“PLEASE, MAMA, WAIT FOR ME!” (SHORT STORY)

Eziaha couldn’t stop the tears from falling. It seemed like she was in a world of her own in the 14-seater commuter bus. For all their reputed speed, this Peace Mass Transit driver couldn’t get her to Port Harcourt fast enough. She knew it was not the driver’s fault. Traffic on the Aba stretch of the highway was heavy because it was evening. The refuse that took up large swathes of the dual carriageway worsened the situation.

If there was another option, she would have stepped off the bus to take it, but there was none. So she was stuck with many others around the Ariaria International Market inhaling noxious odours from decaying waste and vehicle exhaust fumes.

“Hang on, Mama! Wait for me!” she silently implored as the lachrymal flow continued.

“You know I love you so much. I won’t be able to forgive myself if anything happens to you.”

Wondering about the usefulness of such apostrophic entreaties to a human entity, she decided to address God whose omnipresence is taken for granted.

“God, I am so so sorry. I acknowledge our relationship hasn’t been what it should be for so long. I was offended and I hardened my heart. I forgot that emergencies can occur, danger can trespass into our lives and our families. Eh God, don’t let this happen! I am sorry oh, I am sorry! Father in heaven, I am sorry!” She started the prayer in her heart but couldn’t keep the exclamations in.

Some women sitting beside her and in the row before had shown concern earlier but she shook her head to their inquiries. One said, “It is well.” The one by her right squeezed her hand but when she cried out, the ladies began to pray in tongues.

Eziaha was embarrassed by the scene she’d created as other eyes were turning towards them. She bent her head, leaning on the headrest of the seat in front of her and continued her supplications as quietly as she could. Thankfully, the bus had started inching forward. She hoped it would pick up speed after they crossed the market area and the driver would resume blasting his high-life music. She loathed having other people in her business and these prayers could not be delayed.

Some minutes later, she heard her phone ringing and it was her younger brother, Okechukwu, calling.

“How is your journey? Where are you now?”

“We’re leaving Aba, approaching the fly-over. We were held up at Ariaria for over an hour.”

“You’re making good progress. People have been known to be tied up there for far longer.”

“How is Mama?”

“No improvement yet. My pastor has been here to anoint her and make some declarations. We are hoping for the best. I’ll be going home briefly now. Call me as soon as you arrive.”

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“Who will stay with her while you’re gone?”

“Uju is here. Do you want to speak with her?”

“No!”

“You girls are not still ….”

“I’ll be there soon. No need wasting your call credit.” And she cut the call in case he wanted to pursue the matter.

Ujunwa. Spolit. Arrogant. Ungrateful. That is the way Eziaha saw her younger sister. The fruit of a brief romance her mum, Chinyere, had with another man after the death of their dad, her arrival added an extra burden to the already hard up family. As is usual in such cases, whatever passion the man had for the young widow quickly dissipated once she took in. But it must have been something stronger for the woman because in the absence of the man, she “continued the love affair” with his offspring, their daughter.

So it transpired that the girl could do no wrong and got preferential treatment. Eziaha could not count the number of times she went without food because her mum felt it wasn’t enough for both of them, Okechukwu having been sent to live with an aunt in Enugu.

Eziaha bitterly recalled that Ujunwa’s birthday was celebrated every year and when she protested, her mum abused her.

“Anu ofia! Agadi nwanyi n’acho ime birthday.” (“Wild animal! Old woman that wants to celebrate birthday.”)

Eziaha wondered what her mum was trying to prove by speaking Ije ko ebee, the dialect associated with people from Anambra State while they were Umuahia natives. Even the name Ujunwa was of that origin. Perhaps, her estranged lover was from there, she reasoned, and it helped her mum to feel some connection to him.

“How pathetic!” she had snarled! Eziaha had such keenness of intellect that hepled her figure out what some adults couldn’t grasp sometimes.

But the treatment she got on the birthday matter was so unfair in her view as she was just eleven at the time and only eight years older than Ujunwa. The latter invariably grew up feeling that everyone and everything existed solely for her benefit.

Fortunately or unfortunately, she turned out to be quite a looker and with her mum’s permissiveness, she wasn’t yet fifteen when she brought home her first pregnancy. She was sent back to complete secondary school after that but could not concentrate. Less than a year later, another pregnancy happened. So by her twentieth birthday, she was living with her mum and her two kids, one aged four and half, the other close on three.

Meanwhile, Eziaha made steady progress academically and got a first degree in accountancy. She got a job with a reputable firm in Umuahia, breezed through her professional exams and became chartered. She was offered a higher pay to head the Umuahia office of an audit company and she joyfully accepted. That was seven months earlier.

She went to Port Harcourt to see her mum and share the good news. Looking back, she wished she had merely called. Okechukwu, their only other sibling, had studied Microbiology but was teaching in a private secondary school in Port Harcourt. It wasn’t even one of the expensive ones, so no one expected anything from him. It, therefore, fell to Eziaha to take care of her mum after her retirement from the civil service and that she was glad to do.

Her mum’s pension was not much, cost of living was high and there were four mouths to feed. Rent was not a bother because they lived in the two-bedroom bungalow their dad had built in the Choba area. Traditionally, the house belonged to Okechukwu but he rented a room elsewhere because of Uju and her kids.

