The promise

I remember vividly, the old baldie with long white beards in a brown gown, as he walked into our residence accompanied by two young men. They walked up to me where I sat at the porch. I perceived an offensive odour of cigarettes from the old man but I controlled my reactions trying my best not to disrespect him by covering my nose with my hands. He smiled at me revealing his darkened set of teeth and I greeted the men. "Where is your mother?" the old man asked me. "Who are you?" I asked and he smiled again. It was quite friendly but I was offended. " Just tell her I'm here and she will come out. " he replied. "your name sir" I requested " trust me a description will do. you don't need my name ". he said. I felt uneasy but I obeyed and got ony feet. I needed some clean air any way . " Fine I'll go call her then". I said on my way out. " Sure," I heard him say as I went in to get my mom. I called my mom from her bedroom and she came out in a haste to meet the visitors. she ushered them into the living room and asked me to leave. I was curious to know what business my mother had with those strangers, so I went into the kitchen and sat by the door which led to the living room. I could hear what they were saying for some time. I heard one of the men introduce himself as Luke, the old man's first son and brother to the second man whose name was Mike. He asked my mom if she remembered the old man and my mom replied "no". then the old man said " she certainly won't remember me. people forget the good done for them so easily.... I am the one who provided water for you and your unborn child nineteen years ago...". My mom excused herself, strolled to the kitchen door and shut it. I couldn't hear the conversation anymore. I strained my ears but I couldn't grasp a sentence. I soon gave up and returned to the porch. After what seemed like forever, the men came out with my mother behind them to see them off. The old man pecked my right cheek as he walked past me. It was disgusting!. I wondered if my mom saw him. I quickly ran to the tap in the back yard to wash my face. I was lucky to find soap by the tap so I applied it on my cheek and scrubbed it with my fingers. " Gensen" I heard. my name from a familiar voice. I paused and turned slowly "Are you a robot?" she asked, smiling and I smiled back. " Why are you scrubbing your cheek like that?" she asked . "Denna you won't understand" " An old man pecked a girl and she scrubbed the spot where she was pecked" I froze on the spot. "You saw him? I mean that?" I asked as I turned slowly. " there you go again robot". she said smiling "of course I did". she replied.. "did he.." "Don't go there" I interrupted and rinsed my face. "Gensen" Denna called again "when should we go shopping for school?" "After I saw mom , she looked worried after those strangers came." I replied. " Are they strangers?" she asked me. "Denna please lets talk some other time" "okay if you say so, I'll be under the tree waiting ". she said and left. I hastened back into the house. " Mom" I called but there wasn't an answer. I stopped in the middle of the living room and something flashed into my mind. " *I am the one who provided water for you and your unborn child nineteen years ago*" I had other siblings, but I was sure that child was me because I was nineteen years old. they were no strangers to my mom, I reasoned. she. knew them many years ago. I walked into my mom's room, I wanted to know what was going on. I met my mom lying down on her bed. I touched her lightly but she didn't face me. " mom" I called " Gensen please leave". she replied, but I was too worried to leave so I stood watching her. "Mom, who were those men that came?" I asked after a moment of brief silence but she didn't answer. "mom" I called again "Why do you want to know ? you have no business with them" she nagged. "Of course I have a business. The old man perked me, and he said he provided water for you and I nineteen years ago" I retorted. My mom sat up on her bed and gave me a stern look. "I'm sure you saw that," I added. " Yes I did," mom replied. "And what did you go to the backyard to do?". she asked "I went to wash my face" . I replied " Did you wash the kitchen towel?" she asked again. "Mom, don't change the topic. What did those men come here for?" "Gensen " my mom cleared her throat " the old man took care of me when I was pregnant with you, he knew you when you were a child and you were very fond of him. but he travelled far and returned today to see you. He was very excited to see how big you have grown. That is why he pecked you. My mom said, " Mom, I feel like you aren't telling me the truth, " I said in the most polite way possible. She was clearly lying to me. " If he travelled so far like you said, why were you worried when he came?" "Gensen are you calling me a liar?" she asked "No, I just want to hear every detail". I defended " I was happy to see him actually, but he brought some bad news too. Korah, my friend who brings us red bean porridge, is sick. It looks like she won't live" she explained. I felt bad immediately and I apologized to my mom. "it's okay my dear" she accepted my apology. "Don't forget to go shopping with Denna . you are going back to school soon." she said. I later left her room and went to meet Denna where she was waiting under the tree. We were going shopping together.