Heaven

HEAVEN

Her smile spread like the orange tint on a ripening fruit as her best song came on the radio. She loved the song not only for it being the ONE #AfricaWithStrongGirl Campaign song but her name was mentioned in it! Sweet heavens! "This Waje can sing oh!"  She said before her attention got stolen by her roadside food vendor.

Anyone like her would be over still be over the moon months after this song's release. Her roots were represented and that's what mattered. 

Lagos traffic could not hinder the happy moment as she chair-danced gripping the steering with the left hand, and the other was busy with the Aadun which sat carelessly on the passenger's seat and made interval travels to her mouth after which she hummed to the song like a scrunched engine that was fed up with grinding beans at Balogun market. She was late for school runs but unbothered. 

"E kassan  Ma!" Her daughter (Sade) said as she hugged her mum, she was surprised when mum hugged her tighter and gave her a peck. It was too mushy that Sade felt embarrassed.  If only she knew how happy mum was. It was a mini tradition for her to greet mum in Yoruba whenever she shows up in her full Buba attire, she had all those official meetings and conferences to blame! Mum patted her shoulder playfully "You for kneel na!". Sade let out a good laugh and said " Not in school, and especially not in front of him!". Sorry oh, lover girl! Mum thought as she eyed the fine boy walking past her car. 

Sade followed him like a lost puppy, as they stood at a distance. The rim of Mum's eyeglasses almost popped when the fine boy gave Sade a pack of Hollandia yoghurt. 

Talking about love, she knew Sade got the lovestruck genes from her. Sade oblivious of mum's gaze sang like a happy bird to the now "on repeat" campaign song when Mum fell into deep thoughts... 

 "Never Forget Home," he said to her "I'm always with you". She didn't know why he said that but seeing his eyes smile behind the respirator made her heart melt like butter. One blink away and, the monitor alarm cried. The last she remembered was the weak smile from Rose, the Senior nurse and a cousin. Everyone had tried and was tired.

That was how she lost Bamidele. Her Bam Bam! the lovely husband. 

She never imagined walking away from his perpetual kisses. Plus what would she tell Sade? The poor toddler who had grown so fond of the father. When the burial day came, Sade would stare at his obituary picture kissing it and smiling.  Mum felt her heartbreak when Sade refused milkose sweet for the first time. It was traumatic.

She remembered the first time she met Bambam at Enugu, 18th May 1982. He was a 28-year-old youth corper and she, his student only a few months shy from turning 15. Their love story being adventurous and always behind closed doors went viral when loud-mouth busy body Alero reported them to the  Principal when Bambam was caught trying to eat her lips in the school's health room. She was furious because her first kiss was ruined! Even after the mayhem, their love had wings like eagles that could not only fly but teleport. She grew lovesick and wanted this fine big man with the delicate afro hair, all to her self.  

But after he passed, everything changed. She was not ready to have another failed story. Over the years, she swept through other men but none one could even plait her signature " shuku"  hairstyle like Bambam. Soon she didn't seek a story to love anymore, she just had to hide and understand. There was no other perfect person or story so she had to deal with her vulnerabilities.  Her only happiness was Sade, the most precious gift her late husband gave her. 

However, one thing she never feared was Death. Being African, she believed a great woman can never die. Someone who brings forth life and struggles with gender inequalities every minute but still keeps her head high? No, she can never die.

Her soul and her footsteps are printed in the sands of time, dead or alive. Perhaps, her fear was being the first to die. Oh poor Sade, Mum's mind is going crazy. 

"Mum!" Sade called out and Mum blinked her eyes twice recovering from her trance she fell into. She feigned the "what's it" face while holding back the tears. Thank God for medicated glasses, Sade the curious cat would have finished her with questions.  "Can I have the last Aadun?"   "Last? There were 2 of them!" 

"I saw you nod when I asked for the first one. I thought you were saying your 3'O clock prayer so I didn't stress" Sade said already tearing the wrap of Aadun open and returning to the movie 'Coming 2 America' she was busy with.  Replacing the left airpod, she ignored all distractions again. 

Just then Mum fully got herself and was shocked to see where she was at.  The school compound was almost empty with teachers locking up. The gateman approached like a hungry and ready-to-attack lion as she quickly started the car to drive off. No time for that kind of drama.

Immediately the cool breeze of Lagos hit her wrinkled face, she figured what Bambam meant. 

Her home was Sade and every other thing she stood for. Being a Local Government Chairman and an Ambassador for the girl child, her home was not only where she came from but the people of her blessed state and country. And yes! Never again would she allow Sade to greet without kneeling, she thought with a light smile and glanced at the hungry schoolgirl. 

Her home was also her name,

...Her Excellency, Barr Moremi Oshodi. In this life, she cannot fail and still lay low. Emerging anything less than a victor would be a heritage disgrace. 

Anyways! It could be anything Bamidele meant until she remembered heaven. 

Benecca's Tales

2021

All rights reserved.

Picture Credit: Unsplash.

Author's Note

Heaven is the first story of Benecca's Tales and all I thought of while I wrote is 'The Beauty of An African Woman'. The characters though inspired by the #ONE Campaign song (Strong Girl) are all virtual. 

I kind of mixed different personalities to make Moremi real and understood. From the love of her tribe and culture to her weakness which took its scar from the loss of the most beloved. To the courage the pain had brought forth, and lastly...Sade her daughter, The first reason for everything she does. 

So, Moremi is not a perfect human but an Ideal African Woman. 

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