Three

BK 2 chapter 3

       "Come back here" I yelled after my three years old boy who was running butt-naked around while giggling. 

This was what I used to face every day. He didn't like bathing or showering generally. 

Always running around when it was time for bathing. I groaned internally, massaging my temple tiredly. 

This boy would be the cause of my death. Always giving me exercises to do early in the morning. 

"No momma catch me" he grinned cheekily, showing his white pearls of milk teeth before sticking out his tongue. 

Oh my goodness, this boy is mischievous. I groaned. 

He is more energetic than me, I face-palmmed myself. 

"Come here" I ordered softly but he shrugged his shoulder a little, scrunching up his nose. 

"Catch me momma" he giggled loudly, sticking out his tongue again.

"Come have your bath" I started gently and stopped running after him to catch my breath. 

"Tired already momma" his eyes twinkled with mischief while I shook my head. 

Only God knows where he has taken that mischievous from?. I thought. 

He was so energetic for his age. 

"Momma, shower cold and baby cold". He whined, stumbling his foot on the floor. 

"But I've mixed the water" I reasoned with him, taking a step to him but he caught me and he ran away again. 

"No momma, no school today then no bath today" he stuck his tongue out again for the third time. 

Enjoying my miseries in chasing him.

I laughed lightly, "Dirty boy" I scrunched my nose.

"Momma, I am not dirty, I am a fine boy" he responded, fanning himself. 

Abdulrahman entered at that moment and stood by the door watching both of us. He ran to Abdulrahman and tugged his leg, hiding behind him as if I could not catch him. 

That boy!. 

"What's going on" he smiled softly while I sighed and pinched my nose. "It's Abdullah, he should have his bath but no, he was running around doing hide and seek with me" I grumbled out. 

"Oh sorry S, the boy is so energetic" he chuckled lightly and handed me cold milk from the counter while I gulped it down greedily. 

"Baby" Abdulrahman called him.

"Dada" he screamed happily.

"Bibi, no shouting," I said sternly and walked towards them.

"Baby sorry momma, no shouting," he said while holding his lips.

"Where were you running to?" Abdulrahman asked him.

"Momma bath but no school today because of no school, no bath today" he explained his intuition, showing his milk teeth.

"Okay," Abdulrahman said and started tickling him while he laughed out and I stared at them.

Is he not supposed to reprimand him for not showering, I thought. 

He sat on the couch comfortably and carried him on his lap, smiling softly at him.

"No school, no bath right?"Abdulrahman asked him while he nodded vigorously.

"Okay, no bath no ice cream," Abdulrahman responded.

"Noooooo" he cried.

"No dada, ice cream but no bath" he bellowed.

"Ice cream" he whined.

"You will follow your mom now and have your bath then ice cream" Abdulrahman said while he yelled out "ice cream" and ran to me.

He came to me and tugged my cloth." momma baby sorry. Baby bath" he said softly staring at the floor. I huddled him up and looked at his unshed eyes and pecked him.

~**~

Abdulrahman had gone to work after he stopped by to say greet us this morning as usual.

My boy and I were sitting in the garden, plucking some flowers while he turned to me and dropped the bomb shell. 

"Momma, why baby not like dada,"  Abdullah asked me, knitting his brows.

"What" I stared at him dumbfounded because I didn't understand him.

"Dada is black, me light. Dada black eyes me brown eyes" he stared as if he was reading the newspaper. I was shocked because I didn't know how to reply. 

How did he know or notice all these different features in them? He was smarter for his age. 

The one he asked earlier, it was my mom who had saved my trembling self.

"Momma, where is dada" at that moment the front door opened, showing my mom.

"Dada is here" my mom replied, smiling knowingly as she made herself comfortable on the couch.

"Where?" He turned around but did not see anyone. 

"Dada is uncle Abdulrahman," my mom said, I wanted to butt in but she shunned me, raising her lashes.

"Dada is uncle Abdulrahman," he asked while dancing around then he stopped and looked at me to mom and from mom to me.

"But why is he not living with us," he asked inquisitively while furrowing his eyes.

"Oh my boy this boy is inquisitive" I laughed nervously. 

"Momma?" he waited impatiently. 

"It...bec..." I stuttered because I didn't know what to say. I looked at mom and mouthed 'help me'.

"Abdullah, come here" mom touched his cheeks softly and ruffled his hair playfully.

"Sometimes I do think whether you are a three years old boy or not," mom smiled.

"Why Nana?" he pouted. 

"Because you ask questions that are bigger than your age. Well, your dada is not living with you guys because he is busy with work". I sighed and prayed silently to Allah to bring mom here this morning because I would make a fool out of myself.

"But why will dada be busy with work?, did he not want us or like us?" he asked again downcasted while I was fiddling with my fingers awkwardly.

"You ask too many questions bibi" my mom patted his head.

"But..." My mom cut him off.

"Another time Abdul" my mom replied.

The front door opened and Abdulrahman came in. My boy stood up and ran to him, shouting dada while Abdulrahman looked at me dumbfounded while I shrugged my shoulder.

I was jolted away from the awkward memories when I felt a pinch on my nose while I released an "ow" sound.

"Why?" I asked him while rubbing my stinging nose.

"You were not replying to me" he pouted.

"Baby another time, momma tired" I changed the topic and went inside.