Mrs.O's writing room.

“Mummy, Amani’s nose and hands look so yummy, I want to eat them”. Then he spends many of her waking hours pecking and sucking on her cheeks. “Mummy, I think Amani is the most beautiful baby in the world”. “Yes Mich, I couldn’t agree more”. He will want to carry her, sit with her, dance for her and not leave her side. He reads to her, shakes her hands and brings the cutest smile to her face. He is protective of her. But when mummy says, “hush! Baby needs to sleep” all over a sudden doors get slammed, slippers are dragged, shoes are stomped, songs get louder. There is a need to raise his voice as though we are in separate rooms, even when we are at the same table. Funny thing is, she doesn’t mind. She associates the “littler” person in the house with noise, energy and games. She beams a wide smile when she hears his voice and sleeps as still as a log through all his noise. I have labored to explain “Baby needs to rest, so she is happy when she wakes. And mummy needs to rest t

She rides a bicycle, starts a motor and pulls a few punches She steps on an imaginary accelerator She studies my face intently:- making out the C shapes at the sides of my head and the black things on the top of my head She looks me dead in the black spot of the eye, when she has had enough of a gaze, she shuts her eyes to drink it all in She knows my scent and leaps at the sound of my voice She laughs when its time to feed She coos in satisfaction Her toothless smile makes plants grow and the sun to shine in the middle of the night. My little girl Amani