How could a toddler save such a grown up? That was the question that kept popping up from the on-lookers. It all started on Sunday afternoon after we came back from church. Exhausted and thirsty and hungry, I lay in bed hungry, waiting for manna from heaven, because I was so tired to even know the way to the kitchen . Neither did I hear a child crying, until my mother called my attention to the baby cry. "Ruth, don't you think Sandra's baby has been crying non-stop?" "Really?" I asked. I didn't even know, maybe I thought it was normal, babies cry. All of a sudden, my mother stood, " where's this baby's mother and why has the baby been crying non-stop?" You know a mother would always be a mother. She tied her wrapper and went straight to the boys quarters where Sandra was staying with her baby.
Seriously, I didn't want her to go, not because I didn't have human feelings but no neighbour would dare go to Sandra about anything. Her response to things in that house has been "mind your business". Imagine that kind of neighbour, if you helped her pack her clothes from the line to avoid drenching in rain, you are a thief.
If you are worried because she had not come out of the room for three days, she would lambast you for poke nosing. If you played with Sandra's nine month old baby, she assumed and concluded, you wanted to poison her. So, everyone avoided her like plague.
That afternoon however, my mother could not resist the baby's cry. The baby had cry too long and loud for her mother not to pacify her "Sandra! Sandra!! My mum kept calling her. "What's wrong with the baby?" Why is she crying so badly?" She continued shouting her name and asking questions until she got to her doorstep.
She got no reply, so she knocked. It didn't look like anybody was going to reply. Well, that was Sandra's habit. She had a very poor relationship with her neighbours.
Even if you called her a hundred times, she wouldn't answer, except she was ready to pick a fight with you. She had made everybody her enemies. So, people don't mingle with her as such. In fact, last week Sunday was another tug of war in the house. It was a serious fight between Sandra and our landlord. Sandra loved playing music aloud and even singing along, the tenants kept complaining to the landlord and wanted Sandra out of the house.
The noise pollution from her room was just too much. It happened often and she flared up and picked fights with anyone that raised the issue. So, it was only the landlord that could confront her.
So, on this day, the baby kept crying, and nobody gave a damn. So, my mother entered her room and saw the little baby crying and sat on her mother's back. Sandra was on the floor lying flat, and facedown. Sandra! My mom called again but no response. She carried the baby and rushed out. "Help! Help!! It's Sandra" At the mention of her name, people were reluctant to move close. My mom started shouting, "Help me" until some rallied around her. It is Sandra! She's on the floor inside ". She is not not responding" Help please, this is her baby!
So, a few people entered her room, they tapped her but to no avail. So, they carried her out. Haa! The scene was terrible. There was shit all over her body and her mouth was already foaming. It was an unusual scene, so no one knew what to do. She was doing as if she would pass out the next minute. Neighbours quickly rushed to the hospital. It was an emergency situation. The neighbours made some deposit at the hospital, just to save Sandra's life. Who could believe the neighbours she hated so much would be her hero.
The doctors and nurses started attending to her until her health was stabilized and we were allowed to see her. "where am I?" She asked, as she was surrounded with neighbours. "Just thank God for Ruth's mother, Sandra" " and your baby!" another person responded. "That little baby is your real hero" My mother said, because if it had not been for her continuous cry, nobody would have bothered about you. "Not even me" I reiterated, "because I hate being accused of poke nosing". C'mon Ruth, she's just recovering. My mother cautioned me.
Tears filled Sandra's eyes immediately, "I'm so sorry everyone " She said. The visiting time was up and it was confirmed she would be discharged the following day. So, we all left, thanking God for the real hero_Sandra's baby.
Thanks for reading.
Picture is Ai generated.