Becoming an adult
Mom! Mom… can you come to my room, please?” Mirabel yelled from her room.
“I’m coming, baby. Hold on!” Mrs. Smith replied as she walked into Mirabel’s room.
“What’s the problem, darling?” she asked.
“I think I just got my period. There are bloodstains on my pants.” Mirabel looked down at herself, then smiled excitedly. “Oh my gosh! I’m a woman now!”
“This calls for a celebration!” Mrs. Smith exclaimed with a smile.
“ Mirabel, have a seat. We need to talk.”
“Okay, Mom. What do you want to talk about?” Mirabel asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.
“Come over here, baby.” Mrs. Smith hugged Mirabel and sat down beside her.
“I know you’re happy about becoming a woman, but my dear, there are lots of things you need to know now.”
Mirabel nodded attentively.
“First, you can’t keep running around and playing like a little child forever.
You’re growing up, and you need to buckle down with your studies because an elegant lady should also be intelligent and hardworking.
“Secondly, you need to be careful about the company you keep, especially around boys.
Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into s****l activities.
You’re still young, and making such decisions can come with serious consequences, including pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.”
“Mom, you know I’m a good girl. I won’t do such a thing,” Mirabel replied.
“I know you won’t, darling. I’m only telling you because I want you to be informed and know how to protect yourself.”
“Thirdly, you should keep yourself clean at all times.
Growing up comes with more responsibilities, and taking care of your personal hygiene is one of them.
A confident young lady should always take good care of herself.”
Mirabel smiled and nodded. “Okay, Mom. I understand.
Mirabel came downstairs wearing a basic top and a pair of black jeans. She had a face cap on because her hair was a little rough.
“Oh, my baby! Always looking pretty, just like her mother,” Mrs. Smith said with a smile.
Mirabel chuckled. “Mom, I wore black trousers so I wouldn’t get stained.”
“Oh, my wise child! You’re absolutely right. Black is a good choice when you’re worried about stains.”
Just then, Coco, Mirabel’s puppy, came running toward her.
“Oh, my kouchie-pochie!” Mirabel squealed affectionately.
Coco turned around in circles, wagging her tail excitedly.
“I’m going out, baby. I’ll be back to play with you soon,” Mirabel said, giving Coco one last pat before heading toward the door.
A few minutes later, Mirabel and her mom set off in the car.
“OMG! This Nigerian traffic!” Mrs. Smith exclaimed as they slowly moved along the road.
Mirabel shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“Mom, I’m feeling pain in my belly.”
“Baby, those are called cramps. I can get you a heating pad to help with the pain, or we can buy a hot-water bottle.”
“I don’t feel good, Mom,” Mirabel said quietly.
“I know, baby. It’s not your fault. Period cramps can be uncomfortable, and sometimes they can make you feel tired or upset.”
Mrs. Smith glanced at the traffic ahead and sighed.
“Now we’re stuck in traffic too!”
She looked over at Mirabel and smiled reassuringly.
“But remember, baby, we’re going shopping just for you.
You’re always excited about shopping. It looks like these cramps are really changing my baby’s mood today.”
Mrs. Smith and Mirabel arrived at the supermarket after battling through heavy traffic.
“Do you know how to use a tampon? I can get some for you,” Mrs. Smith offered.
“Mom, don’t stress. I love using pads,” Mirabel replied.
“Oh wow!” Mirabel exclaimed when she spotted a beautiful teddy bear.
“Mom, can I get that teddy, pleaseeee?”
“Mirabel…” Mrs. Smith smiled. “You’re not a baby anymore, but you can take it, okay?”
“Aight, Mom!”
“Yeah, pick whatever you want. Today is all about you and you alone.”
“C’mon over here, baby. Take a look at these designer pens. You know school will be resuming very soon.”
“I know, Mom. That also means my birthday is fast approaching,” Mirabel said with a smile.
“Yeah. It’s your sweet sixteen, my darling.”
“I hope Dad is going to come home from work because I’m tired of his absence.”
“I don’t know, dear. You know his work is very demanding and stressful, and he hardly has time for fun.”
“So he always has to work all the time?” Mirabel complained. “I’m tired of this!”
“My classmates’ dads drive them to school, but I always have the driver take me.”
“You too! You’re always at your office.”
“My baby, we are working for your sake. We don’t want you to lack anything.”
Mirabel sighed and shook her head. “I’m always bored, you know. And Benita doesn’t always come around to play with me.”
“Come here, baby. Don’t worry. I’ll see to that.” Mrs. Smith pulled Mirabel into a hug.
Later, at the store, Mrs. Smith called one of the storekeepers.
“Hey! Please gather these things for me.”
The young lady nodded and began gathering the items.
“Here is your receipt, ma’am.” The young lady handed the receipt to Mrs. Smith after she completed her payment.
Mrs. Smith and Mirabel had a smooth drive back home.
When they got home, Mrs. Smith prepared stew, rice, and dodo (fried plantain) for Mirabel.
“Here is your meal.” She handed the plate of food to Mirabel, who was already hungry.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Mirabel replied, holding the plate.
“Do you like it?” Mrs. Smith asked after Mirabel took her first bite.
“It’s delicious, Mom!”
“Okay, baby. Eat your food. Let me go and arrange the new clothes in your wardrobe.”
Mrs. Smith went upstairs to Mirabel’s room.
“OMG! This is a lot,” she exclaimed as she unwrapped the clothes from their various packages.
Mrs. Smith gathered Mirabel’s old clothes and took them to the dry cleaner to have them washed and ironed, even though some of them were already clean.
She asked that the clothes be packaged neatly because Mrs. Smith usually donated Mirabel’s old clothes to an orphanage for children who needed them.
