MOMMY DON'T CRY

Mommy looked at me and said:

“Linda, just make sure you are not a second wife and don't ever marry someone that will get one……..do you understand?”

I nodded. I didn’t understand. All I understood was that mommy was always crying in the kitchen and when she hears Mama Nnukwu coming she wipes her eyes and told me stories. I loved the stories but I hated mommy crying.

I opened my eyes and heard somebody shouting. I checked the clock on the wall, It was 2’oclock in the morning; I was just learning how to tell the time. I sleep-walked to the living room and it was mommy. I was surprised; mommy never shouts. Daddy and Mama Nnukwu were throwing out her bags from her room. I ran to mommy

“Mommy, why are you shouting?” I didn't even notice the tears running down her cheeks.

She looked at me and she appeared strong, like those superwomen I saw on TV. I’ve never seen her that way.

“You won’t understand Nwa” (that was what mum calls me when she wants me to stop asking questions.

I clutched mommy’s wrapper and when she picked her bags and started leaving I was with her. Daddy pulled me back and I started crying………………I wanted to go with my mommy. I was struggling to get away from daddy’s grip when Mama Nnukwu locked the door and daddy gave me a hard slap. Daddy told me to go back to sleep and like the 5 year old I was, I obeyed.