The wedding gift

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"From all indications, you are perfectly fine as a couple. I can recommend assisted reproductive technology to you. It has a high success rate, and I’m certain yours won’t be an exception. It’ll be good to opt for that early enough, as the more advanced you are in age (looking towards me), the less chances there are of its success." Doctor Jason said this reassuringly, facing us.

My thoughts had already traveled far as the doctor spoke. "It was obvious they had reached a dead end after a series of investigations and history-taking," I thought deeply. I felt a gentle squeeze on my hand, causing a mild startle yet a reminder that my husband, Jerry, sat there with me in the consulting room. The doctor sounded convincing, but I was not ready to give an immediate answer.

"Thank you, doctor; we’ll discuss this alternative and feed you back in good time." Jerry said to the doctor, letting out a gentle but weak smile.

Jerry helped me get to my feet. He must have realized my mood was dampened and I could barely walk by myself. Jerry’s strong arms and mind have always been my comfort, pillar, and support. Physically, Jerry was sturdy, had chocolate skin, was handsome, was built like a brick shithouse, had an optimistic vibe, and his face almost always had a smile carved on it, making his cheeks a little more obvious. His height could be intimidating for short people, but for me, I fell in love with his towering, athletic 5’11 physique from the start. My fragile 5'9" frame and curved yellow skin always crawled into his strong arms whenever my mood snapped. He would caress my curly, dark hair, peck me on the forehead, and make my face blush from his warmth and understanding. "Five years down this marriage and not a child or even a miscarriage to show for it?" my thoughts haunted me, this time around like an angry chase.

We got home to our new apartment. We recently relocated to a new area, somewhere more quiet and closer to Jerry’s workplace, a shoe-making factory that took him away from me every weekday, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and my provision store, where I am the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.), kept me busy a little, distracting my mind from the torture of infertility that constantly flooded me with depression.

We hoped to change the environment also, for our neighbors would not stop whispering gossip about our childlessness almost to our ears. The new neighborhood had each house fenced; some were taller than normal, and this gave us the comfort of a "mind-your-business" residential setting.

My younger brother, David, came to stay for his college inter-semester holiday, and he has been quite helpful with unboxing our items and arranging and cleaning the three (3) bedroom apartment. We had so many gifts during our wedding (most were items we already had), and we had to stash most in the guest room in the previous apartment, untouched for years.

David was like our late mother; I almost diagnosed him as having obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). He has hardly rested since he got to the house three days ago. Jerry’s mother was due to arrive for a visit from the village this evening, and I was glad David was almost done cleaning one of the rooms where she would be staying. She had insisted on checking on us even though Jerry attempted to discourage her. She had always encouraged me and would drop prayers for me whenever she called (and I must admit, her calls were often), which encouraged me yet scared me.

That evening, when Jerry’s mother arrived, I prepared her favorite delicacy of wheat flour and white-seed melon soup (egusi) garnished with boiled goat meat. We all had time to catch up, and we were glad to have her in our company. We had a brief night's devotion and retired to our rooms.

Shortly after 11 p.m., Jerry’s mom called out to us after a gentle knock on the door, causing Jerry and I to panic. Jerry opened the door, and I tagged behind him in my pajamas, scared of what the problem could be.

"There’s something in my room you both need to see." Jerry’s mom said, her expression looking concerned.

Jerry led the way to the guest room prepared for her, picking up a bat stick from the corridor. He carefully opened the door, and its squeak caused a shiver to run down my spine as I held on tightly to his shirt from behind. We all entered the room, and surprisingly, we found it empty of any living or strange things. However, Jerry’s mom pointed to a tabletop where a small wooden sculpture of a male and female was tied by a tiny, old-looking rope around its waist. This caused my heart to skip a beat, as the figurine looked unattractive and scary. Jerry dropped the bat stick in his hand against the wall and approached the tabletop to pick up the item.

"Don’t you dare lay a hand on that, Jerry!" His mother warned him sternly, causing him to pause and withdraw. "Do you not recognize it? How did it get here?" she asked further.

"David, come here this minute." Jerry called out to David, who was already on his way to where we were, for his sleep had also been interrupted. "Who owns that?" Jerry asked David, pointing to the figurine on the table.

David peered beyond Jerry’s side. "That?" he asked, wearing a worried look. "I saw it among the stash of gift items I was cleaning. I dropped it on the table, thinking it would add some beauty to the room. I’m sorry, did I do something wrong?" David replied, his voice almost trembling.

"It’s nothing." Jerry’s mother shrugged him off. "You can go back to your room." She further dismissed

"Is something the matter?" I managed to ask after David left for his room.

"This should never have been here; someone wicked must’ve given you this as a punishment. The omen with this figurine is not a good one. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll take this to the village. There is a ritual to remedy its bad omen." She further enlightened us.

This time, I was scared to the marrow. Jerry’s mom carefully wrapped the figurine in a nylon bag and kept it in the corner of the room, careful not to have any physical contact with it. That night, we barely slept, and my husband and I thought it wise to pray rather than wallow in fear of the figurine.

The following morning, my mother-in-law took off to the village with the figurine and a kerchief David uses. She told us any property of David’s would be required to absorb him from any effect the figurine could have on him. After she left, our moods were still shaken, but we were glad the figurine had been taken away. Jerry and I carefully unwrapped each wedding gift we had abandoned since we got married to be certain there was no strange item within.

Jerry’s mom called after three days to inform us the ritual had been completed and we were free from its hold (including David). My mind immediately had some peace, and my mood became brighter and lighter, both at home and at work.

Three months after that discovery, our fortunes began to improve as Jerry won a contract for his company, which earned him some monetary tips and job elevation. My sales also improved, and I had to restock more often. Jerry and I raised the money for the ART doctor Jason talked about, and we planned a visit to his clinic over the weekend. However, I had a fainting attack and had to be rushed prior to the scheduled appointment.

"Doctor, what could be responsible for the fainting attack?" Jerry asked with a concerned look after I was stabilized and strong enough to walk. A series of first-line investigations were carried out on me, and some history was obtained from my husband.

"Congratulations to both of you." Doctor Jason smiled, causing us to relax a bit.

"About?" I asked, even though my voice almost sounded like a whisper.

"You are six weeks pregnant, Mrs. Patricia." He replied.

My mood immediately lit up, and I could see Jerry’s face glow in excitement. He stood up, grabbed me gently as I sat on the examination couch, and gave me a bear hug.

"Errm, excuse me, love birds, you will have all the time for this when you get home." Doctor Jason smiled, tearing out a prescription for us. "I’ll see you in four weeks for your antenatal." He added.

Jerry helped me down the couch gently, and we exited the consulting room. My joy knew no bounds, and it seemed as though I could feel the baby kick (even though I knew it was my excitement at work).