I still remember the 7th day of July,
2006 just like it was yesterday. I was ten years of age and still a primary
school pupil. I knew that day was not going to be a sunny day because it was
the middle of July.
Being a Friday, we closed by 12pm at school as there were no
extra lessons. On getting home, I met my elder sister, Bunmi, who had not gone
to school because of her torn uniform. Mother had promised to amend, so I was
sure she would resume school with me the following week.
I was exhausted and famished after the rough and playful day
at school, and so I ate before attempting to wash my uniform. However, Bunmi
swooped in and decided to help me with the washing but only if I would share my
lunch fee for the next day of school with her. I usually shared it with her
before, so I agreed and went in to take a nap at about 2 o'clock.
I slept for what felt like a very long time and woke up to
find everywhere in a semi-dark state, with the rain beating mercilessly against
my window pane.
The breeze, coupled with the weather, confused me and I
thought I had slept till morning. I checked the wall clock in my room. 6
o'clock! My school bus always leaves by 6:30. I got agitated, and in my
agitated state, even forgot the next day was a Saturday. Quickly, I stepped
into the bathroom, not even bothering about the fact that the water was
obviously not enough, since it was too late to fetch water from downstairs. I
could barely manage rinsing only my face and legs, and I used the remainder to
brush my teeth.
Getting back to the room, I quickly dressed up and just as I
was about to wear my sandals, I noticed a note on my reading table with a sum a
fifty naira note. Because I was late, I didn't take my time to read the note, I
just squeezed everything into my pocket. Mum gives me fifty naira whenever I
don't take food to school. So, I concluded that the fifty naira was for my
feeding that day.
Bunmi was in J.S.S. 3, and preparing for her Junior School
Certificate Examination. She attends Kano Girls College (KGC). She leaves for
school before me since, unlike me, she treks to school, so it was of no
surprise to me that I didn't see her before leaving. Also, I was angry at
mother; who I thought didn't wake me up before leaving for work.
But, if I had read the note, I would have known that the
fifty naira was a gift from my uncle Jide who came around when I was asleep, I
would have known that it wasn't morning, and that mum was not back from work
and the missing Bunmi was next door, playing Ludo with her friend, Moji.
Without looking at the note once, I dashed out of the house into the pouring
rain, already a few minutes late.
I ran all the way to the bus stop, thinking I was late. On
getting to there, I noticed something was amiss. I didn't see my latecomer friends
who, like me, should have been running to the bus stop in order not to miss the
bus, or the woman who sold fried doughnuts beside the bus stop. Before I had
time to figure out what was really wrong, the breeze started heavily throwing
all litters into the air obstructing my view. Within a twinkle of an eye, the
rain began to pour more heavily. With the heavy rain and breeze, I got
unbearably wet in no time and sought for shelter under a deserted stall. I was
feeling very cold and was now afraid. It was very dark now. I straightened out
the now wet note and read it. It then dawned on me that it was still evening
time and not morning.
I started to cry profusely, whether because of the rain or
something else, I did not know. Just then, I saw my dad in his car. He had
traveled the week before for a contract in Lagos and had said he would be home
in two weeks. He was back early, but I did not care about that just then. I
thought perhaps one of our neighbors who saw me running towards the bus stop
must have told him my whereabouts. I
felt very happy and safe as he drove home.
I got even happier still when nobody asked me why I did what
I did after we got home. Apparently,
they'd been looking for me and they were all just happy to see me.
Till date, whenever I remember that incident, I blame myself
for not reading that small note on my reading table at first sight, and more so,
my wall clock that had not indicated ante meridian (a.m.) or post meridian
(p.m.).
Written by Silversmith
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