#lekhotloane

[mal-urameshi]

Chronicles of Mama Okoye and Riri! IV

Bumps In The Road

Riri had always been proud of her mother. She was strong. Dependable! Down right cool! And was so exceptional, she was promoted to General of the Dora Milaje in no time. She led an elite army of Wakanda's finest and her comrades both respected and adored her.

Riri had been there in the crowd, front row actually, when her mother had been appointed the esteemed title of General. Her little eyes had twinkled in awe when her mother walked out, adorned with gold to signify her status. Rings of gold coiled around her neck and forearms, setting her apart from the other warriors.

Riri wasn't paying attention to the speech the King had prepared because all she could focus on was her mother. She stood with her back erect and face stoic. Instead of appearing stiff, General Okoye was regal and poised. She was swathed in an aura of elegance and radiated sophistication. When the ceremony was over, the Doras had tapped their spears on the floor and circled her mother to place their hands on her in congratulations.

Once Riri got the chance, she ran up to her mother who scooped her up into her arms and gave her a big kiss on her cheek.

Riri: Mama! You look so beautiful! *eyes twinkle as she touches the gold around her mother's neck and shoulders* Okoye: Thank you, my Pebble. *kisses Riri again and hugs her tighter* Riri: *presses her forehead against her mother's* Does that mean I'm Junior General? Okoye: *chuckles* Of course it does! Now everyone will think three times before they think they can mess around with you.

Being a Dora meant out of country missions, obviously. And Riri had understood that from a young age. Years of being in Aunty Aneka and Aunty Ayo's care while her mother was away on missions... Or her Uncle M'Kathu or cousins M'Halle and M'Holle's care were testifications of that fact. But being General meant even more responsibility.

Riri knew General Okoye was an important woman to many people. But she was her mother so she was most important to her. And Riri had started to feel like she was seeing her Mama less and less. Okoye would come home from a mission and be called out to duty again three days later.

This had resulted in Riri withdrawing from her mother bit by bit. Okoye would return from a mission and come pick Riri up from Aneka and Ayo's, but she would be insistent that she wanted to stay a day or two more with them. Which never worked out because they needed their alone time and Riri relented.

Okoye would notice the silence and slight pouting of her Small girl and ask her what is the matter. Usually Riri was more talkative.

Riri: *shakes her head and then gives a silent shrug* Okoye: Are you feeling sick? Riri: *stares at the ground and shakes her head*

When they were home, Riri stayed holed up in her room, playing with her gizmos and gadgets as opposed to chatting her mother up while she prepared dinner.

Okoye: Riri, dinner time. Riri: *comes to the kitchen a few moments later and sits at the table* Okoye: It's your favourite~ *she chimed* Riri: *stares at the plate of Lekhotloane and gives a half-smile* Thank you, Mama. *eats some of the potatoes first* Okoye: *frowns and gently nudges Riri's cheek with a knuckle* What's wrong my love? Are you sure you're feeling okay? *presses the back of her palm to Riri's forehead and then her neck* Riri: *leans away and nods, refusing eye contact* Okoye: *carefully brings her hand back to her person as she regards Riri*

Riri's behaviour continued for the rest of the evening up until bed time. Okoye had to get to the bottom of this immediately. She didn't like that Riri was reacting so coldly towards her. Before she left on her mission they had shared so many hugs and kisses and I love yous. She practically had to pry the girl off of her person before she left. But now Riri did a complete 180.

Okoye: *knocks on the door frame* Hello, my pebble. Riri: *Under the bedsheets* Okoye: *walks in and sits on the bed* Riri: *turns on her side, away from her mother* Okoye: *throat tightens a bit and she clears her throat* Riri, what's wrong, you can talk to Umama. *affectionately rubs her side* Riri: *curls in on herself* I just want to sleep, Mama. Okoye: What about storytime? You never miss storytime. Riri: *doesn't answer* Okoye: *takes a staggering breath* Okay, goodnight Riri. *leans down and presses a kiss on her head*

Okoye went ahead and started preparing for bed. She took a long shower, hoping to ease her mind but Riri's demeanour was eating at her. It felt like she was pulling away and Okoye didn't know what to do. Okoye rubbed a stray tear that had slipped down her cheek and gave a light sniffle.

Okoye had shrugged it off initially but it seems like whatever had come to a head. It had started with not wanting to play as often as Riri used to. Then with Riri wanting to spend more time with Aneka and Ayo. Which she had initially chalked up to having developed an unbreakable bond between the two women. But now she was being full-blown ignored.

Okoye rubbed a hand down her face. What should she do? If she pushed too hard, would Riri close herself off even more? She wasn't used to the behaviour Riri was exhibiting and it stung. It hurt more than any wound her enemies had inflicted on her. Okoye tilted her head back and swallowed the lump in her throat. She wiped her eyes again. She'll try again in the morning.

Okoye settled beneath her sheets trying to fall asleep, but the light pattering of Riri's feet alerted her. She laid still as the child slowly pushed open the bedroom door and peered inside.