At first, Eziaha sent them twenty thousand Naira monthly but, in a few months, as the economy got worse, she doubled that and then rounded it off to fifty thousand per month as she sensed that her mum was still struggling financially.

Only for her to get to Port Harcourt and find that the bulk of the money was not going into housekeeping or taking care of the kids but to maintaining Ujunwa’s pin-up image. The night she arrived, there was no food in the house and after much pressure, their mum revealed that Ujunwa had taken the remaining eight thousand Naira in the house to fix her hair. She had joked that the bank was coming for a visit, so her mum should ensure their coffers were replenished.

“Bank? Is that what you people see me as?” Eziaha asked incredulously.

The situation was scandalous and had to stop forthwith. She was living prudently to support her family, give to the church and help other people where she lived. She never spent more than four thousand Naira on her hair and a jobless girl who didn’t want to do anything useful with her life was spending double that on …. She was just too angry for words.

Before long, Ujunwa arrived and they had the inevitable blowup.

“This situation is just untenable,” Eziaha began.

“What situation are we talking about?”

“You’re a mother. How can you use up the money meant for food to fix your hair?”

“I am a young girl. That I have children does not mean I should look haggard.”

“Girls, please take it easy,” Chinyere begged but they ignored her.

“Should looking good be your greatest concern at this time of your life? Are you not ashamed of yourself ….”

“Ashamed of what? You’ve always been jealous of me. See now, with all your money you still have no man in your life.”

“Clap for yourself! Before you formed breasts, men have been all over you. So where has that left you?”

“Please, don’t come and heap your frustration on me.”

Ujunwa went into the kitchen and came back out.

Addressing her mum, she demanded, “You people cooked noodles. Where is my own?”

“Is this how she has been harassing you?” Eziaha asked. Her mum didn’t say a word.

Eziaha had bought some noodles which Chinyere had prepared. They had eaten and put the kids to bed before Ujunwa came back after 9 p.m. Chinyere had snuck away a pack of the stuff for her to cook when she returned but Eziaha wasn’t aware of it.

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“She can’t stay here any more!” Eziaha declared. “I don’t mind taking care of her children but this ingrate will never see a kobo of my hard-earned money again!”

“But where will she go?” Chinyere asked.

“I don’t care where but she needs to be out there struggling with her mates. She needs to know that things are very hard in the country right now and nobody spends eight thousand Naira on their hair, even those who are working.”

“That is a fat lie! Some ladies spend hundred and fifty thousand and more on their hair,” Ujunwa retorted.

“And you want to compare yourself to them! You’ll just have to find some other place from where you can be doing that.”

“Eziaha, remember she’s your sister. She has no one else,” Chinyere pleaded.

“Really? How about all those men she allows to play with her body? Maybe she should convince one of them to marry her.”

“If you want to talk about marriage,” Ujunwa cut in, “you and I know you need it more than me.” She pointed to the clock and said, “Tiko tiko.” The onomatopoeia was to remind her elder sister of her age and that time was passing.

Eziaha’s riposte was brutal. “You are not even a prostitute. You’re making nothing from sleeping around. What you are is just a parasite.”

“I’m not staying here to listen to you anymore.” Ujunwa hissed and moved towards the front door.

“It’s enough, Eziaha! Biko nu, Nneoma, ewekwana iwe.” (Please, Nneoma, do not be angry.) Nneoma was their mum’s pet name for Ujunwa.

Eziaha was outraged.

“What did you just say? Does she have any right to be angry? At a time like this, you are begging her … You know what, I’ve had enough of this nonsense! Stay with her and continue to pamper a grown woman. But God knows I will not send you any more money as long as she is here.”

“Stop threatening me. You and your money, are you God?”

Ujunwa, who didn’t leave after all joined in the rebuke and mockery. “If she was in charge of the air, we would have all died.”

“Abi oh!”* Chinyere responded and they laughed.

Eziaha felt humiliated and betrayed. She left the next morning and fulfilled her threats. She even refused to pick her mum’s calls. She wanted her to “enjoy” the consequences of her choice, because that was what it was in her heart. Chinyere had once again chosen Ujunwa over her. Every appeal by her conscience and her brother to forgive and mend fences with the two was fiercely silenced and that led to a deterioration of her relationship with God. But she held on to her grudge. Until Okechukwu called the previous day.

What did he want? Their mum had suffered a massive stroke and had been hospitalized. Eziaha hoped he was joking but why he would joke with a matter like that? As the news sunk in, she was devastated because she felt responsible for the tragedy. She figured that her mum must not have been feeding well or taking her medications in the months since their breach. And now, the reason for the fight paled in view of her being in a critical condition.

“How could I have forgotten she is hypertensive? If I had picked just one call, I might have been reminded of it,” she chided herself.

She knew that Ujunwa would have given their mum hell within the period. She had never learnt to do without and would act up when she felt deprived in any way. No matter how things were, she wouldn’t let up till she got what she wanted and this usually upset Chinyere a lot. Although Eziaha had wanted that to happen, now the whole thing felt like a Pyrrhic victory to her since her mum had buckled under the strain.

The plan was to let them stew in their own juice for a while, to see how far their love would go without the lubrication of her money which they had despised, but she had never meant to endanger her mum’s life.

“Ewuu Chi moo,* she must not die, not now, not like this! I need to talk to her, tell her how much I love her. I need to have a fresh opportunity to take care of her.”

