brain tells me to be rude”. He stuttered.

“ Sometimes the brain tells you wrong things. It has happened to me too”

“Really?!" He said as his eyes lit up as he bent his neck to see Abe's eyes too. She held his gaze and smiled.

"Yes. It happens to almost everybody!” She chuckled. 

“Can I teach you how to take it away?” she added.

“Yes”.

“ Whenever you want to be rude. Say to yourself — I am not my best self now, and I need a break”

“ I am not my best self now, and I need a break” Osi said and he reached out for a hug. Abe made it as tight and intimate as possible.

Abe heard some sniffing at the background as she arched her neck to check the noise.

Gloria stood like a scarecrow. In tears that ran through her lips in a thin smile. 

“Her father just called. He will be back soon, he's done with his deployment time of 3 years. 3 years Abe, 3 years!” 

Gloria glanced at Osi who she enveloped in a bear turn-around hug. 

“Mummy are you now well?”

“Yes, Osi. Yes!”

They hugged again and she gave him a forehead kiss.

“Abe, thanks for making a good out of this dead house”

“You call it that, but Osi will call it home”

Benecca's Tales

2021.

All rights reserved.

Author's Note.

This short story focuses on the theme of loyalty. 

Abe, despite her grudge for Gloria, did not feed that to Little Osi even though he's quite intelligent emotionally. 

As an Ideal African, you should do so too. We have dirty linens but do not wash them first in a visitor's presence.

All characters are virtual and inspired by the "Africa Rising" or "I Love my Africa" song. 

Africa is our strength, origin is our witness.

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