Anyway, I had a friend in school called Aku. The Aku that we all knew was really loud all the time but there were months she could just go off and get angry at the slightest things. In fact, I heard so many rumors about her being possessed in some months and all but I honestly didn’t care. I really wanted to know why she was always like that, after all, we were friends. So, I eventually became very close to her amidst all the rumors.
I was worried because she was very intelligent but during those months, her grades would drop beneath average. I wanted to understand why. I eventually became her best friend and then we started doing a lot of sleepovers at each other’s house. She stayed at the barracks and I stayed in town. The other thing I realized was that, she wasn’t the only dull one during those months, her whole family too.
On certain days, they would all gather waiting for a particular call at a particular time. Anytime, the call came through, they would be so happy. I later got to understand that it was her dad’s call they were waiting for. Her dad was a soldier who had gone for peacekeeping and there was assurance that he would return alive.
After I got to know, I understood her and even told her she was brave.
Not that I ever even wanted to be a soldier because I used to see the recruits carrying timber along the roadside during their training and it was enough to tell me that wasn’t something I was cut out for. So seeing what Aku always went through just cemented my decision. I admire soldiers a lot and one of the things I’m so proud about is that I went to a military school. That place instilled a level of discipline in my life that has helped me so much and I’ll forever be grateful.
However, I really don’t think I’m brave enough to go through the training and the worse part, leave home knowing very well I might not return. I know tomorrow is not promised for anyone but then this is different. I don’t think I’m that brave to pursue such a career.
In my country, sometimes I feel like soldiers are not given the recognition they should be given but then even if they were to be paid billions of dollars and given whatever recognition, I don’t think I would find myself in that career. You know the funny part?, any time we had a career day at school, none of the soldiers’ kids dressed as their parents so how much more me, a civilian’s kid? no o, I beg you.
image is mine
