Growing up in an average Nigerian home isn't for the faint-hearted. Expectation hung in the air like the sweet scent of Jollof rice wafting from the kitchen. My parents had amazing dreams for me, but on the other hand, I had these incredible dreams for myself as well.
Coming back home from school, mum would constantly remind Lina of her dreams for her, and she would give advice on how she would work very hard to achieve that goal of hers. Lina will stand there like a statue, listening to every word that proceeds from her mouth and watching those words fly through her ears like they aren't welcome.
"I want you to become a lawyer just like your aunt Hannah and make a good living for yourself, the most important thing is to take your father and me out of this shit-hole called a house that we live in," mum said, pulling lina into a half-hug.
"So how was school today?" Mum continued
"School was fine," Lina replied, grumbling after having a very bad day at school, tired and full of emotional tension.
"Hey! Young lady I know this face, you'd better go in there drop your bag, and come back out here because your father will be coming home anytime soon and we have to prepare dinner before he comes"
"Ahhhh! Mummy so you didn't prepare anything for me to eat"
"You are not my husband?"
"Then prepare dinner for your husband yourself, I'm not helping out in the kitchen this time" Lina said as she playfully ran into her room with her mother coming after her.
Lina walked into her room feeling tired from the day's school stress because they had a social day at school where everyone was asked to write about what they wanted to become in the future.
She dropped her bag, zipped it open, and brought out the social form. Staring at it in her hands, she became confused about what she wanted to become. Currently, she has two dreams, one of her parents and hers.
"Where is my phone?" Lina muttered to herself as she searched for her phone.
"Ooh, there you are, and you couldn't say a wor,d," she continued.
The phone beeped, shattering the silence in her head as a stone dropped in a still pond.
Lina's face flicked to the screen as she opened text.
"Hey, bestie! I guess you are home now, guess what?! I told my parents about my career and they seem pleased with it. Babe, I think you should tell your parents about your career choice as well, who knows, they might change their minds about you becoming a lawyer," the text reads.
Door bells ring:
"Lina, get the door, it's your father," Lina's mum calls out from the kitchen with a very loud voice that the echoing lasted for minutes.
Door opens:
"Welcome Daddy" Lina greeted
"Thank you, my dear, how was school today, my wonderful lawyer to be?" Lina's father said with a wide smile.
"School was fine, sir," Lina replied, forming a fake smile.
Lina walked into her room, rehearsing those words to say to her parents about her career choice at dinner, and different thoughts started roaming through her head on how they would react. And being the only child they would be so disappointed because they want to live their dream life through her.
As seconds turned to minutes, it was finally time for Lina to face her fears. Sitting at the dinner table surrounded by her parents, eating and sharing the amazing moment together, and creating memories.
"Where do I start from?" Lina muttered to herself as she watched her parents eating and cheering at the same time.
Over the steaming of Jollof rice and chicken, Lina's father broached the topic, "Have you filled out your social form about your career path?"
Lina sighed with her fork swirling in the rice "Not yet sir"
"And why not yet?" Lina's mother asked. "I thought we had concluded that you would be a lawyer"
"Mum I'm not passionate about being a lawyer, I don't even know what law is" Lina replied
"So what are you passionate about?" Lina's father asked with curiosity
"I want to be a writer, I want to put my thoughts and ideas into those pages and create something beautiful, I want to write about people's experiences," Lina replied with a smile enveloping her face, thereby causing her cheeks to fold as it creates a hole by the side.
"And how will that fetch you a stable income in the long run? In a nation like ours, being passionate about a career path doesn't pay the bills, you know that, right?" Lina 's mother asked
"Mum and Dad I know you want me to have this perfect life that you've envisioned in your head, I know you are worried so I won't make the wrong choice when it comes to my career but then becoming a writer is my dream and I believe I will make it work I promise" Lina replied with her voice shaking.
"I am not going to support this foolishness of yours! You will do what we've always agreed on from the beginning, and that is become a lawyer," Lina's father said as he stood up and walked into the room.
"Honey.." Lina's mother calls out to her husband.
"Mummy I know daddy thinks I want to waste all the effort he has put into sending me to school, I really appreciate everything but then mummy I want to do something I love and I love you the both you so much but please let me do the one thing I love and I'm most passionate about" Lina said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Don't worry, my dear, I will talk to him, but then the law isn't bad though..." Lina's mum said, trying to calm her down.
The room falls silent leaving the tension between them behind. The following day came faster than expected. Lina's mum is entering Lina's room with a tray of food.
"Now I'm the one serving you breakfast. See how grown you've become"
"Mummy, I'm not hungry," Lina said, sitting on the bed, looking dejected.
"Well, we need to talk?" Lina's mum said to set the tray.
"There is nothing to talk about, mummy, I know you and daddy have amazing plans for me, and I appreciate that, but then allow me to pursue my dream," Lina said bitterly.
(They hear a knock on the door, Lina's father enters looking sheepish)
"Can I join the party" Lina's father said clearing his throat
Lina nods, being unsure of what she wants.
"I'm sorry, Lina, for what happened during dinner last night. I'm sorry for pushing you that hard.. I just want you to be happy, so you just do you, and I will still be here to support you every step of the way," Lina's father said, sighing.
"I want to make you proud, Daddy," Lina said, smiling slightly.
"You already did my dear, for standing up to me and telling me what you want, I'm proud of you, dear," Lina's father said as he smiled back at her.
Lina nods as a weight is lifted off her shoulders, "Thank you, Daddy".
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