Hello Writing Club.
This is my first time and first post here.
Was going through my notes and found this story I had written some long time ago. Still reads nice enough to me. And I thought to myself "why not share it"
So, here it goes...I hope you enjoy it.
Mama Ada's cries of pain could be heard outside the room. It resonated through the hall. We all stayed together and tried to comfort ourselves. Some minutes later, we heard her final cry of victory. But, it was laced with agony and relief and it was indeed, her FINAL shout. She had died.
Mama Ada was married to Mr Emeka, a stout man, who always wore a grimace. I can't remember ever seeing him smile. His daughter, Ada, who was like a little sister to me, disliked him so much. She always told me that, he never liked her mother and was always telling at her(although it was evident to me). He totally neglected them -his family.
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Mr Emeka wasn't always like that. He used to be a very happy man who had a smile for everyone. When he got married to his wife, they were a typical lovey-dovey couple. Everyone enved them.
But Their problems started when his wife got pregnant with their first child and went into labour. At the hospital, she couldn't push out he baby and CS was recommended. Her husband did not like CS as his tradition forbade it(only weak and lazy women underwent it). But, the doctors said there was nothing else that could be done, so, he gave his consent.
After the operation, she was delivered of a baby girl. Everyone except Eze was happy.
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Two years later, she got pregnant again. When she went into labour, she tried in vain to push forth the baby. Again the doctor suggested a CS operation which her husband angrily and reluctantly agreed to. And yet again, she was delivered of a baby girl. This only infuriated Mr Eze the more. He wanted a male child. Badly!
Over and again, they tried for even more children and for every delivery, they were blessed(maybe cursed; as Eze put it) with female kids. By this time, thy already had 6 girls.
"....why can't you push out your children like every other woman? To make matters worse, you keep on birthing girls. Are they the only things in your womb?, he would always scream at her.
She would plead with him to be patient with her saying, 'God is the giver of children.'
Their once happy home became a sad place. Eze changed overnight- he stayed out late, never cared to ask how his wife and children fared. All he did was drink, yell out obscenities and fall asleep at any place his drunken brain collapsed. He was even said to have been seen frequenting brothels.
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His family wasn't even helping matters as they constantly and frequently humiliated his wife and was on his neck to take another wife who could bear him a son, An heir!
"..you see! I warned Eze not to marry you but he wouldn't listen. Now see where it has landed him. You cannot even bear a son. Not one. See how you littered his house with girls. Of what use will they be to him. Soon, very soon, men will start trooping in to seek their hands in marriage. That is if they do not bring forth children in their father's house. Tufia!
Who will stand to preserve the family name? When?! Who? So Eze's name and that of his father's will end this way? Ehn!? Never! He will get married to a young girl capable of bearing him a son, not a man like you", his immediate younger sister (he was an only son. His parents had birthed four girls and himself) never failed to hurl these and many more insults at Mama Ada.
Mrs Eze would cry and cry. She hoped and prayed she could bear a son. She hope she could deliver without surgery. She wanted to be a good wife. A real woman.
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Years later, she conceived again. When she went in for scan, it was revealed that she was pregnant with a girl. She was devastated. Her husband did not want to hear of it. He warned her to get rid of the baby as he could not accommodate yet another girl, but she couldn't as her religion was against abortion. Besides, it was her child and this time, she planned to deliver like the Biblical Hebrew woman
When labour pains kicked in this time and she was taken to the hospital, her husband was nowhere in sight. He refused to be associated with yet another female child. She was downcast. But this time, she was determined to push out the infant. Good for her, she did. But, there was a problem. The doctor confirmed that there was something else inside of her - the placenta. It he failed to come out alongside the baby. She refused to be operated upon and chose to push it forth as well.
The doctors advised her against it, yet, she didn't listen. And with every push-effort she made, her strength diminished. With one final force, she pushed out the placenta and slept forever.
But...
But, it was not a placenta.
It was a baby boy!
I hope you enjoyed reading this.
It's been a while since I wrote any stories. This was a nostalgic read for me. What do you think of it?
Thanks for stopping by!!