"You'll not leave that nonsense doll that you're playing with and go and read your book."
"Turn off the TV at once and go study."
"If you make me not get what daddy promised, you'll see what I'll do to you."
Statements as the above became very routine at my house when, before school resumed for first term, my dad called myself and my two younger siblings and told us,"If the three of you do well in class and get nothing less than the third position, I'll send you all to Lagos to spend your holiday break with your Aunty Ifeoma."
We had all screamed in glee and then my kid sister cut our excitement short as she asked,
"What if we come third? I mean, what if for instance, two people meet the requirement but one person doesn't."
"Then the promise is off," my dad said in a serious tone.
We all sighed and my dad, continued like he hadn't heard that. "You can liken this to the three of you working on a particular thing. Say, you have to wash the dishes...," he said looking at me, "...your younger brother rinses and wipes it dry, and your sister puts it carefully in the rack. If something goes wrong, you all take the fall -equally."
"But daddy, we're not in the same class, we're not learning the same thing. It's not fair that I'll work hard and rather than get rewarded, I'll face repercussions for another person's looseness," my sister complained.
"That's why I said it's teamwork. You all have to help one other study, encourage one another, push and remind one another what you stand to gain should you all perform well," he told us.
"But dad!!!," my brother who had been quiet all along grumbled.
"No buts. I'm not adjusting anything. It's either you work hard for the reward or you don't. Good luck," my dad said as he got up, rubbed our heads fondly and exited the house.
For the weeks after that, we did our best to study. We even tried to avoid the TV. The only times we saw our favourite TV programmes were during mealtimes or when we took breaks from studying. We even avoided our playmates as best as we could. We were studious kids, no doubt but for the reward we were to get, we put in extra effort.
I was just in junior high school, class two and I was most excited about going to Lagos. Some of my friends in class had talked about how busy and beautiful and fun the city is and I had always looked forward to when I would visit. My cousins, aunty Ifeoma's kids had also told me so many nice things about life in Lagos and I was eager to explore.
My siblings only cared about just going to our aunt's house but I had other plans and hopes, so it meant more to me that we all did well. My sister always topped her class so there was not much to be bothered about her. For myself and my brother, it wasnt exactly same- we sort of struggled to stay at top 6. So, I knew that if any one was to make my dream not happen, it would be either one or both of us. With that knowledge, I was either encouraging my siblings to study by being extra nice to them and giving them gifts or I was evoking my power as the elder one to make them study.
So many times I would want to just give up and go join my friends play street soccer but whenever I look at the calendar and see just how near it was before school dismissed for the term, I'd have a think.
On Sundays though, we didn't spend so much time readng. It was fun day. Our day off from the marathon book-work.
Classes progressed, tests came and passed, exams too. The few days before we were to go pick up our term paper were filled with anxiety(for me). Since exams were over, I could play however I wished but I didn't. I could not sleep, eat, or relax. I was hyper. Terrified.
My siblings got their results on a Friday. I went with them to pick it up and sincerely, my hands trembled when I was opening it to check their results. Fortunately, both my siblings topped their class. I was so happy that I almost cried.
By the following Monday, I got mine. It was a sad day for myself and my siblings. My sister too had been crying ever since I announced my result to her and my brother.
When my parents returned from their respective places of work, my dad requested to see my result which I handed to him. He looked through it and back at me and as if realizing something, he asked , "Where are your younger ones?"
"They're in our room," I replied him.
"Won't they come out to welcome their dad? Go and fetch them."
I went in and called both my younger siblings.
"Daddy welcome. Good evening, sir" they chorused"
"Thank you," he paused, "What is wrong? Why are your eyes red?" he asked, looking at my sister who was starting to sniff.
"Nothing," her voice quivered and she started to cry.
"What is nothing? Nothing and you're crying. Come here." He pulled her to himself and set her on his lap.
"Soka said he did not pass well. That means we are not going to aunty Ifeoma's house again.
My father looked at me," is that true? Was that what you told her?"
"Yes, sir. But I was just playing with her," I said.
At this, my sister looked up at me and her eyes shone.
"It's a lie, Ada. I was only pulling your legs. I'm sorry," I said at one, feeling truly sorry.
Before I could finish my statement, my sister got off my father's lap and jumped on me. She began hitting me and her sobs turned to laughter as she yelled, "wicked boy. I'll kill you today."
In pretense of agony, I cried in response to her beatings. We all started to laugh.
"Daddy, are we still travelling?" my brother asked suddenly.
"Of course. You passed, so why not? You can start packing your bags," my father replied.
"When are we going?," it was me this time.
"By the weekend. Friday to be precise. I'm proud of you all, congratulations. You can begun preparations,he paused, "....infact, before you travel, I'll take you out to Kilimanjaro."
But before he could finish we had all run off excitedly.
Thanks for stopping by.
SOKA馃枻