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Mama Grace wiped her hands on her wrapper and ran after Udo after he came home from school and didn't greet her. He just dropped his school bag by the door and walked past her like she didn't exist. That was unlike Udo, he usually would have peeked into the shop to greet her.
“Udo,” she called softly. “My son, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Mama,” Udo replied without looking up. But in his voice was this edge.
“But you didn’t even say good evening.” she pressed further. "What's wrong?"
Udo sighed. “I’m just tired, Mama. Please, let me rest."
Mama Grace was taken aback. Not because Udo said he was tired but because of the way he said “please”. It cut her, as if she were talking to a stranger instead of her son. She quietly turned and sneaked out of the room.
Life for them hasn't been easy. But in her best way, she had tried to make the best for her son. Her almost scanty shop, which sat on a dusty street where the smell of fried fish and petrol floated every evening, wasn't the biggest. But she had made sure that every penny from it was invested in giving her son the best life she could afford.
And at home, Udo barely touched anything, she'd wake before the sun rose and sweep the whole house, arranging it while praying under her breath. Everything she did or said in her prayers circled one thing: For her to be able to give Udo the life she never had.
And when she finally got enough money to send him to a fancy private school, she cried with joy and fulfillment. Udo had hugged her tight that morning and made her a promise.
“Mama, I will make you proud,” he had said.
And ever since, she had held those words like treasure.
But as time went by, she began to notice that the school she prayed for was slowly building a wall between them.
It got so bad that she had to see his teacher on a wet afternoon. Rain beat loudly on the zinc roof as the woman flipped through Udo’s books.
“Madam Grace,” the teacher began, “your son is bright. Very bright. But he is falling in with… different friends.”
“Friends? How is it different?” Mama Grace asked. Udo has never told her of having friends at his new school or even brought anyone home.
The teacher hesitated. “Friends who don’t care about school. Boys with fast habits.”
Mama Grace felt her chest tighten. “But, is that even allowed? For other kids to influence their fellow students?"
"Ma'am, we can't stop a student from being friends with their mates.".
Mama Grace was silent. She took a deep breath and said.
"I will talk to him.”
That evening at the shop, she had waited until he came home. It rained heavily and when the rain finally slowed. Udo had stepped in drenched and shaking water from his hair.
Making sure he was fully settled. Mama Grace walked over to his room where Udo was lying down and pressing his phone.
She tapped him gently and said “Udo, sit down,”.
Udo frowned at first, complaining. “Mama, please. I have homework.”
She pointed at the stool and with the authority of a mother. “Udo, Sit.”
He sat slowly, eyes rolling.
“I went to your school today.”
His jaw tightened. “Why?”
“You're missing assignments. You go to school late but I'm sure you always leave this house early. And I also noticed you don't read like before. You're always on that phone.” She grabbed the phone from him.
Udo wanted to shout, but was met with his mum's prodding eyes. He shrugged and replied. “Mama, I’m managing.”
“Managing? Udo, this is the chance—”
“Mama, stop!” he snapped. “Not every time pressure. I’m not a child.”
Her hand fell to her side. “Now I am disturbing you?”
Udo looked away. “Just let me breathe, Mama. Will you?”
She stared at him. Her throat burned. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Everything I do, I do for you. Just so you can breathe.”
He turned away. “I didn’t ask you to suffer for me. And please, if it'll entail you showing up unannounced at my school to ask questions about me. I can breathe!"
Mama Grace sat there with her eyes almost popping out of her socket in surprise as Udo stood up and walked out of the house.
That was the discussion that grew the distance between them. From the little silence during dinner, to the locked door and stepping out without letting his mother know.
Two weeks later, he was gone. His room was empty. Clothes gone. The only thing left was a school notebook on the floor.
She screamed his name until her voice cracked. She searched the streets. She asked his friends. Nothing. Days passed. She stopped sleeping. She worked like a ghost.
Then, one evening, as she closed her shop, she heard footsteps. She turned to see Udo.
He looked older. Thinner. And almost a shadow of himself.
“Mama,” he said quietly.
Her knees almost gave way. She rushed and hugged her son “Udo.” Suddenly, she felt hot tears drop on her shoulder. She pulled back to see Udo crying.
“I’m sorry.”
She wiped his face with the back of her palms. Her voice broke. “I thought I lost you.”
He swallowed hard. “I followed the wrong people. I thought I had life figured out.”
Mama Grace's tears were running freely now. “You broke me, Udo. You broke me. But I’m still your mother.”
He nodded slowly. “I know. I know. And I’m sorry." He paused. "Please accept me back. I can't breathe without you."
Mama Grace nodded in tears. "I never threw you away. You'll always be my son. She held his hand. “Come, let's go home.”
It was such a beautiful read. The part where he told his mother that he can't breathe without her was even more hearttouching. Especially after complaining that she wasn't letting him breathe.
His mother really is a mother. Regardless of what happened, she welcomed him warmly. Hopefully he would keep to his promise now of making her proud.
Nice write up. Thanks for sharing