“CONGRATULATIONS GOLDEN CHILDREN, the term has come to an end and you have all been great and have all done very well.” Elizabeth commended the glowing children looking at her with enthusiastic eyes.
The school calendar year had come to an end and with the results out, the children were all brimming with excitement, joy and pride at their excellent performances. She was quite proud of them all too, particularly Femi who had come top ten in the whole of Basic One.
It had been a rare and pleasing sight when both his parents had turned up yesterday for the End of year/graduation party. And although they’d left just after their son had received his remarkable-improvement and top-ten-performance awards, everyone could see how much it had meant to little Femi having them there even so briefly.
Rukky had won the most outstanding pupil’s award for being the best Basic One pupil throughout the session. That too had been a source of pride and joy to her, to have been able to get him back on track… not that she’d needed to do much. He was a brilliant boy and would have pulled through whatever it was that had had him briefly distracted. Still, she’d been proud of him and of all her children.
“So, I wish you all a super fun holiday.” She continued, beaming at them. “And amidst all the fun and laughter, remember to be obedient to your parents and guardians and above all don’t forget to read a little so you don’t return blank headed, alright?”
“Alright, Miss Elizabeth.” They all chorused.
“And thank you for the presents you gave to us, Miss Elizabeth.” Rukky spoke up on behalf of his classmates. “We are all very grateful.”
Elizabeth returned his warm, cheerful smile. “You are all most welcome.”
She had – as was her private custom – bought presents for every one of them. A little token really, just to encourage them and show them how proud she was of them.
“Now we are all going to file out and join the rest of school on the assembly ground where Mrs Briggs will give us her final recommendations and send us forth for the year.” She moved to the door, gesturing for them to get in line.
As they got in line and marched out of the classroom, it struck Rukky that that was his last day in Basic One, which also meant his last day in Miss Elizabeth’s class. He raised his head to smile at her as he stepped past the door. That was okay, he was already working out a way so he’d be seeing her all the time.
****
It had been viciously cold that morning. And to keep them all warm, he’d switched their usual Saturday breakfast of yam and vegetable sauce to bread and hot cocoa drinks— much to the delight of the children.
He hadn’t minded much himself as the switch in menu had meant he had enough time to dash down to the market and grab some missing ingredients for the egusi soup he had billed for lunch that afternoon.
He was slicing the last batch of pumpkin leaves when Rukky strolled into the kitchen.
“Hey daddy, be careful with that knife and vegetable, you don’t want to cut your finger again.” He said imperiously marching to the refrigerator and drawing it open.
Caleb rolled his eyes. “Thank you, kind sir, for the warning. But I’ve been slicing vegetables for a long time now and one incident doesn’t make the rule.”
Rukky lifted his shoulders in a light shrug. “Okay daddy, whatever you say.” He came towards the slab with the bottle of water in hand. “But I’m only saying it because I want Miss Elizabeth to concentrate on our lesson today and not cutting it short because she has to help you prepare lunch.”
“Thanks again for your concern, pal.” Caleb packed the sliced leaves into a bowl. “But I can assure you that I won’t be needing Miss Elizabeth’s help today as I am almost done with lunch. And by the way, where is your sister – is she still with Kemi’s mummy?”
“Yes she is – they are still loosening her hair.” Rukky answered finishing off the water and walking over to the sink to drop the glass.
Caleb nodded. “And talking about Miss Elizabeth, you do know that you and she don’t have to continue the home lessons anymore, don’t you?” He lifted the lid off the pot and stirred with a cooking spoon. “The school year is over and by your sterling performance, it is clear you are back in the lead… no more confusions.” He flashed a wink.
Rukky only shook his head, looking earnest. “I know that school is over, daddy, which is why I’m a little worried.”
Caleb angled his head. “You are worried… because school is over?”
Rukky nodded, looking even more earnest. “Yes I am, daddy. Now that I am going into a new class, I may be meeting some new subjects and strange topics and lessons. And most of them will be hard too. So I just want to be prepared.”
