"LETTER TO THE YOUNG: From The Old"

"LETTER TO THE YOUNG: From The Old"

by

Austus Ofmat Nwanne

Give me a pen that I may write. Please, unlock my mouth that I may speak, for what is the joy of old age if one has no companion. Little do people know that we the aged don't need money anymore. We know we are signing out of this world soonest and at that, what we need most is love and affection. I won't blame the government who did not include how to cater for people like me in their budget, after all, they are not the sons and daughters I single-handedly raised with the hard-earned money I made as a labourer, back then when my strength has not failed me. My sons and daughters are trying their best, they all collectively built a "mansion" for me and assigned a driver to take me wherever I want, but when next they come to visit, help me ask them, if John(the house-help) is my son. Just help me ask them when next they would visit again, because last four months they visited, they didn't stay up to 30minutes. They all gave different excuses as they ran out of the house as if they were been chased. Of a true, they did give me money, but what does an old man like me wants to do with money, at this hour I'm very close to my grave.

My first son, Jide claims his work takes too much of his time to the extent that he does not have enough time for his own family, at that, he sends his driver to bring things every now and then. But, help me ask him if his driver would be the one to hear my complains about the way the house-help he brought does not clean my room, and how sometimes I don't bathe for days, with urine all over my body. You might decide not to disturb Jide, but help me send words across to my daughters that the cook they brought forget always that I don't have teeth to chew meat, so, even admist plenty, I eat for without fish. My people, help me thank Obasanjo for introducing mobile phones, because without it, my children would not have been communicating with me at intervals, and also, Akin never bothers to know if I use the airtime he sends to me or my driver does. The world is too much for me, and sometimes I wonder why God has not evicted my from this world.

Hmmmm...how I wish I could switch roles with my children, and exemplify for them how to cater for their old parents. I would let them know that giving money alone to the aged won't help, rather, bathing for them would, as I would rely on the best anti-septic soap in town to do that. Yes. I know they would urinate and sometimes defecate on their body, and that is one more reason I'll see to the fact that the toilet is not far from their room. Not only that, I'll balance their meals with fresh milk and fish, as chewing meat would be a problem for them. Also, I know that old people like attention, and I'll see to that by spending quality time with them, discussing whatever topic they want. Taking them out with the kids on weekly basis won't be excluded from my agenda, as I would make them happy, and make them never want to leave this world. Hmmm...I guess I've been wishing more than I'm supposed to. Little wonder people say, "If wishes were horses...the old would rejoice".

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