I made my way into my mum's shop as usual. Tired from trekking and getting beaten by the afternoon heavy sun. I needed to say my greetings, show myself and eat before I could leave for home. The moment I got to the shop, the first person I asked about was my sister. Ever since she started her ushering job, she had not been helping mum at the shop again. I felt she was even avoiding shop work because no matter how Mum pleaded for her assistance, she always had work to do. Which was not so before.

My sister was the best when it comes to making crunchy chin chin. There was just this taste you get whenever the chin chin was made by her including donut. I was the best at making cake and would always assist Mum whenever I felt like working like electrical machine. Mum never bothered me and gave me ample time to study as usual and do the home chores instead. But the day she knew I was always dancing at home and not reading, she made sure I returned back to the shop at times.

"Mom I said where is Aunty Ara?"

My mum hissed in frustration, slamming the heavy dough she made with flower on her wooden heavy board. She was covered with flower, her face looking all white and I could tell she had been working. I would always laugh at her, calling her ojuju calabash and that always pissed her off. I knew I was disturbing her but I wanted to know if my sister was at home or not.

"Mummy nau. You are just going to answer me with your mouth."

"No nau... I should answer you with my breasts."

I chuckled despite how tired I was. African mothers! I wonder which breasts she was going to answer me with. I pray I don't  have that type of tiny breasts abeg. Since she wasn't going to answer me, I decided to get up, carry my bag and leave the shop.

"Where are you now going? Are you not going to eat? I heard your waec is starting very soon. Should we hire a teacher or will you continue your school lesson?" Mum bombarded me with questions but I didn't answer. I was giving her a cold shoulder for not answering me too, walking slowly out of the shop to buy time.

"I've bought your provisions o!"

Pro-vi-what?

Upon hearing my mum's last statement, I ran back into the shop like usain bolt. All the apprentice in my mum's shop laughed at me. They could tell I was so happy. I had been pleading for my mum to get me some to have little things to eat and take while reading. Somehow, I saw that Jendol nylon and I knew Mum had really bought me provisions. So huge. It must be damn plenty. I laughed at the eyes she was giving me and decided to coax her mood by singing her a song that suddenly came to my heart.

🎤Though the storms may come,
and the winds may blow,
I'll remain steadfast...
And let my heart learn when you speak a word
it will come to pass...

Great is your faithfulness to me...
Great is your faithlessness to me.
From the rising sun, to the setting same
I will praise your name...
Great is your faithfulness to me Mum.
Oh, oh, oh.... I love you Mum.

I sang and danced slowly to it, clapping my hands together to make some beats and added my lyrics it. Till now, I wasn't sure Dad knew who sang the song Promises. Waking up everyday to this song from Dad's phone was enough for me to learn the lyrics.

"Oshey!" All the apprentice teased me and my mum was beginning to smile. I immediately switched to a song by her favourite Christian singer, Mercy Chinwo. Finally, I could express my dancing skills with it because of how fast the song was.

🎤Omekwala nka, omeozo eh
     (Onememma)
     Omekwala nka, omeozo eh
     (Onememma)
     Ah, ah, ah...Onememma
     Jesus...
     Jesus Neme mma eh
     Onememma

"Jesus you are Good, Jesus you are Kind, Jesus you are Wonderful to me. Everywhere I Look, The Blessings Overflow, Jesus, Imeworom 'mma..."

"Onememma!" The apprentice joined me and finally my mum was smiling but kept on kneading her dough.

"Ehhh... People wey get eye dey see am oh..."

"Dem dey see am oh."

"People wey get ear dey Hear am oh..."

"Ehhh... Dem dey Hear am oh"

"Me myself I must talk am oh..."

"I must talk am oh."

"Say na you, you, you...you be correct mother."

I guess they all the didn't know what to say cause I had changed the lyrics there again, and they all shouted, "ehhhhhhh!!!!!!!"

There was no way my mum could escape this. She burst into laughter and laughed so hard at our craziness. I moved closer to her and hugged her so much. Hugging her made me feel loved, protected, excited, and these were days I accepted her being my mum and being the best mum in the world. No matter how I behaved, I loved her so much. But she can be sweet and be the opposite at times.

She thanked us all. She was finally done with what she was doing. "Okay, thank you, thank you... let's go back to work." She said to all her apprentice. "And you, carry your provisions."

"Yes Mummy." I gently approached the Jendol nylon and carried my property.

On getting home, I didn't meet my sister and I knew she must have gone for work as usual. I packed some of the provisions Mum bought for me out. I dragged my Ghana mustgo closer to pick some of my dresses and undies. I was going to stay with Cecelia to read and prepare for exams. Abby was coming, Summaya was coming, Chris was coming, Adam was coming, including Sophie, and Bridget. I hope we were able to tolerate each other, cause Sophie was not someone I wanted to be friends with. They weren't planning to stay overnight or stay during the period of exams. I could understand not all parents would allow that. My mum did because Cecelia was like a family to us and the two mothers were friends. We all agreed to always  meet because we all wanted to study together and Cecelia's place was the best place because of their big compound. Apart from the noise coming from the street, it was a better place for a group study than mine.

The noise coming from the landlady who owns a Beer Palour was enough to stop you from assimilating in my house. From morning to night, there were always men trooping in to eat catfish, all manner of soups, drink beer, trophy and all different kinds of drink. At night, it was always so noisy with different Yoruba Apala music to Hiphop, and even Fuji music coming from her heavy two speakers, disturbing the peace of all her tenants. We couldn't complain. It was her source of income and she owned the house.

I was done packing my bags. Both mum and dad agreed and I was happy. No matter how brilliant I thought I was, I loved group reading still. I had said my goodbye to dad this morning. I knew I would still have to go back to my mum and say goodbye before leaving for Cecelia's place. It was necessary or she could change her mind and her mind could influence dad. I picked up my phone. I needed to reach my sister and tell her I was leaving home. What I wanted to ask would have to wait and I wasn't in a hurry anyways.

Sorry, the Mtn number you have dialed is not available at the moment, please try again later. Thank you.

The customer care said for the second time and I knew that was network issues. I decided I was going to call back later. I carried my heavy school bag and walked out of the door. Closed the door and said my goodbye to the house itself.

  ________________________________
Author's Note
Hey guys🤩 thank you so much for reading 🙏🏾
While writing crunchy chin-chin, I remb DishesByTowo. She sells  chinchin and many more. You can kindly follow her on her YouTube page. @DishesByTowo Thank you guys💋

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