Big Mummy's presence in Oluwole's house always sparks a different feeling for the kids, and seeing them jump around after Aunt Folake said she was coming to spend the weekend with them wasn't surprising.
Aunty Folake happens to be Mr. Oluwole's eldest sister with a 15-year age difference, and since she raised him due to their mother's early death, Oluwole called her mom while his children called her Big Mommy.
"I can't wait to see Big Mummy," Victor, one of the Oluwole twins, shouted with joy.
"It's been how many months now?" Victoria asked, staring at her mom.
"You should do the counting," Mrs. Oluwole replied.
One, two, three... Victoria was counting her fingers while mentioning the month in the right order.
"Eight months," Victor screamed.
"Yes, it's been eight months. You need to be faster next time," Mrs. Oluwole said to Victoria, who felt disappointed that Victor counted faster.
"You guys should join me in the kitchen, or shouldn't we prepare dinner for our guest?" Mrs. Oluwole asked.
"Yes, mummy. Let's cook Jollof rice," Victor replied.
"Big Mummy doesn't like Jollof rice, and she prefers Semovita with Okro Soup," Victoria replied.
"That's right! We are preparing Semovita for Aunty Folake," Mrs. Oluwole replied to the twin, and they marched behind their mom into the kitchen.
Dinner was ready in some hours, and the Oluwole's waited patiently for Big Mummy's arrival. At exactly 8 p.m., they heard a car honking outside their gate, and while wondering who it could be, Aunty Folake called.
"Oluwole, I am outside the gate. Come and help with my luggage so this Uber man can go," Aunty Folake said immediately after Mr. Oluwole picked up her call.
"Okay, ma," Mr. Oluwole replied, turning to the kids. He smiled and told them that Big Mummy had arrived.
The twins rushed outside to welcome her, and Big Mummy was happy to see them.
"You guys have grown taller," she said to the twins, and they were happy about the compliment.
Big Mummy settled in and was offered a cold glass of water by Victoria, which made her impress me.
"Mummy Twins, I can see how well you are taking care of these children. God bless you," Big Mummy said to Mrs. Oluwole after gulping down the water in the glass.
"Thanks ma! You should freshen up first while I serve dinner," Mrs. Oluwole replied.
"Thank you; I will freshen up now and return for dinner," Big Mummy replied.
"We made your favorite," Victor thought. He whispered to Big Mummy, but everyone heard, and they all burst into laughter.
Aunty Folake joined the family at the dining table some minutes later, and they prayed before eating.
"How was your trip, Aunty?" Oluwole asked while eating, and the twins looked at him immediately.
"Talking while eating?" Victoria replied.
"There are exceptions; just continue with your food. Naughty girl," Mr. Oluwole replied.
"My trip was fine, and I missed you guys a lot," Big Mummy replied.
The conversation went on over dinner, and they retired to the living room after.
"I hope Victor has stopped bedwetting. He is a big boy now," Big Mummy teased Victor, whose eyes were fixed on the TV screen.
"He stopped but now talks while asleep," Victoria replied.
"It's a lie, big mommy. I don't bed wet or talk in my sleep anymore," Victor cuts in to the conversation.
"Is that true?" Big Mummy turned to Mrs. Oluwole.
"He stopped bedwetting, and we are cautioning him from talking while sleeping," Mrs. Oluwole replied.
"It must be all the rough play in school because I don't know where he got the habit from suddenly," Mrs. Oluwole added.
"You don't know? He got it from his father, of course," Aunty Folake replied, and the living room went silent immediately.
"Me?" Mr. Oluwole broke the silence.
"Yes, you, or have you forgotten?" Mrs. Oluwole asked, and the twins burst into laughter.
"Don't deny it, daddy," they chorused.
"I can't remember anything though," Mr. Oluwole replied.
The conversation ended immediately, and everyone retired to their bedrooms after, but the Twins snuck into the guest room to hear their dad's history as usual.
"Big mummy, does that really talk while sleeping?" Victoria asked.
"Yes, he does. He talks a lot while sleeping, and we all believed he was speaking to our deceased mother," Big Mummy replied.
"I wish grandma was alive," Victoria replied.
"We all wish that she was here today," Big Mummy replied.
"There was a day your dad started talking while sleeping, and we all woke up since we shared the same room. We wanted to wake him up, but our dad stopped us from doing that. Suddenly, he rose from the bed with his eyes closed and left the house. We followed him immediately, and Oluwole didn't stop until he got to a river. He started crying and calling, Mommy, Mommy, repeatedly.
We were all moved to tears, and we wished we could see what he was seeing. He fell to the ground, and we had to carry him back home," Big Mummy concluded her story.
The twins were in tears already and felt pity for their dad. They couldn't listen to another story before retiring to bed, and the next morning, the twins came to hug their dad.
Mr. Oluwole didn't know why, but he was happy that they hugged him passionately that morning. Big Mummy's stay that weekend was memorable, and the twins enjoyed her company.