"When you mother is around, kindle give her this."
That what one of our neighbours said as she slipped a small brown envelope into my hands and returned while stirring at the roasted plantain and meat on the open door oven in our veranda. I was still very young, and I thought she has come around to deliver another monthly women's meeting letter.
I put the envelope under one of the cup trays in the kitchen and forgot it there.
My mother had traveled to meet my sister who just gave birth and was to return that week or the following week. Our neighbour has been expecting her to return since a week ago. She would come around to ask about hy, sometimes brings fresh fruits for us, and even bring us dinner sometimes, sweet foods. I never bothered to ask her why she always brings food and food because I understood her relationship with my mum. They are close neighbours.
Sunday passed, then the next day caney. Yet, she has not returned.
Sunday passed, then Monday. My father did not return.
Our neighbour never bothered to ask me about the not she gave me me, and I myself never bothered to remember. A few weeks later, I found it one Saturday while doing some house chores. I could remember who gave it to me even though I never tried to read the message in it.
I was curious.
I opened it, it says, I know that you have been my support even when you don't have much to yourself. I just want you to know that I appreciate it all.
After reading through, I returned it into the envelope.
At that age, I was unable to process it immediately why that short piece of message had to be put inside a brown envelope. I only knew that I should give it to my mum whenever she is back. This time, I did not put it under the tray, I put it inside one of her Bibles beside her bed.
Weeks passed. My mum finally came home, and left again the following week, then returned several times. The envelope was still where I kept it.
Then during one of those weekends, my mother was tidying up her room, dusting and cleaning everywhere because she does not like everywhere to be scattered. While rearranging her books and bibles, she picked up that particular Bible and the brown envelope slipped onto the floor.
I was in her room when she opens it.
She read it once, then again. I saw the little expression on her face and she sat on the edge of bed.
“Who wrote this?” she asked.
"I forgot to deliver the message. Our neighbour gave it to me while you were away."
She looked at me a a few seconds, then she smiled.
"She gave you this?"
I nodded my head in agreement.
She careful folded it back and placed it inside her wardrobe. She did not bother to ask me why I did not give it to her or why I had forgotten. Instead, she told me to always deliver messages and put things In mind.
That evening, she called her.
I could hear only her side of the discussion. She asked if everything is okay, whether she is enjoying where she is, and when she will coming back because she also traveled few weeks earlier to one of her family people side.
“I saw your note.”
There was a pause.
Then she laughed softly.
“You should have told me all this yourself.”
I did not find out what her response was, but I could imagine picture it in my telling her not to make a big matter out the gesture because they have always been there for eachother.
When our neighbour returned, she came with some of the things she bought to give us. My mother thanked her and complained that she had spent too money. She only smiled.
I watched as both of them were gisting about different things. Neither of them talked about the envelope again.
Even till now, I still remember that little envelope and how she gave me. I stayed under that tray for weeks before staying a bit inside the bible before it finally got to be read. I sometimes wonder what would happened if I had delivered it immediately my mother returned from her journey.
Perhaps, it would have been the same reaction. Perhaps something might have changed. I cannot really say for sure.
But I sometimes like to remember that evening she found it herself, as she sat at the edge of her bed to read the content as if she has been waiting for it.
Thank you for reading.
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