By Rev Fr Gerald Nwafor
Ukanne (Mother’s Day) is one of the days in the year when I had a real opportunity to celebrate with my mother; to inform her that I am very grateful for all her kindness. One year, the week before the Ukanne I went down to the main market of Onitsha to buy her some good fabrics which I had observed her buying since childhood. I tried to choose shoes without heels and a good wristwatch. She doesn’t wear heavy perfume, so I got Gucci Guilty for her.
I discovered a guy who was selling English and Dubai gold, who helped me to make a choice for a woman in her sixties. I looked for some already-made dress that would not be too flashy, since my mother emphasizes decency in all her behavior: as a nickname her group calls her Decency. Beside the main market is Ose (ose okwa odu), the market for foodstuff and condiments. I got half a bag of beans, rice, and tin tomatoes.
I added onions, pepper, crayfish, salt, and many other ingredients for the soup and stew. In front of Ose-market were the abattoir and the people selling chicken and other birds. So I made a good deal on all kinds of meat and fish, dry fish and okpoloko (stockfish) included. I took off and made it to the supermarket and added some good soap, biscuits, bread, and some beverages for her breakfast. I got a card that read, in part, “You are the best of the best mom, I Love you.”
I got everything ready for the visit on Mother’s Day.I called my good friend to ask if I should add anything more. My friend was not happy that I did not call him earlier to ask, because he did not even remember that Ukanne was close by. I told him to go and visit the mother and give her the money equivalent. He kept complaining but did not give me any good suggestions.
Now I say to you reading this story go and celebrate your mother, even if D-day is long gone. It is always right to do good. Since my mother was a retired teacher I decided to add a small transistor radio so she could listen to Nigerian songs to calm her nerves.
I warned her not to use it to listen to the news if she did not want her blood pressure to go up.When I went to the village to drop off the items and spend some quality time with my mother, the house was under lock and key. I was honking when the next-door neighbor came out and told me that my mother went to Church.
I said it was too late to be in the Church by now. The neighbor insisted that she saw them going to the Church because there was a soccer game.I drove down to the Church. There were many people on the pitch shouting and clapping. I parked my car and went over to enjoy myself a little bit and search for my mother. As I was walking along the line, one of the teams scored and the pitch erupted in jubilation.
While I was waiting for the commotion to calm down one of my cousins ran up to me and greeted me. He said, “Your mother is the goalie on the other side, and they are winning one zero” (1-0). I did not know how I felt.
I started walking towards that side of the pitch to certify the information I had gotten. As I was getting closer it started to look like it was true, my mother in the goalpost was well dressed as a professional goalkeeper. I called her by her nickname, “Decency, are you a goalkeeper too?” She said, “We are winning, we just scored.” I asked her again, “Are you a goalkeeper?” She said, “As you can see I am.” So, I stood behind the goal post praying that the ball would not come closer.
I told her that I wanted to drop off a few items for her before going back to my base. She called for a substitution and another young mother took her position. I asked her if she would prefer a soccer boot and goal-keepers kit for her next shopping. I was surprised by her answer, “That would be great” she answered. Driving back to the house she was full of praise for her team and thankful to the priest who initiated the soccer tournament.
I was wondering how she loved soccer so much, but never allowed us to play soccer at leisure while growing up. Although I remembered one time she bought us a (black and white) football. We played it only on Saturdays.Back home I offloaded all the Items I bought for her. She ran out and made the ukulele sound (ululululululu). Many people showed up and she asked if she could share some of the items. I responded in the positive, jumped into my car and left.
I could see the joy on her face because of the items I brought to her. I could a so see the happiness in her eyes because of the soccer tournament.I suggest the village leaders, the priests, and the present generals should find a way to celebrate the mothers in our community. We celebrate them individually, but a community celebration would benefit the community and benefit them too.
As I thought about next year, I started planning to buy her among other things, football boots, a jersey, goalkeepers’ gloves, and many more things to keep her happy. And maybe to add a helmet, since a shot to her head would be injurious. I could not stop her now because she was so excited about the game that she told the team that she was the first-team goalkeeper.
I hope you have time to celebrate with your mother this month of March. Try to make her happy and go a step further by making her feel loved and appreciated.
