For my Mum... — Eugene Abels

4 March 2015 at 11:12

I called you Mama …

I remember hearing you screaming my name from afar and you forcing a spoon under my tongue, only to realize years later that I had actually fainted that day.

I remember when you use to push my head into the grass so that I do not raise my head and look at the Nigerian fighter Jets strafing the city of Port Harcourt and when you use to cover my face on the streets to prevent me from seeing corpses lying on the streets.

I remember you crying hysterically that your only child was missing the day federal troops took over Port Harcourt and you almost fainted when you saw me coming into the compound with two bicycles given to me by a Nigerian soldier for speaking fluent English.

I remember you coming home with my dad with his head shaven after Nigerian soldiers cleared our house and arrested my dad for quarreling with a female neighbor. With hindsight you probably saved his life.

I remember when you use to give me Puff-puff, Slate and Chalk to take to Township school and sit beside late Mrs. Tariah facing the class.

I remember my persistent nightmares (and Aunty Thedosia did not help matters with her stories of Ghosts but the Tortoise stories were very nice) and how I will run to sleep by your side.

I remember the odious task of climbing the stool to hook your bra and my hated Sunday task to draw one side of your head-tie (I tumbled often) to enable us attend service at St.Cyprian’s Church. Sundays must end with your visits to Dada’s and Dedes-(Mba,Princewill,Dorothy,Oyiya just to mention a few),then to my Grannies Cecilia & Leah then my Godmother the late Mrs. Spiff and reminding me of my Godfather late Mr.Abali.

I remember our first flight together from the Airforce base in Port Harcourt on a Nigeria Airways Fokker 27 to Lagos in 1970 , while my Dad kept waving proud of his exploits, You were all about our safety, while I was all about the view,the Jollof Rice and other servings. After that I think being a Pilot joined my list of professions.

I remember your medical feats with my regular bouts with fever and your torture methods of pumping soap though my rear end and forcing Castor oil down my throat, with some APC or Codeine tablets, E no easy. What about when you grabbed me in a vice for my big toe hanging by the skin to be stitched without any anesthesia, while I clinged to you for dear life and to be rescued from the ‘wicked’ doctor.

I remember your dance practice to the song ‘knock on wood’ (later I found out the song was done by the Ramblers band of Ghana),doing the 'Twist', through you i appreciated Clarence Carter,Temptations,Jimmy Cliff (particularly the album House of Exile ) Manhattans and the Beatles.

I remember on two occasions when you rallied Potts Johnson Mothers to whip us black and blue: the first was the morning Port Harcourt lost some beautiful youthsin a Passat car to a fatal crash in old GRA axis ( as the car was torn in two),the second been when we went to swim in a Bomb crater in IDH (now Marine Base) and Tamunosiki Wokoma almost lost his leg from a cut from shrapnel…what a day with mothers swinging left hooks and upper cuts.

I remember the night both of us were 'leaving 14 Potts Johnson street' in tears, for me I was crying because you were crying but did not know my world was been torn apart by deep adult issues.

I remember that it was during your Iria ceremony in Finima that Nigeria changed from Right Hand Drive to Left hand drive, a new currency( Naira/Kobo) and slightly after that I got a sister whom i remember with her wig on her birthday.

I remember how you felt betrayed (and I paid dearly later ) after 2 years of living with you and not speaking with my Dad unkown to you, and how I lifted my sanctions against my Dad and returned ‘home’ before you returned from work at Nigeria Ports Authority. You did not know till today that my review of sanctions against my Dad was inspired by an argument that happened in your absence over soft Dodo (Ripe plantain) supported with some very juicy stew and boiled egg. For my return, my Dad feted me to a two week shopping spree at Kingsway, Leventis, kawarallms, Kaycee, Bhosons and Supabod stores.

I remember 40 years ago when I dreamt that you died and I wept all night and never told you, but it caused me to realize how special you were to me EVEN with your IMPERFECTIONS.

I remember your love for hymns and your insistence to sing the hymns …'Da-da-da, De-de-de' and how I will warn you that the vicar will one day throw you out for spoiling their songs.

I remember how you embarrassed me on my first long vacation as form one boy fresh from my boot camp Okrika Grammar School, when you publicly scrubbed me down with soap and sponge, imagine my indignation.

I remember you coming to inspect my mix of flour and butter to be sure that it met your standards or no pocket money.

I remember how you gave me a very old bottle of whisky from your secret cellar out of joy on my matriculation at the University of Port Harcourt with the mandate ‘Alabo go and shine’.

I remember the green Echolac suitcase you proudly gave me as a National Youth Service Corp member, where portmanteau abound.

I remember when you came to test my wife’s ability to cook a week after marriage unknown to us, you requested for Egusi soup to be prepared for you, after eating you went to declare the result at ‘Allen”..a huge commendation from a seasoned connoisseur of soup.

I remember when you threw me out of the labour room when I asked my wife in confusion if some Ice cream will douse her labor pains. The child Ayiba-selete obviously 'according to you' looked very much like your Dad like every other male child in the family.

I remember when you almost had me and my wife shot, that it was due to our negligence and over indulgence in romance that we allowed your grandson to spill hot water on himself.

I remember your expression of outrage when Dr.Mrs.Nwinniah told you that you were not cut out for business and that you will give out all your food for free in the proposed restaurant business at Braithwaithe Memorial Hospital, Port Harcourt and it came to pass twice.

I remember when you crafted the word ‘IMPOSSI- CANT” in reaction to my attempt to swindle you. Who will forget your famous cliche….’A GUYN CANNOT GUY A GUYN ’ which translates to a Guyman cannot Guy a fellow Guyman or You cannot be taken for a ride.

I remember your labour union days that even after you left service, you will insist we visit the Patriarch of the Nigerian Labour Union.

People were everything to you and you spared nothing –time,food,money and care. You gave your all and we your children have drunk severally from your bank of goodwill.

How will I forget the 26thof December 2014, when me, @Larry Goggins, @Precious Goggins, Elise, Josh, Debbie,’kuro and Daniel spent the day with you and how you could not speak but your eyes spoke volumes. Nobody or situation holds you down ‘Akrika’ and you did not want us to see you again in that condition again ( as you never liked to depend on anybody) and you decided to leave us forever.

Enjoy your maker Jesus Christ whose Houses, Workers & Body you supported with your whole being.

My Origi