Then she addressed her mum once again, “Nnem,* hang in there. I’m almost with you. Everything will be alright. Please just wait for me! Mama, wait for me!”
-The end-
Ⓒ Edith Ugochi Ohaja 2016

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*”Abi oh!” is a Pidgin English term used to state agreement.
*”Ewuu Chi moo” is an Igbo exclamation meaning “Oh my God!” in the sense of a lament, not the shock it is used for in Internet slang.
*”Nnem” means my mother in Igbo.
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168 comments

  • ekwuru chidimma Jill

    This is great ma….wow! What later happened now…

    • Edith Ohaja

      It’s a short story, my dear, and as you can see, this one was a bit long. The message has been passed, I believe. Sending Christ’s love and blessings your way in Jesus’ name.

  • Ohakwe Oluchi judith

    Chinyere is just a disgrace to motherhood no doubt why she love Ujunwa more than Eziaha birds of the same feather…how can she get pregnant after her Hubby’s death she deserves to be disowned.

    • Edith Ohaja

      My dear, these things happen to many young widows. While we don’t condone it, we understand the pressure they face from men and counsel a solid relationship with God in order to be able to resist temptation. You are highly blessed in Jesus’ name, my dear!

  • ifeanyi Flawlex

    What a story! Nice one.

    • Edith Ohaja

      Bless you, Flawlex!

    • charlemagne

      omg! omg!! I lovee the ending. no definite resolution, we are left to fill in the dots ourselves. did chinyere make it or did she die. a beautiful work ma.

      • Edith Ohaja

        Thank you, Charlemagne! You got it! Best way to go. Let the readers not be distracted from the message here. Also leaves angles for sequels. But most importantly, I’ve dealt with what I had in mind: Offences must come. So how do you handle them? Etc. You are blessed!

  • VeenSaint

    What a read! This is quite interesting. The ‘Ijeko ebee’ flavour really cracked me up. The story is almost like a non-fiction. The portraiture of the sceneries are all too familiar. This is another great piece worth sharing, even if for the didactic values therein.

    • Edith Ohaja

      Thank you, VeenSaint. Will pressure you for a guest post one of these days. You are richly blessed in Jesus’ name.

  • Wow very nice… Parents should stop favoritism in their homes… Growing up I was well pampered by my dad but when I became older I put a stop to that not because I didn’t like it but because I felt it was a problem between my sisters and I.. They started holding their private meetings once I join them they immediately change the topic and so many things they did to me back then… So ma when are we getting the full story?

    • Edith Ohaja

      This is the full story, sweetheart! You took a wise step back at home. Bet there’s more peace all round now. Have a beautiful day and remain blessed!

  • Onoh chiazo johanness

    The opportunities given to us should not be misused, becos sometimes there wont b second chances..
    Message passed, something learnt… I hope Eziaha meet up with the mother on time
    well done ma.

    • Edith Ohaja

      Thank you, Chiazo! You are correct. We don’t have forever. We should make good use of now to fix things that aren’t right in our lives. I pray God’s favour and protection upon you in Jesus’ name.

  • Ozor Chukwuebuka

    Wow… I was completely engulfed in the piece that I didn’t want it to end. This is indeed one of the best short stories I have ever read. I love this?

  • ALEGU, SOLOMON CHIDI

    Chinyere is really a disgrace to her family and for that reason, Eziaha is right in her decision not to send money again to her money as long as Uju will be in the house. however, Eziaha didn’t know what will happen next after such decision and that is how life is. i enjoyed this story.

    • Edith Ohaja

      It’s hard to predict the future and the Bible admonishes us not to let the sun go down on our anger. Humanly speaking, that may be impossible, but with God all things are possible.

  • ALEGU, SOLOMON CHIDI

    This is a very wonderful story.I enjoyed it

  • Otti Augusta

    Nice story ma.this is the first work I have read,written by u. I wud read more of ur work.

  • Ofoegbu Maureen

    i love this story nice work

  • obianuju onyeama

    This story is so touching. Well done Ma.. May God Almighty give u more inspirations.

  • chidiogo Georginah

    What an interesting story, i think it needs to be published in a newspaper for parents who choose to divide the love for their children to see the effect

  • obeta osita

    This is a wonderful one. Am forced to wonder if eziaha is really her mother’s true daughter. How can a mother love a daughter more than the other daughter? This story teaches that parents should love their children equally, not one over the other.

  • Akwolu Chiamaka MaryAnn

    Love between a mother and her child: A better love story than Twilight. I wish the story would go on and on. NICE MA

  • nnadi chinyere josephine

    we should never allow our anger to get us because decisions made when one is angry, always turn out to be something we regret. unless we want to end up like eziaha…… God bless

  • deuce emm

    Interesting

  • Irumekhai Mariam

    This story is suspenseful! it keeps the reader wanting for more.
    Parents must learn to show love and treat their children equally. Though, Chinyere deserve more than what Eziaha – her daughter did to her, Eziaha ought to have answered Chinyere’s phone calls. After all, she is her mother and we must not pay evil for evil.

    • Edith Ohaja

      No, we must not. Although they really hurt her badly, if she had picked one call, I think her mum would have apologized and told her what she was passing through. That would have softened her heart and paved way for forgiveness and reconciliation.

