I got to know Amah eight months ago and to be honest my fellow mothers she got me spell bound. She is ten years old but acts as though she is fourteen. Maybe because she took up way too many responsibilities and was exposed to the hustling life so early. There is certainty one thing you cannot miss and that is her shiny black skin.
It glitters in the sun and her smile makes all the day's worry fade away
Who are you little one?
You are so beautiful; are you a model?
She goes to school in one of the government approved schools in town and everyday after work she helps her mother in her business. I saw her the other day counting some money and her mother told me that she gives Amah money to buy lunch in school everyday but sometimes she would chose not to eat so she can save her money.
Amah why are you not buying lunch in school sometimes with the money given to you?.
I take heavy breafast and sometimes i pack some to eat in school.
What are you saving money for by the way?.
She hesitated before she opened up to me. Her response got me emotional and i hugged her so tightly. Her mother looked at me and wanted to know what Amah told me but i couldn't. Amah told me in confidence and her mother must not know anything about it. It wasn't so easy for me as she persisted and pushed more and more. I am not about to break Amah's trust and so i quickly left that place to my house. Amah is actually planning something huge for her mother's birthday next month. She has been saving all that money so that she can buy her a cake and a nice dress. I even promised to help her pick out the perfect dress for her mother.
This goes out to all the mothers out there who are toiling day and night to give their children the best. These children see it all, they see all the hardwork that you are putting in through for their sake. They see the time you work extra time just to be able to pay that bill. At first, i thought that Amah was saving money to get something nice for herself but it turned out she want to put a smile on her mother's face on her birthday. It really touched me so much and made me want to be the best mother that i can be to my children. Amah's father abandoned them six years ago for another woman and ever since then her mother has been the one taking care of her and her senior sister.
Yesterday i met Amah's mother in the market and we exchanged pleasantries. We talked about the hike in prices of foodstuffs and also how the economy have been so unfavorable to her but God has been coming through for her. She told me about a problem she have with her bank that would take a while to solve and how Amah came through for her by handling her all her savings to sort out a pressing need.
Ohhh really? She was saving that money to buy you a cake and a dress for your birthday next month.
Amah's mother starred at me for some seconds and started laughing. I wondered why she was laughing till she asked...
So this is what you both were hiding from me all these while?.
Yes and that's because she wanted it to be a suprise.
Hope the dress will come with a matching shoe? You can buy that one with your money since you have ruined the suprise for her.
Amah's mother just played me and i foolishly ruined her birthday suprise.