“Aha, I see.” He added the leaves into the steaming pot, stirred and replaced the lid. So, he still wanted home lessons, huh? “Okay, no qualms. But you do know that that means you’ll continue to give up Saturday cartoon-hour, even during your holiday?”
The emphasis on ‘holiday’ sent a slight furrow on Rukky’s forehead.
Swallowing the chuckle, Caleb continued in a firm, solemn tone. “And not just Saturday cartoon-hour but also your TV-time and play-time during the week.” When he stared at him with stupefied eyes, he merely shrugged. “You’ll be too busy studying all you have learnt on Saturdays and dealing with home works to have time for TV or play on week days.”
He returned his eyes to his pot but not before he’d seen the slight furrow turn into a deep crease as his brows came together… no doubt scheming how to get out of this one.
You want me spending extra money, that means you working extra hard too, son, Caleb thought cheerfully stirring his soup.
Rukky strolled back to the slab and climbed into the stool. Yikes! He had to give up all that just to keep up the extra lesson game during the holiday… and home works too? He didn’t want to be doing home works during the holidays.
No way! It was time to finish this match maker business.
Feeling much like Kevin in Home alone, he laid his small hands on the granite counter, crossed them and lifted quiet, cunning eyes to his cheerfully whistling father.
“Daddy, do you remember when I asked you if you will get married again?”
Caleb shifted his gaze from the dishes he was washing up to stare at him. He had been expecting something else not that. “Err… yes I do.” He replied vaguely.
“And you said you will only marry again if you found the perfect mummy for Stella and me?” Rukky continued in the same steady, quiet tone.
It was his forehead now furrowing in a frown, what was he up to now? Caleb wondered. “I guess I did say that.”
Rukky nodded his head in a thoughtful manner letting Caleb know for sure he was up to something, especially with the way he crossed and uncrossed his fingers.
“What is love, daddy?”
What the heck! His mouth dropped open. What? He was going to start dealing with his love life right now? At the age of six?
Rukky saw his father’s shocked expression and shook his head. Big people always thought children don’t know anything and yet they keep asking you to read, ask questions and be smart.
“Aunty Mabel taught us that a family can also be bound by love and not just by blood.” He explained in a slight exasperated tone.
“Oh.” Caleb expelled a deep breath of sheer relief, not caring that his son was staring at him with bored, over-patient eyes. Of course he’d meant family love – filial love – not his love life. Love life? Jesus Caleb! Get a grip. The kid is only six. Of course he doesn’t have a love life… he doesn’t even know what love is for heaven’s sake!
“She said that when we love one another as God loves us – we are all part of the same family.” Rukky went on, his tone still matter-of-fact. “So, what is love?”
This he can answer. This he can certainly deal with. He stretched his hand, turned off the burner, finished off the washing and turned his full attention on the patiently-waiting Rukky.
“Love is a deep affection – like like, only bigger. It is a feeling we have for our close relatives and friends and also for special things and places.” He nodded his head proudly like a professor in front of eager-eyed students. “Love is that special bond between family and friends that make them stay together and share happy times and even sad times. And that makes them forgive each other no matter what.”
Rukky nodded. “Just like you love Stella and me, and we love you too and we are one family?”
Caleb grinned. “One big happy family.”
“And just as you loved my mummy and you two married and we were all one family before she had to go back to heaven, right?”
His grin widened. He was getting it, his brilliant boy. “Exactly. And though she’s gone to heaven she’s still a part of our family because we love her and she still loves us.”
“Yes, but she can’t be our mummy anymore, right?”
His toothy smile dimmed a little. “No, not anymore.”
Rukky nodded and twisted his fingers. Caleb saw the way his head hung thoughtfully and drew closer, wanting to comfort and reassure him. He was probably thinking of his mummy.
“So, do you love Miss Elizabeth?”
The question stopped him on his tracks. It staggered him. His mouth dropped open, and this time, his jaw went with it. They weren’t talking about Rukky’s love life, or even family love. This was about his love life. Oh my God! His six year old son was discussing his love life… Good heavens!
“Daddy please stop looking at me like you’ve seen an alien.” Rukky admonished with a shake of his head.
