It came today,my blue moon.A blue moon is some sort of scientific
phenomenon, most people live the duration of their lives and never
experience one....its so rare,there is even an idiom after it.I saw mine
today,....no experienced it
My mother was happy when she found out she was pregnant,I received
the information with mixed feelings.I didn't want to be replaced but I
couldn't help but love the new baby.over the months,I watched mummy's
tummy swell with the new baby and sometimes,she would let me lay my
head on it and listen for movements,sometimes,daddy joined in too.A
few months to her delivery date,the doctors told us that baby would
be born with autism and other health complications and she would be
sick a lot.This was quite a revelation and it shook the foundations of
my family.I would come back from school and find my mum crying
silent tears and then I would wish baby would die or disappear or
something.one day I voiced out my feelings and mummy cautioned me
with a gentle slap and told me that despite its autism,she loved baby
so much and she knew baby loved me too.she invited me to come
listen for sounds as I used to,I shuffled forward,placed my ears on
her tummy and listened hard.This time,I poured out all the love in my
heart on that bump and I think I heard a heart beat.
The labour came wen I was in school,Miss Vitalis came and informed
me,my daddy had called her.I was so excited,I couldn't sit still.I waited
in line for the school bus and got in.I sat on my favorite sit by the
window.I was imagining all the wonderful things I would do with
baby.The house was locked when I was dropped off which was quite
strange as mummy was always waiting for me.I took out our key from
our hidey hole and opened the door.The house seemed to be in
order,maybe labours weren't as messy as I thought.Mummy took the
pains to write me a letter,explaining were she was and where my
lunch was.After my assignments,I must have dozed off because daddy
woke me and told me that we were going to the hospital.it was a bit
dark outside,he told me that baby was a girl and that she was a
healthy baby.When we got to the hospital,I was a bit scared because
there were grim faces everywhere.We walked briskly to mummy's room
,she was alone,holding baby.She was smiling and invited me to come
see baby.I walked to the other side, she lowered her arms and wow!!
Baby was a beauty.she wasn't smiling tho.she had a little tuft of hair
on her head that reminded me of the cartoon carrot top.I took her
hands and welcomed her into the world,I also promised to protect her
from bullies.she still didn't smile.Mummy came home,and the doctor
informed us that carrot as I had taken to call her,would not be a
smiler because of the autism and so her smile would be rare.
So far,only mummy has been blessed with her rare smiles,but then who
wouldn't smile at my adorable mother?.Baby grew bigger,she had her
low days when she was always sick,and some days when she was
o.k.One day,a day before baby was going to be one,mummy had
planned a little family gathering,not too many people.carrot was sleeping
in her little cot inthe sitting room.I and mummy were baking a cake.I
was thinking of how carrot still hasn't graced me with a smile,I had
tickled, blown and danced yet the smile would not budge. Mummy asked
me to check on her,she might be awake and wanting food she said.I
was reluctant, t wasn't like the girl would smile in appreciation or
something,always frowning. I walked inside and peered into her cot....her
eyes were closed,I was about to tiptoe away,when she opened the
whitest eye I had ever seen,then the miracle happened...she smiled,a very
wide smile showing off her teeth and gums.I looked around in
shock,maybe mummy was behind me and the smile was for her...I was
alone,I looked back at carrot and she was still smiling as if to say"this
is for you sis",then she raised her arms to be carried.I carried her out
and noticed that I was crying.I didn't want to alert mummy because
this was my moment...our moment.I felt so blessed,so complete and she
kept looking at me and smiling like she understood my feelings.carrot
had a wonderful day the next day,and she smiled specially for daddy.but
that was her last smile as she did not live to be. Two.she died of
complications in her heart and every time,I'm consoled by thrle thought
of that smile.My little sister is in heaven smiling,of that,I'm sure.Her
name was kamara and her smile,that smile was my blue moon
THE END
Original write up by Vivian Nnabue