Riri: Mama? *walks further inside* Okoye: Yes, Riri? *taps on her kimoyo beads to turn the bedroom lights on, revealing her child's tear-stained cheeks* Usana, what's the matter? *opens her arms* Riri: *scrambles on the bed and hiccups a sob* Mama! *buries her face in Okoye's chest* Okoye: *peppers kisses on the crown of Riri's head* What's wrong, Riri? Talk to me. Riri: *sniffles and looks at her* I don't like that you always go away on missions! You never spend time with me as much anymore. *furiously wipes her eyes to make way for a fresh wave of tears* You come home and I see you for one week and then you're gone again! I spend more time with Aunty Aneka and Aunty Ayo than I do with you! It's like they're my parents, but they're not! You're my Mama, not them! *fists her mother's shirt and hyperventilates* Okoye: *quickly sits up and grabs the spare asthma inhaler at her bedside drawer and puffs it into Riri's mouth. She then pulled Riri closer to her and rubbed her back in soothing circles until she calmed down.* Riri: *fists her hands tighter into the material of Okoye's shirt* What if one day you never come back! What if I'm left all by myself? *Riri mumbles while looking at her mother* You're never here anymore and I hate it, Mama! *grinds her teeth and tries to move away, feeling overwhelmed*

Okoye just stared as Riri vented her heart out. Her own heart broke seeing that she was causing her daughter such pain. It was true. She was away more than usual now, especially since having the title of General. This wasn't a new occurence though, given her duties as a Dora. Having missed Riri's first steps and first words due to being held up on the other side of the globe.

Riri had fears. Legitimate concerns of being alone in the world should she not make it back one day. Because regardless of the helping hands of her friends and extended family, the fact of the matter is: Okoye was all Riri had.

Shame. That's what Okoye had felt in that very moment. Shame and guilt and the heavy weight of failure. It didn't matter how skilled and revered she was as a Dora. It meant nothing if she was failing as a parent. It meant nothing if she was incapable of showing up for the one person who depended on her the most. And now that was causing Riri to pull away.

Okoye: *tugs Riri back to her and hugs her* I'm sorry, Riri. Mama's sorry. *kisses her head and cups her cheeks in her palms* I should not have been insensitive to your feelings. Riri: *sniffles, but doesn't answer* Okoye: I will do better, okay? I don't want you feeling like this. I am so so sorry for making you feel like this. Umama's sorry. *wipes Riri's tears* Riri: *mumbles* I don't want you to die. I don't want to be alone, Mama.

Bast, Okoye felt like the worst mother in the world right now, having caused her baby so much distress.

Okoye: I won't die, Riri. And you definitely won't be alone, okay? I would never leave you alone. I would never abandon you. I love you very much. *kisses her forehead. I'll do better. I promise to do better, okay? *holds up her pinky finger* I swear it. Riri: *stares at her mother and nods, linking their pinkies together* Okay. *she says in a small voice*

And Okoye meant it. She never half-asses anything and she doesn't plan on making the same mistake twice.

Riri: *sniffles* Can I sleep in your room tonight? Okoye: You don't even have to ask, my love. Riri: *gets under her mother's bedsheets as Okoye kills the lights.* Okoye: *pulls Riri impossibly closer to her and kisses her cheek* I love you. Riri: I love you too, Mama.

As Riri dozed off, Okoye was doing some heavy thinking on how she could rectify her actions and achieve proper work-life balance.

Taggies: @somethingcleaverandwhitty @karimwillia @neptoons1998 @pantherheart @pilesofpillows

[plumeetprose]

« Lekhotloane » ou le boeuf pilé sur lit de morogo aux pommes de terre . « Cuisiner suppose une tête légère, un esprit généreux et un coeur large. » #PaulGauguin . Originaire du Lesotho, le « Lekhotloane » est un plat traditionnel africain composé de bœuf bouillie et pilé puis, cuisiné dans des oignons et un bouillon de boeuf. . Réalisé à la manière du #Seswaa de #Botswana puis, mijoté dans un bouillon de boeuf agrémenté d’oignons, le #Lekhotloane est généralement servi avec du morogo (épinards sauvages africains) et des pommes de terre. _____________________________ À l’occasion de la fête nationale lesothonienne, j’offre cette recette découverte sur la chaîne de « Cliffieland » à @latendresseencuisine dans #CuisinerPourLaPaix _____________________________ Ingrédients (4 personnes) : => pour le Lekhotloane : – 500g de poitrine de bœuf, – 1 litre d’eau, – 1 filet d’huile, – 1 oignon, – 1 cube de bouillon de bœuf, – Sel et poivre. => pour le morogo aux pommes de terre : – 1 bouquet de morogo, – 4 oignons verts, – 4 pommes de terre moyennes, – 1 cuillère-à-soupe bombée de beurre de cacahuète, – Sel et poivre. ___________________ La suite en commentaire ___________________ #Blogger #RecetteSimple #CuisineSimple #Citation #CitationDuJour #FeedFeed #FoodInstagram #InstaFeed #Funn #EasyRecipe #TheFeedFeed #InstaYummy #Eaaats #InstaGood #InstaFood #Foods #InMyKitchen #FoodOfTheDay #Blogueuse #RecetteFacile #Foodies #InstaPic (à Lesotho) https://www.instagram.com/p/CF6Ok3aDqdZ/?igshid=9xgmxosl3wnf

[cliffdvr]

Second Spin, Country 96: Lesotho

Watch Week 96 of my Second Spin: A Global Cooking Adventure as I cook the food of Lesotho! Tonight's Basotho menu: Lekhotloane (Tender Pounded Meat) & Morogo With Potatoes

ow it went for The Global Cooking Challenge (08/12/2014): https://cliffdvr.tumblr.com/post/94657306346/cooking-around-the-world-lesotho

One source for the the meat and greens recipe: https://bit.ly/2OUeCie