Bimbi's Mind

                              Little Annie, child of the Awolowos wore the most beautiful frock amongst us at the Independence day March. Princess, as she was called was our Queen, wearing a silver crown garnished in glitter, which to my seven-year-old mind was diamond. We, the others wore our lousy green vests like we did every other day. Mine was too tight and it showed my nipples, but my Father said I was the most beautiful girl there. I don't believe him.  Little Annie walked in front of us when we marched at the celebration. She presented the Governor a bouquet of flowers while we waited in the sun, and she took a picture with him. The other girls and I wondered what we did wrong. Bisi, fat girl whose mouth had no limit to what can escape it said our wrongdoing was not being pretty enough. I agreed. Little Annie also loved to write, she had the best handwriting in our class. And the teacher...

  Sleep did not visit the whole Efon Alaaye town the day I put to bed. My screams went all the way to the walls of their houses, the echo brought there presence with it. Only two midwives stayed with me as I struggled with nature, my mother would rather swim in a river of her spit than be here. I suspect most of the wives were gathered just outside Akanni's house huddled up in hushed voices wondering if this one would be the same.