"Jesse, why aren't you picking up my calls?"

Adaora was sulking on the stool she sat on when her son didn't return in time from work in the distant town. She had her eyes on the wall clock and soon she started pacing around the room while stamping her feet on the floor.

Adaora soliloquized when she called her son to no avail.

Before God blessed Adaora with Jesse as a fruit of the womb, she had been the laughing stock of the village.

Majority had tagged her barren and she was forbidden to send others child on errand. Even her in laws had followed suit in making her life a living he ll. Adaora wouldn't have been able to scale through the awful situation if her husband had not remain standing by her side back then.

Unexpectedly after many years in marriage, Adaora conceived . It was a surprise to all from far and near when the pregnancy became visible to the eyesight. After Adaora gave birth to her son which she named Jesse, her husband died from a mysterious illness.

Some months after Adaora's husband died, her in-laws came together and accused her of being the perpetrator behind his death. All Adaora's pleas of being innocent fell into deaf ears and she was paraded around the town as a wit ch. After Adaora was framed up as the person behind her husband's death in conjunction with the king who was interested in the properties the husband left behind, Adaora was banished from the village with her son in her hands. She was stripped bare of her right and privileges. Adaora had to go to a village she wasn't recognized to start a new life.

As time goes on in the new village, Jesse grew up to be a lovable son. He was extremely generous and never stopped to put a smile on his mother's face. His wondrous acts made his mom tag him "his mother's pride."

In the new village, Jesse had his eyes for a girl right from childhood. He was seen with her here and there at childhood and even when they blossomed into adults there affection stood still for each other.

Ulonma was the name of the lady Jesse had his eyes for. Each time Jesse saw Ulonma, his heart melted like candy. He loved Ulonma to a fault and cherished her same way he cherished his mother. Jesse's mom knew of their relationship and she wholeheartedly approved it. Since Jesse was her only child, she was looking forward for him to settle down that way she would carry her grandchildren before going to the grave .

Unlike other young men in the village, Jesse detest farming work, so he didn't waste the opportunity to work in a distant town as soon as he got the offer. The salary of the job was mouthwatering and Jesse didn't hesitate to jump at it. Moreover the work was way comfortable and advanced than the farming opportunities available in the village. For his comfort, Jesse had a bicycle he rode to work. The bicycle could take him as far as he wanted and he maintained it for his best interest.

When Jesse got his first salary, he bought his mother a blouse and as for Ulonma he got her a blouse with a skirt a bit above her knee. Ulonma was happy when she got the gift. She thanked Jesse happily and hugged him for minutes before they departed to their respective homes.

Jesse was a responsible son, he had few friends in the village and each time he closed from work he would head home as early as he could so it made his mother worried when her son didn't return home in time. That morning before Jesse had left for work, he had complained of a splitting headache . When his mother told him to rest for the day, he assured her that he would be fine.

Soon the day went late into the night yet Jesse had not returned. Ulonma who had not heard from Jesse the whole day was also worried. It took a lot of words of comfort from her parents before she kept her cool.

That night when Jesse didn't return home as anticipated, his mother went out of her room with her hands on her head.

She kept on knocking doors to doors from pillars to post asking people who cared to listen if they had seen Jesse.

"The agony of a mother, who can understand? Jesse was her only child after all."

Adaora was told in conclusion to wait till the following day when she didn't get a hint of Jesse's whereabouts after roaming around. The poor old woman could not sleep the whole night. She soaked her bed with tears . The following day sadly, it was discovered that Jesse had been run over by a trailer while returning home from work. It was that time at the end of the work when he was already paid for his labour.

When Jesse's bag was searched, he had a headgear for his mother and a bracelet for his loved girlfriend in the bag.

The two bursted into tears at the horrific sight of Jesse's remnants.

"Once again, God, you have proven you are against me. My only source of joy left, you allowed the world to take it away from me."

Jesse's mother rolled on the floor.

The old woman attempted to take her life after her son's death several times. She was heavily depressed.

Otello who was Jesse's bosom friend tried his best to cheer the old lady up. He would pay her a visit from time to time with bushmeats in his hands. Some of the meats got spoilt because Adaora didn't attempt to cook it. She had lost the zest for life. Nevertheless her cold acts, Otello continued paying her a visit with the hope of changing her mind from committing sui cide.

Author Blessing Adewusi stories

Three months after Jesse's death, it was discovered that Ulonma was pregnant and the child was Jesse's. The news brought hope to Jesse's mother's ears and make her repent in her thoughts that God had forsaken her.

When Ulonma put to bed, she gave birth to triplets. Two boys and one girl. Jesse's mother heart was filled up with abundant Joy. God had compensated her handsomely.

Till this day, Adaora misses her husband and son but her grandchildren served as a source of solace.

May we not be victims of unforseen circumstances and may unfavourable situations detach from us.

This story is dedicated to widows and mothers who lost their only child. I feel and see your pains.