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Little Baako sat sulking in her mud hut. It was Sunday. Her mother would be
giving birth to a baby soon. She was irritated and angry seeing the ladies
around her neighborhood camp inside and outside her house waiting to hear the
good news. She pushed past Chipo, the local midwife, and left. Chipo had been
there clucking away since five in the morning, assisting her mother with her
delivery much to her annoyance. She pedaled on her bicycle hard and fast to get
away from all the commotion as quickly as possible. She had never wanted a
younger sister or brother to play with and she did not know why her mother
bothered asking if she was not planning on listening. Abayomi was in his shop
repairing an old bicycle when he saw Baako go by in her pink bicycle. He called
out to her but she did not acknowledge his greeting. She stopped a few trees
away. Abayomi wiped the grease on a rag and jogged towards her. Her usually
cheery face was pale and sad. Her shirt, which was always well-tucked inside her
skirt, was hanging loose on the sides. He noticed her bare neck without her
favorite locket.
Abayomi suspected Baako was not too happy with the new baby's arrival. He had
heard her once say so indirectly to him. She believed the child would steal her
mother's love and not leave much for her. Abayomi watched as she walked around
in an agitated manner, ignoring him.
"Come on, Baako," Abayomi started. She stared at him and got back on the
bicycle. He gave her some time to cool down. "The bicycle in my workshop would
be fun to repair if only I had an extra pair of hands. Will you help me?" he
asked.
Baako, who had become less restless by then, seemed reluctant at first, but
agreed as she needed some distraction. She pushed her bicycle to his shed
nonchalantly. Baako had too much of pride in her to give in that easily. The
place was messy with spare parts of machines and tools strewn all over the
floor. Baako noticed Aba sleeping in a corner, all curled up. "Aba is sick. If
he had felt better, I would have completed all my work before noon," said
Abayomi.
Baako opened his toolbox and was greeted with a picture of the brothers taken
during a fair in town. Aba was holding a balloon while Abayomi had his nose in
an ice cream cone. They seemed happy. "That was last summer, just after the
heavy rains. We had so much fun! None of my friends could make it, but luckily,
I had Aba," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. Baako knew where the
conversation was going.
Baako listened to Abayomi talk more about his brother. The love they shared
made Baako doubt her hatred towards the unborn baby. Maybe she too might be a
good companion. Abayomi mended the bicycle and went to wash up. He was eager to
see the baby and wanted to follow Baako back to her home. |