  • Onyekaozuru Florence

    The bible says “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it” chinyere in this story has been protaryed as a bad mother, but even at that Eziaha should gave not been too mean or refuse to pick her call for long. there is no harm to be angry at someone but as the holy book says don’t let your anger stay for long , I am not in support of her mothers behavior or her sister behavior. But life is too short and when we do not forgive people at the time we should we may never get the chance or opportunity to see them or forgive them and we will be left to live in our guilt forever…………..

  • Chike Chiemela Elizabeth

    I’m so disgusted at Ujunwa and her mother. I don’t even feel sorry for the mother! Gosh! What an act of injustice! Karma got to her

    • Edith Ohaja

      Forgiveness is important, my dear. It may not be easy, especially when we’be been badly hurt by those we hold dear and have been so good to but God’s grace can get us there.

  • Anunukem Geraldine

    This story is a beautiful piece of art and I have learnt to check my anger no matter what in order not to destroy relationships with the people around me

  • Ogechi

    Hmm!I had to take a deep breath. It’s a wonder-full story.Permit me ma to use that word.The story is captivating, intriguing and what have you! I derived a great moral from the story.. While doing a favour for people we should do it as unto God_even our loved ones!This is because they may not be grateful to us but God who seeth in secret will always reward us. Eziaha allowed herself to think that they will love and care for her simply for providing for their needs.
    Sometimes, it is good we keep our gifts aside depending on the situation to know if people involved care about us or what we have.
    Nice work Mama!
    Just that I almost got furious when the story ended.I wish there will be a continuation. Please!

  • Ekechukwu Nkechi

    hmmm what a story. chinyere deserves what is happening to her,God is not mocked for whatever a man soweth that shall he reap. i hope she dies realizing her mistake(just speaking my mind) and for Eziaha, i think she did the right thing by ignoring her mother and ujunwa for a while, but now that things has gone wrong, i think it is really her responsibility to help out now.

  • Benjamin Thelma

    What’s wrong if chinyere correct her daughter ujunwa.Some parents contribute to their children misbehavior. She has forgotten that when you spare the rod, you spoil the child. Chinyere will surely reap what she sow. Nice story ma. Waiting for the conclusion

    • Edith Ohaja

      That is the end, my dear! But you’re right. No matter how much we love our children, we should not neglect disciplining them.

  • EMekaobi ijeoma rita

    Nice story…I’m touched

  • Adamu, Micah

    A well grounded story, with good application of suspense leaving the reader with the hope of another episode. The opening paragraph gives an imagery of how traffic on our highways can be, making one frustrated especially when one is in haste.
    i agree with Florence as she cites the bible verse that says train up a child in the way he should go…………that’s total true but looking at it this way, the same holy book says ” children obey your parent in the lord for this is right”, also obey them in all things for this is well pleasing unto the lord.
    Ujunwa should be an example of a good child not the other way round. nice story ma…….waiting for more

  • Ishiwu Victor Chinonso

    Regret, they say, is heartbreaking…. it’s always good to do the right thing, and at the right time. to save oneself the agony of regrets. but this story, i wish you told us what happened, or even gave an insight so the readers can guess…

  • Ike Faustina Uchechukwu

    Nice one , but would love to know what happened at the last

    • Edith Ohaja

      It’s a story, sweetheart, and this is where I chose to end it. But you can work out possible alternative endings for yourself, i.e imagining what happened later. That would be fun, don’t you think?

  • Obetta Collins Odinakachukwu

    There are some things we do that may be difficult to amend in the future. Most decisions we take today might be a reason for our regrets tomorrow. It’s good to always do the right thing and at the right time.

  • Ifechukwude Egbune

    I love this story, the way each line flows into the other forming a real and lasting picture is fantastic. We often take rash decisions when we are angry, I know I do a lot and I don’t blame Eziaha so much. well I can’t wait to see what happens next but I do hope her mother lives

  • Akogu Chidiebere Imelda

    Na wa oo!!! how can a mother treat her children that way? does n’t she know how to give advice to her youngest daughter? Poor Eziaha after all the treatment she was recieving from her mom, she still loved her so much. what a lovely daughter she is.

    • Edith Ohaja

      Some people say one person normally holds a relationship together. That is Eziaha in this case. Not a pretty thing to go through but it’s the Christian thing to do.

  • Interesting ma, at a point i was forced to wonder if Eziaha is really her mother’s daughter.

    • Edith Ohaja

      It’s terrible oh! This is what some people are going through in their families. They are treated like second-class citizens.

  • chidera odo

    Some people are good but their inability to control their anger is the only problem they have…
    Parent siding one of their kids may lead to the other taking a very bad decision . a decision he or she will take out of anger..
    There should be an equal treatment of all the kids.

    I hope our parents should get to read this story.

  • covenant

    Anger is a form of intense emotional response; a strong feeling of displeasure, hostility or antagonism towards someone or something, usually combined with an urge to harm. We should never let our anger control our emotions and decisions…

  • muoka onyeka

    Good..I need more oooo

  • As said in the bible,.anger is allowed but should not be present when the sun sets.eziaha’s story is a reminder of that.love is key in every of our relationship. Weldone ma and thank you for.this story.the story ends well in my head

    • Edith Ohaja

      Yeah, I know you would love it to. Thank you for that scriptural reminder. We shouldn’t proplong our anger so that the devil will not see a way to come in and cause havoc in our lives and circumstances. Bless you, Gift!

