Second mother
Now, the holidays are finally over. I no longer see all these Malaysian guys with their intimidating cars around or, too many new faces. So, that's one clear sign. Well, I'm not coming back from the village anytime soon mainly because, your girl lives in the village. (Don't laugh abeg. I enjoy fresh air and perfect tranquillity-at times sha).
So, I just want to know who and who made chin chin for the festive season.
If you did, you are not my friend. Let me tell you why.
Ten years ago, when even in the month of October, you could feel the harmattan creeping in especially at the wee hours of the morning. Not now that global warming is destroying our atmosphere. It was the month of December and, I had just come back from boarding school for the holidays. Trust me it was a grand welcome. Everyone was all over me especially my siblings asking about my experience as though I wasn't home six weeks ago for mid term break and, they listened in awe as I related everything to them carefully skipping the days and nights I was homesick and cried my eyes out. I was treated as a celebrity you know. My mum placed me on a special diet as I had gotten lean.
Lol...exactly
Extra meats were given to me, I was allowed to sleep in my parent's bedroom which was a luxury for my siblings and I then. I was the only one that could wake up late long after everyone was up because, Hello! I was now a secondary school girl and, trying to add some flesh. The peak of it all was when my mum proclaimed me the second mother of the house. I really used the 'position' well and, any of my siblings that rebelled was no longer my friend and, I won't buy him or her biscuits or sweets from the little money I had saved from my pocket money. Your girl was a mini celebrity.
As a tradition back then, we usually make chin chin once a year and it falls on every Christmas period. My siblings and I always look forward to it. We were always on my parent's neck bugging them to start purchasing ingredients for it. Our hopes were dashed when, my Father told us we had to skip making chin chin that Christmas because, there clearly won't be any spare time as they had reared a large number of chicken and were trying to sell them. Well, as the second mother of the house, I went days after to plead with and pester my mum and as her new favorite, she obliged. My siblings were extremely happy when I broke the news to them. The respect they had for me towered. We all behaved ourselves till the promised day. We woke very early despite the harmattan to sweep the compound, we did chores without being sent. We no longer made silly noises that irritated my mum. Neither did we grumble when we were sent on an errand no matter how exhausted we felt we were. We did all this and more so,there won't be any excuse for a change of mind.
On the eve of the long awaited day, my siblings and I hardly slept. Everyone had already hidden his or, her 'personal' knife for cutting the chin chin dough into shape before frying. We were gisting excitedly in our room occasionally checking the time as we were so eager for the day to break. We finally gave in to nature and slept.
When the day finally broke, we were filled with excitement. We all fed the chicken and I even forgave the ones that pecked or, scratched my legs in the rush for the feed I was distributing in their feeders. If it were another day, I would have caught the erring chicken and given it a heavy knock that will make it convulse a bit before springing off. But, that day was a joyful day so, I let them be. In less than an hour, we were done with our morning chores something that on a normal day was dragged on for about 2-3 hours.
A wide and long table served as a rolling board for us all while, washed wine bottles served as rolling pins. The table was high so, we always stood on stools for elevation. We always had fun washing,scraping and scrubbing the table with metallic sponges, soapy water and knives to get rid of dirt. Waiting for the table to air dry was the most torturous part of the excersice. It always seemed like it took ages to dry regardless the harmattan breeze.
My mum always allow everyone to participate in mixing the batter. My siblings and I always wear clothes with pockets on this day and, we don't miss hiding some of the butter and sugar in them for later relish.
When done with mixing the dough, my mum shares it amongst us to work on. That was the apex of the excercise. We happily roll the dough into a uniform thickness occasionally stuffing some into our mouths or, in our treasure boxes(pockets) when our parent's are not looking. We cut using our parent's work as a model. Anyone that cut the chin chin dough to neat and perfect cube sizes, his/hers will be fried together with my parent's. It'll be set aside for entertaining visitors while the rest will be for the house. Everyone tried to roll and, cut like them so, his/hers work could be chosen.
Only my mum was allowed to fry the chin chin and, On this particular day, she had started frying under the udara tree in our then compound with one of her agbada supported on a big ekwu igwe(tripod stand) while, a bunch of burning firewood provided heat for the sizzling chin chin being deep fried when she received a phone call to deliver life chicken. She handed over the frying with few instructions to me since I was now matured before she left with my dad to the poultry house to sort and go supply chicken. Something she hasn't done before and boy I was so happy mainly because, I could freely get to stash the fried delicacy into my treasure pocket Yippee.
