She just gave birth again. It’s her 7th one and people were talking, “What is wrong with this women” “Does she want to give birth to a football team?” “Is she the only illiterate in this area.”
Her neighbour Nnedi was among the people gossiping. When she rounded up the gossip, she went to visit the mother and baby.
“Uchendu Congratulations! Your baby is fine. But this should be the last one. You should not be giving birth like someone that does not have sense. The other day, your daughter came to beg me for garri. Yesterday, when you were still in the hospital, she also came to beg for salt and pepper. Please have mercy on us.” Nnedi mocked.
“Nnedi, I have heard you, I will go for family planning. Though it is not fair for you to say that I am senseless. There are still people that need these children but they don’t have”
“Uchendu, are you indirectly mocking me?” Nnedi flared up in anger.
“How did I mock you? You are not childless, you have 2 girls,” Uchendu said, trying to pacify her.
“Why must you say that I have girls? You are mocking me because I didn’t give birth to a boy?”
“Nnedi please leave my house. I just gave birth yesterday, I don’t have strength for quarrel.”
Nnedi left with serious anger in heart. All her thought each day was how to deal with Uchendu and her children.
Nnedi went to one her customers place to buy something when she overheard her discussing with another woman called Madam Grace. Immediately the woman left, Nnedi’s customer started complaining about her.
“Wicked woman, you want me to help you and get someone to leave with you.”
“What is the issue?” Nnedi asked.
“Don’t mind Madam Grace, I heard that she maltreated her maid. Infact, she nearly killed the girl, that was why she ran away. Now she is telling me to get another person for her.”
Immediately Nnedi heard that, she became very happy. she quickly left her customers shop and ran to meet the woman. She promised her that she would get someone for her.
When Nnedi got home, she went to meet Uchendu and convinced her to allow her first daughter Adanma go and live with Madam Grace. Uchendu agreed.
Two months after Adanma started living with Madam Grace, her younger sister living in United States of America gave birth . She needed someone to assist her with taking care of the baby. Their mother was already dead. Madam Grace was a civil servant; she couldn’t leave her job to go. The only person available was Adanma. Madam Grace had no choice that to send Adanma abroad to go and live with her sister.
Few years afterwards, Adanma got her permanent resident card (green card) and started working in USA.
That marked a turning point in the life of Adanma’s mother. She became the envy of everyone in the neighbourhood.
Nnedi was full of regret. Her purpose for wanting Adanma to live with Madam Grace was to cause her mother pain. But God turned it around for good.