  • EZEIKE OGOCHUKWU JUSTIN

    For eziaha; non nobis soium nati sumus.(not for ourselves alone are we born) and she should waste no fresh tears over old griefs. and lastly, tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. also to the mother her very silence shows that she agreed, she wasn’t cruel but indifferent. and for ujunwa all the gold which is under or upon the earth is not enough to give in exchange for virtue.

  • A superb one ma. This reminds me of Heraclitus, the father of paradoxes who like Christ will covertly place the meaning of his story in the story and is left for you to continue the stage permutations.
    Great work ma. Would love to be like you as a young writer.

  • amaechi chinaecherem chiemela

    parents should always try their best in loving their children on equal range. this one sided parental love have caused a lot more harm than good. nice piece ma’am

  • Eze Valentine Chibuike

    Hahahahaha! I almost forgot it was a story. Its not fair, Chinyere’s ways. Uju should count herself lucky that i’m not a character in the story, infact as an ordinary passer-by i’d pass Eziaha a big stick to use on the girl. Maybe we should remember to check our tempers though, Eziaha’s case is different to me but then maybe with some more effort at comporting herself and not exchanging words with that nonsense girl would have done more good.

  • Amadi victoria chinwendu

    Chinyere didn’t help matters at all. I don’t really blame Eziaha, the temptation and humiliation was unbearable. Nice one ma

  • Woooow… What a great piece

  • keswet mercy

    favoritism has always been a major cause of hatred between siblings in a family, this has caused several breakdowns and unhappy homes. any child that is been highly favored in the family tends to be quite spoilt and badly brought up. Uju’s case is not any different

  • Amedu Blessng Amarachi

    the humiliation was too much for eziaha. nice piece ma

  • Charles Emmanuella

    I think this story teaches us to always forgive and not keep grudges, so we never have to find ourselves in a position where we regret our stupid actions .

  • Okoroafor ijeoma Mary

    Wow what a story,what a display of motherly love and how sparing the rod spoilt the child! is that where it stopped? The piece is so didactic

  • Ugwu Patience

    Hmmmmmmm favouritism! It’s everywhere even in my family. But it’s good to forgive as soon as possible before it’s too late.Nice story Ma

  • Rita

    Great story, good meaning, did the mother die?

    • Edith Ohaja

      Delighted to have you here, Rita! Dunno! Lol! That’s where the story ends except I decide to spin a second part. You are awesomely blessed!

  • Nice work Aunty. My God give us the grace to always forgive and love once again despite the difficult situation we may find ourselves.

  • Oparaugo shalom

    nice story ma, really enjoyed it

  • Okpe Nnedinso

    Wow!! What a great story…we should always learn to forgive as soon as possible to avoid regrets.

  • Nnamani Adanna Mary

    Interesting piece mam. No good mother should support or condone such attitude as Uju’s. Eziaha has to teach her the way gently and with love.

  • UMEREMADU CHETACHUKWU ESTHER

    Chinyere no try at all. why the preferential treatment? This is what happens in most homes. there’s dad’s favourite and there’s mum’s favourite. All just causing commotion among kids in the house. But what really happened at the end of the story ma, who died and who lived? #lol# Nice story all the same, very interesting.

  • Ogbu Nkiruka Gloria

    No matter what our loved ones do against us,we must always learn to keep showing them love and care.

  • Joseph joy

    Favoritism is very bad in family, all siblings should be treated equally to avoid problems in the family. Chinyere deserve more than what eziaha her daughter did to her,Eziaha ought to have answered chinyere’s phone calls.

  • Okorie Adaora Nneoma

    This is pure division of love in the family and it has caused havoc in the family….. Eziaha has every right to be angry because of Uju’s rude attitude and their mother always supporting her but her anger was pushed too far forgetting this was her family…..

  • izunobi stanislaus

    The content and picture that this story painted is real… In a family where there is Daddy’s boy/girl or Mummy’s boy/girl thereby causing commotion, division of love, hatred among the siblings.
    Nice story Ma

  • Nwankwo Gift.

    Ooooo Ma why did u stop.the story was getting really interesting. I blame Chineyere for her own problems. Favoritism is the killer of most families nowadays. She shouldn’t have pampered ujunwa as much as she did and she shouldn’t have allowed her own daughter to bully her. I wholeheartedly support Eziaha for trying to correct ujunwa’s errant ways but I think that the decision she made was a bit too harsh don’t u think? She should have tried to approach the matter with a clear head rather than allowing her temper get the best of her. Thank u ma for such an awesome post.

  • Nwabueze Sylvia

    No matter what our loved ones do against us, we should learn to keep showing love…

  • Nnamani Eunice chiidnma

    Oh my God! This chinyere is just a disgrace to her family, I like the fact that Eziaha refuse to send her. It is a wonderful story and I enjoyed it.

  • Ozioko Glory Oluchi

    Very interesting but we are left in suspense. Nevertheless, the message is well understood. Thank you ma

  • Ibekwe Vincent c.

    Love matters a lot in when ever we are dealing with fellow human.
    We should keep on loving to show we are christ-like.

  • Ozukwe Miriam chisom

    Wow!! This story shows the level of wisdom Eziaha has despite her mother’s divided love, she still goes running to her mum to save her mum. This story should be a lesson to all parents who have divided love for their kidss. Thanks ma for this wonderful piece. God bless you.