Caleb was almost certain he would have handled seeing an alien better. “What did you say?” He stammered out, still not sure he was hearing right.
Rukky rolled his eyes dramatically. “I said do you love Miss Elizabeth? And don’t worry, Stella and I love her and we think she will make a really good mummy for us.” He added when his father only continued to gape at him.
“Oh.” Caleb managed to shuffle forward and drop into the other stool. They had been discussing this together? The two of them had been talking about… him and Elizabeth? About having another mummy?
“We love her, daddy.” Rukky repeated, beginning to feel worried when his father still didn’t say anything. “She is nice and pretty and sings like an angel and she loves us too – we can tell. We just want to know if you love her too?” His dark eyes were serious as they stared up at him.
“And you and your sister have talked about this?” He felt his eyes mist as that struck him again and again.
Rukky dipped his head. “Yes we have.”
“And you really love Miss Elizabeth?” He felt a little clog in his throat. “And want her for your mummy?”
Rukky nodded, starting to feel hopeful again because of the funny expression in his father’s eyes. It was one he had whenever he was about to tell them seriously he loved them and was proud of them. “Yes we do, daddy.” He answered softly. “So, do you love her too?”
This time the question didn’t sound so heavy and atrocious. And even though he was still a little freaked about the question, he nodded and smiled. “As a matter-of-fact I do.”
Rukky shrieked. “You love Miss Elizabeth?”
Caleb chuckled, certain that somewhere in this way-too-staid world people would be criticising the order of conversation between him and his six year old son right now. But he did not care because he knew he always wanted to be true and open with his son.
“I do. I love Miss Elizabeth and I also do think that she will make a good mummy.” He affirmed with a wide smile.
“Yes!” Rukky yelled out in triumph jumping down his stool to hug his father. “So you are going to marry her now and bring her home as our mummy?”
Caleb laughed out loud. “Not quite that fast, champ. There’s a way these things work.”
Rukky tilted his head back to stare at him. “Oh.”
Caleb inclined his head. “Yes. First I’ll have to ask her if she wants to marry me. Then if she says yes, we will plan the wedding and everything before I can bring her home to live with us.”
“Oh, okay.” Rukky bobbed his head, understanding. That wasn’t a problem. “Don’t worry daddy, she will say yes because Stella and I have been praying about it and God hears the prayers of little children.” He assured him, quoting once more Aunty Mabel.
Caleb drew him closer, hugged him and kissed his forehead. “Indeed he does.”
He held him for a minute, then let him go, got up and returned to the cooker.
He was dishing the soup into plastic containers for refrigeration when the thought hit him. “Rukky, did you start doing badly in class so you can get Miss Elizabeth to come to the house to start giving you extra lessons?” He asked turning to face his son.
Rukky’s brows shot up. He slipped down the stool. “Daddy please, I’m just six years old,” he edged towards the door, “how can a little boy like me know if such thing will work.”
“Uh uhm.” Caleb pursed his lips as he regarded his retreating back. So he’d been playing him, huh? “Just so you know, champion planner, you are still going to have that lesson class today while your sister and I watch that Rio 2 movie I bought yesterday.”
He chuckled when Rukky only strutted off muttering something about the sacrifices he always has to make. Shaking his head, he went on with his dishing.
Gosh, he was so gullible, wasn’t he? Even his six year old son can play him and he was none the wiser. Well, make that very smart six year old son, he chuckled walking to the refrigerator. And that Stella too, they’ll be having a talk later… ganging up against her own daddy.
He chuckled again, well, it was good to know that the kids were in approval of his next mission and were even rooting for him. With them and God on his side… how could he possibly fail, huh?
****
Though she’d tried to convince him it was no longer necessary, but Rukky had insisted he needed to keep having home lessons and since Caleb had merely lifted his shoulders in a can-you-believe-this-kid manner when she’d turned to him for support, she’d had no choice but to teach him today.
So they’d spent just about an hour going through introductory topics together. They were done now and were packing up their books.
“Miss Elizabeth?” Rukky called softly.
“Hmm?” She raised her head to smile at him. He had that concentrated look on his forehead that always told her when a question was coming. “Anything, Rukky?”
