SWEET SIXTEEN: FINAL EPISODE

Advertising
Ugobestiky dot com

“Not really. A queen is treated like a queen because a queen behaves like a queen. Respect can only be commanded by self-respect. If a queen behaves like a tramp, she would be treated like one.” “I guess you are right. I didn’t think of that,”I said.

“You see Aliya, if you bought a new dress and throw it on the floor, people would be justified to use it as a rag and mop the floor with it. But if you have a dress, even though it is not so new, but you keep it clean and hang it in your wardrobe, no one would treat it like a rag, or dare to clean the floor with it. That is why the Yoruba say, ‘Bi onigba ba se pe igba re, bee naa la maa ba pee’.” I was still thinking about this when he said, “That girl, the one that you said was picking on you, what’s her name again?” “Bunmi, that’s her name,”I replied. “Bunmi, yes.

Advertising

That’s it. Why do you think Bunmi would be picking on you like that?” “I don’t know.We are not even in the same class. Yes, we are in the same hostel, but we are not in the same room. I can’t remember ever doing anything to offend her,”I said. I had also asked myself the question several times. Once, I even toyed with the idea of confronting her to tell me how I might have offended her. But I did not have the courage to follow through. The closest I came to understanding why she kept picking on me was when she said one day that I was rude because I thought I was better than everyone else.

True, I had finished almost every term with the best overall results. Everyone knew this because my picture was always on the notice board in front of the administration building. But I never thought I was better than anybody. Most of the time,I just kept to myself and did my thing. After a few minutes of silence, Daddy said, “You know, when people bully other people, its usually because they think those people are better than them in some ways or have something they cannot have. Come to think of it, can you pull down something that is beneath you? No. You can only pull down something that is above you.

Bullies are mostly driven by jealousy and a deep sense of unworthiness, an inferiority complex. They only feel better about themselves when they make you feel bad about yourself. So, back to where we started earlier, you must not give them that pleasure. Ultimately, what they do to you says more about them than about you.” “Well, thank God she is gone now,”I said, heaving a sigh of relief. “Gone? Where did she go?” Daddy asked as he stood up, stretching a little.

“She has graduated now.You forgot I told you she was in SS3.” “Oh, yes, I forgot that. But now that you are going to be a Senior yourself, you have to use your own experience to stand up for other children who may become victim to bullies.” “You know, Daddy, I am going to be a prefect.”
“Really? I didn’t know that? Which prefect?” he asked almost excitedly. “Head Girl,”I said. “Wow.that’ s good. Now, you would even be in a better position to help other students.” “Of course. Daddy, I even want to donate something to the school clinic.” “Like what?” “The Nebuliser.

Advertising

We don’t have any in the clinic, and there are so many asthmatic students, many of them don’t have inhalers. One girl in our hostel nearly died last term because she suddenly had an attack and she didn’t have an inhaler. She was lucky that I had one to spare. But I think if we have the Nebuliser, it can be used for everyone when that kind of thing happens.” “That is very thoughtful of you, my darling.

Now, that’s what I call beauty— making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.” I laughed heartily, feeling very pleased with myself. “Daddy.” “Yes, my darling.” “I just want to thank you for everything you have taught me. I have learnt so much. You are the greatest father in the entire universe.” “Universe? Not even world?” He laughed. He walked towards me and gave me a big hug. Then, he gently pushed me back. “Sit down, I want to tell you another story,” he said as he also sat back on my reading chair. “Okay Daddy, I am ready. “Once upon a time…” “Time, time, time,”I chorused and we both laughed.

“Once upon a time, there was a hunter who lived in a remote village somewhere in Africa. One day, as it was his wont, he went on a hunting expedition, promising his family that he would come back with assorted game, so they could have a feast. However, after stalking the forest for several days and several nights, there was no game in sight. He thought that perhaps, if he went farther into the forest, he would get lucky. But the farther he went, the more tranquil the forest became, not a rumble or a stir.

He did not even glimpse a rodent. He ran out of food and water. He soon began to starve. But lack of food did not worry him as much as lack of water. Yet, he kept pushing on deeper into the forest. Hunting for game was no longer his priority; he was desperately in need of water, and, maybe food. But he met with no luck.

