The joy & hope of every mother is to see her child prosper and also to reap the fruit of her labor, well, Mama Mercy doesn't seem to have that joy. Her whole life is one of pain and death threats.
Mama Mercy is a happy and hardworking woman. Even in her late 40’s, I see her every morning carrying her fresh tomatoes and other perishable goods by herself to the market. She was born into a middle class family from Anambra, somewhere in Africa. And got married into a poor family. The marriage was blessed with 4 children.
At age 34, she lost her husband to a road accident leaving her and her 4 children, though her children are now full grown adults living their own lives elsewhere. Except James, the second son. He has a bad character that brings shame to the family. He is known for the act of stealing, womanizing and drunkenness, he feels comfortable staying at his father house in the village with his mother. Nights after nights he comes home with the sticky smell of alcohol and marijuana, under such influence he beats his mother for not making his meal and refusing to open the door for him. The poor lady will scream for help, but no one comes to rescue her from her son’s hand.
One morning, she reports her son and all his bad acts to the Elders of the village. They feel her pain and worries and decide to put to an end to all of it. The Elders send him a letter of warning and send a representative to speak to James. James decides to take heed to their warning. But deep down in him, he is angry at his mother for reporting him to those old men who call themselves “Elders”. James waits at home for his mother, he is filled with anger and rage.
The gate makes a loud noise. I guess that woman is back from the market, thinks James. He goes out and sees her packing out her goods from today sales.
“So mama you went to report me to those elder’s?” shouts James.
“Yes, I did. Where did I go wrong now? Your bad character needs to stop.”
“Are you the one to tell me when to stop or how to live my life?” Says James in rage.
Yes! I’m your mother."
“Hmm, see Mama I give you 7 days to leave this house, else you won’t be alive to tell the story.”
“Is that a threat?” she asks.
No response from him, as he walks out on her. She can no longer hold the thought of death threat from her son, she runs to one of the elder’s house and tells him all what her son said. What can the elder do? Only to give her words of assurance that nothing will happen to her.
This is the fifth day. Mama Mercy is fully assured that nothing will happen, because it’s her late husband house. She leaves for her business. James gets back home late at night, drunk after losing lots of money while gambling. He goes straight to the kitchen and finds nothing to eat.
"I’m so hungry and no meal was kept for me." He says to himself. Out of rage, he barges into his mother's room.
“Where’s my meal”? He asks angrily.
“I’m not your wife, I came back home late and tired.” she replies sharply.
“What does that mean?” he asks as he pushes her on her bed.
She tries to escape, but he quickly jumps on her with a pillow.
“James what are you trying to do?” she asks in shock.
“I’m trying to end your miserable life.”
“AH!! Help! Help me!!" She screams out. He places the pillow on her face, she tries to fight herself out, "James! James‼" Instead, he tightens it more, her hands are on his face, she is weak. She can’t breathe anymore, her hands are down and body is still.
Mama is dead.
James notices no movement anymore, he lets go and leaves her there.
Two days pass and nobody has seen her in the market. No one has seen her son either. Some women come to her house, but see the gate wide open.
“Where could she be?” They think to themselves, as they all enter, shouting her name.
"Oh my God‼, come and see! Over here!” One of them screams out.
“What happened?” they asked her.
"Look, it's Mama Mercy. She’s dead."
“It can’t be. Let's call the Elders.” one of the women said
The Elders rush to the scene and confirm the incident. After taking her to the mortuary, they get a report that she was suffocated to death.
“ABOMINATION…” as the Youths of the village shout out loud in anger and grief. “Who could have done this?” they ask themselves.
The Elders could only think of one suspect, which is James and he’s nowhere to be found. Now they feel pity among themselves and wish they had acted the moment Mama Mercy had complained to them.
Oh, What a loss.