MY JEWEL…chapter 1
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Written by Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
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Walking back to the hospital, I couldn’t believe uncle had refused to help, I was frustrated, and wondered why life was this unfair, why do most friends and family always flee in times of difficulty,,, only God can really help us now, it seems the whole world was against my family and I, even our very own shadows had left us in the dark.
Papa was a very nice person,he gave helping hand to everyone, he was very kindhearted,loves pace and unity.he certainly do not deserve this….Although papa wasn’t wealthy he gave the little he had to those around, he was a trader,he buys clothes,bags and shoes from Onitsha and Lagos and sell in Asaba ….
Uncle James is papa’s only brother, papa gives uncle James clothes and shoes always and even harvested crops anytime he made some harvesting, since papa was also a substantial farmer.
We didn’t have most things the wealthy ones has,but we were very happy as a family. We had love and peace in our home, we were one small happy family….
I was academically very good, I had finished secondary school and I was one of the best graduating students… Papa’s joy knew no
bands,he then promised to s£nd me to school to any level of my choice. Uncle James had tried to convince papa that there was no point s£nding a female Child to school since she will end up answering another man’s name, but father had refused that he will s£nd me to school been an only child. I was alre-ady getting re-ady for exams before the whole issue.
It was 12th of march 6 years ago, papa and others were getting re-ady to attend a burial ceremony in another state,but that morning, mama pleaded with him not to go,that she had a terrible dream about him and the journey, but typical of an African Nigerian man, he refused to listen, and insisted on going to the journey with the others..
They had successfully gone to the burial,while they were coming back to Asaba,they had an accident, many persons died in the bus only a few survived but with major injuries,and papa happened to be one of those.we had to spend all we had to pay for his Hospital bills,papa’s savings, my supposed money for school,and even papa’s shop,all went to his treatment. After everything papa was okay, but he was confined to a wheelchair as the accident had greatly affected his w@!st and leg…
Papa was really hurt,he cried so much the day the doctor’s told him he will not be walking again,he was so hurt that he wished he had died with those who died, rather than been alive and not able to walk….
But as days went by,with love from mama and I,he was able to accept his fate and live each day for us
I was grateful to God for saving my father’s life,but I sometimes weep about mine,how things had turn out to be,some of my clas-s mates were done with school, some in their finals while others learning one trade or the other, but nothing seems to be working for me,it hurt when you see all your mates moving forward and one’s life just seems to be on hold.
In all,I was able to encourage myself, that I would be that person that GOD had ordained me to be.
It just surprises how everyone can change,forgetting all you have done for them,,people only showed concern and care the first month of the accident, after that,it seems we were all alone in this life,nob©dy cared,Mama and I have been the ones taking care of papa..
Some weeks ago papa fell sick, we had bought all the drugs prescribe-d by the pharmacist, but no improvement, just last night, papa grew worse about 4am,so we had to rush him to the hospital…. But as usual, they refused to commerce treatment without a deposit of #20,000..…
I ran to uncle to ask for help, since he had Sold one of papa’s lands days ago,but,he said he had no money
but uncle you sold papa’s land days ago,, I said
and so what he shouted,, I am now the first son of this family since the supposed first son is a dying man” Uncle said
uncle there is no way you would have spent all that money in few days, I asked
“well let me surprise you, I have “Uncle said…
I was weak,I didn’t know what to do,I wondered how evil my uncle is,,,
Getting to the hospital, mama ran out
how did it go?she asked me, I nodded in the negative direction, and mama bur-st into h0t tears…..
She was probably hoping I’d come with the money so that they’d get started with the treatment,,,
“Mama how is papa?I had asked
not getting better ohhh,, mama said
i have to go see the doctor again,and beg him…
plea-se doctor, I said on my kneels, help save my father,I shall do all I can to raise the money back…. I had said
I am sorry ma, it’s hospital policy,many people had been treated who promised same you are asking of me,at the end of the whole thing they escaped without paying a Kobo,I am afraid I can’t help you, while we were on that, a nurse ran into the doctor’s office
doctor!doctor!! the patient in ward 12, is finding it difficult to breath,, the doctor and nurse rushed out ,realizing that’s my father’s ward,I rushed out with them…
Mama was alre-ady crying,begging papa not to leave her,indeed my father was finding it ha-rd to breath,he looked like he was struggling and trying to say something altogether, the doctor excused us out..
