Leave Them

Lanre sat beside her mother on the couch. She rests her head on her mother’s shoulder whilst hugging her arm. She just stayed that way, calm like a little baby.

“Maami, if people ask you what type of person your daughter is, can you tell? If you can, what will you tell them?” Lanre asked softly. The mother looked the other way so Lanre does not get to see her face. Lanre just smiled.

“Do you think if Ify hurts me I will tell you or her mother? Your daughter is the type that wants to do things on her own and only cries for help when it has become too much for her to bear”. Lanre said. Then she lifted her head from her mother’s shoulder and took her mother’s face in her hand. She told her mother that the day she sees her running to her with tears in her eyes, then she had passed her limit.

Mrs. Olayinka sighed. Even if the words of a child are not ear enough, the mother will have to pretend they understand until they finally understand. This is what s mother does so the child does not feel bad. And while in their pretense, they try to figure it out, what the child was saying. And that is where understanding grows from. But Lanre was no longer a child, even though she was still her child, Lanre was now an adult. So she would need to ask Lanre question as to what she mean when she said if she comes running to her with tears in her eyes, she should know she has gone passed her limit.

“Olanrewaju, I am your mother does not mean I understand every sound you make and will know what is biting you if you do not tell me. So tell me, what exactly is going on?” The mother asked. Lanre sighed yet again. She was not in the habit of telling long stories.

“I never attempted to do anything to snatch the Governor’s son away from Ify. But she’s insecure because he had proposed to me before their engagement which was arranged by their families. I never intended on fighting her. So I decided to stay away, but she went on to mock me in public”. Lanre said.

“Maami, they called me a loser! I still ignored. She came to my beauty parlour and asked me if I was jealous. She should have let me be instead of provoking me. I have only threatened her that I will get him back. But still I chased him away when he came here”. Lanre said to her mother.

“So maami, stay out of this!” Lanre said. Once the mother heard Lanre telling her to stay out of the matter, she immediately knew that Lanre has decided to make good the threat she made Ify. She immediately stood up and pointed a finger at Lanre warningly.

“Lanre, leave them. You and Ify are no longer friends. And you will not fight with her because of a man”. The mother said.