Mon cherié
I did so well afterall, it was just a few that got burnt. My mum would be so proud. I added another handful to my treasure pocket. My kid brother could take it no more because, I had taken about two handfuls before and refused giving him any when he asked. He asked again and I gave him the
"It's not everything a child sees his mother eat that he asks for" line my mum usually use.
"You are not mummy"
"But, I'm the second mummy of the house " my nine year old self replied.
"I'm also the second Daddy of the house"
"Daddy has not yet made you so. You have not even entered Js1"
My brother went ahead to collect a handful of fried chin chin from the metallic sieve where it was cooling and draining off excess oil. Such impetus! I knocked it off his hand and from there, fight started o. My kid sister was by the side screaming " remember I told both of you not to fight o". In my house then, if one or two people committed an offence while my parents were absent, the four of us are most likely going to pay for it but, you could be exenorated if you warned the person/people so, that was what my sister was doing. Saving her own head. But, we continued fighting until we hit the sieve and, everything turned over. That was when our senses came back. My heart was already beating so fast because, I knew we were in for deep trouble. I suggested we start picking one by one blowing and dusting off the sand particles on each. My brother and I were even working together like we were not fighting a couple of minutes ago. My sister helped too while my youngest brother about three years old was eating from the floor. We had finished covering up our evil when my parents returned. For futher precaution, we had warned even threatened my youngest brother who then had a degree in reporting. We promised hell on him incase he snitched.
As if on cue, my dad asked for some chin chin specifically from the one I had fried. With faith, I served him from it. But, it took only few bites to expose our crime. My dad became livid when I confessed mainly because, he hates when we fight. He told my brother and I to go and get our sizes of cane. Back then, whenever my dad wants to punish or flog us, we try to do something funny either by dancing as though in pain in an exaggerated way when he gives you the first stroke or, by faking tears and promising to be good. Once you get him laughing, you'll be forgiven. We preferred him disciplining us to our mum because, that one na fire. Her best device was new uncut brooms because, she believed we had grown immune to the normal cane. She would pat the head so, the fingers would spread well. By so doing, one whip on your shoulder could get your head,neck and back. About four whips will get your whole body covered and, on fire making you dance in a funny way this time with no intent to make anyone laugh but, from tingly pain. The most traumatic part was, you are not allowed to scream while being flogged because, what she hated most was neigbours' interference. And, we prayed they didn't come to beg on our behalf because, that meant adjournment of your punishment to night when you are perfectly asleep and probably having a nice dream. She'll tiptoe to our room and briefly put on the lights or,her torchlight when there is no power supply to know the particular spot on the bed you are laying then, she'll descend on you with the broom throwing you into a state of both fear and suprise before you remember where you are talk more of your crime, she would be gone. I might tell you of the time I had been waiting for her and quietly swapped places with my sleeping brother (the youngest...her favourite)when she eventually came and put off the lights after verifying my sleeping position.
Back to my story, I had brought a broomstick and was making faces I thought was funny failing to realise it was annoying my dad more. Well, it was already late when I saw him remove his belt. I tried to bolt and give him a chase round his car until he gets tired and finally give up just like my mum does whenever I get her to chase me in a bid to escape her broom. But unfortunately, he caught me before I could run a step and made me lay flat on the ground as the belt peppered my bum. My brother received his own share next but, not as hot as mine sha. I have never seen my dad that annoyed I was quite suprised because, he hardly flogged us. The highest he went was firmly holding the offenders hands together, he lifted the person with his left hand and, using the second and third finger from the thumb of his right hand, he hit his/her calf(The back of the leg below the knee)repeatedly. Although it was painful but, not like the belt.
That was the first time he had used a belt on any of us that was why I kept on crying long after my brother had gotten over it and was cheerful again, I kept crying even the hiccups and swollen eyes didn't stop my tears neither did the nagging headache. I kept on crying till he apologised and pet me to sleep. That was also the last time he used a belt on any of us.
Fortunately, my parents have stopped flogging us but, that doesn't mean a slap or two once in a while does not come in especially from my mum. Lol. And since that day,chin chin making had ceased in my house. Meanwhile anytime I see chin chin, I remember that day not that it has stopped me from eating it sha. Never!!!
