We meet again
Mia and Ariel were home alone on a Friday evening. Mia was setting the table for dinner.
“Sweetie dinner is ready…” Mia called out to her daughter while she was setting the table.
Ariel came to the dining and sat down opposite Mia. She was playing with her spoon and not eating. Mia noticed that her daughter was not eating after observing her for a while.
“Sweetie, why aren’t you eating? Don’t you like the food or should I make you another if you don’t like this.” Mia asked her daughter.
“No mummy, I like the food.” Ariel replied.
“Then why aren’t you eating? What’s wrong?” Mia asked her with curiosity.
“It’s nothing mum, I’m fine.” Ariel replied unsatisfactorily.
“You can talk to me sweetie, what’s it? Having any troubles at school?” Mia asked her as she stopped eating and held her daughter’s hand.
“I’m not… it’s just that…” Ariel started and paused for a while.
“Come on talk to me, what’s the problem?” Mia asked her.
“It’s just that Bethel invited me to a party at their house.” Ariel replied.
“And who’s that?” Mia asked her.
“She’s my classmate.” Ariel replied.
“Oh, I see. So why are you sad about that? Didn’t she let you come after all?” Her mum asked her again.
“No mum, it’s just I turned down her offer.” Ariel replied as she put her head down.
“Okay baby, why? Didn’t you want to go before?” Mia questioned her as she wanted to know Ariel’s reason for turning down the party invite.
“I knew you wouldn’t let me go so I turned it down.” Ariel replied as she pouted her lips with her head still facing down.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
“Hmmm… look at me sweetie.” Mia raised her daughter’s head up gently.
“I know I do stop you from attending some activities but it’s for your safety and that doesn’t mean that if you want to do something or go to where you really love you shouldn’t ask me. I am your mother and I’ll tell you what’s good and not good for you. I won’t stop you from having fun if that’s what you wish to, I only look after you for your own interest okay?” Mia spoke to her daughter who nodded her head.
“I feel so proud and happy to have a daughter like you and I will stop at nothing to protect you. You are all that I have and I won’t let anything happen to you, not even let you get sad okay?” She added again as Ariel nodded her head one more time.
“When is the party?” Mia asked her daughter.
“It’s tomorrow during the weekend.” Ariel replied.
“Then in that case, why don’t you go and pick up the dress you’ll wear and come show me hmm?” Mia replied and Ariel looked at her with a smiling, yet confused face.
“Does that mean you will let me go mum?” Ariel asked her mum.
“Yeah sure, mmm- hmmm… why not?” Mia answered her.
“I love you mum, thank you!” Ariel hugged her mum so tight as she got up from her seat.
“Hey hey hey hey hey… not so fast honey, you can only go on one condition.” Mia told her as Ariel paused in her tracks.
“What’s that mum?” Ariel asked her mum
“You can go only if you are done having dinner.” Ariel grumbled in excitement.
“But mum I’m okay…” She replied.
“Come on young lady don’t be so unfair! Who do you expect to finish all of these huh? Come and plant your bums on the chair now before I change my mind.” Mia said to her as Ariel dragged her feet but with a smile back to the dining and they ate together.
“So tomorrow I’ll drop you off and head for the supermarket. We are out of foodstuffs.” Mia replied as they both are and chatted away together.
The next day;
“Come on young lady, you don’t want to be late do you?” Mia asked her daughter as she was already standing at the door.
“How do I look?” Ariel asked her mum as she rushed out in a beautiful pink dress.
“Now you look like the celebrant only that your hair is not up to my taste. Come here my little princess.” Mia helped her daughter to pack her hair into a ponytail and put a hair pin to hold it backwards.
“Now you just look like… what’s her name again?” Her mum asked her as she pretended to be thinking.
“Princess Elsa!” Ariel jumped up in happiness.
“Oh yes my love. Now let’s get going okay?” She said as they both left the house.
They both boarded a taxi and soon, Mia dropped off her daughter at the house with a strict warning.
“Please be careful. Don’t do any rough play and don’t go out. Also, avoid the boys and know how to play with them okay? If you don’t do what I’ve told you to, no more going out again you hear me?” Mia strictly warned her five year old child.
“Yes mummy, I won’t do any of that I promise.” Ariel promised her mum as she was so excited to go in.
“Good. I will come pick you up in the evening, have fun with the girls!” Mia replied as she bid her daughter goodbye and hugged her tight before she entered into the taxi and zoomed off to the supermarket.
“Ma’am, you’ve got such a beautiful daughter.” The taxi driver complimented.
“Thanks sir.” Mia thanked the driver for the compliment.
“I love how you are raising her up. You are really giving her good parenting and even with that strictness, you still give her the space she needs as a young child. Not all mothers can do that. It’s either they spoil their child or they restrict their child for life.” The driver replied.
She’s all I’ve got so I need to make sure she doesn’t live a bad life. She’s my everything and I can’t let anything happen to her.” Mia replied.
“Yeah sure, that’s right. How about your husband? Is he late or…?” The driver asked.
“Wh- what do you mean and why did you say that?” Mia asked as she was never expecting to hear such a question.
“I’m sorry for intruding but when you said she’s all you’ve got, it sounded as though you don’t have a husband that’s why I asked if he’s late… I’ve heard tons of people say such things and it only means that they’ve lost contact with their partners or other children.” The driver explained.
“Please I’d appreciate that a lot if you can just focus on the road and not my life sir.” Mia replied as she found his question haunting her.
“Yes, I’m sorry ma’am.” He quickly apologized.
“Thank you.” Mia added.
Why is everyone talking about my husband? First the doctor and now the driver? Just keep ignoring them Mia, ignore them all and look after your daughter, protect her with even the last drop of blood you’ve got and never allow her to meet with her dad. He is dead and dead to us. Men are dead to me and so to my daughter. She will never have to grow facing their cruelty. Never.