My Mother: Icon of Tough LOVE!

Dhuva, My dear... Wake up!

I sprung up from my bed. It's my birthday! I know the rare instances when mummy calls "my dear!" She was beaming with smile. "Many... many... Happy returns of THE day! Happy Birthday!"

"Thank YOU, mummy" I replied happily, thinking of all the good things coming my way that whole day, including, NO spanking!

She was stretching out her hand helping me to get out of bed. She looked like an angel , especially adorned with that pretty pearly smile of hers. Everything about her is so perfect, I often wondered how in the world I deserved to have such a pretty mom. She's not just pretty, but intelligent and extremely strict.

"Come on now, get your bath. There... your new dress and ballerina shoes are waiting for you!" She said pointing to the pink lace dress with lots of frills and the matching shoes with a cute little bow that I liked. "You'll have to take the chocolate box to the principal, today" she said as she was rubbing the soap on me. "Walk straight, no stooping and answer briskly if she asks you any questions." She went on and poured buckets of water. Then came the part I liked. She put her palm on my head while pouring the water and said "Choam, choam, choam" which meant good health! She wrapped the towel around me and said "let me go and get the baby powder and Eau De Cologne while you wipe your self dry."

Holding on to my towel I turned to look in the mirror. " My Goodness, who is this?" I almost screamed looking at this unfamiliar face in the mirror. A strange face with a completely shaved head looked back at me, equally surprised. I made faces, and it made faces back at me. I ran my hand over my head, it was barely prickly.

"Oh, God! I remembered crying all evening, the previous day. I had begged Mummy "Could you wait until after my birthday..., please?" "No!" She said sternly, her face turning red "I can't bear to think of you carrying a single lice on your head." She had found a lice looking to nest in my hair and that was it! "A clean shave" she ordered and I felt like a sacrificial lamb at the barber shop.

I worried how I was going to face not even just my class, but almost the whole school, because it's my birthday and I'd have to take chocolate to all the teachers, most of whom I called aunty. On top of it I would have to take chocolate to the principal too. I knew she liked me because I get hundred marks in almost all subjects and always came first in my whole grade. But, looking bald is entirely another matter! Deep in my thoughts, I hadn't even realized that mummy had already doused me with baby talc and Eau De Cologne.

I came out of the bathroom. There... mummy was standing with the most beautiful hat that I have ever seen, with lots of lace and pink roses. " Here you go..." she said adjusting the hat on my head. She took a few steps back "Perfect, that will do it!" she said with a glint in her eyes, admiring this ugly duckling!

Oh, I miss her very much!

I am my mother's daughter,

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