When I first took Maureen home it was not to see mummy. We had gone to bury a neighbour so she insisted we go together since she’d be bored in my house alone.
The second time was when mummy had a bad knee after the family cow pushed her as she milked it. We went together and she was excited until the following morning
Mo was inside the kitchen preparing fire to boil tea for all of us as mum rested the limb. I was seated in my mums house going through my phone.
I heard someone crying outside. It was not Tatu our last born. I just ignored
We have no children in the family so i thot maybe it was a neighbours child
Not long Tatu pushed the door and words escaped her mouth ” Maureen analiyaa”
Me: “Analizwa na nini”
“Nyanyaa… ” She said. She stood there as if waiting for me to take action
We left together towards the kitchen hut.
We all call our grandma nyanya or bibi. She was standing at the door of the small shanty we used as kitchen as Mo continued crying inside.
Mo raised her voice crying louder when she saw me coming.
Me: Nyaaa ni nini mbaya”
Bibi: Wewe unakaa na mtoto mtu miaka miwili na hamna mtoto? Kama huyu msichana ako na shida ya tumbo si uniambie mimi tumpeleke akatibiwe kwa Babu
Me: Lakini nyanya sisi bado hatujaoana”
Bibi: Nyinyi si mnalala pamoja iyo si ni ndowa au huyu analala wapi?
Me:Lakini wewe huelewi…Mo ni galfriend tu.
Bibi: Mimi nataka mtoto…galfriend ukwaju gani huo
She pointed her with the walking stick then said
“Umesikia wewe msichana? Mkirudi hapa mwaka ujao mniletee mtoto. Sawa”
Mo nodded in agreement
Mum arrived from the kitchen house holding a hen.
Mum just listened and said nothing as grandma repeated that she wanted to see us have children. She was smiling though
Mum gave me the chicken saying
“
Aya mchinjie mgeni apate kula na sima..”
We left that morning with the hen. Mo was in no mood to eat chicken she told me.
Back in town Mo asked me as we alighted the matatu
“So unataka mtoto just like your grandma ?”
I said “No. “
And i meant it . I was not ready
Mo: I have considered what grandma said and i think she is right “
I stopped walking and looked at her
“You know you don’t need to be financially well off to start a family right? She added
Me: No but …”
Her:But what…”
We walked in silence. Only the live chicken was doing korokoroh
We reached my house.
Her “Iam not getting inside you think about what i said. If it’s ok with you if its not then this relationship is over.”
Me: What?”
I was astonished how fast she changed
“Yes I need to be somewhere in life. To be with someone serious. I want to be a mum “
With that she left swinging her behind.
At that point i knew i will miss her.
