Bonding time.
858 Words
After a sumptuous dinner of eba and their local white soup made by Efosua, Amanda and Luca retired to Alessandro’s room. She watched as her son walked up to Luca shyly.
“Are you really my father?” he asked and Luca knelt to his level.
“Yes, I am.” He replied.
Alessandro’s face split into a smile, he hugged Luca. “I’m so happy to finally have a daddy. Can I call you daddy?”
“Yes...yes you can.” He laughed as his eyes watered.
Amanda couldn’t help her tears, it was too sweet a moment not to shed tears. Alessandro let go of his hold on his father and ran to the shelf where he kept his toys. He picked up a football and ran back to his father.
“This is my favourite toy,” he dropped the ball and it bounced off the floor back into his hands, “now you can teach me how to play the ball daddy so I can be a footballer like Messi.” He leaned into Luca conspiratorially and whispered loudly. “Don’t tell him I said so but grandpa doesn’t know how to play ball.”
Amanda gave a mock gasp and picked him up playfully. “Why, you’ve become so naughty Sandro,” she tickled his side’s which elicited a fit of laughter from him as he squirmed in her arms. She dropped him on his bed with a bounce and he clutched her hand in his.
“I’ve finished my exams mummy, now I can go anywhere with you.” He announced.
Luca got up from his position on the floor and sat next to them on the bed. “Would you like to go to Italy with me?” he asked the boy.
“Italy? Where is that?” he frowned.
“It’s where I was baby, it’s so beautiful there with all kinds of new and cool stuffs.” Amanda elaborated. Alessandro looked up at Luca through his lashes and wringed his hands together.
“Are you going to be there daddy?” he asked shyly.
“Yes I will.”
“Of course I want to go.” The boy exclaimed happily.
“Alright hotshot, let’s go take a bath.” She picked him up with one hand and held unto her walking stick with the other. She grunted as he wrapped his legs around her waist.
“Geez baby, you weigh a ton,” she complained and he giggled.
“Let me,” Luca reached up and took him off her. He followed her lead into the bathroom and together, they gave him a bath.
“How is he?” Amanda asked Luca.
He raised his index finger to his lips in a shush motion. “He’s fast asleep,” he said in a whisper and she laughed.
“He’s such a handful.” She commented.
Since they got on the plane heading back to Italy, he’d been chattering non stop. Luca ran his hand through Sandro’s hair and looked down at him in adoration.
“He’s really adorable, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, he is.” She replied with a smile.
They both fell silent, a comfortable one. Amanda closed her eyes and reclined in her seat, she let her memories wash over her and she smiled, a lazy smile.
“Remember the day we danced around the bonfire on the beach?” she said and opened her eyes.
Luca smiled in reply as he reminisced the sweet memories of their past. “Yeah and that guy, the drummer. What was his name again?”
“Ngige.” She filled in for him.
“Yeah, Ngige drummed and chanted those traditional songs of his and you, Amaka and Ebube danced round the bonfire and ululated in chorus to his chants.” He pronounced the names so awkwardly she burst into laughter.
“And you sat there watching us like we were stark raving mad.” She was part of a group of aspiring actors then, they only performed on the beach to the little audience that showed up and their plays were all about ancient African culture which sometimes required ululations and chants. The bonfire was just an exaggerated effect to give proper lighting to the actor’s faces.
“Hey, I never did such,” he protested and she doubled over with laughter.
“Okay fine, I did do that at first but then I joined you later no?”
“Yes but I can never forget the look on your face when we did that. You looked a cross between scared and intrigued, it was so ridiculous.” She clutched her stomach in laughter.
“Fine, laugh all you want.” He grumbled.
She laughed so hard he couldn’t help but join her and as they flew across the Mediterranean sea, their laughter echoed throughout the plane.
- Writer
