Mama muttered to herself and kept on crying. Mama cook is approaching her, she quickly wipes her tears and continues washing the plates before she starts complaining.
She washed the remaining plates but it kept on getting much because of customer patronage. Her stomach grumbled now. She removed her small phone from her pocket and checked the time. It is 11:30a.m . She put it back in her pocket and went inside to get some food.
Mama cook is busy attending to customers. She held a plate full of soup and added three meats to it before handling it over to a customer. Mama moves closer to her so that she can see her very well.
"Mama what's wrong?" She asked while the old woman touched her stomach
"I am hungry ma" she replied
"By what time? Just 11:30a.m. it is too early to eat! You arrived by 9:30 and you want to eat now! You can't! Come back at 1:30pm. Then I will attend to you". She yelled at the old woman while the customer behind her interfered with the matter.
"Haba! 11:30am is too early for an old woman to eat. It is not ma! I know if she is your mother, you won't treat her this way. If you don't have the food to give her, just tell her and stop post-phoning the time to eat" the young man cut in.
"And who the hell are you? Did I call you into this matter! Are you the owner of the shop? Wetin concern you? Mr Man mind your business ooooo. I get chinchin for head and I am not nor*mal as you are looking at me. I am not ready to give her food and that is my final decision".
"It is surprising how people with one shop behave like God. They treat people anyhow! I always see you anytime you talk to this woman anyhow. You don't have the fear of God in you...you ....
"Sh.u.t up your mouth! Toothpick! Is she your mother or why is your own much more than everyone here! Mr Man if you know that you are here to talk. Shift for me and let me attend to other good customers " she rudely replied to the young man while he left in anger. She faced the old woman.
"You see what you caused hnnn? Just because of food , are you c.u.r.sed? Did they bore you with food?"
"I am sorry ma" mama pleaded while tears trickled down her wrinkled face...
"Get out of my sight! She shouted at her while she left. She got back to the d.i.rty plates and sat down. Opeyemi approached her with some leftover food and stretched it towards her.
"Mama! I saw how mama cook treated you there and I don't like how she talks to you anyhow. Please can you manage the food with me. I can't eat everything. Quickly eat this food pending the time that you will be given your food" she said while mama wiped off the tears on her face and happily ate the food while opeyemi kept on watching if anyone was coming. Mama ate the last grain of rice on the plate and drank a cup of water.
"Thank you opeyemi! Ever since I got here, you are the only nice person I have. You will never lack. Your situation won't be like mine by God's grace. Ah! Thank you ooo" mama prayed while she smiled ...
"Mama! I have to go now before she starts looking for me, you know that she is not normal".
"Thank you my daughter ooo". Mama appreciated it while she left.
She gladly washed the remaining plates when it was 1:30pm. Mama cook handed her a plate of Amala with one meat along with ewedu soup. She sat down and devoured the food while opeyemi smiled from afar.
She doesn't know why her life is like that?
She heard that mama had a son but what happened?
She doesn't have to be suffering all around. What she need is full attention and care.
Everyone had a story to tell
But.
Where is Mama's son