  • Nwachukwu chidinma

    No matter what our loved ones do against us, we should learn to keep showing love…

  • Onyia Ujunwa sandra

    Younger siblings can be annoying but we should learn to overlook them and show them love…. What a wonderful story

  • Ebere chukwu

    Quite an interesting story. I almost got carried away but I get the message. We shouldn’t carry grudges because tomorrow maybe too late.

  • This favoritism that parents do is eating deep into the fabric of our families. It’s so bad because it also affects the children by bringing up enmity amongst them.

  • Aleke Juliet C.

    Hmm. I have seen mothers that behave like Uju’s mum which is terrible. I just pray that they learn their lessons because it causes more damage than good.

    • Quite touchin!
      I love the fact that Eziaha made her mum and Ujunwa learned their lessons,but she shouldn’t have done that knowing fully well the possible risk she was going to expose her mum to.
      I have seen situations like this one and it’s never encouraging at all…
      Life indeed can be sweet/frustrating depending on the kind of people around you….so we got to expect even the worse at anytime both from friends,parents,neigbours,love ones etc.
      It only takes the grace of God to live peacefully with homosapiens.

  • Ibe favour kalu

    This is life and anything can happen. We should love people always, be slow to anger and quick to forgive because in a blinking of an eye, it might be too late for us to do those things. This is a good story ma’am.

  • Nkwocha Chibueze Innocent

    ujuwa to me was living a reckless life and this was okay by chinyere their mom, Eziaha on her own showed what the real woman should look like, no matter what our mothers are very important in our life, we should care for them no matter what, even though how she treated Eziaha was not good.

  • Having a sibling who doesn’t have good moral conduct can be painful, but having a parent who supports her is even more painful. Siblings when not properly guided tends to misbehave most of do, but the right thing to do is to correct them with love, show then unsual love. And I bet that they would always listen to you and heed your advice.
    Turning your back on your family is never the solution, prayer and love is.

  • Wow! This is a pointer to the fact that family is irreplaceable and forgiveness is paramount in our lives. As individuals we should love and value our family as it tightens the bond created by God himself!

  • Chukwuemeka ifunanya Abigail

    This story is a very big lesson to girls and mothers likewise in all that we do we need to think about tomorrow. The mum was not not a good mum to have made her daughter feel dat way.but in all these things we should learn to forgive.

  • Oshana Endurance

    To begin with Chinyere is not a good mother, I don’t blame Eziaha for her actions cause I would have done more. But then, blood they say is thicker than water, and I know even if her mom was to pass on before she arrive, she will do it with many regrets and apologies she was not able to give. In all we should know that “to err is human but to forgive is divine”.

  • Godwin Grace

    Mmmmmmm
    Offences will definitely come but I think we need to learn to forgive not because of ourselves but because of our relationship with God and the people involved. But seriously, if I was the one, what I would do to that uju eh. What madness is that? Making a hair of #8000 with someone’s hard earned money. And she even has two kids and then even jobless! To add salt to injury, she was now comparing herself with rich people that make hair at outrageous amounts. Hmmmmm. It is well

  • Peter Chioma

    Mama hang in there! Touching story. I still blame Chinyere for almost everything. But this just taught me to make every moment with our loved ones count. Always say you love them when u have the opportunity, because you don’t know what’ll happen the next moment. Wonderful piece Ma!

  • Dennis Lydia Ekperechukwu

    Nice story ma
    Picking a favorite child can destroy a family.

  • Obiemeka favour chukwugozie

    Very touching stories I believe everyone who wants to be a mother or who is already one should learn from this story.chinyere is bad mother as a mother you should love your children equally to avoid hatred.

  • Heriet

    Great post ma
    When you pick a favorite in your family , you are only asking for war because your favorite can do no wrong in your sight and will end up not knowing the difference between wrong and right.
    The ‘other’ child will always be there for you because she always have to prove herself.
    More grace ma

  • ologhofor sampson

    God bless you ma, Even the bible say, train up a child in a way he won’t depart from it which is very vital to every parents because if you show more love to one of them than others, you are indirectly cooking up war against each other.

  • This story is heartbreaking. it highlights all the demerits of favoritism in parenting.The lust of the flesh can/will destroy the future of one and those around them. A mother’s love for her children is unwavering, even though most times it is not sensible. Thanks.

  • ifunaya chukwuemeka

    That her conscience [ricks her shows she a human being after all, but the way her mum treats her younger sister is another terrible issue not to mention how she was raised up. i hope she does not die but i still want to hear what happens to her younger sister

  • Chukwu Oluebube juliet

    I really enjoyed the story ,we should not misuse the opportunity given to us less it will be taken away from us. A lesson to emulate.

  • Theophilus Blessing

    Hmm, there are some things that are so annoying but unchangeable and we just have to put up with them. I want to also say congratulations to Mrs chinyere for overpampering her so called last born.

  • Chinedu stanley

    Chinyere’s favouritism was unfair towards Eziaha. I understand that fate has her Golden spoons and her bastards but favouritism fails to build a relationship of mutual trust and respect. Chinyere showered love on Ujunwa and neglected Eziaha and this is inappropriate because Eziaha felt like an outcast in her own family. Chinyere’s stroke was as a result of her own action.

  • Ossai Chidimma Linda

    I don’t even know what to say. Hmm, mothers treat all your children with an equal amount of love, care and attention.

