“The earth is 4.54 billion years old; what is my business with that?” Ajike reminisced about her conversation with Akani, her younger brother. “The information is to let you know that it’s going to be hard to have anything new on this old earth!” She remembered her brother’s daring response, which really got her angry. How could he be so annoying? He had been very crazy about Google lately, searching for anything and everything. But Ajike believed there was more to life than all the new-age technologies. She remembered a lot she achieved while growing, and currently she has the feeling that something is missing but can’t yet figure it out.
Adekola, Ajike’s father, is a blacksmith. Over the years, his business boomed, and he got a lot of new equipment, which really improved his efficiency. Although this is meant to be progress and a good thing, Ajike couldn’t come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t have those good times she enjoyed with her father anymore. She’s been replaced by machines, which practically wiped out the traditional ways she’s used to and the bond she had with her father. “Ajike, I’ve told you not to come around the smithy!” Anytime her father yells at her, she’s always displeased because this was once “theirs,” but now she’s an alien.
As the first daughter and firstborn, Ajike had always seen herself as what she tagged in her head as the “extra modern mother figure,” because she has an idea of almost everything modern, even more than her mother. But she felt dethroned with the advent of this new “tech thing.” Even her brother now has the ‘tech thing’ as his sister. She really felt bad; she’s been replaced almost everywhere.
“Akani, bring in that dishwasher,” Apeke called her son as she majestically walked to her kitchen. Ajike couldn’t believe her ears! For some time, everyone thought she was crazy due to her reactions and views about technology. But she still had her emotions in check. It’s been years since the “alien” came, but the reality of how it’s taking over her entire space is just dawning on her. She remembered the days she’d wash plates in the kitchen while her mother told her beautiful stories. Ajike couldn't help but start thinking about how she could get her normal, joyful life back.
“You’re just a Luddite!” Akanni screamed at Ajike. The heat from their conversation was enough to boil water. “What did you just call me?” Ajike’s face was all raced with veins, displaying her anger! “Why did you collect my phone? You are always saying something annoying about technology. It’s been years since it got here, and it has come to stay. Deal with it!” Akanni replied with frustration. Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, Ajike angrily threw Akanni’s phone at the wall, and it all scattered!
Adekola had been listening to the heated conversation between Ajike and her younger brother but never knew it would get to an uncontrollable level. The moment he heard the noise of something scattering, he quickly stepped to the scene and couldn’t believe his eyes. He could only ask both, “What happened here?!” As he turned to look at Ajike for a response because she’s the senior, he couldn’t believe his sight. Like a captain with burning armor and destructive intentions, Adekola saw the rage written all over Ajike. “That’s it; I am destroying all these aliens trying to take my life away from me!” As Ajike was about to cause another havoc, his father shouted at her, “stop that, before I flog some sense into your head, young lady!” Apeke was just coming from the market and was surprised to hear the noise coming from her house. “What could have happened?” She thought to herself.
Apeke had to calm everyone down, especially her husband, who angrily left the scene. After getting Ajike’s view, she met with her husband about how they could try to bring the family together and relive past memories similar to those days when there was no technology. “She’s old enough to be in her husband’s house, you know?” Adekola couldn’t hide his thoughts. “Don’t chase our daughter to another man if she isn’t ready; please let’s address the current issue, darling,” was the response of Apeke. Adekola nodded in agreement and called Akanni and Ajike to their room.
"I need you all to listen up. We are all a big family, and we need to stay as one. We all know Ajike to be the one in charge before these whole tech things came on board and that we shall return to." As the head of the family, Adekola had to give a good opening speech, and his attempt ignited a smile from all his family members. Like an assistant called to duty, Apeke took over from her husband: "Your father has decided to get both of you the latest new phones, and we will have a WhatsApp group to drop updates so we can all stay together even when apart." "Finally, we'll have meetings early in the morning, afternoon, and evenings, while our one and only smart Ajike will be in charge on a daily basis," she added.
Ajike couldn’t hide her happiness after their short family meeting, knowing that the love she once craved would soon surface. She counted it as Santa's gift, as it's only a few days to Christmas.