"Grandma please tell me a story," Shakira my granddaughter requested politely and even though I was too tired to talk, the least I wanted to do was to ignore her request.
"Okay my baby, I will tell you the things that happened in my past, it's not a story but the reminiscing of the good old days," I tapped her back and looked into her eyes, "grab your seat and please grab that photo album by the shelf too."
Shakira is just 9 years old and she's so adorable and a good listener, she was excited to spend her holiday with me her grandma and of course, she wants something to remind her of me.
"Grandma, I'm here with it," she drew her seat closer with her arms folded and wide eyes eager to listen to me.
I picked up my eyeglasses which were carefully kept on the stool beside the sofa I was sitting and I wore them for proper vision, "look at me here when I was very young, Shakira," I pointed to my favourite childhood picture.
"Oh grandma, you're so beautiful even when you were younger, who is the other girl?" She asked curiously pointing to the person in the picture with me.
"Oh that's Tife, my bestie when I was a teenager, I and Tife usually trek to school even though our parents gave us t-fare, do you know why we trek?" I asked with a smile.
"No grandma, tell me why please," Shakira replied calmly and then I smiled again, "I'll tell you why my baby,".
" Back in the days, things weren't as expensive as they are now, we could afford a lot of things with a small amount of money, A very good size of bread was sold for 50naira which could satisfy I and Tife, we had ice water which was sold for 5Kobo which were coins, baba dudu was sold for two five naira, Shakira life was more fun than now, if we were given 50naira back then for Tfare and feeding we would only spend 30naira and eat to our fill, we would buy Limca for ten naira and pako biscuit for two five naira and we would still have 35naira change to save."
"Ha, grandma, you people used coins in your time? I don't think I know what the Fifty naira looks like now oh, I think the Five hundred naira has now replaced the Fifty naira in your time," Shakira who was immense in my good old days story continued to ask.
"Hmmm, my dear, Even the five hundred can no longer buy good stuff and it's sad, Shakira do you know that in my time we had black and white television?"
"What? The images would be so funny," she busted into laughter,
"We didn't realise until coloured Television came, back then neighbours were like family and people loved each other unlike now where there is so much chaos in the world, we used to live peacefully in our community and even the music and movies had more morals to teach than now, when I look back over the years I realize how quickly time flies, I used to be very vibrant like you, now see me, my hands are shaky and I have a poor eyesight.." Mama, I still love you okay? Shakira interrupted with a smile touching my hands which were now wrinkled.
"Grandma, how old are you now?" Curious Shakira questioned.
"I am 70 years old now, look how grey my black hair has turned," I pointed and touched the strands of my hair.
"I want to also grow old as you grandma, so that I can my grandkids about you, your good old days and mine too," Shakira gave me a tight hug, "I love you, Grandma Amie,"
"I love you too my baby, and you will also live long to tell this tale, are you satisfied with my story?" I wanted to be sure she was because I was almost dozing off, old age comes with a lot.
"Yes Grandma, please rest," she stood up and took the photo album from me and she began to flip through with a smile while I gently rested my back on the sofa watching her with so much joy.