Written By Manda Donabi

Duration: 9 Minutes

Marcus walked into the house slamming the front door behind him, it has been a while since he visited his parents, even though he and his wife only lived twenty minutes away. He even forgot about that heavy door that lets everybody know when someone is here.

Claude and Uvira are in the kitchen having a laugh. The food must almost be ready for Claude, hence why he has left his spot on the couch in the sitting room.

Marcus walks into the kitchen and Uvira is standing over the cooker inspecting her pots, the food is almost ready. Claude is sitting at the dining table reading a newspaper while listening to some gospel music. Claude dedicated Sunday to Christ, although he wouldn’t go to church he’ll play gospel music on his huge speakers and the whole house had no options but to listen to his playlist.

Claude turns around and to his surprise he sees Marcus standing by the door. Marcus has been going to the gym, his muscles bulging through his t-shirt. He no longer carried his usual skinny frame that had him nicknamed as ‘Skinny’ in secondary school.

“Hey, Marc, where you been son?” Claude said with a smile on his while pushing his glasses back to his nose bridge.

Uvira interrupted. “You remembered us?”

 Marcus smiled pulling out a seat next to Claude.

“How are you guys?” Marcus asked as he sat down.

“ We’re okay, the only problem is your mama is still taking years to prepare food, I haven’t eaten since yesterday can you imagine? look how skinny I am now” everyone laughed.

Claude always had jokes in abundance at times it’s hard to take him seriously as he seems to think everything is a joke.

Uvira starts arranging the dining table, she takes out the special dinnerware set she bought from France a few years back when Claude’s daughter, Sylvia, from his first marriage had gotten married in beautiful chateaux.

Claude’s prayer is met with an in-sync “Amen” from Marcus and Uvira, they open their eyes and start dishing out the food. Marcus realises that Daniel, his baby brother isn’t at the table with them.

 “Where is Daniel?” Marcus asked.

“that boy is hardly ever in, he is always at his girlfriends’. How is Chioma?” Claude asked.

Marcus responded with a nod and a thumbs-up as his mouth was full of food.

“Is she still not pregnant yet?” Uvira asked bluntly while adding rice to her plate.

“VIRA No!” Claude said frustrated he knew conversations like this is the reason why Marcus had probably not come around as often.

Uvira is old school and has always insisted she needs grandchildren because all of her kids are grown, she wanted grandchildren to look after. Marcus has been married for 4 years now and there has been no sign of children. At first, Marcus said they’ll wait a year and enjoy their marriage, then after two years he said prioritising their careers is their focus in order to prepare for their future and now Marcus doesn’t seem to entertain the conversation.

“Marcus baby, clear up the table please,” Uvira asked yawning, she was tired from all the cooking and cleaning she had done.

Marcus stood up and started clearing the table. Uvira and Claude, like teenagers, scroll through their phones sharing videos together and laughing.

“I uh, I’m going to ask Chioma for a divorce” Marcus said with a straight face and his statement was met with silence the room was so quiet you can hear a toothpick drop. Marcus clears his throat.

“I’m asking Chioma for a divorce” he repeated.

“We heard you the first time,” Claude said

“why?” Uvira asked with her eyes beginning to tear up “ I just don’t understand Marcus, I spoke to Chioma just the other day she seemed fine, in fact, she seemed happy.

“Are you not happy?” Claude asked taking off his glasses.

“Or have you got another woman, because that’s all you men know. So now Chioma is no longer good enough for you because you have found a new girl.” Uvira rambled on angrily.

The doorbell rings and Uvira stands up to go and open the door, she is screaming down the corridor “Daniel, how many times do I have to tell you to take your keys with you”

“mbote mama”

“Oh hi Chioma, come in,” Uvira said sounding surprised.

“Hello papa, are you okay?” Chioma asked before giving Marcus a kiss on the cheek and taking a seat.

Chioma sat at the dining table and put her phone down she couldn’t help but pick up on the frosty energy in the room. Her mother in law looked like she was close to tears and Claude has this stunned look on his face and hasn’t spoken much which is not like Claude, he is usually spurring out jokes and attempting to speak to Chioma in Igbo and she’ll reply to him in French.

“Is everything okay?” Chioma asked apprehensively and her question was met with silence.

“before you came, I had just made an announcement to mum and dad but now that you are here I have to make another announcement for them. Guys, Chioma is pregnant” Marc said

“Oh, we thank God! Uvira interrupted facing the ceiling, as she praised God.

Chioma smiled and could not hold her tears of joy as they streamed down her face as Uvira hugged her ever so tight. The mixture of happiness and relief was evident on Uvira’s face as she started crying with Chioma but Claude froze, he was bemused by these announcements Marcus has made in the last ten minutes. Marcus, however, looked unmoved by the emotions shared by Uvira and his wife Chioma as he continued on with his announcement.

“Chioma is five months pregnant. There is no easy way of doing this but I want a divorce“. Marcus said assertively.

“No, don’t you dare! How dare you?” Uvira screamed “she is pregnant and you want to walk away? Are you crazy Marcus? We didn’t raise you this way.” Uvira said holding a stunned Chioma by the shoulder.

“Marcus, this doesn’t make sense. Your mum is right what is the problem?” Claude stressed.

“Leading up to our wedding, I did start to wonder how comes we never had a scare. We were careful but at times we weren’t. It was just a thought in the back of my mind. However, after a year those thoughts slowly started to come back and I could no longer hide or run. Well, you know Chioma, because we were in it together. From the day we said our vows, every aunt and uncle, even you guys mentioned kids. I felt the pressure I ran to work and committed my time and energy. It shielded me. Chioma went to church a lot more. I would walk in from work and she’ll be on her knees doing praise and worship. Six months ago I took matters into my own hands because I was tired, exhausted from dodging the issue. I went to the GP for help they checked me out and the results weren’t positive. I was sent to see a specialist, I was given home kits to test and all the results remained the same...”

“Marcus, what are you saying?” Uvira Inquired, concerned.

“I uhh, I can’t…” Marcus struggled to get his words out, he grew a lump at the back of his throat from holding in his tears.

“I can’t have babies,” Marcus revealed with a huge sigh of relief.

Not a sound was made, the room was in complete silence due to the shock everyone was in. There wasn’t even movement from anyone, frozen, everyone seemed stuck. Until Marcus went to wipe the tears away that came flowing down his cheeks. Claude sprung off his seat to hold Marcus and he rested his head on Claude’s shoulder crying hysterically, just as he did when he failed his Arsenal football trials as a kid. Uvira stood up to join them and give Marcus some reassuring words.

“It’s okay, you’ll be okay,” Uvira said rubbing Marcus’ back as if he had just been sick on the pavement after a boozy night out in Shoreditch.

Chioma gets up and attempts to rush out, crying. “Chioma?” Uvira asked “I’m so sorry, I have to go” Chioma ran out of the house as fast as possible. The loud bang of the front door is in sync with Marcus slumping to the floor. He cried, uncontrollably. “how can she do this? How?” Marcus cried into his father’s arms.

THE END.

1. 

   Thank you!! That’s the goal this year to write write write!!

2. 

   I love this! Your family is all the motivation you need. I will follow your example, stop procrastinating, and get…

3. 

   Magnifique 🥹😍