I never loved talking about it. I've never let them know .it's not because there is nothing to say, not because I don't have all the details. For long, I've always believed, this is my story, this is me, and my story for me alone. Just as some friends have ends, who knows what will be used against you tomorrow. A problem shared is a problem solved, who says that to the police. As far as I could tell, this is who I am. Don't get confused with who I was, where I was and where I am now.
He triggered me to pen this down. A boy hawking sachet water to make ends meet. We always see him. Where he sleeps, what he eats, who he talks to, who he love and who loves him nobody knows. As he walked along the street shouting his usual anthem.. 'cold pure water"... Some boys working in a building along the street called out.. Pure water.. Like in a response to a stimulant, all his attention went towards the direction they called from. Dirty hands landed on the clean sachet water before he could even bring the bowel down. Like they were trapped in a desert, they demanded more. At the end, ten sachets gone. Payment was another story. You can go... One shouted. Or do you have change of a thousand naira? ..the other chipped in. I will look for change.. He quickly replied, admitting the will to search for their balance. Oh.. You want to run with our money... Get lost before before I hit this shovel on your head. With tears, the poor boy wandered away. Who will speak for him, fight for him or even care to know what happened to him. The street never loved us.
I quickly run down from the three storey building I was. I had observed everything right from the window in my kitchen. Firstly, I charged to engage the boys in a combat, but on a second thought. I decided to wipe the tears of the young Lad. I opened my wallet and took a thousand naira note from it and raced down to meet the poor boy . I told him that I saw what happened. Consoled him and gave him the money . He was as happy as ever .Thanks so much Sir. The joy in his voice kept me pondering .it sent a signal that reminded me who I was.
Yes, I have given you a clue of what to expect. Those memories of joy and pain, a scar which will be forever. With mixed feelings, I remembered those days mom was the breadwinner. Not because Dad was irresponsible, but so was it. The sick bed has been his new office. We could no longer afford to keep him in the hospital. We have turned nurses overnight and mom officially the Doctor.
Was it for where we lived, a building deliberately forsaken and due for renovations. Pot holes created at several spot by rain drops, telling how good the roof was. Those at strategic positions was held at bay with small buckets.. Who knows when we'll be chased out just like my paternal uncle udenzu did years back. He claimed he sold my Dad's inherited land in the village to source for fund to see him fully recuperated. The truth you've already known. We were winners especially my siblings.. The three pillars of hope. Being the first child isn't easy but never thought it would be as hard as it was for me. We were winners indeed, to keep strong after days of prolonged starvation.. We were winners... To learn smartness with out school, we were winners. To be nurses without training, we were winners. To be mom's hope whenever she was down. We were winners. To be dad's reason to take another breath.. We were winners.
I haven't told a bit of what it was,yet my clothes are almost drenched with my tears. You might not know what it was, the pain and the trail. My eyes reddened like a heated iron. No, I must complete my story I told myself. If for the first time someone must know this. Now you may be anxious to know more or already lost interest. Yes, this is me and my story... Without a silver spoon.
The four of us was all business tycoons.12,10,8 & 6 was the age,yet our strength in hawking was no match for those of older age. I normally hawked soap. Canoe soap to be precise. Ikenna(10) hawked sachet water along with Emeka(8). Azuka(6) was always mom's companion as mom always take him along in her okpa hawking business.
I still remembered vividly, when Dad spoke to me, with his eyes clouded with tear and his voice engulfed by pain. Am so sorry he muttered. Look at me lying helplessly watching with my very eyes as my family suffers. Mom walked in. Obim, she called out on dad. 'I have told you to stop saying that to your son' She said. I noticed her initially strong voice thawed down like an avalanche. She knows the pain in his heart. The worries in my looks. As she walked closer to lift my hands, tears like rain drops rolled down from her eyes and landed on my head. I started pitifully at both of them. Dad was speechless now, lying indeed helplessly on his sick bed. Although we did our best, but his health situation deteriorated . The poisoned leg resembling a mycetoma rottened the more.
Who I am now was a product of who I was. Hardwork seemed to be the answer. I believe Dad will be happy for the plumber I am today. He would be proud of me where ever he was. May his soul rest in peace. My siblings I have ensured a good life for them. Ikenna and Emeka are doing well in their brick laying business. Azuka now in the University. Mom now owns a shop where she sells food items. We are better.. We are winners.
I might have not told it all . There are people out there who are in situations worse than mine. if there's anything you can do to put a smile on someone's face, to wipe the tears in someone's eyes, to place a meal in someone's table.... Do it.. The change we so much desire starts with us... HEAL THE WORLD.
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