“Mummy is calling you,” the voice said. Bassey couldn't decipher whose voice it was. His younger sibling and the oldest seem to have identical voices. Bassey was yet to get up from bed. Besides he was in a deep morning sleep when the voice interrupted his sweet dreams of living in a mansion with two wives. He didn't hesitate, he stood up and went outside, but he didn't see his mom.
“Where is she?” he asked Eunice, his younger sibling, who was washing the dishes.
“Who?” She replied
“Mummy na”
“She's in her room” she responded lightly, focusing on what she was doing.
Wiping his face, he walked into his mom's room.
“Good morning mummy, good morning daddy” he greeted
“Morning”, his mom responded “Later, you can come”, she told him.
“Okay”
Bassey had written his JAMB examination and was awaiting admission into the university. He happened to be the first in the family to attempt going to the university. Last two weeks his mom gave him money to go to the city and check his results. Living in a village is full of disadvantages even though it has its own advantages. One of the disadvantages is the inability to have access to the Internet and ICT infrastructures.
On getting to the state capital, there were so many places that he could check his JAMB results; however, he saw a place boldly written in yellow ink: CHECK YOUR UTME RESULT HERE. He entered the place, and the man demanded his printout containing his login details. As the man began to input his information into the system, Michael's heart began to race, and suddenly the result popped up on the screen. Michael screamed, attracting the attention of others who were focusing on their businesses.
“Thank you Jesus” he exclaimed
“What's your score?” The man who stood by asked
“300” he said “excitedly
“That's good. I wish you good luck in your admission process”
“Thank you, sir”
After some minutes his mother called him back into the room. By this time, his father had gone out.
“Your father was around, that's why I asked you to go initially”. She said
Wondering what his mom wants to say that warrants his father not being around, he sat in anticipation waiting to hear her out.
“Very soon you'll be leaving for school. As you can see, our situation, we're not rich and we're not poor as well, but we're only content with what God has given to us. We want a better life for you and, in extension, for this family.” She paused to ensure that Bassey was listening to her.
“I am with you” he quickly responded
“So, ensure that you do not drag the name of this family into the mud. Take your studies seriously and understand that we are not sending you to do anything else than to study and graduate with good grades so you can help others.” She paused again and looked closely at Bassey
“Mommy I've heard you and by God's grace I'll do my best”
“Alright, my son”, she said as she dismissed him.
A week later, everyone bid goodbye to Bassey as he entered a vehicle to a nearby state for his education.
Bassey got encultured into the school system and a city lifestyle, which he had never experienced before. He took his studies seriously and focused less on other social activities. About three years had passed and Bassey decided to visit home.
He was in his 400-level, and as he got home, a whole lot had changed. His mom's business was closing, and his father wasn't doing better either. “What could be the cause of this? He reasoned. No one ever told him that his parents' businesses were going down. He was surprised that despite all of this, they still met up with his demands from school.
One Sunday evening, his father called him aside and told him to sit.
“My son, I am very sorry that I couldn't meet up with the money for the project you requested a week ago, you demanded twenty thousand, and I can only raise ten thousand, I don't know if it would be too late for you if you could give me an additional week to look for the balance”
At this point, Bassey was weak inside of him but as his father taught him that a man should always be strong, he wouldn't show any emotion.
“Daddy, thank you for the sacrifice you people have made for me. I have seen how your business and that of my mum have gone because of my education. I promise that I will do my best and pay you back in full. You are indeed my hero”
His father was speechless, staring at his son, he said, “My God will help you”.
He handed over the ten thousand to him and prayed for him.
When Bassey got to school, he felt remorse for always demanding money from his parents even when there was no need.
Photo source MetaAi
