02

**Solange Djissou**

After a few beatings, Pierre gets up and, wanting to run to escape, my mother picks her up again. I quickly got down on my knees to beg mom to leave him.

Me (crying): Mom please stop hitting him, I seriously love him and he loves me too. For the love you have for me, mom if he lets go. I beg you. Listen to my pleas please mom.

She looks at me rigorously and releases Piere.

Me: Thank you very much mom.

Pierre takes the opportunity to get out of the house but my mother calls out to him.

Mom: Hey oh you come back here.

He turns around and comes back to us with his head down. His face was filled with sand and his clothes had become dirty.

Mom (angry): Look me in the eyes and tell me what you came here to do.

Pierre (trembling): Mom first of all I apologize for...

Mom (cutting him off): Tell me what you came to do at my house at that hour.

Pierre: I came to see Solange.

Mom: Why is that?

Peter: I...

Mom (shouting): Aren't you talking anymore? Besides, what is Solange to you?

Pierre: She's my girlfriend.

Mom looks me up and down and continues her questions.

Mom: For how long now?

Pierre: Three years mum.

Mom (shouting): What? Three years and I'm not informed?

Me: I'm sorry mom, I wanted to tell you about it but...

Mom (calm): Solange, you're a witch. My son comes to sit you down.

Pierre insists before approaching but under my mother's gaze, he sits down.

Pierre: Thank you mum for the welcome.

Mum: Solange, go get him some water.

I will quickly bring water for Pierre.

Mom: My son, where are you from? And what do you do for a living? What platform are you from?

Pierre: I come from the neighboring village called Ouéga, but I am originally from Porto, a Catholic religion. I am a hunter cultivator.

Mom: Sorry about what just happened.

Pierre: No mum, it's up to me to apologize. Alright, I'll ask to leave.

Mom: Um stay so we can eat. We wanted to eat when you arrived. Hope you don't mind too much!

Peter: No mum.

Mom: Thank you. So let's go to the table.

We headed to the dining table to enjoy our meals. Once installed, I squeeze the eaten to mom, then to Pierre and me in last position. We wished each other good appetites and everyone savored the delicious meal.

Mum: Solange did the cooking. I hope you liked it.

Pierre: Yes, it smells very good and it's a really circulating dish. I loved it.

Me: Thanks Peter.

Mom: Who told you about Solange?

Me: Mom he complimented My meal and I had to answer him no.

Mom: Please shut up, the mouth that eats does not speak.

Peter: Oh...

On his words, no one speaks until the end of dinner. Sometimes my mother becomes annoying, incomprehensible and unbearable. It tires me sometimes and I think to myself why I was born in this family. But I love her like that because apart from that, she fulfills me, protects me and maintains me like any mother does to her children. I'm still happy that she was able to talk to Pierre today. That was the most important thing. But I always wonder what Pierre came to do here at that time. Either way, I'll find out before he leaves here. Pierre finishes his meal and takes some water, but my mother still chokes him with her questions. Right now, I'm putting away the plates we ate with in the kitchen.

Mom: My son, are you well satisfied? Don't be ashamed, now this is your home.

Pierre: No, it's good already, mum. Thank you very much for giving me this warm welcome. It goes straight to my heart.

Mom: Leave it.

Pierre: I'm going to ask to leave.

Mom: Ok okay say hello to your parents for me. Solange, take him home.

Pierre: Goodbye and have a good evening.

I get up all smiles to accompany him to the gate. We leave the house and I accompany him to the crossroads of the village. Nobody was talking until I broke the silence with my question.

Me (holding his hand): Honey why did you come without telling me?

Pierre: Sorry it was my mother who wanted to see you tomorrow morning that's why I was to inform you but my surprise was great.

Me: Don't worry, everything will be fine. At times misfortune is also good.

Pierre: So you'll be there tomorrow?

Me: Yes honey.

Pierre: Ok, see you tomorrow then.

I give him a kiss on the lips and we look away. Arrived at home, I already see my mother in the living room singing.

Me: Mom of my heart, my one and only mom, my reason for living, my breathing...

Mom (cutting me off): Hey stop it quick. I know you want to ask me a favor that's why you flatter me like this. Tell me, what do you want?

Me: Hum, I want to ask your permission to go and see Pierre's mother tomorrow. She asks to see me tomorrow morning.

Mom: Why?

Me: I don't know yet. I will go hear what she has to say to me. Can you let me then?

Mom: Oh come on!

Me: Thank you very much mom I love you very much.

Mom: Me too my dear.

This with a smile on my face that I fall asleep. I hear the scream of my clock ringing and I wake up with a start. I set the clock for 6 a.m. so I can do my chores before mom wakes up. I'll take the broom, I clean the yard, mom's room, mine and I wash the plates. Once my work was done, I headed to Mom's room to see if she had ever woken up to say hello. Just arrived, I see her on her knees on the bed praying. She finishes her prayer and greets me.

Mom (yawning): Hello you.

Me: Hello mom, how was your night?

Mom: As you can see, I'm doing great.

Me: Thanksgiving then. I'm going out around 8 o'clock.

Mom: Early already?

Me: Yes to come back quickly.

