“You sounded so excited over the phone, what’s the good news” Tess asked.
I smiled. “At least, have a seat” Rita replied.
Tess sat and waited anxiously for Rita to share the good news she had. She hoped Rita wasn’t playing tricks on her because she left everything she had to do at home when Rita called.
“I went for the scan yesterday, Tess, it’s a girl” Rita said quietly while caressing her belly.
“Yes!!!” Tess screamed. She hugged Rita tightly and kissed her cheek.
“I’m so excited for you dear, you cried and prayed for a girl and you got your heart desires” Tess said.
“I’m excited too”. “I have always prayed for a girl because I want her to undergo our traditional rites, just as I did” Rita said.
The smile on Tess face ceased, what was her friend talking about? She knew how much Rita wanted a female child but she never asked her the reason.
“What traditional rites are you talking about?” she asked calmly.
“Oh, the rites of female Genital Mutilation” she responded excitedly.
Tess froze in horror.
“What?” “Are you out of your mind?” Tess screamed.
Rita looked confused. Why was Tess screaming? Female Genital Mutilation was a good thing, her mother did it to her, and her mother’s mother too. It was a practice from past generations and she was merely carrying out a family tradition.
“Tess, it is a family tradition and it doesn’t harm the child. It is a thing of pride and joy to me, why are you upset?”.
Tess wanted to vent in anger but she decided instead to educate Rita on female genital mutilation because clearly, she was ignorant about it.
“My dear friend, have you ever questioned the practices of female circumcision? Why did our parents allow us undergo it? Why do we have to subject our female children to such? What are the benefits?” Tess asked.
“If you’re honest enough Rita, is it being circumcised that has made you faithful in marriage? Circumcision is a violation of human right and no female child deserves such abuse done to her body” Tess argued.
“You don’t even have proper answers as to why you were circumcised and yet you want to subject your unborn child to it” she continued.
Tess had a point Rita thought; doubts had crept in and she wasn’t sure it was worth it.