Esse - Introduction

 

The day had been beautiful and the sky was like a dome of plasma-blue. The clouds had looked like airy anvils drifting under the gleaming disc of sun.

I sat on a chair beside my reading table, in my super large light brown room, looking out the window as I admired the cool weather. I love days like this, that all I have to do is sit by my window and watch the crazy neighbourhood. My estate is not the quiet type, like most estates are in Nigeria, mine is a little crazy; and that is because of the house opposite my room window has crazy tenants. I smiled as I watched a set of friends crazily dancing to Olamide's Wo . They are good.

I was what the Yoruba people call 'Omo get inside'. My parents had never let me or my younger brother out, it was only my elder brother that used to go out, and that was because he was rebellious.

I chuckled again; when I saw a naked small boy run away from his mother, she pursued him and tried to catch him, but the small boy was pretty good at dodging. I rested my head on my hands, which were placed atop each other; as I enjoyed the view.

But then, the sky turned tar-black and large fluffy looking clouds started moving towards the direction of my window. I hastily closed my sliding glass window, I was a pneumonia patient, and was prone to cold

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/esse

. I heard tapping on the glass, and before I knew it, it became a pitter-patter. Passer-bys ran for cover outside and umbrellas were opened as the cloud spat out their beads of water. The roofs of cars parked on the roadside danced with spray of raindrops and I could hear the murmuring of the rain through the window. It sounded like the buzzing of angry bees.

I stood up, and walked to my wardrobe, which was at the far end of the right side of my room, close to my bed. As I walked to my wardrobe, I swayed my hips to the now fading Kiss Daniel's Mama. One of jams. I opened my brown wooden wardrobe, grabbed my brown sweater and immediately put it on. I smiled to myself, as I caught a glimpse of the Kiss Daniel's sticker in my wardrobe, I was a crazy fan of his. I sighed loudly, as I fell on my bed with my back. I grabbed my iPhone from my night-stand, deciding to check my ex-class Whatsapp group chat. I had never talked there because I was Esse, the class introvert. I had no friends; one, because of my parents and two, because I had been kept in all my life and had zero idea on how to communicate with people. I read through it, and laughed to myself as John the class clown and troublemaker was abusing, Ngozi the school 'every-bodies girl'. Wetin concern me? I closed the chat and started playing Falz's Baby Boy. I clicked on my chrome browser and immediately the EbonyStory site popped up, I was about to continue reading Ebosereme's Mesomma Dilemma, when my mom walked in. Perfect way to ruin my happy moment.

"Oh, you've worn it. I wanted to ensure you've worn your sweater," she said to me in her calm british accent. It's so painful to know that someone with such an awesome accent, can be the person behind her daughter's sadness. I hmmed her, and turned away. She didn't get the hint that I didn't want to talk and grabbed my reading table chair. She came to sit close to my bed. "What class are you going to?" she asked like she cared.

I still didn't look at her, as I said, "Art."

"What?!" she shouted. "Daddy! Come and hear what your Esse is saying!" immediately she shouted the word 'daddy', shivers went sent down my spine, and I was consumed in fear. I feared that name, not talk more of the person. I heard his footstep approach my room, and I was no longer myself. I tried to ignore the fact that I was shaking terribly, but it was too obvious to be ignored.

He walked in like the room was his, the house might have been his, but the room wasn't. That sounds so dumb. "What did she say?" he asked in his calm thick bass voice, with his brushed English and again shivers ran down my spine.

My mom didn't waste a sec to see if I was okay with her telling him or not. "She wants to go to art class. I don't understand this girl any more. Art class?" My mom was the reason why I got angry for no reason, whenever I heard British accent anywhere; I didn't watch English movies because of her.

"She wouldn't say such a thing. Is it true Esse?" he asked, hoping I was going to give him a different answer, but deep down I knew I wasn't doing such.

I simply nodded. "What? Art is the class for the lazy. And Esse, you are a smart girl. Okay even if you go to art, what would you study?" Ah! See Jamb question oh! Shey art don't have courses ni.

I still didn't look at any of them, my focus was now on my phone screen. "English Language, I want to-"

Before I could finish talking, he started his rant. "What? You want to go and become a teacher in English language? You must be joking. You are going to science. You are studying medicine, any other thing you have in mind is not important, all I know is what I have in mind is what you're doing?"

"Stop looking at your phone, and talk to your father. You have a very bad behaviour." I ignored my mom and lifted my head a little, but still made no eye contact with any of them.

After they made me go to a school I didn't like, now they want to choose class for me? I wanted to go to schools like Lawanson High and Fanbare College, very good day schools; but I was forced to write exams for Crown School, Dorcas High, Heavenly Refuge Missionary School, and Rare Gems High. All boarding. After passing all the entrance exams, they finally decided I was going to the church school; Rear Gems High. They've being controlling my life ever since they found out my mom was pregnant. I've been in this bondage, and I'm tired of it. I want to get out of it! My life is akin to a channel, and they control it always with their remotes.

"You've made decisions for me enough. And it has to stop, one way or the other. I'm going to art class, and that's finally," I said in the calmest tone I had ever used, my eyes watered and my silent cry began.

My mom didn't waste time to give her reply, and they were always adding salt to pepper. "Are you arguing with your father? You've grown wings. Hmm...you've started keeping bad companies right? That won't happen in my house."

My father, being the head of the family that he claimed to be, spoke in his brushed English. "Leave her, let her go to the art." And he walked out. Immediately he stepped out, I knew I was doomed. My father never agrees, unless he had ulterior motives. I became troubled, disturbed, restless, heavy hearted, I couldn't explain how I felt. my mom sighed out, and left my room. Mtchew, she didn't return my chair. I grabbed my chair and took it back to my reading table, as I wiped my eyes and sat there. The rain has began to reduce.

My mind wouldn't stay one place, it kept roaming, my breathing became fast and unsteady. Why did he say yes? Why did he look nonchalant? Why didn't he shout? Why didn't he force me? Why? Why? Why? I closed my eyes, breathed in and breathed out. I followed the rhythm, and I started calming down as Kiss Daniel's Laye played downstairs. I smiled to myself, as I felt myself coming back to life. I looked out my window and they were all back out, chatting, laughing, and being happy. I wanted to be like that one day, free. Snap out of it! Dad has finally let you make a decision for yourself, you're nearing freedom. I smiled to myself and grabbed my phone, I continued reading Ebosereme's Mesomma Dilemma in EbonyStory website. I've been pretty obsessed with that app of late. I had finished a lot of novels like; Finding Solace, Anjola, Love Life of Asante, and Selena's Daughter. While Mesomma's Dilemma is my present. I smiled to myself as I read the chapter, she was good. I felt a little free. The freedom I hadn't felt in 12 years.