The death of my dad has left a scar too deep to heal. It is like a vacuum that can never be filled. I was lugubrious when he went to the great beyond.
My dad had several wives because he was wealthy. He married as many wives as he wished. My mum was his third wife, and everyone lived together as one big family. We did things concomitantly, and we had no idea of the lengths this man went to ensure that we never suffered, not until he died.
My dad was a car dealer who sold cars in Bida, Nigeria. He could speak almost four different languages.
Forgive me if I sound grandiloquent in my writing, but I must say that he was a great father to all of us. We never lacked anything while he was around.
What I know is that whatever killed him could have been treated if modern medical equipment had been available back then.
Dad was a gregarious person, and every time he arrived home, it was like a feast for everyone of us. Dad would invite friends from far and near for a dinner party. He can't do ithout drinking during such periods.
The joy of every father is to see his or her children become successful while he is still alive. Also, the joy of every daughter is to see her father bless her marraige. However, death stole that joy away from me.
After my dad's death, my behavior changed and my mum became a petty trader who sold tomatoes and other items.
She was really doing her best, and, as usual, we hawked tomatoes around just to survive.
I hawked goods to obtain a formal education for myself. Even without a father, we still longed to go to school and receive a formal education.
At that time, I knew how incontrovertible the challenges of Baba's departure were for those of us he left behind. However, we never tried to let him down, and I know he watches over us from heaven.
The stress I faced before graduation was something I could never forget.
Back then, perhaps because my lecturer knew I had no father, he told me that I would not pass his course unless I answered to him.
I clearly objected, thinking he was just joking. After repeating a year, I told my fellowship members, as well as other lecturers, about all the wrong things he had done. That was when he finally released my result. Despite everything, he did not give me a good mark in the course I loved the most.
Some lecturers are mean and wicked, but we should learn to let bygones be bygones.
Soon, I had my noble beginning as a teacher. I was so eloquent in French that some international students thought I was not an indigene. However, that was not the case.
I taught English and other languages, including Yoruba.
At some point, teaching became too demanding. At the same time, I soon grew to love it.
I never realised that someone admired me because of how hardworking I was. Soon, I was approached. Everything seemed like prestidigitation back then.
Funny enough, we made the same mistakes that some young couples make today. We did our blood tests and genotype tests, and it was only after our wedding that we discovered that our genotypes were compatible.
During the wedding, my mum brought goats and many other items that I cannot even begin to mention.
Mama loved me so much. Her dream was to see all her children get married.
My wedding to my husband was splendid, and I thank God for what He has done. However, someone else had to stand in as my dad. It was his brother. When he handed me over to my husband, I could see my dad smiling. It was a testament to the fact that he had indeed never left me all along.
I wished he had stayed. Surely, my wedding would have been much more beautiful. Despite his absence, my husband showered me with so much love that I can say I did not miss my dad as much as I thought I would.
He is more like a father to me than a husband.
Baba rere, sun re. My dad was a great man whose dream was never to see us suffer.
I thank God that, even without him, none of his children ever became wayward.
Today, I can say that I have worked really hard on my journey as a teacher.
I now teach children to become the best versions of themselves. Orphans who have lost their mothers or fathers should also learn from my story.
I have tutored doctors, lawyers, and engineers. It is not because I am different from others, but because I believe they can do better.
Thank you.
Image was sourced from chat gtp.