Endless : The Diary Of A Nigerian Orphan - Episode 3

 

“for anything that will happen in this life, I don’t ever want your education to suffer, you will keep up with your intelligence in book works. Struggle to be empowered with knowledge because that’s the only way, we can be delivered from this state of ‘voice -trampling’ “
“and even the state of lack and want” , I gently added as I cuddled close to my aunt.
“yes, you are correct. But the most important thing is being empowered with the knowledge behind your respected port in the society, then financial freedom would follow suit . Be determined not to end like me”, aunt Sally spilled the words. She and grandma are the only facilitator of the dream I am nurturing. The dream to be heard in my little corner, the dream to be given freedom of expression in the public. The dream to state my desires and feel fulfillment , while achieving it.
“yes aunt Sally, I am prepared to pursue my education if I am given the chance. I will live above all odds to fulfill my late parents’ dream, your dream, granny’s dream and mine”, I confessed.
“good girl, sit first, let me serve you beans and garri”, aunt Sally offered happily, I could see it all over . she wobbled sideways with her protruding belly, before regaining her balance

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/endless-the-diary-of-a-nigerian-orphan

. The cause of it; I could tell - she had hastily pulled to her feet and in that condition, her visions had thickly gone blurred.
I am at her place on visitation cum private discussion. She is yet to intimate me on the private discussion, but I guessed that would be after my meal. I really have to enjoy my short time here, before her husband returns with his ‘I don’t care’ attitude about me.

So, shortly after grandma’s blindness became acute and aunt Sally had requested that I leave grandma’s house. Else, I would keep attending to grandma’s need- that means being by her side all day. Then, my dream to study my books would die and I would have to start all over again .

“I am really happy that Mrs Ojo has agreed to take you down to Lagos with her. She will help with your educational needs and even cloth you. Isn’t that marvelous?”, aunt Sally remarked as she folded my few dresses in a polythene bag.
“who is Mrs Ojo? And what or where is Lagos?”, I demanded. Through my growing knowledge in social studies and civic education at school. I know that Lagos is one of the mega city in western Nigeria. A city where the most sluggish is taught to be smart by all means. Where a poor family could afford three square meal, if they could ‘huzzle’ their way. A city of No-man’s land; where you are solely On Your Own (O.Y.O) and where all sort of ‘Hows’ thrive and there are no balanced equation for the ‘Whys’. I know all these, yet I asked, because I wanted to hear my aunt Sally unveil the remaining information about Lagos in a softer aspect.
“Mrs Ojo is a relative of ours. It was through a family friend that I got the information that she trades in liquid soap production at Lagos. She has two teenage boys -Osas and Andrian, you will like them”, aunt Sally readily explained with a glint in her eyes.
“but I don’t know her!”, I weakly protested. I wish I could find a supernatural strength that would grant me access to sufficient cash to sail me through my primary school.
“Deesay”, aunt Sally whispered and shook her head. I understood the gesture as I need not complain. If it things are to be right; my uncle Asipita; my late father’s junior, would have taken me into his care. I don’t know if he is capable, but aunt Sally had disclosed to me that the night she got him informed about my welfare, he had rebuffed the idea of taking me in and had barked to be left alone. But when grandma had asked her, how her meeting with my uncle had gone, aunt Sally smiled and said that, he is still struggling with seven mouths to feed and wouldn’t accommodate another. “I should have helped because I am in the best position to. But look at me now, look at my life; no school education, nothing, look at the husband I married, he isn’t even helping”