Happy New year tho lovely people. Did you make new year resolutions? If yes, puleeez let it not be like other years whereby before the month of February, it will be long forgotten.
#QueenLikeNono
#Second_Mother
So, I just want to know who and who made chin chin for the festive season.
If you did, you are not my friend. Let me tell you why.
Ten years ago, when even in the month of October, you could feel the harmattan creeping in especially at the wee hours of the morning. Not now that global warming is destroying our atmosphere. It was the month of December and, I had just come back from boarding school for the holidays. Trust me it was a grand welcome. Everyone was all over me especially my siblings asking about my experience as though I wasn't home six weeks ago for mid term break and, they listened in awe as I related everything to them carefully skipping the days and nights I was homesick and cried my eyes out. I was treated as a celebrity you know. My mum placed me on a special diet as I had gotten lean.
Lol...exactly
Extra meats were given to me, I was allowed to sleep in my parent's bedroom which was a luxury for my siblings and I then. I was the only one that could wake up late long after everyone was up because, Hello! I was now a secondary school girl and, trying to add some flesh. The peak of it all was when my mum proclaimed me the second mother of the house. I really used the 'position' well and, any of my siblings that rebelled was no longer my friend and, I won't buy him or her biscuits or sweets from the little money I had saved from my pocket money. Your girl was a mini celebrity.
As a tradition back then, we usually make chin chin once a year and it falls on every Christmas period. My siblings and I always look forward to it. We were always on my parent's neck bugging them to start purchasing ingredients for it. Our hopes were dashed when, my Father told us we had to skip making chin chin that Christmas because, there clearly won't be any spare time as they had reared a large number of chicken and were trying to sell them. Well, as the second mother of the house, I went days after to plead with and pester my mum and as her new favorite, she obliged. My siblings were extremely happy when I broke the news to them. The respect they had for me towered. We all behaved ourselves till the promised day. We woke very early despite the harmattan to sweep the compound, we did chores without being sent. We no longer made silly noises that irritated my mum. Neither did we grumble when we were sent on an errand no matter how exhausted we felt we were. We did all this and more so,there won't be any excuse for a change of mind.
On the eve of the long awaited day, my siblings and I hardly slept. Everyone had already hidden his or, her 'personal' knife for cutting the chin chin dough into shape before frying. We were gisting excitedly in our room occasionally checking the time as we were so eager for the day to break. We finally gave in to nature and slept.
When the day finally broke, we were filled with excitement. We all fed the chicken and I even forgave the ones that pecked or, scratched my legs in the rush for the feed I was distributing in their feeders. If it were another day, I would have caught the erring chicken and given it a heavy knock that will make it convulse a bit before springing off. But, that day was a joyful day so, I let them be. In less than an hour, we were done with our morning chores something that on a normal day was dragged on for about 2-3 hours.
A wide and long table served as a rolling board for us all while, washed wine bottles served as rolling pins. The table was high so, we always stood on stools for elevation. We always had fun washing,scraping and scrubbing the table with metallic sponges, soapy water and knives to get rid of dirt. Waiting for the table to air dry was the most torturous part of the excersice. It always seemed like it took ages to dry regardless the harmattan breeze.
My mum always allow everyone to participate in mixing the batter. My siblings and I always wear clothes with pockets on this day and, we don't miss hiding some of the butter and sugar in them for later relish.
When done with mixing the dough, my mum shares it amongst us to work on. That was the apex of the excercise. We happily roll the dough into a uniform thickness occasionally stuffing some into our mouths or, in our treasure boxes(pockets) when our parent's are not looking. We cut using our parent's work as a model. Anyone that cut the chin chin dough to neat and perfect cube sizes, his/hers will be fried together with my parent's. It'll be set aside for entertaining visitors while the rest will be for the house. Everyone tried to roll and, cut like them so, his/hers work could be chosen.
Only my mum was allowed to fry the chin chin and, On this particular day, she had started frying under the udara tree in our then compound with one of her agbada supported on a big ekwu igwe(tripod stand) while, a bunch of burning firewood provided heat for the sizzling chin chin being deep fried when she received a phone call to deliver life chicken. She handed over the frying with few instructions to me since I was now matured before she left with my dad to the poultry house to sort and go supply chicken. Something she hasn't done before and boy I was so happy mainly because, I could freely get to stash the fried delicacy into my treasure pocket Yippee.
