"I have to leave here in search of greener pasture; if I continue to live under my parent's roof, I won't be able to develop myself beyond this capacity. But how will I survive out there without my parents? How will things be easy for me with no one to get my back? Where will I stay? How will I feed?", Kobe soliloquise.
Kobe lived in the remote village of Akwanga with his parents. His parents, Mr and Mrs Timipre, were local farmers with little earnings. Kobe struggled to complete high school through menial jobs and little help from his parents, but he wished to further his education and live a comfortable life, that would not be possible if he remained at Akwanga because there is no higher institution in the village. Kobe decided to inform his parents about his decision to leave home.
"Papa (father), mama (mother), I would love to discuss something with you", Kobe said solemnly after dinner.
"What is it dear? Hope there is no problem", Mrs. Timipre asked because she had noticed some changes in Kobe's behavior for the past few days.
"There's no problem mama(mother). I want to make my intention of leaving Akwanga known to both of you. I want to go to the city, find work, and further my education", Kobe said with trembling voice.
"Kobe!!!", Mr Timipre shouted.
"Who is feeding your head with that rubbish? Who do you have in the city? How will you cope in the city? Your mother is the one supporting you abi (right)?" Mr Timipre shouted at Kobe, who was now trembling with fear.
"Honey, take it easy on him. You are scaring the poor boy already. He just wants the best for himself", Mrs Timipre said trying to calm her husband.
As Mr and Mrs Timipre were talking, Kobe summoned the courage to reply to his father, who was now fuming with anger.
"Papa, I have no one in the city, but I won't let my dreams die either. I will pursue my dreams either I sink or swim", Kobe replied confidently.
"Can you hear your son? He is bent on disgracing me and tarnishing my image, and I won't let that happen. As of today, you will no longer leave this house. I will monitor your movements", Mr Timipre said.
"Honey, what's the meaning of that? Why would you do that to him? He has to work too to assist us hope you remember. You are being too harsh on the boy and I don't like it. He's the only one we've got, keep that in mind", Mrs Timipre said to her husband.
Without saying a word, Kobe stood up from where he was sitting and went to his room. He sat on his small bed and wept.
"I know what I will do; I know I won't be allowed, but no problem, just watch," Kobe said and wiped his tears.
Months passed by and his father carefully monitored his movements, assigning different people to closely monitor Kobe. He noticed different people following him whenever he was heading out or sent on an errand then he decided to find another means of escape.
One afternoon, Kobe packed some of his clothes into a wrapper and tied it strongly. He went to his mother's kitchen, and grinder some charcoal, which he used on his teeth and face, with some ash on his head. He had been practicing how to speak like a woman for quite some time and how to walk like an old woman. Kobe had gone out earlier making sure his stalkers saw him go out and come back inside the house. After disguising quite well, Kobe put the bag across the window and jumped out instead of passing through the entrance door. He had carefully watched his stalkers retire to find something to eat from the nearest stall to his house. He had taken three of his mother's wrappers, one to tie his clothes. He tore another one, which he wore like a rag, and kept the last one amidst his cloth.
He began walking gently past his house like an old woman, shaking his head and legs. Immediately, one of the stalkers hanging around called the attention of his partner.
"It's my first time seeing this old woman. Do you know who she is? Stalker one asked.
"How am I supposed to know her? Maybe she is unwell; can't you see she is in rags? She might be from the neighboring villages. I heard there are mad women in Osita, she might be from there", the second stalker replied.
"And I felt pity for her, life is cruel. It might be due to the works of her hand", stalker one concluded.
Luckily, Kobe was able to walk to the road without being suspected or caught. Before this time, he had saved up some money, enough to transport him to the city. Kobe waited for some minutes as passers-by returning from the farm were heading to their various houses. He was wishing and hoping no one would suspect him as different people passed several comments as they passed him by. After waiting for almost 20 minutes, he finally got a bus going to the city; without asking for the price, he hurriedly hopped onto the bus because his back was already aching from the way he bent since he left home.
Halfway into the journey, when he had relaxed, he had forgotten he was in disguise. He asked the driver in a masculine voice how much the ride cost to the city. All the passengers in the car were shocked as they fixed their gaze on him, and then he remembered he was disguised, and he just made a terrible mistake. Fortunately for him, no one recognized him because of the charcoal being rubbed all over his face.
