It was a Sunday morning. Nwamaka was trying to pack the clothes she washed when she saw Mr. Nick coming. She quickly ran and stood at the door. Normally whenever she saw them coming, she stayed outside, till when they would leave. That was her mother’s instruction. But that day, she decided to put a stop to the occurrence that had been giving her sleepless nights.

The man was surprised that Nwamaka ran to stand at the door, he felt that her mother was not around.

“Amaka, how are you?”

“Good evening sir,” she responded.

“What of your mum?”

“She is inside.”

“Then why are you blocking the entrance? Okay, I understand, it’s like your mum is with another customer?”Mr. Nick asked.

“Nothing of such sir,”Nwamaka answered.

“Then what is the matter? Ah!  this girl, so you have started taking bribes. No problem, I will give you.” He dipped his hands inside his pocket and brought out some new naira notes.

“Hmm! Mother  will task me, daughter will also task me.. This strategy is topnotch o,” 

Amaka stood, watching him and wondering what he was talking about. He offered Amaka the money but she rejected it.

“Please, sir I don’t need your money. Go and give it to your wife,” Amaka told him in a stern voice.

“Then what is your problem?” The man belowed in anger.

“I don’t have any problem. I never looked for your troubles, I’m just standing at the door of our house. Please go and stay  at your own house. Leave my mother alone.”

“If I leave your mother alone, hunger will kill you. Wicked and ungrateful child. In Fact  let me call your mum on the phone and report you to her

At that point, Amaka’s mum came out. Mr. Nick was surprised to see her.

“Oh! You were in there, and your daughter was insulting me?”

“I never insulted you sir. I only said that you should go home and meet your wife and children,”Amaka said.

“Can you hear her? Anyway, let’s go inside first, I know you will deal with her later.”

“Go inside to where? You are not coming inside this house today” Amaka told him.

“Are you watching her issuing orders to me? Can’t you slap her mouth,” He told Amaka’s mum in anger.

“Please, listen to my daughter and go back to your house,” Nwamaka’s mum told him.

“What did you just say? I should listen to who? You must be out of your mind. Open the door, let me come inside,” he commanded.

“Sir, go back to your house now. Do you want me to go and tell your wife that you are here? I know your wife’s shop,”Amaka threatened.

“Nneka, I don’t blame you and your daughter. I brought this insult upon myself. You will surely look for me.  When you come  looking for  me, you will pay for this insult. If hunger did not make you look for me, house rent will make you look for me.” Mr. Nick said as he walked away in anger.

When the man left, Nwamaka was afraid to go inside because she didn’t know what her mother’s reaction would be. She decided to go and sit at the front of the compound. One of the neighbours came to meet her.

“Amaka, why did you do what you did?”

“What did I do, ma?” Amaka asked, feigning ignorance.

“Don’t try to pretend, you know what I am talking about. What you did was disrespectful to your mother. You shouldn’t have done that.”

Amaka bent and tears flowed from her eyes.

“I will never purposely want to disrespect my mum. You know that I love her so much. Besides, Today is Sunday. I felt that everyone had gone to church. I don’t know that you are around. Please, I want you to help me talk to my mum.”

“What do you want me to talk to your mum about?”

“I don’t know how to say it ma, but you can just advise her,” Amaka stammered.

“Listen, Amaka, Ashawo don’t need advice. That is her hand work. Just leave her to enjoy her life.”

“What did you call my mum? I’m so disappointed you could say this, ma. I used to rate you so high,” Amaka said in anger.

“Look at this girl? I disappointed you? Is your mother’s lifestyle not disappointing you? You will do yours too. It’s a matter of time.” 

Amaka later went inside, expecting the worst from her mother but she was unusually quiet.

Before they went to bed that night  Amaka discovered that her mother was not happy. She  tried to find out what the issue was but she refused to tell her. Amaka  had no choice than to let her be.

Later in the night, Amaka  noticed that she was weeping. For a long while, Amaka tried her  best to lay still and not shake so that her mother  wouldn’t know that she was awake.

Amaka wondered what could make her mother weep in that manner.  She knew that her mother had always tried her best to hide her challenges from her. 

“Why is it that mummy  does not tell me about her challenges? Is it that she doesn’t  want me to feel the pain, or she felt that it would break my heart. Does she feeI that I am too young to understand,” Amaka thought.

Amaka couldn’t wait for a long while.  Her heart was broken into pieces by her mother’s  cry. She had no choice but to get up and touch her. Amaka’s mother  was shocked. She tried to quickly dry her tears and pretend that all was well.

“The beautiful one,why are you not sleeping,” Nneka asked her daughter.

“Mum, your sobbing couldn’t allow me to sleep,” Amaka replied.

Nneka was momentarily dumbfounded. But later she found her voice.

“I’m so sorry my dear. I promised not to disturb you again. You can go back to sleep,”She told Amaka.

“No mum. There is nothing to be sorry about. Can you tell me why you were crying.”

“But I have apologized for disturbing you. It won’t happen again,”

“But mum, there is no need to apologize. My teacher told me that a problem shared is a problem solved. Why not talk to me?”

“Nwamaka, you are a child, you will not understand. Besides, I shouldn’t burden you with my problems. It will be heavy for you.”

“No mummy, I am not a child, I am twelve. You can talk to me,” I assured her.

Nwamaka had to get out of bed and switch on the light and everything became illuminated. That was when she was able to see that her mum’s face was swollen.

“Mum, it’s like you ‘ve been crying for a long time. Sadly, I didn’t notice in time.,”

“My child,  the burden was so much. I had to let it out,”

“There is no problem about that. Please can you tell me what the problem is 

 Maybe I can help,”Amaka offered.

Nwamaka’s mum let out a bitter smile, “The beautiful one, this is more than you.”