The muddy and potholes on every way that leads to Ajeromi makes almost all of us go on colour that seem brownish and blackish .
"I don't even use the road"
.
I am Teniola Ashabi .I live with my grandmother in Ajeromi . No one knew me as Teniola but Ashabi omo iya olobi.
When I lost my parents in a fatal accident on our way to see my grandmother.I was left with no option than to move to the village with mama. It was like the heaven will open its mouth and swallow me .I've lived in the city with my parents.The song of praise transited into song of sorrow .
I got to the village still behaving like the Lagos girl. I spent one and half decades in the city. I started wondering,"how will I cope?"
Mama's apartment was nothing compared to the luxurious one I had
in the city with my deceased parents. Before my arrival mama will have to use 'short put ' and have to wait till night fall to take her bath behind the kolanut tree located at the back fence of her compound.
At my arrival she tried all she could to put certain things in place but what difference will it make?.
She put all ends to make sure she set a small plank made leaving the top to see sky.
I got to the village ,although I knew things won't be same with my life in the city but I never knew things will go or become this worst.
It wasn't easy ,I had to take eba and fufu every morning and night. Lunch was no where to be found. My clothes were getting worn out but mama was using her wrappers to make dresses for me. The life in the village bid goodbye to all my window shopping .
I had no choice ,my dear. I narrated my few weeks experience to my friend who came from the city for holiday . Ronke felt for me but all she could say was "sorry".
Teniola!! I heard my name from a far distance. That's mama, I can relate the voice to my grandmothers' . "Ma!!" I answered like a little girl who need breast milk.
She sat me down. I was surprised and silently asked myself "why the familiarity or the intimacy?. I love my grandmother but erhmm....."
Mama started by reminding me of how we are economically going down the drain and no one in the family is buoyant enough to add our expenses to theirs. She looked at me in the eyes and said "is it is your uncle Kamilu or Segun that will add us up to their existing 'overload'?". She answered herself as I kept mute "we need to use what we have to get what we want" she concluded. I was scared,my eyes almost ran out of its sockets. I remember I've heard that before in movies....
"what?", I sharply asked her. She smiled and said," the kolanut tree". I guess she read my facial expression. She continued "the kolanut tree, It was planted by your grandfather and since it started bearing fruits. it hasn't be of any use". She interrupted herself with a cough which lasted a while.
She continued and said "so I want us to get money from it".
I don't want to hawk and be like other girls in the village but "what will I do?". Mama is sick she needs medical attention. We don't have money either.
I told her I'll do it without any further thought. "I love mama and I can't afford to lose her " . I was tagged Ashabi Olobi due to my popularity. I took the sale of kolanut with keen interest. I make five hours journey round the village every day. I was making money and I became happy. Mama is getting well . We didn't see anyone around so I gave up the thought of going back to school .
Just few days after the market day.I decided I'll take my trade route through the major route that led to my village .
It rained the night before so everywhere was filled up with stagnant water like flood. As my village has poor drainage system.
I sighted a big car from afar with it full light on which beamed into my eyes. It was a very cloudy day , the driver needed the light to see his path so I took no offence.
The black big dazzling jeep passed me by and splashed dirty water from the potholes on my new ankara gown mama just bought for me.
Now I became angry .I dropped my tray of kolanut and I ran after the car and I forcefully hit the back of car which left me breathing heavily.
The driver halted the movement of the car and came down. He was in a causal jeans trouser and round neck top. He was looking so fresh that one can easily tell he's the owner of the car.
He moved closer to me. "What's he up to?" I asked myself. I became more scared ,I took every step back as he moved towards me. He read the look on my face and said "don't be scared ,i just want to say sorry".I accepted his apology with a nod and the thought of my dead parents roaming on my mind .
He turned back to his car and it was a relief. I made a deep sigh, look around for my tray. Just as I was about to make a turn and head to my way. He was behind me again ,I threw my tray of kolanut out in fear. I became annoyed and raised my voice at him. He became more sorry.
I softly said to him while trying to pick some kolanut up "this is all I've got to take of myself and my grandmother. "I'm so sorry I'll pay for it". He said in cold voice. He walked me towards his car. I followed him reluctantly. He said he'll drive me home and that he meant no harm.
He drove me home and also gave me some amount of money . It was all new notes. I can perceive the minty smell.
Mama was outside sitting on her wooden chair which looked old enough to have broken . She saw a car coming towards her compound . She wondered who it was.Just when she was getting up from her comfort zone to peep .
She saw me coming down from the car. I could see her mouth wide opened even from afar. The man shook me and promised to check on me whenever he comes back to Ajeromi and drove off.
Mama still looking so surprised and wearing a face of woman in shock was standing so absentminded until I moved more closer to her .
Before she could utter a word which i already know what it was.I gave her the money that was given to me by the man and narrated the whole story to her. I was so overwhelmed and forgot to ask him his name .
With the hope of seeing the man again. I made the major route to my village my trade route even when I know no one will patronise me .
