Papa has always been the type that motivates you with gifts. Yes, if he wants you to do something and be the best at it he will promise you a gift you can not resist. And I on the other hand has been someone that never slacks whenever I get such an opportunity.
This was the case last month, when I told him that I willl be leading my team at school to a quiz competition. He casually replied to me and continued with the newspaper he was reading. I waited for his reply or maybe give me a handshake for doing so well to be nominated to head the team from my school. Instead he paid no attention.
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I gently walked back to my room, locked the door and continued with the music playing on my headphones. The song was by the legendary Fela Kuti. He was my favorite musician and one can tell just by walking into my room as his pictures were all on the wall.
Few days later at dinner, Mama had made a delicious ofe nsala (soup) to celebrate Papa's win at the office that day. We all celebrated with a bottle of red wine, our usual family style. After dinner we say at the table discussing and laughing as Papa made silly jokes. And when I was about to retire to bed Papa handed me an envelope. I asked what it was but he did not reply, instead he asked that I open it myself. I quickly opened the envelope and inside it was a ticket to the legendary Fela Kuti concert.
"That will be yours if you are able to make papa proud at the upcoming quiz" he said to me stretching out his hands to take back the ticket as I beamed with smiles.
"I Know you will make us proud" Mama said rubbing my head with smiles.
I stood up bade them good night and went to bed.
Just as they (Papa and Mama) had predicted i led my team to victory at the quiz and of course I could not hold my joy as I announced it to papa and mama at dinner that night. And as he promised, the ticket was handed back to me. Now I have to wait two weeks for the concert date.
Weeks passed, days gone and the concert was tomorrow. I retired to bed early but couldn't sleep as I kept thinking of being in the concert of one of the worlds greatest entertainers tomorrow and I had a ticket.
I kept struggling with sleep and the thought of the concert with constant checking of the bedside clock for time. Finally, I didn't know when I drifted to sleep and but woken by the smell of burning clothes. I jumped up the bed, and looked the curtain in my room was on fire. And also some parts of my room too.
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"Papa!" I yelled as I jumped off the bed to their room, just to meet him already in the corridor, he was coming for me. Papa quickly grabbed my hands and together we ran out of the burning house to meet Mama already outside with some neighbors who consoled her. I wondered how the house got engulfed and how we were going to lose everything we ever had. Just then I remembered the concert and the ticket, I had left it inside.
Without a second thought I dashed into the burning building. I was going to retrieve the ticket.
"Junior, junior" Papa yelled as I paid no attention to the shouts. "Come out!'"
Luckily I got to my room to retrieve the ticket but by the time I was ready to get back outside the fire had enclosed the whole room and there was no way out for me. Looking terrified I stood there with the ticket in my hands thinking about what to do. I was scared. I should not have run into the burning house, I thought . I stood there helpless.
I could still hear Papa's voice clearly, yelling my name. I tried calling back but couldn't find my voice. Papa's voice got stronger and closer.
"Junior!, Wake up. We are going be late unless you do not want to go and see Fela Kuti again" Papa tapped me as I jerked up from sleep sweating profusely.
"It is a dream," I said.
"What is a dream?" He asked.
"Nothing Papa," I stood up and walked to the bathroom "I will be out in five minutes".
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Now we are on our way to Lagos for the concert. This was the best day of my life.