Advertising

Soon he began to hallucinate and he feared that he might die. Well, given the circumstances he found himself in, dying would not be such a tragedy. however, if that was his fate, at least he should find a cave or somewhere a little concealed to lay his head and die so that wild animals would not I e a ,sit on his body. As he stood, swaying on one spot, drunk with thirst and suddenly saw a narrow path that he did not notice before. He thought perhaps he was still hallucinating. But he followed the path. Overhead, tree branches formed heavy canopies that shut out the sky.

He trudged on, still hoping to find a spot hidden enough to hold his body. He had not gone beyond a few metres when he came upon an open field that looked like the courtyard of somebody’s house. When he managed to look up, lo and behold, what did he see? A signboard that said, ‘Food is Ready.’ As if that was not exhilarating enough, underneath this advertisement was written, ‘All you can eat for free, your ancestors have paid for yourfood.’ With the last energy he could muster, he trudged towards the direction that the signboard pointed and he soon found himself in a big compound. Everyone he saw appeared busy, dedicated to the affairs of the stomach. Some were pounding yam, some were cooking the soup, some were fetching rice into a large pot, and some were busy skinning freshly killed game of different stripes.

As the famished hunter stood bewildered in the middle of all the frenetic activities of cooking and frying and cutting and pounding, he wondered what to make of the whole scene. Could it be that he had died and had ended up in heaven? He was still trying to make sense of everything when he saw two ladies walk towards him with two crystal jugs of what looked like milk. In all his entire life, he had never beheld such enchanting beauty. One of them handed him the jug she was carrying. He frantically grabbed and downed its entire content in a jiffy. He collected the second one and drained it as well.

He felt a new surge of energy and became even more aware of his environment. He had no doubt that this was the heaven he had heard so much about. The two ladies led him to a room and sat him on a cushion, so soft, softer than any he had ever sat on. They asked what he would like to eat. Even in his excitement, he had a major concern. He had no money.

How would he pay for the food and the drinks? He could not be sure now that he actually saw what he thought he read on the signboard outside, that the food was free because his ancestors had paid. He had no idea that his ancestors ever wandered that way. So, the signboard may be intended for a particular individual, rather than general guests. He summoned the courage to ask the ladies. ‘Is it true, what I saw outside, that food is free because my ancestors had paid?’ They confirmed that it was true. He could eat and drink as much as he could for free, because his parents and parents’ parents had paid for everything. All glory to his ancestors! He asked them to give him anything they had.

They soon returned with a mountain of pounded yam, assorted game meat and chilled juices of different fruits held in sweating crystal jugs.The hunter pounced on the food and the meat. It was the most delicious meal he ever had. He ate his fill. He drank the juices, the taste of which did not belong to this world. When he finished, a new wave of tranquility swept over him and he did not know when he slept off. He could not recollect for how long he slept. But when he woke up, the two angelic ladies were still waiting on him. He thanked them profusely and informed them that he would like to, be on his way. They asked if he enjoyed the food. He said he did and actually he wondered if he could take some with him for the road. They said he could take as much as he liked.

Whereupon, he proceeded to stuff his hunter’s bag with as much fried meat as it could carry. He also filled his water bottle with the juice. He thanked them once again, and set to be on his way. However, as he was about to exit the room, a voice, deep as it was omnipresent, flooded the room, jolting him back. ‘Gentleman, you have not paid.’ What was this? He wondered. ‘But, I was told that I could have anything for free because my parents had paid.’ ‘Yes,’ the voice answered. ‘And you have done just that. But the reason you were able to enjoy the free meal that you just had was that someone else had paid. You too must pay, so that your children coming after you, would also enjoy a free meal, someday, like you just did.'” I waited with bated breath to find out what became of the hunter, but Daddy got up and made for the door.

“Won’t you finish the story? What then happened to the hunter?” “The story is finished. if you think it is not finished, then you are free to finish it. How the story ended is not important. What is important, Aliya, is what the story is telling you. With the letter that I wrote to you on your sixteenth birthday, and the conversations that we have had over this weekend and even before now, I believe that I have paid my own dues to you, just like my parents did to me. You must pay yours too, by passing these teachings to your own children. When they learn from you, they must pass it on to their children, who must in turn pass it on to their own children.

Till the end of time. It is the price that every generation must pay, so that future generations would live better and more fulfilled lives.” After he left the room, I lay back on my bed and cried for a long time. After that, I said a long prayer for him, “God bless you, my father, my teacher, my prophet.”

We are wishing you all well in your Exams to come out the exam hall with flying colours

Advertising

Thanks for Reading

Enjoyed this post? Share it with your networks.