The Mother Who Refused To Give Up

Episode 2 The First Day

I woke up at 4am. The whole compound was dark. My babies were still sleeping on the floor, their bodies close to mine for warmth.

I did not sleep all night. My mind was thinking, how will we eat today?

I stood up, fetched water from the outside tap. The water was cold. I bathed my daughter first, then my baby boy. I tied my baby boy on my back with my old cloth. It was torn but it was all I had.

I had no money. Zero. So I went to knock on my neighbour Maame Esi's door. I was shy, but hunger made me brave.

I said, "Maame Esi, please borrow me 20 cedis. I want to buy one bag of pure water to sell. I will pay you back tonight."

She looked at me and my children and her eyes became soft. She warned me, "Selasi, this sun will kill you o. This work is not easy."

I told her, "Hunger will kill my children faster than the sun."

She gave me the 20 cedis.

At Kaneshie market, the cars were shouting, the horns were blowing. "Pure water! Pure water!" My voice was competing with the cars. My throat was dry. My daughter was holding my dress and crying that her legs hurt. My baby on my back was heavy and the sun was burning my head.

By 12pm, I had sold only 15 sachets. I counted my money. Only 7 cedis. I sat down on the gutter and wanted to give up. I wanted to cry and leave the water there.

Then a woman in a big black car rolled down her window and called me. "Pure water seller, come."

She bought 20 sachets. Then she looked at my children and gave me 10 cedis extra. She said, "God bless you for not leaving your children. Many women would have run away. You are a strong mother."

I cried right there in traffic. People were looking at me but I didn't care. That 10 cedis was not money, it was hope. It was God telling me, I see you.

I went home that day with 35 cedis. I paid Maame Esi her 20 cedis. With the 15 cedis left, I bought rice, oil, and baby diapers. My children ate and slept full. Their stomachs were big and round.

For the first time since my husband left, I smiled. A real smile.

But that night, while my children were sleeping full, I heard a knock on my door. A knock that would break my heart again.