Book One by Sobowale Olufunke
Ayetoro village, Ogun.
Monday, February 4, 1974.
Eight a.m.
She opened her eyes; her head was pounding and her eyelids were heavy. She heard a loud noise – she found out it was her parents quarreling again. She was the only child of her parents and her mom had her fifth miscarriage a month ago due to the previous argument her parents had. Ademide was born June 24, 1959. Her beauty was like the edge of a very sharp knife.
It was supposed to be a beautiful day because the weather was lovely. Ademide Ajisafe had watched her parents quarrel before she left for school; she made up her mind not to think about the scenario since it was not her first time watching them quarrel. She was not able to pack her lunchbox and collect her pocket money from her parents because they were not ready to settle their dispute.
She stepped into the rain. In seconds her oversized uniform was bedraggled. Her school was two kilometers away from her house. As she was running, she tripped and fell into the flood. She was able to lift herself up with the help of passersby.
Ademide was the best-behaved student in Ipaotun secondary school located at Ayetoro village; she was also the overall best student in her set. Ipaotun Secondary school was the only school in her village. Due to lack of water facility in her school, she was not able to wash herself – Ademide went to her class with her soaked uniform.
As she got to her seat, she heard a loud laugh from her seat partner whose name was Folarin.
‘Ademide no bath this early momo!’ Folarin spoke in Pidgin English while he called the class attention, ‘omo, this girl na confirm smello.’ He laughed.
Her classmates insulted and mocked her, she felt embarrassed. She was loved by her teachers and she had one friend in the whole village of Ayetoro whose name was Abebi. While she was being bullied by her classmates, Mr. Ajifowora entered into the classroom and punished the students – he took her to the school store and got her a new uniform which was fitted.
‘Why didn’t you take your umbrella before you left your house?’ Mr. Aji asked.
‘Nothing, sir’ Ademide followed her teacher to the staff room.
“‘Don’t let anyone know that I got a new uniform for you’, Mr. Aji said ‘Come to my office after school period.’”
‘Yes sir, thank you sir.’ Ademide knelt down.
While she was on her way to her classroom, her Biology teacher, Mrs. Jejelaye approached her.
“Ademide mi omo to rewa (My Ademide, a pretty child),” Mrs. Jeje hugged Mide “when did you get a new uniform?” She asked.
‘I got it to….’ (Mr Ajifowora interrupted Mide while she was talking).
‘Did your mom get you a new uniform?’ Mr. Aji patted Mide’s shoulder, ‘I saw her some minutes ago.’
‘Oh! You look lovely, hope you thanked your mother for getting you a new uniform.’ Mrs. Jeje smiled
‘Y...y...yes ma.’ Mide stuttered.
‘Are you not late for class? I saw Miss. Ajijedidun in your class.’ Mrs. Jeje asked as she entered into the staff room.
‘Yes, that’s true.’ Mide ran to her class.
‘Why did you leave this house without informing anybody?’ Mrs. Ajisafe (Mide’s mother) queried when Mide got back from school.
Mide ignored her mother which made Mrs. Ajisafe to be angry and she slapped Mide. The slap was loud as a clap and stung her face. Mide ran out of the house and went back to her school. Mide met Mr. Ajifowora at the school gate.
“‘Ademide, I have been waiting for you.’ ‘I told you to see me after school period.’ Mr. Aji held her hands. ‘Are you crying?’”
Ademide sniffed.
‘What happened? Dear?’ He tried to raise her face up to him.
Mr. Ajifowora was in his thirties and he was a bachelor. He took Mide to his house to console her. Mide told Mr. Ajifowora about her parents’ disputes and how they never cared about her well-being, she had not eaten the whole day and her mom treated her badly. Mide felt unloved and questioned her existence.
Mr. Ajifowora moved closer to Mide and hugged her; she felt uncomfortable because she felt it was a bit intense.
‘Sir, I want to go home.’ Mide adjusted herself.
‘Why?’ Mr. Ajifowora asked