  • Favour obi

    I must confess that this story nearly made me cry. Somehow, I can relate to this story as I had seen it happen in real life. Anger and grudge is never an option no matter what. It is the devil’s strategy of shifting us away from our sweet fellowship with the holy spirit. It is SELF at work. Sometimes, we could be facing some tests in life to prove our integrity with God. This short story could be a perfect example. In situations like this, though it may not be easy, but we have to let go, and let God, living our lives like it’s our last. Oh! Poor Eziaha, I can imagine how she felt.

  • Emmanuel chibuike

    What kind of mother is she? Even at the point when she begins to reap the fruits of her evil she still couldn’t make amends. I don’t blame Eziaha but all the same the did has been done and Chinyere is still her mother. she has to forgive her. I just hope she meets up in time. Thanks Ma.

  • Ekwekwu Onyinye Frances

    To err is human but to forgive is divine. In this world we face a lot of challenges but with God on our side we can overcome even the greatest challenge….. Thank you ma for such an inspiring story

  • Very interesting,we all should always pray for the widows because they encounter many difficulties in life.Moreover parents should stop favoritism in their homes… Growing up I was well pampered by my dad but when I became older I put a stop to that not because I didn’t like it but because I felt it was a problem between my sisters and I.Loving tho one more than the others is not a good sign in the family because it must surely bring division,so parents are advised to desist from it.

  • Duruji Veralin Ogochukwu

    Nice story indeed. favouritism by parents has done more harm than good. I hope Chinyere survives her illness and Ujunwa comes to her senses and Eziaha also finds it in her heart to forgive her for misconducts. Its better to show love and care to people when they are alive and in need than spending much on their burial or when it becomes unuseful to them.

  • Stephens Chinecherem Grace

    I may not understand the special affection Chinenye towards Ujunwa but it was too obvious. Favouring one child over another usually leads to bitterness among the children. It’s a good thing Eziaha still loved her after all the experiences. No matter what they have done, every parent, mothers especially, deserve our love and care.

  • Faith Ojima

    Eziaha is a nice person but her younger sister’s behavior is very bad and l am happy that she stopped sending the money because she was taken for granted. But her mother is wrong in supporting Ujunwa’s bad behavior but nevertheless forgiveness is the key to move on in life.

  • Akupue chibuike

    When things get weird, we should learn how to tackle it in order to avoid unwarranted regrets at last. Eziaha should have known her mother better, earlier before now , and therefore, shouldn’t have taken most of the things she does personal. Let us not allow our critical moments to change us from whom we actually are.

  • Bessong Faith Ada

    Delay is dangerous. Do not procrastinate rather do the needful in other not be regret because had I know always comes at last.

  • Ibe favour kalu

    We should not be quick to embrace anger but we should be quick to forgive others,no matter what they did because tomorrow may be too late. I hope Eziaha meets her mother alive. This is a lesson to all of us.

  • Ezike winifred udochukwu

    I must say eziaha is really a strong lady,,,with the character that ujunwa exhibits ..most people would never care whatever happened to them going forward…i blame their mother for the preferential treatment she showered on ujunwa during the early stages of her childhood..it made her grow wild and uncultured.

  • Egenti Blossom Mmesoma

    So sad that people only remember God in times of need. And when everything goes back to normal we forget about him again. Eziaha really tried as a daughter to help her mother, but Ujunwa kept pushing her boundaries. And it’s not cool how parents prefer a child over another, it could really affect the child’s self worth knowing that his or her parents prefers a sibling over him or her.

  • Chukwunwenwa Chinenye

    Gosh! I’m so mad at the whole scenario.

    Giving preferential treatment to a particular offspring has never done good to any home. Favouritism breeds conflict, sentiments, envy, enemity, chaos and all other negatives. It is indeed a cankerworm that should be dealt with in every home.

    Chinyere failed as a mother! Let’s ignore the fact that she had sexual affairs after her husband’s demise because most times its not easy for some young widows. If she had controlled her sexual urges, that problem called ‘Ujunwa’ wouldn’t have emerged. But I’d still excuse her for the mistake.

    If not for preferential treatment, Ujunwa wouldn’t have grown those wings she’s flying with. I wish I was a character in the story so I can teach her lessons. Mtcheeeeew!

    However, the choices Chinyere made landed her in a hot mess. I wish she was given another chance in order to ameliorate.

    No one would blame Eziaha for the decisions she took. But she never expected things to turn out the way it did. If she had known, she would have complied when they were calling her on phone.

    Anger can cause a lot damages if not managed well. I’ve been reminded by this story to forgive more. God bless you ma.

  • Epunam obianuju

    Eziaha really has a good heart, for someone like me, I don’t think I would be able to tolerate those excesses. Also I would say that she actually did nothing wrong by stopping those money she used to send to her mum, because it would at least teach them how to manage or spend money on only useful things when next she decides to send them money.

  • Nwanne Josephine Chidera

    Sometimes it is painful when your labour over someone is not appreciated. Eziaha’s mummy treated her badly in connivance with Ujunwa , not appreciating her labour. Eziaha endured the misbehaviour of her mum and sister. That is a good heart. Her love for her family was what made her endure the kind of treatment given to her by her family. If I were in her shoes, I would just conclude that I have tried and you know, enjoy my hard-earned money.

