It is the little things in life that make us happy. First, life. Okay maybe life is not little. But the thought of a new life beginning either within a woman or in the course of our lives, makes us happy.
The little foetus, it makes the woman glow and the man glee. Unless of course its an unplanned pregnancy, treated like an abomination.
It was happy thoughts Adaugo had when she got the doctor's report. She was pregnant. About two weeks gone. She had sought the fruit of the womb for seven years since she got married.
In a society like ours where children are a sign of a healthy marriage, a sign of fruitfulness, Adaugo had suffered jeering and constant mocking from her husband's family.
They had called her barren. Called a man. Accused her of being promiscuous, attributing this supposed promiscuity to be the reason for her childlessness.
They had clamoured for her husband to take another wife. A fruitful one. One who will near him children. And not just children but sons. Sons that will carry his name.
Her family was not left out of this too. They had visited her in different emissary groups. They had come to advice her to visit one mountain, visit one Alfa, see this prophet or consult one deity.
They had even gone to the extent of requesting that she went to the Catholic church for confession to confess all the evil she had committed.
She had gone for confession. Rubbed ashes. Recited psalms. Said her rosary prayers. It was the sin of hating children when she was younger that she confessed.
It was this sin that she felt needed to be confessed. It was this sin that still burdened her.
Her husband had remained loving nonetheless. He refused to take another wife. He continued showering love upon her.
He kept his family members away from her, kept their accusatory tongues away from her.
Ifeanyi, her husband was the kind of man any woman will wish for. She had thought of his love, how much he had showered her with that love.
She thought of breaking the news to him. The good news the doctor had just given her. Their news of hope. Hope she was ready to cling to with all her life. Hope however little.
It is the little things in life that make us happy.
- Chizaram Opara