Anini Reloaded

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

Its a nice thing to be a graduate I thought as I proudly jumped off the bus I boarded all the way from Ile-Ife in Osun State where my school was, to my home town.

The journey was time exhausting as it took us five good hours to arrive in Delta State. I wasn’t comfortable with the gazes thrown at me as I crossed the major road to get a bike that will take me to my house, I guessed the NYSC camouflage I wore dragged the attention of many people to me. Most of the village girls winked at me seductively…

I didn’t mind as I smiled at them and hastily climbed onto one of the packed bikes, the bike man agreed to take me to my house at a fee of #50.

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MY FAMILY HUT

Getting home I saw my younger sister Joy removing the dirt from beans while singing, she couldn’t hold herself when she saw me on the bike. She quickly put the tray of beans on the floor and rushed to me. She jumped on me, if not because of my strength as a man, I would have fallen to the ground because I was very tired as I had not eaten all day.

I could see the happiness in her eyes and was really glad to see her healthy and grown up 5yrs away from home nor be child’s play oo, forget say I dey talk to them on phone, especially after receiving money from my mum i always called to thank her and my siblings for all their efforts and contributions to raised the money . she carried my box inside and started shouting mama!!!

I walked behind her with a small bag and a polythene bag which contained the bread I bought for them. Before I could get in, my mum blocked me at the door with a glamorous smile and she sang and danced holding my hands and touching my face, like a blind woman. I danced along with her and behold my younger brother came in to join the celebration after a brotherly hug with me. Our sitting room was filled with joy as we all danced to the songs my mum sang.

We finally settled on the chair. My younger sister (Joy) saw my legs as the best seat she could find in the house, her weight was wow! She even feel relaxed on my lap, forgetting she was by now a fully mature woman.

ME: Mama oo! Imagine small Joy of yesterday now having a weight compared to sack of garri

MUM: Don’t you know she is a woman now, you expect her to remain the small girl she was before you left (Joy helping mother to complete the statement)

JOY: Brother Eli! I’m 17yrs old now oo, if not for money I am supposed to be writing waec with my mates who are writing now (the fact that she is not writing the SSCE made me sad)

ME: Don’t worry Joy, by Gods grace next year you’ll sit for the exams okay? If I get a nice paying job in time, then you will enrol waec gce this year.

JOY: Okay bros

ME: What about you Lucky?

LUCKY: paled face Am not happy at all oo, I managed to save money to buy jamb form, I sat for it and I scored 286. But there was no money to buy the post utme form of my two preferred institutions, mama and Joy managed to raise #2,500 but it was not enough. I had no other option but to meet uncle Jude, but he said he did not have anything rather he gave me #50 to add to the one mummy and Joy raised

ME: Uncle Jude will never change. Well, you will still buy the form my brother, let me see what I can do

LUCKY: The form is no longer on sale, it got expired last week, I have to give the money to mama and she has been using it to cook for us.

ME: Okay, don’t worry my brother ,all will be fine. I will get a job soon, since I am a graduate with first class upper you all will enjoy and I promise to sponsor you and Joy to any level. Mama stop crying it is well

MUM: Its not well oo, I can’t see you all in pain and accept the fact that all is well, even my stomach is aching me all day that I barely go to the farm since last month, the doctor said its stomach ulcer. The last money I sent to you came from all my expensive wrappers which I sold to Mama Valentine, at a cheaper rate.

ME: Mama your son is here now, so stop worrying yourself, you will be fine and I promise to replace them.

MUM: I know you have a pure heart and will make your siblings and I smile. That is why I took the load on my head and forced your younger ones to go out there and work hard by selling things for people and doing other petty jobs. Sorry my son i know you must be hungry, I cooked ogbiyokpo soup with fresh bitter leaf, let me go and serve you (its just as if my mum knew my present state, I was really famished)

–**–

We all ate together happily and after the meal, I went straight to my small room in the hut, to arrange a well written application letter and all my documents including my CV (Curriculum Vitae) needed to secure a good job.

I had a great task before me to tackle and that was my family well being, the only way out was to look for a job and take full responsibility of the family affairs…