Mama's food is the best soul food.

Gaining admission into college separated me from my parents, and I was forced to go months without seeing them, but technology helped to comfort me by giving me the chance to hear their voices over the phone every day. It was difficult at first, but it is part of growing up, as no one lives with their parents forever; leaving home is inevitable. At some point you get to leave your parents house and journey to pursue your own dreams.

Leaving home means a change in diet. For the fact that I hate to cook whenever I leave home, I settle for junk food until I go home for holidays. It is so bad to the point that sometimes I forget what real food tastes like. For the fact that I don't just miss home, but I miss those soul foods mom always prepares like it is nothing, I always rush home whenever I get the chance, and she does me a favor by preparing them while waiting for my arrival.

"Once we are done with exams on Tuesday, I am leaving. I miss those soul foods my mom always prepares, especially on Sundays." I said to my coursemate and friend Dera

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"Why do you always go home immediately after exams; you don't even want to spend a week or two in school?" Dera asked

"Here in school I don't get any soul food unless I am ready to undergo the stress of preparing them, but at home I just relax and mom does all the work." I responded with a smile on my face.

"So after tomorrow's exams, you will just leave and head home and not hang out with us?" Dera asked with a long face.

"Yes bro. I have already told mom I would be home tomorrow; if I don't go, then I will miss out on whatever she plans to prepare for my arrival tomorrow." I responded as I put my hand on his shoulder.

The long-awaited day came, and immediately after exams I did not even wait to exchange pleasantries with friends like we always do; I just headed home to grab my already packed bag with the imagination of eating whatever soul food mom must have prepared back home waiting for me. I set out to the nearest bus station; luckily, I was the last person needed to complete the number of passengers needed for the bus to take off. I was so happy I did not waste time at the bus station waiting for passengers, as that has always been a problem.

It was a six-hour journey, but how excited I was to go home, see my parents, and have a taste of soul food again after months made it less stressful and less tiring. The thoughts of the soul food mom must have prepared filled my mind, and I could not help but raise my expectations of what mom must have prepared so high because she has never failed; not once has she ever failed to prepare something that comforts my soul and makes me crave going home all the time. Funny how I did not even bother to buy snacks, so I can eat everything mom brings to the table.

"Hello, mom, can you please tell my siblings to come and help me with my bag? I am at the gate." I said to my mom over the phone

"Oh really?" Mom asked, and I could feel the happiness "Johnson, help your brother at the gate," mom added.

"I knew you were coming back today; seeing mom prepare stew with fried chicken and fried catfish instead of just fried fish on a Tuesday said a lot." My younger brother Johnson said as he rubbed my head.

"See how tall you have grown; the soul food you eat every day is working for your good, and you don't have respect for elders." I said as we both burst into laughter.

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On reaching the house, I was served with a brown flask filled with rice and a well garnished stew. The contents of the stew made it difficult to get to the rice, and I had to move them to another plate as I enjoyed myself. I did not even bother to bathe as I rushed to dig into the flask. "The soul food school deprived me of all these months." I said as I appreciated my mom for taking time to prepare me a soul food.