MAMA AND PAPA...
Mama carried as many oranges her tray could contain on her head to hawk in the market,
Papa placed his shovel on his right shoulder and headed under the bridge to wait for the tipper that would convey him and other laborers to the construction site - a fearful little prayer that Kamsi's common entrance fee would be complete before the setting of the sun, he muttered as he stepped out that early morning. He made up his mind to work over-time despite the fact that his waist was reminding him of how old he was
"Papa, my teacher say I no go follow write our common entrance exam if you no pay the money this friday."
Papa looked at innocent Kamsi with remorse.
"Okay, I don hear." He muttered almost under his breath.
"What does she know?" He shook his head with pity.
He couldn't sleep all through that night.
Watching papa's sleeplessness took sleep out from mama's eyes too.
Mama encouraged papa. She told him that he was trying as a real man would. It was with whisper she spoke. Their five children surrounded them on the mats like how mountain surrounded Jerusalem.
It was death that reduced their children to five. Chiemezie, who was suppose to be the last child died of acute coryza. Papa literally gave up the struggle to safe his life since there was no how he would get the deposit the doctor asked him to bring even for three years except everyone would starve- and besides which hospital management would allow such instalmental payment, let alone the balance of the payment.
Papa had only one day more at 7pm to get the remaining one thousand, two hundred Naira to complete Kamsi's common entrance fee. His effort was worth it despite the fact that he would really need rest after paying the fee.
Chikere was the first child of Mama and Papa. He decided to relieve his parents the burden of still catering for him when he was 16. He fended for himself and brought back the remains home to support his parent.
"Papa, mama, I wan go Europe." Chikere finally let the cat out of the bag after nursing the thought for two months.
"How manage? You wan rob bank? who go allow you go? No allow all these useless boys wey you dey smoke with deceive you o." Mama was full of questions.
Papa didn't send as long as things would get better for them.
Papa and Chikere sat at a corner in the backyard of their face-me-i-face-you compound. "I no know anything about how you wan take move, but I know say God go lead you well. Chike, abeg remember where you from come out. Na beg I dey beg you..."
Two months after Chikere set out for Europe through Morroco, news reached home that He died fighting his way through.
Papa couldn't bear the loss because he put all his hope on Chikere to be the saviour to bring them out of poverty. His heart failed, and he died.
It wasn't easy for mama who started falling sick at every change of weather condition.
The weight of the family rested on Ngozika's 19 years old shoulders. She was able to secure an early marriage with a young boy, who just finished serving his master, when she got pregnant for him.
Neche wasn't left out in the league of pregnancy three years on. But for her, unlike her immediate elder sister, the young man who impregnated her kicked against marriage but took the responsibility of taking care of her and the baby.
Chinedu, the fourth child became the man of the house after papa died. He became a street hustler and later joined agbero boys at the bustop collecting money from buses, kekes, and bikes.
Kamsi proceeded to the University amid lack and starvation. The joint efforts of her older siblings was all she needed to stay focused.
Standing at their mother's grave, the four of them wished papa and mama could hold on up till now. They wished Chikere hadn't embarked on that journey.
Kamsi has grown to secure a high paying job after graduation. She later set up businesses for Ngozika, who now has 4 kids already and Neche, who has two for different men.
Chinedu lives with a Yoruba lady he impregnated few months back.
This is the tale of Papa and mama.
Mama carried as many oranges her tray could contain on her head to hawk in the market,
Papa placed his shovel on his right shoulder and headed under the bridge to wait for the tipper that would convey him and other laborers to the construction site - a fearful little prayer that Kamsi's common entrance fee would be complete before the setting of the sun, he muttered as he stepped out that early morning. He made up his mind to work over-time despite the fact that his waist was reminding him of how old he was
"Papa, my teacher say I no go follow write our common entrance exam if you no pay the money this friday."
Papa looked at innocent Kamsi with remorse.
"Okay, I don hear." He muttered almost under his breath.
"What does she know?" He shook his head with pity.
He couldn't sleep all through that night.
Watching papa's sleeplessness took sleep out from mama's eyes too.
Mama encouraged papa. She told him that he was trying as a real man would. It was with whisper she spoke. Their five children surrounded them on the mats like how mountain surrounded Jerusalem.
It was death that reduced their children to five. Chiemezie, who was suppose to be the last child died of acute coryza. Papa literally gave up the struggle to safe his life since there was no how he would get the deposit the doctor asked him to bring even for three years except everyone would starve- and besides which hospital management would allow such instalmental payment, let alone the balance of the payment.
Papa had only one day more at 7pm to get the remaining one thousand, two hundred Naira to complete Kamsi's common entrance fee. His effort was worth it despite the fact that he would really need rest after paying the fee.
Chikere was the first child of Mama and Papa. He decided to relieve his parents the burden of still catering for him when he was 16. He fended for himself and brought back the remains home to support his parent.
"Papa, mama, I wan go Europe." Chikere finally let the cat out of the bag after nursing the thought for two months.
"How manage? You wan rob bank? who go allow you go? No allow all these useless boys wey you dey smoke with deceive you o." Mama was full of questions.
Papa didn't send as long as things would get better for them.
Papa and Chikere sat at a corner in the backyard of their face-me-i-face-you compound. "I no know anything about how you wan take move, but I know say God go lead you well. Chike, abeg remember where you from come out. Na beg I dey beg you..."
Two months after Chikere set out for Europe through Morroco, news reached home that He died fighting his way through.
Papa couldn't bear the loss because he put all his hope on Chikere to be the saviour to bring them out of poverty. His heart failed, and he died.
It wasn't easy for mama who started falling sick at every change of weather condition.
The weight of the family rested on Ngozika's 19 years old shoulders. She was able to secure an early marriage with a young boy, who just finished serving his master, when she got pregnant for him.
Neche wasn't left out in the league of pregnancy three years on. But for her, unlike her immediate elder sister, the young man who impregnated her kicked against marriage but took the responsibility of taking care of her and the baby.
Chinedu, the fourth child became the man of the house after papa died. He became a street hustler and later joined agbero boys at the bustop collecting money from buses, kekes, and bikes.
Kamsi proceeded to the University amid lack and starvation. The joint efforts of her older siblings was all she needed to stay focused.
Standing at their mother's grave, the four of them wished papa and mama could hold on up till now. They wished Chikere hadn't embarked on that journey.
Kamsi has grown to secure a high paying job after graduation. She later set up businesses for Ngozika, who now has 4 kids already and Neche, who has two for different men.
Chinedu lives with a Yoruba lady he impregnated few months back.
This is the tale of Papa and mama.