He dipped his head. “May I ask you a question, please?”
Her smile widened. “But of course you can, Rukky. Was there something you didn’t understand in the lessons?”
“No, it’s not about the lessons.” He shook his head. “It’s a different question.”
She slipped the books into her handbag and resumed her seat. “Okay, go ahead then.”
He took a deep breath before asking. “Miss Elizabeth do you love Stella and me?”
A soft laugh escaped her. She hadn’t been expecting that. She wasn’t even sure what she’d been expecting, but it certainly wasn’t a question on her affection for them. Oh kids, how they love to be reassured.
“Of course I love you and Stella, Rukky.” She got up and went around the plastic table. “I love you both very much – you are both pretty special kids.” She tweaked his nose playfully.
Rukky giggled at the ticklish touch. “We love you too, Miss Elizabeth.” He generously told her. “And we think you are very special too.”
“Thank you.” She smiled warmly leaning gingerly against the table.
Deciding to get straight to the point, Rukky asked his next question point blank. “Do you love our daddy too?”
The smile on her lips froze as she gaped at him. He was staring back at her, eyes wide and all innocence. Oh God, how does one begin to answer that question? She pondered wildly feeling her heartbeat begin an unsteady thud against her ribs.
It is a simple enough question, Miss Elizabeth, not rocket science, she admonished herself managing a wavering smile as she struggled to steady her jumping heartbeat. He’s just a curious child with an inquisitive mind – you deal with those every day.
Yes, she dealt with stumping questions from over-inquisitive kids every day but she never had to deal with a question she just wasn’t sure how best to answer.
For Christ’s sake, how do you tell a six year old you are so in love with his daddy you can’t think straight? That would be unacceptable. Completely unprofessional and highly unacceptable. No right thinking person says that to a child… and certainly not a well trained teacher responsible for young minds.
She whooshed out a shaky breath, flashed an even shakier smile and folded her arms across her chest. When she found them shaky too, she unfolded them and placed them at the edge of the table, holding on tightly.
“Errm… well… as you know love is biblical.” She chuckled and winked at the same time, make sense, teacher, don’t confound the boy just because you are confounded. She cleared her throat a little noisily. “I mean you know that God asked us to love our neighbour as ourselves, right?”
Rukky nodded, his smile in place, big people were really, really funny.
She beamed. “Good. So that is why I’m expected to love your daddy— because God commands me to do so.” Though he didn’t command me to fall in love with him. That is all on me.
Rukky angled his head. “So you are saying that you love Stella and me very much but you love our daddy like a neighbour? So you don’t think he is special too?”
She opened her mouth, then shut it again. Oh God, how do I answer this now? “Ah… of course I think your daddy is pretty special too. Only a special person can have special kids like both of you, right?”
He only stared at her pointedly.
Great! I’m getting the say-what-you-mean look. “Actually I also like your…”
“I said love… it’s bigger than like.”
“Yes you did and yes it is.” She cleared her throat again. Just say yes and stop making mountains out of molehills. He doesn’t know what fall in love means… he is just talking about simple, uncomplicated love here. “Well, yes I love your daddy too. I mean we are friends and errm… well, friends love each other.” She finished managing a wide smile. Now, shut up and don’t say one more lame word.
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth.” Rukky beamed at her. He’d decided that when big people love each other they act funny when you ask them about it. He doesn’t get why though since Aunty Mabel said love was a good thing and everyone should be proud to love as God loves.
He lifted his books and stepped out from behind his table. “I’ll go and drop these inside and come back to take in the chairs.” He said giving her another smile before marching off.
Elizabeth only nodded, watching him as he went out the garage. Why did she have the feeling that little boy was one smart step ahead of her in some way for heaven’s sake?
Shaking off the thought, she turned to lift her handbag and hang it over her shoulder before lifting her table and following him out of the garage.
A simple question and you had to stutter like you’ve been asked to define the origin of love and its complexities… shame on you, Elizabeth Harcourt.
Related articles across the web
Take Me As I Am #22 – TM David-West