Mom: Ok okay I'll go to the market now to pay for the herbal teas. I feel a little tired and headache.

Me: Ok I'll leave you.

I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a good shower. Oh the water was so cool.

I go back to the room and rest a bit. Moments later, Mom calls out my name.

Mom (shouting): Solange, Solange.

I answer him from the bedroom.

Me: Yes Mom.

Mom: I'm leaving already oh. When you go out, remember to close the windows and doors tightly.

Me: Okay.

I wait another ten minutes before leaving.

I arrive at Pierre's, I knock on the door.

Me: knock knock!

Unknown: Who is it?

Me: It's Solange.

The person comes to open the gate for me and it was Pierre's mother. I greet her and she replies asking for news of my mother.

Me: Hello mom.

Mom Pierre: Hello my daughter, how are you? And your mom, is she doing well?

Me: Yes I am very well and the same for my mother too.

Maman Pierre: Did you come to see me early this morning?

Me (stammering): Uh yes but hey I have to go see Pierre first.

Mum Pierre: Oh okay, he's in his room. Arriving there, you have to pour water on him otherwise he won't wake up.

We both burst out laughing.

I go. I open the door quietly and sneak in to sit next to him on the bed. I caress her cheek and whisper in her ear.

Me (small voice): My Angel, I'm already here, I know you're not sleeping.

He smiles with his eyes closed. Oh that smile that makes me forget all the problems in the world.

Pierre: Welcome my love.

He wakes up and hugs me very tightly with kisses on my neck and cheek.

Me: Thank you honey. How are you ?

Pierre: In great shape. Are you wide awake?

I do.

Pierre: What have you brought me?

Me: Hmm Pierre, I've been a bit weak financially lately.

Pierre: No honey, I'm not talking about that.

What me ?

He looks at me for a few seconds and breathes.

Pierre: I have about...

Me (cutting him off): Oh no darling no way. We did it yesterday with intensity. I'm really in pain in my low country (fufoune), another day please otherwise I risk getting seriously ill.

Pierre: A little early morning please my sweetheart.

He starts touching my sensitive parts but I quickly block him.

Me: That's enough Peter. You are too spoiled.

Peter: I...

Me: Sorry, no comment. Let's talk about what I'm here for.

Pierre: Ok, let's go see my mother.

We leave his room to join his mother who is warming up yesterday's food.

Us: Hello mom.

Mom Pierre: Ah hello Pierre and hello again my daughter. To what do I owe the honor of this morning visit?

Pierre: Hum you told me you wanted to see her noh.

Maman Pierre: Oh sorry, I completely forgot. Excuse me.

Peter: Hmm.

Mom Pierre: You two make a nice couple, huh.

Peter: Hmm.

Maman Pierre: Since then, you just say hum. What is it? My daughter, if he does anything wrong to you, just come and inform me.

Me (smile): Ok okay mom.

Maman Pierre: What is your name again?

Me: My name is Solange Djissou.

Mom Pierre: It's simple. Well I take leave of you, I have things to do.

Pierre looks at his mother and shakes his head. We turn around in his room to talk, I didn't know he had prepared a surprise for me.

Pierre: Since the first day I saw you, your figure has bewitched me and changed my shots in life. From the start, I didn't know that I was going to recover from my heavy disappointment and love you like this, but thanks to your patience, your gentleness and your respect, I was able to overcome this ordeal that was going to cost me my life. I thank you very much for having integrated my life and for having given me the true meaning of the word loved, I love you infinitely.

He puts one knee on the ground, takes a small square red box out of his pocket and opens it.

Pierre: Solange Djissou, will you marry me?

Wow what a moving declaration of love? I put both my hands on my face because I wasn't expecting it at all. I'm so excited, I can't believe it at all. Me Solange Djissou and Pierre Sonon ask me in marriage? So I'm going to be his wife? God is truly wonderful. I didn't know when my eyes were filled with tears, tears of joy of course.

Me (shouting): Yes Pierre, I want it.

I hold out my hand and he puts the ring on my finger. We kiss for a while and we take action despite my pain. The day starts very well for me and I also liked the way he hit me.

I go home and tell my mother the news. She squeals with joy and kisses me. She also sheds tears. Pierre didn't want things to take much longer. We talked about everything and nothing like the dowry which is scheduled for Friday next week and the civil marriage, for the next day. Ah everything happened too fast than we thought.

** A week later **

I am so happy to be endowed today. All the members of Pierre's family are present. As my mother and I no longer had any family, the district chief was represented as a witness and everything went well. The next day we went to the town hall for the civil wedding.

Everything went well too. After the events, we went to town for our honeymoon. Finally I am Mrs. Solange Sonon.

*A year later*

Mom Pierre: You disgust me. You just eat.

Me: Mom it is God who gives children. I will bide my time.

When I moved into the house of my in-laws, my mother passed away because of my in-laws. She wanted to integrate my mother and me into her circle, but the way my mother answered her that day cost her her life six months after my wedding. Since that day, my mother-in-law has been throwing hurtful words at me. During my mother's funeral, my so-called husband Pierre did not even participate until the end of the funeral. I cried tired. But I put everything in the hands of the Lord.