Hearing her shouts, her three daughters-in-law rush into the hut from the small makeshift kitchen at the back of the hut.
"Quick, Patricia, lift her legs high. Deborah, roll all the blankets and put them under her legs. Chloe, go bring me fever leaves from outside the hut."
Old Mrs Hopeson briskly ordered after they entered the hut.
The three women went briskly to do what they were instructed to do. While Chloe went to get the fever leaves from outside, eldest daughter-in-law, Patricia, lifted Mrs Willis' legs. Then second daughter-in-law, Deborah, quickly but carefully placed the rolled blankets underneath Mrs Willis' legs. Old Mrs Hopeson was also checking for any sign of bleeding. Luckily, there was none.
"Pheww..."
Old Mrs Hopeson sighed in relief.
"Luckily, she is not bleeding."
Not long after, third daughters-in-law
Chloe brought the freshly picked fever leaves and also thoughtfully brought salty water in a bowl.
Old Mrs Hopeson took the fever leaves from her and began rubbing them faster between her palms. After a few seconds, the fever leaves became moist. She then quickly placed the moist fever leaves under Mrs Willis's nose for her to inhale.
After Mrs Willis weakly inhaled the strong scent of the fever leaves.
"sneeze!"
She sneezed.
The sneeze was powerful and moist.
The moisture from the sneeze sprayed all over old Mrs Hopeson's face. But that was not the time for cleanliness. Her attention was now on the awakened Mrs Willis.
"You're up!" Old Mrs Hopeson said with relief washing over her, with tears in her eyes, still thinking how to drop dramatically.
" Chloe, give me the salty water", she said in one breath.
Chloe then quickly gave her the salty water, old Mrs Hopeson then fed it to Mrs Willis, sip by sip, until the bowl was emptied.
"Quick, push Lena."
Urge gently, Old Mrs Hopeson. After Mrs Willis finished the salty water, she regained seventy per cent of her strength.
"At the count of three, push, okay."
" 1 2 3 push.."
" arghhhh!" Mrs Willis screamed and pushed with all her might.
She pushed, then breathed in, and pushed. The process continued.
"Arghhh.."
"Hnnn~hnnn~hnnn"
"Arghhh...."
Three minutes later...
"The baby's head is almost out, continue pushing", old Mrs Hopeson encouraged.
Then, not taking her eyes off Mrs Willis, she ordered her daughters-in-law.
"One of you go bring the hot water here."
Then she continued to encourage Mrs Willis to push.
"Yes, go on. Push harder, the baby's head is out. You're a strong girl."
.....
With all the commotion going on inside,
Outside the hut was suffocatingly quiet- that if you dropped a pin, you would hear the sound of it falling on the ground. Within that silence was worry, thicker than the clouds, fogging the minds of Mrs Willis' family members with negative thoughts.
Especially her husband, Mr Willis, after seeing Chloe, rushed outside for the fever leaves. But he shook the negative thoughts away. Praying to God for a safe delivery for his wife.
.....
Back inside..
Ten minutes later.....
The baby was out, though quiet. The audacity of him, ha!
Old Mrs Hopeson swung her hand and slapped his little bum.
*Pah*
The slap sound echoed in the room
The baby: "...."
[What did I do?]
then..
"Wah, wah, wah, whahhhh"
"Lord, it is a bouncy, healthy baby boy!" Old Mrs Hopeson said joyfully.
The baby: "...."
[Must you announce it after slapping my bum?]
"Let me hold him." Mrs Willis said weakly.
Previously, when old Mrs Hopeson was "gently" waking the baby up, her eldest daughter-in-law was already cleaning Mrs Willis' body with hot water.
So, the old Mrs Hopeson, just cleaned the baby and laid him in his mother's arms. After holding her baby, Mrs Willis fell asleep, slowly, with a sweet smile on her lips. Whispering my little Butterfly