Everything was calm until Mama’s phone began to ring.
Mireille turned her head in surprise. She had never really paid attention to Mama’s phone before, but now that it was vibrating on the little wooden stool, she saw it clearly: it was a brand-new phone, an expensive model, far too expensive for a woman who, just a day earlier, had said she came from the village with nothing.
Mama answered calmly, without nervousness. A man’s voice could be heard through the speaker, deep and respectful, calling her tenderly “Mama.” He said he had just returned from a trip, that he was not feeling well, and that he wanted to see her. He sounded tired.
Mama immediately changed tone, more motherly, more worried. “My son, rest. I will come tomorrow morning. Sleep well.”
She hung up and slowly placed the phone on her lap.
Mireille, who had observed everything, hesitated, then asked, “Was that your son?”
“Yes, my daughter. He returned today. He is a little unwell and asked me to come see him.”
“Mama, I will come with you.”
But Mama gently shook her head. “No, do not worry. I will call you as soon as I get there.”
Mireille nodded, but her eyes returned to the phone. She was not used to judging people, but something was off.
“Mama, how do you have such an expensive phone? I mean… you told me you came from the village and had nothing.”
Mama blinked, then gave a small nervous laugh. “Oh, that. My son gave it to me. Back in the neighborhood, there is no regular electricity, and I love a television program that I never want to miss, so he bought me this phone so I can watch it even when there is no power.”
Mireille raised her eyebrows in surprise. “He did all that just for a TV show?”
“He adores me, my daughter,” Mama replied with a proud smile.
Mireille let out a little laugh. “In any case, your son really loves you. But let me meet him first before you say I am going to marry him.”
Mama smiled broadly. “You are going to love him, I promise. He is hardworking, intelligent, very polite, and so handsome.”
Mireille burst into laughter. “Mama, there you go again, selling your son like he is in the market.”
The two of them laughed together.
The next morning, Mama got up early and packed her small bag. Mireille helped her fold a few clothes and walked her outside. She hugged her tightly.
“Mama, call me as soon as you arrive. Promise?”
“I promise, my daughter.”
Mireille stayed at the door, watching Mama leave in a taxi. But deep inside, a small voice whispered that this trip was not as simple as it seemed.
Mama arrived at her son’s house after a long journey. She was still wearing her old dress, as if she had just come from the village. She was tired, but her heart was full of hope. She had not seen her son in several months and was burning with desire to see him again.
She found herself standing in front of a huge villa surrounded by tall cream-white walls, with a large black iron gate. Two security guards in uniform stood at the entrance, looking at her suspiciously.
One of them walked up to her, looking her over from head to toe. He took his radio and said in a hard voice, “There is a dirty old woman at the gate. She says she wants to see the boss.”
There was a tense silence. Then the radio crackled again, and a sharp, irritated female voice replied, “I’m coming.”
A few moments later, Émilie came out of the house. She was wearing a tight designer dress, shining high heels, and large sunglasses. The moment she saw Mama, her face twisted with contempt. She crossed her arms and said in an icy voice, “You again, you crazy old woman? What are you doing here?”
Mama, tired but dignified, lifted her head. “I came to see my son.”
Émilie burst into mocking laughter. “Your son? You must be dreaming. You are lost, old woman. This house is not for people like you.”
But Mama remained calm. Her eyes shone, not with fear, but with inner fire. “Rude little girl, I am the mother of the owner of this house, and I have never been so insulted in my life.”
Émilie slowly moved toward her, lowering her voice. “You think I’m going to swallow your nonsense? You came from the village to beg here. You think your fetish is going to work? You are wasting your time. This is not where you are going to succeed.”
She turned on her heels, her strong perfume filling the air. “And do not ever dare step in front of my future husband’s house again.”
Then she went inside and slammed the door behind her.
Mama stood there frozen, her heart beating wildly. She took a deep breath, her eyes wet, then pulled out her phone and called immediately.
“My son, come right away. I am at your gate, and I have just suffered the worst humiliation of my life.”
On the other end, Cyril’s voice rose, worried but firm. “I’m coming immediately, Mama. Wait for me.”
A few minutes later, a big black car pulled up in front of the house. Cyril jumped out. When he saw his mother in that state, simply dressed, dusty, her face marked with pain, his heart tightened.
“Mama, why are you outside? Who spoke to you like this?”
She looked him in the eyes, her face grave. “I wanted to test your future wife, the one you talk about so much. I wanted to see if she had a good heart. I came without warning, dressed simply, and I waited. And she… she humiliated me, Cyril. She chased me away like a beggar.”
Cyril’s fists clenched. “What?”
“While your fiancée was insulting me, a young girl you fired welcomed me, protected me, and fed me. Her name is Mireille.”
Cyril took his mother by the hand, furious. “Come. You will not spend one more minute outside.”
He brought her into the house, ran water for her, served her food, but his mind was boiling. He had believed Émilie. He had rejected Mireille. And now his own mother had just been rejected by the woman he wanted to marry.
Cyril was sitting in the living room of his luxurious home. His mother was resting in her room after taking a shower and eating a little, but he could not calm down. His mind was burning. How could he have been so blind?
The front door flew open. Émilie walked in, all smiles, as if nothing had happened. She approached confidently, her heels clicking on the tiles. When she saw him, she said lightly, “Hello, baby. You won’t believe what happened today. A dirty old woman came here and said she was your mother. I almost had her arrested. People are going crazy, baby.”
She sat down on the couch and pulled out her phone to check her nails.
Cyril slowly lifted his eyes toward her. His look was no longer the same. It was dark, deep, icy.
“That old woman is my mother.”
Émilie froze. Her smile disappeared instantly. She stared at him with her mouth open.
“What?”
“You heard me. The woman you insulted and humiliated, the woman you called a beggar, is the woman who raised me, the only person in the world I will never allow anyone to disrespect.”
Émilie jumped to her feet in panic. “Cyril, no… I… I did not know.”
“Exactly. You did not know. And that is what makes it even worse. You showed your true face.”