"Boy wey turn woman(a boy that turned to a woman), your money is five thousand naira," the driver of the bus replied.
After a two-hour journey, they finally got to the city; some passengers dropped on the way while others waited to reach their destination. On reaching the last bus stop, the driver announced to all passengers that they were at the last bus stop, which was where he would be parking.
Kobe got down, paid, and quickly saw a canteen. He rushed there and pleaded with the owner to give him water to wash his face and mouth. The owner was lenient enough to give him water and soap. Kobe cleaned his face and removed the rag he was wearing. He entered into the canteen and bought a plate of food. As he was eating he was ruminating on what step to take next as he knew nowhere in the city. He then remembered the kind canteen owner who had helped him earlier. After eating, Kobe paid for his food, then walked up to the owner and explained his ordeal.
The owner, who was reluctant about hiring Kobe, gave it a second thought as she needed a male hand that could pound yam for her customers because of the large order of people who prefer eating pounded yam.
"You must be a lucky boy, I was thinking of rejecting you when I noticed I needed a man who could help with pounding here. Can you pound?", the owner asked.
"Thank you ma for reconsidering. I can pound ma, very well", Kobe replied.
"Well then, you are hired. There is a small room where my male workers do sleep just at the back of the canteen here, not too far. You can join them there and be a good boy. What's your name again?", the owner asked.
"Kobe ma, Kobe Timipre from Akwanga", Kobe replied with a bright smile.
The owner asked one of the male servants to help Kobe to the house to drop off his belongings and start work. Luckily for Kobe, he began working the same day he reached the city. Three months after getting to the city and working at the canteen, he had won the trust of his boss and also doing several other jobs in the canteen, which made the owner happy and increased his pay. Other servants were not pleased with this and they began to plan evil for Kobe. Yet he didn't give up; he kept working harder even though he had it rough daily; there were times he was accused of stealing, which would be deducted from his pay, though his boss trusted him.
Since Kobe left home, his parents searched for him. Then they knew he had absconded to the city, so they stopped looking for him, hoping that one day, he would return home and they would set their eyes on him again. After working at the canteen for six months, and gathering little money, Kobe decided to leave and go into the main city to see if he would get better opportunities. It was a bit tough for Kobe as he had no place to sleep. He does go into the markets as a carrier, to help people with their luggage, and at night, he just finds a place to lay his head, coveting himself with his mother's wrapper. He continued living this way for three months until a woman whom he always helped to carry luggage in the market decided to assist him.
Kobe was taken in by this woman to become her maid and help in taking care of the house. Kobe willingly accepted the offer as the pay was much more than that of the canteen and the ones he is earning in the market. Just as before, he began to work harder which impressed the woman who had employed him.
"Kobe, don't you want to further your education?" the woman asked one Saturday morning.
"I would love to, ma, but I'm yet to gather enough money as I am living all by myself in the city," Kobe replied.
"What do you mean, am I, not your relative?" the woman jokingly asked.
"Of course, course, you are, ma; forgive my manners," Kobe said.
"It's okay, Kobe, you've been a truthful and hardworking boy, and I wish to help you. That's if you don't change. You know it's difficult to see someone who is genuinely willing to help in this present generation", the woman said.
"I will enroll you back in high school, hopefully, the last class ss3. If you pass the assessment, you will be given so that you can have a certificate to further your education", the woman further said.
"I will be so glad, ma; thank you so much, ma, for believing in me. I promise to make you proud", Kobe replied.
The next month, Kobe was enrolled in a high school. He sat for the high school leaving certificate examination SSCE and came out with flying colors. He enrolled in an institution in the city to study law with the help of her new boss, the woman who helped him from the market. Kobe began to work to support himself and the woman supporting him too. After five years, Kobe graduated from a higher institution and got a job in one of the famous law chambers in the city. He returned to Akwanga with a beautiful car and as a successful man. He ran the race but didn't sink; he swam through the storm and came out victorious. Mr and Mrs Timipre were happy and glad Kobe made that strong decision. His father apologized for not agreeing with him from the start.
Thanks for your time and your comments will be appreciated.
