I AM DIFFERENT

when mama was around

Tatenda, that's what they call me. But when Mama was here I remember being called 'Edelquin' a name that was liked by many but pronounced by the chosen few if you know what I mean from where I come from.

I was born in a family of two kids, my elder brother and I.

He is a bit cuter than I but both our noses and heights are almost related. His skin and mine would never correspond!

We were raised by a single mum who was loving caring and all adorable. She was a tough one though but I honestly miss her.

When she was around us everything was so correct and smooth.

I remember almost all my cousins paying us visits bringing me gifts and taking me for fun days. They would come stay over for weeks at our place, despite the age difference we really had the strongest bond relatives could afford.

I remember both my brother and I received birthday gifts, Halloween costumes, Easter presents from our aunties and uncles.

Trust me if you were to choose relatives you would definitely choose my relatives for they were the sweetest and 'realest' beings you could have ever come across.

During Christmas holidays and festivities we all gathered at uncle Jim's place for the celebration as an adorable and amazing luring extended family. No cousin or relative was ever left out and incase of any, especially those who lived in the states would send us cards and gifts and we did the same.

Or rather we could take sometime to Skype or video chat to share our love and obviously make them miss home. Now that's the family any African kid wouldn't deny if given a chance to.

During weekends mama dropped us at some Friend's place for a stay. All was fine with us. We played games and I thank God the kids I always met were always boys since I'm anti girl-girl friendship since day one.

We could always enjoy our stay.

I think mama was the luckiest being I know. For she had the best of friends. Whenever she was around her friends she was always bursting out of laughter. She always had her broad smile that I only hear of, since I don't recall her face anymore.. It's been long.

I hear from people that mama was outgoing, Open hearted, she was a sharp one. I just had to say she was a lecturer somewhere in the country.

To me she was all in one. She was our daddy and still our mama. Trust me if it was discipline, she made us stick to it in whatever way she could.

She had the hardest punishment that if you disobeyed you'd be grounded and would not attend school for a week. You would definitely be home alone which really sucked so we just had to abide by her rules.

I mean, she was our mama and there's where obedience is better than sacrifice? yes obedience was the only way to survive.