Mama shrugs and says nothing. She is walking slowly; her limp has become more noticeable, her body moving sideways with each step. We are close to the car when she turns to me and says, “thank you, nne.” It is one of the few times in the past three years that she has spoken without being first spoken to. I do not want to think about why she is thanking me or what it means. I only know that all of a sudden, I no longer smell the dampness and urine of the prison yard.
“We will take Jaja to Nsukka first, and then we’ll go to America to visit Aunty Ifeoma,” I say. “We’ll plant new orange trees in Abba when we come back, and Jaja will plant purple hibiscus, too, and I’ll plant Ixora so we can suck the juices of the flowers.” I am laughing and she leans toward me and smiles.
Above, clouds like dyed cotton wool hang low, so low I feel I can reach out and squeeze the moisture from them. The new rains will come down soon…
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and the warm sun shining through my window. I stretched and smiled, feeling grateful for another day. As I got dressed, I couldn't help but think about the events of the past few months.
It had been three years since my father, Eugene, passed away and my life had changed drastically. Even though it felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders, I do miss him. He’s my father after all. My mother, Beatrice, had moved us to Enugu to be closer to her family and I was now a university student, studying to become a teacher.
I missed my father dearly, but I knew he would be proud of the woman I was becoming. I had learned to stand up for myself and others.
As I walked to school, I couldn't help but think about the conversation I had with my mother the night before.
"Kambili, I need to talk to you about something important," she said, her voice serious.
"What is it, Mama?" I asked, my heart racing.
"I have decided to run for office," she said, her eyes determined.
"Really? That's amazing, Mama!" I exclaimed, feeling proud of her.
"I know it won't be easy, but I want to make a difference in our community and I believe I can do it," she said, smiling at me.
I knew she was right, it wouldn't be easy, but I also knew that my mother was a strong and capable woman. I was excited to see what the future held for her.
As I arrived at school, I was greeted by my best friend.
"Good morning, Kambili!" she said, smiling brightly.
"Good morning" I replied, returning her smile.
"I heard about your mother's decision to run for office, congratulations!" she said, hugging me.
"Thank you," I said, feeling grateful for her support.
As the day went on, I couldn't help but think about how much my life had changed since the days of living in Nsukka with my father. But I was excited about the future and I knew that with the love and support of my family and friends, I could accomplish anything.
It was in this new environment, with new people and new experiences that I found myself, who I truly was. I have grown to be more confident, more resilient, and more empathetic, and I know that this is just the beginning of a new journey, full of challenges and opportunities. I was ready to embrace them all.
As the day came to an end, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and contentment. I knew that my father was with me, guiding me on my journey and I was grateful for the lessons he had taught me. I was ready for the future and excited to see what it held for me and my family.
The end of papa’s life was just the beginning for me, for my family, and for the community we are a part of. And I knew that together, we could accomplish anything.
As the weeks passed, my mother campaigned tirelessly, working to make a difference in our community. She visited different neighborhoods, met with community leaders, and listened to the concerns of the people. Her message of change and progress resonated with them and they knew she was the right person for the job.
I supported my mother in any way I could, whether it was by helping her with her campaign or by taking care of things at home while she was out campaigning. I knew that this was a big step for her and I wanted to be there for her every step of the way.
Election day arrived and my mother and I went to the polling station early in the morning. We waited anxiously as the votes were being counted. Finally, the results were announced and my mother won the election. The entire community erupted in cheers and I could see the happiness and relief on my mother's face.
As we walked home that night, my mother turned to me and said, "Kambili, this is just the beginning. We have a lot of work to do to bring change to our community, but with your help and the support of our family and friends, I know we can do it."
I smiled at her and took her hand. I knew she was right. This was just the beginning for us. We had a lot of work to do, but I knew that together, we could accomplish anything.
The next few years were a blur of activity as my mother worked to bring change to our community. She implemented new programs to improve education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The people of our community saw the difference she was making and they were grateful. They knew that with her leadership, their lives were going to improve.
As for me, I graduated from university and began teaching at a local school. I was determined to make a difference in the lives of my students and to give them better opportunities than I had.
It was a lot of work, but I knew it was worth it. I was excited to see what the future held for me, my family, and our community.
