Three years ago, my mother was with child.
This child was a god, a gift, a miracle, an angel.
I wanted it to be a girl, a sister so we convinced mother to go for ultrasound.
She didn't. She said she had carried nations before and she knew what was in her. In her conviction it was a boy. In ours (dad, brothers and I) it was a girl.
We made bets around the house, we debated and everytime guess who lost.
I'd go back to school and father and I would fantasize. He'd ask me what we'd called the child when it comes. I suggested boy names first but we'd quickly switch to girl names.
" Daddy tutamwita Aurora."
"Sasa Io inamaanisha nini?"
"A new dawn."
"Io iko sawa lakini nataka jina ukiita mtoto ni rahisi."
I suggested Mexican girl names. All those that I had saved for my future daughter.
He asked me to do more research.
I did.
They all never seemed to please him. We didn't talk about boy names. Why would we yet we knew it was a girl coming?
On a sunny day in December, my mother gets a call that I'd go into surgery.
Mother gets shocked and delivers prematurely. On December 21st.
Wahala!! It was a boy. Mother was right.
This boy, mother was excited to have. She said it was the only child who looked like her. His complexion light like his grandmother's -- mother's late mum.
His hair had a deep V shape on his head. I don't know how to adequately describe it.
Father called him Benjamin. Maybe to mean this was his lastborn. An end to a lineage that was full of sons. This had to be a fullstop. Just maybe.
Benji grew to be everyone's favourite. I bet he felt the love because he'd smile often showing off his gums. His eyes twinkled at the sight of any member of the family. His embrace to his mother was unmatched. He'd clutch onto her everytime a stranger wanted to grab him.
At seven months he was my favourite three-toothed human. I took pictures of him at almost every stage. He'd crawl under the sofas and behind the curtains.
Soon he started to walk. A step at a time. He'd fall and get up like how all toddlers do. Going home I'd always buy a pack of diapers. Kept track of his sizes. Loved him more than I ever thought I could. Others said I had a kid at home. Smh. The allegations were amusing.
Then he started pushing me away. If he had it in him he'd probably ask who are you and why are you here. He'd cry at my sight and clutch at mum's skirt even harder. He didn't want my sweets or my sweet embraces. It took time to buy him back. Weeks of staring across the living room.
Benji has grown so fast. He has made a home happy. He is out cartoon. Now he talks. Aloooooot.
Everytime I'm on the phone with mother he has to talk first.
"Chemuuuuu niletee gari kubwa. Na baiskeli ya kukalia. Na lorry ya mchanga na tractor ya kuchimba."
He loves me now. I think so. He's only three. Barely three. He turns three tomorrow. I am excited.
He reports on everything. Every truth and every lie. He is a messenger around the house.
"Chemu, mum amesema nipee chakula."
"Chemu, mum amesema nipikie mayai."
This one time my other brother borrowed my laptop and he sent Benji to ask my password.
I told Benji, mwambie password ni Benji.
He reported. But this time with his interpretation.
"Chemu amesema password ni Mimi."
He didn't lie though, did he?
If Benji wants mandazi mother will make mandazi. If he wants pancakes, y'all will eat bread some other day. If he wants juice, the mangoes and bananas will be quickly blended.
This boy knows tiktok sounds. His favourite now is oooh Vivianoo. The other day I heard him say pressure ni ya Gachagua😭. He would sing sponge bob square pants lives under the sea. This boy surprises me everytime.
Where I come from, we hug like tomorrow depends on it. So Benji has learnt how to hug but don't give him a peck. He will cry. He says he wants to go to school in the school bus. He says "chisass Christ" at the slightest inconvenience.
I'm afraid he knows too much for his age.
That's Benji, our diamond of the season!
Hello, lovely readers!
I hope you've enjoyed this particular entry.
I love you all. Enjoy this season.
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