Mama and I were praying and crying outside,begging God to spare the life of our husband and father respectively, I just couldn’t imagine life without my father, I was very anxious, just then the doctor c@m£ out, mama and I ran to him..
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MY JEWEL…chapter 2
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…..Doctor how is my father? I had asked him,, he kept mute for sometime, mama repeated the same question
“how is my husband doctor,,,
plea-se put yourself together, be strong,,
what are you taking about doctor, where is my father?
am sorry we lost him “he said,
you what??lost who, my dad?,what are you saying,,,,I had asked
he couldn’t make it,,he’s dead…
Doctor you said, dead,who died, my father???,,,I dragged the doctor and shaking him with all my strength, asking him to give me back my father, i was going mad, my mom was just speechless, like she had gone out of this world, she probably thought she was dreaming,,,when it dawn on her papa was gone ,she screamed so loud,and the nurses held her.
Getting home everything seems finished, I thought papa will live for me and mama ,get back to health and one day walk again…
I am.just 23, alre-ady with out a father, after six years of pains,, life is just so unfair ,Papa would have fought more for us.
Why would papa leave us like this,
Why did the accident happen,
Why me,,
I had all the why’s but there was no answer….
Some women had come by the house to console mom.
My uncle and some of other kinsmen were alre-ady…
You nee-ded to have seen the way uncle James was crying and shouting, my only brother, oh my only brother, why did you leave me like this,,,it was really irritating to me, crying like he cared, he was even crying more than me and mama the direct family,the kinsmen and other men around were consoling him..
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Days on , we started planning for the burial ceremony,,, uncle said he would take care of all expenses, and make sure he gives papa a befitting burial..
But uncle I thought you said you didn’t have money when I c@m£ to you for help when papa was sick in the hospital, so which money are you going to use for the so called befitting burial, I had asked in anger
“how dare you, how dare you question me,,,it’s non of your business how I get the money as long as I give my elder brother a befitting burial…..
It was my father’s burial, indeed it was befitting, my uncle spent money, there were food of varieties, more than enough drinks, one of the best musicians of our time , chiefs, noble men and women all in attendance..
I wept more, so my uncle had all these money and allowed my father died without proper medical care.
Indeed the heart of man is wicked.
I wonder why a dead person gets more attention, shown more love and care more than a living soul,,, they call it last respect, a person you never valued or loved while alive, what kind of last respect are you paying..
Uncle didn’t give us a kobo from the money giving to us by the sympathisers,,, according to him, he did the burial and as such everything from it are his….
My uncle bec@m£ charge of everything my father owes, all his lands, and the crops in them, which my mother and I had managed to plant. we were living un-der uncle’s grace, he gives us what he likes and when he likes, according to him, he was even just been nice, because as long as my mother didn’t birth a male child for my father, she has no right over anything my father owns……mama and I sometimes go to be-d in an empty stomach.
I knew I nee-ded to help, my mother wasn’t doing anything before the accident, because papa didn’t allow her work, she only started cultivating Papa’s farms after the accident, so that we can have something to eat, and now the farm lands had gone.
Our lives were just one big mess, I know that isn’t the plan papa wanted for us,,his brother has been ma-king life so unbearable for us.
One evening I decided to Pay uncle a visit, at least to beg him to change his mind,,,
Uncle, good evening sir “I had greeted
good evening Ada, how are you?
fine thank you sir… Uncle, plea-se I have something I would like to tell you
okay my child you can go on “he said uncle was rather too polite and gentle today for my comfort…
“Uncle ,I know you have taken over my father’s lands, which is about four,,, uncle plea-se I beg you in the name of God, allow me sell one ,only one from the four, so that I can use it to Go to school…All my mates are done,, uncle plea-se..
My child Adaobi, you have spoken like a true child of your father, I know he will be very proud of you in the Land of our ancestors, because that was his wish,for you to go to school.
And I shall help you fulfill that dream, if not for anything, but for my brother…
Uncle, you said what?,that you, you s£nd me to schoooooooooo, eheeeee i shouted out of joy and happiness,,,,I was more surprised about the whole thing because uncle James didn’t belief in female education…. Never the less, I thanked him for his support…
“No problem Ada, you can go home, expect me in three days ,I shall give you feed back on this discussion.
With these new improvement and uncles change of heart, I was very excited, and nee-ded to tell mama…
I ran home calling and shouting mama.
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TBC