One Saturday a month, my Mommy and I go to the market together. She buys
things for the house and I sneak in some items that I don't want to pay
for myself. It is a great mother-daughter time in the hot, crowded,
busy and sometimes smelly market. I cherish these Saturdays with Mommy.
I woke up because my Mommy called me to say she was waiting for me
outside. I had overslept. I brushed my teeth, put on some "home
clothes", packed my hair up in an afro puff and ran outside. No earrings
and no make-up. On this particular Saturday, our rice customer had
traveled and she had her cousin in charge of her shop. Madam Cousin
informed us enthusiastically that our customer had traveled for summer.
Rice retailing must be lucrative.
Madam Cousin was quite an enthusiastic lady, I thought, as she gave my
Mommy and I more attention than our customer usually does. I sat down
for the usual pricing (bargaining) that buyers and sellers in Nigerian
markets do. Mommy was reaching into her bag to count the money to pay
for her purchase when her phone rang. She excused herself leaving me
with Madam Cousin. "So you attend Deeper Life?" asked Madam Cousin. I
was not sure she was talking to me so I looked around before answering.
"Ehn?"
"It makes me so happy when I see young women like you taking their
spiritual lives seriously and embracing modesty" she continued as she
sort of stroked my arm. My natural hair, home clothes, no make up and
earings were tell tale signs of my church affiliation. "I want my
Mommy!" I muttered under my breath. She was still staring and smiling at
me. For some reason, I felt that telling her my look of the day was as a
result of over-sleeping and not deep Christian values would disappoint
her. So I smiled back.
Mommy returned in time to deliver me. I jumped off the chair and turned
in the direction of escape (which really was anywhere away from Madam
Cousin). Mommy was startled by the way I leaped off the chair and gave
me a questioning look. I did not say anything. Payment was made and our
purchases were given to us. As we left, Madam Cousin asked me "Will you
be at the joint service at DLCC this weekend?" Really?! I turned to her
and answered politely "Unfortunately I will not be able to attend. God
bless Madam."
"What was she asking you?" Mommy asked me as we drove home. "Nothing. Minor case of mistaken church membership" I responded.
Cabella
4 comments:
Omozo u're not kidding are u?laughed till it hurt.do we still have myopic people like that in 2011?
What more can I say?
Brilliant !
OMG, This is the reason i always wear jeans trousers when i am going out with my natural hair. Atleast them sisters don't rock tight jeans.... But seriously???!!!
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