  • Sometimes our drastic measures leads to something terminal and unforgivable. Eziaha was pushed to a point by Ujunwa and Chinyere, her mother, who could not see the hard work her daughter was putting for her. To hear the heartbreaking news triggered her past actions and how she would have addressed it differently.

  • Brown Favour Felix

    Hmmmm, it is painful, some people we care so much for are always the same people who hurt us. But sometimes as children of God, it also pertinent for us to always ask for God’s grace in dealing with issues like this, so that we will not regret later and also offend God in the process.

    Thanks ma. Nice one

  • Eze martins Tochukwu

    It is right to treat our children equal but we all know that among your children, there is always one that you will love more than other. I see Eziaha mother love for ujunwa as trying to make up for ujunwa father mistake and make her comfortable so that she will miss anything.

  • Eze Chioma

    It’s selfish and wicked on Ujunwa’s part to not contribute financially to the house but still use up all the money sent by Eziaha on her own self. Eziaha’s case was clearly jealousy while Ujunwa’s problem was overpampeing. Chinyere wasn’t been fair by showering all her love on Ujunwa, thereby leaving Eziaha angry and jealous. It is as a result of this overpampering that Ujunwa became very lazy and a little lose. Chinyere failed as a mother in failing to reprimand both of her children instead of just Eziaha and encourage Ujunwa to help out in the family too.

  • Nwoye chiamaka favour

    As a parent, it is normal to have a favourite child but then, don’t let it be too obvious or eben obvious at all. It could lead to rivalry between siblings and hatred for the parents just as the story above. Let us learn to be impartial. Also learn to forgive it is a great barrier when talking to God.

  • Isaac sopuruchi peace

    Parents claim they love all their children equally but if you look well, you will see that some are given more attention than others, which is wrong because it tends to cause enmity among them. But at the end we should learn to forgive them despite there wrong doings.

  • Eze vivian Nkiruka

    The issue of one-sided of parents to their children should be avoided,this leads to Eziaha,not giving her mum the needed care and financial support because of her intentions to punish her spoilt sister uju,and for them to know the importance of her money.

  • Eze vivian Nkiruka

    The issue of one-sided love of parents to their children should be avoided,this leads to Eziaha,not giving her mum the needed care and financial support because of her intentions to punish her spoilt sister uju,and for them to know the importance of her money.

  • Egelebe uzoma geraldine

    Wow….Anger is indeed a dreadful virtue that can complicate lives. Eziaha has been through he’ll from her mum and sister and if i was in her shoes i would have done same because the humiliation and preference was too much .But she was still kind enough to consider her family when she was financially stable this act proves that she is human indeed and no matter what our family makes us go through….blood is clearly thicker than water

  • Aroh Cynthia Chioma

    This story is really a sad one. Eziaha’s attitude towards her mother because of Uju isn’t good but she did it out of anger not knowing that it might result to her mum’s illness. I pray for her mama to wait for her because she truly loves her.

  • IKECHEBELU GINIKA

    The hate or love you give,is what infants grow with.
    Eziaha’s mother was the reason behind Ujunwa’s bad behaviours, but nevertheless, it’s not enough reason for Eziaha to turn her back against her mum.

  • Osisioma Princess

    This a suspense filled story, I kept reading for more but from my own perspective, eziaha is not really wrong she did what any normal person will do and I can imagine how she felt even after all those years of wanting her mother’s approval and everything she has been doing her mother still chose ujunwa over her so I can understand why she cut them off and the fact that she still loves her mother despite all she has done and is coming to Port Harcourt shows that she is a good person

  • Onah Joy Chimdalu

    Chinyere is responsible for the kind of life her daughter lives….which kind yeye love be that?

  • Onyia ujunwa sandra

    Seriously I don’t blame eziaha for her actions, she was really angry that’s why she didn’t pick up her mum’s calls… Also parents should love their children equally.

  • Omaga Chiagozie

    Favouritism and prefrencial treatment has been destroyer of home and in this case it is no different. Chinese has already made the mistake of getting pregnant after her husband’s death is bad enough. Bu5 treating her child from her legitimate husband as an outcast in her own house is worst. She is a disgrace to motherhood, she failed as a mother. The Bible said bring up a child in the way that when he grow, he will not depart from it. But instead he pampered Ujunwa to the expense of Eziaha even after she (Eziaha) took over the responsibility of the family, she is still not treated well it is too bad. If am in her shoe I would have acted the same way she did in a bead of anger but that is not the solution forgiveness is the key. We should not allow our anger see the dawn of the day because nobody knows what tomorrow holds anything can happen. I pray that Chinyere will learn her lesson. As for Ujunwa, I don’t think anything can be done about her because she is a spoilt brat.

  • Joy Morgan

    I love the suspense. Parents should endeavor to show love equally to children. Eziaha shouldn’t have let her anger linger to avoid regrets. This is a good read.

  • Richards Orighomisan

    No ohhh mummy, we humbly await a part two of this story, this is just beautiful…
    Lesson learnt: Be careful how you live your life as a young man or woman, it may rub up on your child, and even worse.
    Also it is wrong to give preferential treatment to children, cos by so doing them no good.
    To the youths out there, live your life now in a way that you’ll be able to stand up firmly and correct your child when he or she is wrong. Ujunwa’s mum was not able to correct her, probably because she was guilty of what the same crime her daughter was committing.

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