Mon cherié
I did so well afterall, it was just a few that got burnt. My mum would be so proud. I added another handful to my treasure pocket. My kid brother could take it no more because, I had taken about two handfuls before and refused giving him any when he asked. He asked again and I gave him the
"It's not everything a child sees his mother eat that he asks for" line my mum usually use.
"You are not mummy"
"But, I'm the second mummy of the house " my nine year old self replied.
"I'm also the second Daddy of the house"
"Daddy has not yet made you so. You have not even entered Js1"
My brother went ahead to collect a handful of fried chin chin from the metallic sieve where it was cooling and draining off excess oil. Such impetus! I knocked it off his hand and from there, fight started o. My kid sister was by the side screaming " remember I told both of you not to fight o". In my house then, if one or two people committed an offence while my parents were absent, the four of us are most likely going to pay for it but, you could be exenorated if you warned the person/people so, that was what my sister was doing. Saving her own head. But, we continued fighting until we hit the sieve and, everything turned over. That was when our senses came back. My heart was already beating so fast because, I knew we were in for deep trouble. I suggested we start picking one by one blowing and dusting off the sand particles on each. My brother and I were even working together like we were not fighting a couple of minutes ago. My sister helped too while my youngest brother about three years old was eating from the floor. We had finished covering up our evil when my parents returned. For futher precaution, we had warned even threatened my youngest brother who then had a degree in reporting. We promised hell on him incase he snitched.
As if on cue, my dad asked for some chin chin specifically from the one I had fried. With faith, I served him from it. But, it took only few bites to expose our crime. My dad became livid when I confessed mainly because, he hates when we fight. He told my brother and I to go and get our sizes of cane. Back then, whenever my dad wants to punish or flog us, we try to do something funny either by dancing as though in pain in an exaggerated way when he gives you the first stroke or, by faking tears and promising to be good. Once you get him laughing, you'll be forgiven. We preferred him disciplining us to our mum because, that one na fire. Her best device was new uncut brooms because, she believed we had grown immune to the normal cane. She would pat the head so, the fingers would spread well. By so doing, one whip on your shoulder could get your head,neck and back. About four whips will get your whole body covered and, on fire making you dance in a funny way this time with no intent to make anyone laugh but, from tingly pain. The most traumatic part was, you are not allowed to scream while being flogged because, what she hated most was neigbours' interference. And, we prayed they didn't come to beg on our behalf because, that meant adjournment of your punishment to night when you are perfectly asleep and probably having a nice dream. She'll tiptoe to our room and briefly put on the lights or,her torchlight when there is no power supply to know the particular spot on the bed you are laying then, she'll descend on you with the broom throwing you into a state of both fear and suprise before you remember where you are talk more of your crime, she would be gone. I might tell you of the time I had been waiting for her and quietly swapped places with my sleeping brother (the youngest...her favourite)when she eventually came and put off the lights after verifying my sleeping position.
Back to my story, I had brought a broomstick and was making faces I thought was funny failing to realise it was annoying my dad more. Well, it was already late when I saw him remove his belt. I tried to bolt and give him a chase round his car until he gets tired and finally give up just like my mum does whenever I get her to chase me in a bid to escape her broom. But unfortunately, he caught me before I could run a step and made me lay flat on the ground as the belt peppered my bum. My brother received his own share next but, not as hot as mine sha. I have never seen my dad that annoyed I was quite suprised because, he hardly flogged us. The highest he went was firmly holding the offenders hands together, he lifted the person with his left hand and, using the second and third finger from the thumb of his right hand, he hit his/her calf(The back of the leg below the knee)repeatedly. Although it was painful but, not like the belt.
That was the first time he had used a belt on any of us that was why I kept on crying long after my brother had gotten over it and was cheerful again, I kept crying even the hiccups and swollen eyes didn't stop my tears neither did the nagging headache. I kept on crying till he apologised and pet me to sleep. That was also the last time he used a belt on any of us.
Fortunately, my parents have stopped flogging us but, that doesn't mean a slap or two once in a while does not come in especially from my mum. Lol. And since that day,chin chin making had ceased in my house. Meanwhile anytime I see chin chin, I remember that day not that it has stopped me from eating it sha. Never!!!
Happy New year tho lovely people. Did you make new year resolutions? If yes, puleeez let it not be like other years whereby before the month of February, it will be long forgotten.
#QueenLikeNono
#Second_Mother
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