MARIA had watched her second son look distraught this whole while; yet she couldn’t place why he’d so be.
Then one night, she walked in the boy’s room, saw him breathe in his sleep, and sat.
He was facing the mud wall, as he laid curled up on the mat.
His mother Oki Maria knew to comfort. So she simply clasped a hand over his shoulder, and whispered, ‘I won’t pressure you about anything, you know that!’
Banji got up at those words. They sounded quite pleasant, and went so apt enough to wake him.
No, the voice that bore those words was the rousing beat.
It was loving, heartening. Then it was his momma—she had come.
So, Banji jolted up from sleep. ‘Ah Mother! When did you—?’
Oki repeated. ‘You know I won’t say you bring a bride home tonight. I mean, this very night!’
Banji caught the joke and chuckled. ‘Ah ma’mi!’
Oki crossed her arms and bowed her gaze. She pulled a frown to fetch a thought.
Then after a bit she added: ‘And nobody in town will ask you to lead, you know!’
Banji caught on fast. That he wasn’t prep’ing to be monarch. So he felt homoured and knew his mother did that on purpose.
So he laughed aloud. ‘Mother, are those really the biggest of pressure? The biggest you can tell?’
Oki waved. ‘At least, the smallest and biggest here!’
She leaned a little close. ‘So tell me, why do you sigh every night? What are you worried about?’
No, Banji was no small lad. He’d grown up a tough man, taking care of his troubles alone.
So he felt fine when he quipped, ‘There’s nothing, mama; I’ll be fine!’
Oki was equally tough. So she pulled closer.
‘You will be fine, that’s for sure! But you don’t want to go on wasting my fine meals, do you?’
She said that, glancing over his food—
For it sat open, a dish of pound-yam and soup... without steam at all.
Banji looked at it, then chuckled at his mama’s remark. He’d started to feel light and he liked the feel.
So he thought to shed his weight, and talk a little about this.
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