"To set questions is not as hard as finding answers." That is what Shola has come to understand after many years of nurturing different questions in her heart. Some of the questions she started formulating in her mind recently, while some other questions she had right from the time she was growing up as a child. As a child, she didn't really see much of her parents, because she spent more time in school than any other student. At the age of 2, Shola stayed in different places within 12 hours of the day. Her mother takes her to school (kindergaten) before 7am, and from there, one of her teachers take her to a nanny's place after school closes at 2pm. The nanny inturn takes her to her aunt's house where she would stay till her mum comes for her around 7-8pm. Shola does not really have any memory of this as she was so young then to understand. But, she quite remember her primary school days when she does almost the same thing. Her school closes around 3pm, and she heads for extra-lesson till 6pm, before going to her aunt's place where her mum would pick her up. Keji, her younger sister had already taken up her pattern at the kindergarten, and by the time Shola gets to their aunt's place, she is either seeing the nanny going home or just bringing her sister. The same nanny in whose arms she grew. Shola had many questions she would have loved to ask, and so many were the questions that she forgets them easily. She would have loved to know why they don't cook dinner in their house, and why they must always stop at one eatery or the other to buy food and junks on their way home every night. She would have loved to ask why her dad does not live with them. Or better put, why he comes home only once a month to spend few hours with them before disappearing into thin air for weeks again. Shola would have asked if her father expects her to spill out her secrets to him over their always-brief telephone conversations. One of their longest telephone conversations was when Shola won an Essay competition for her schihool. Her father was in Abuja then, and had called her when he heard the news. He asked her about how she prepared for the competition, and while she was explaining, he seeked to be excused to receive another call, and that was all about the competition. Other conversations they've had were about what she wants him to buy for her.
As Shola grew older, so also her questions increased and became more intense. She had questions like, "when can I have a boyfriend? ", "is it right to kiss a guy? ". She had so many questions that the movies she watched and the romantic books she read did more harm than good to her. But, through it all, she had no parent within her reach to ask her questions. The first time she started her menstrual flow as a teenager, it came with great pain that she had to come back home from school. When she got home, she called her mum, but she didn't pick. After about 5minutes, she sent a text. "I'm very busy now. I'll call you when I'm free. " She didn't call after 1 hour, neither did she even call at all. By the time she got home, she didn't even apologize for not calling back. "I heard you were not fine. What happened? " she said pulling her shoes as she made move to sit on the couch. Shola could not believe her ears. She had decided that she would break the good news to her mum once she comes. Although, she was still feeling some pains, but her excitement of having her first menstrual flow didn't make the pain hurt so much. Her excitement of having to come to maturity lessened the pains. "Mummy, I had my first flow. " She had thought within herself of how best to say it. But, the way her mother felt unconcerned made her change her mind. "There is no need telling her. " She said to herself. "I am fine now. " She told her mum as she went into her room. It was that very day she made up her mind never to tell her mother anything about herself again, and her mother never even asked her until the day Shola was to celebrate her next birthday. "You are now a big girl o..." Mrs. Ajileye said. "You would soon start having menstrual flow. " She added. Shola looked at her mother and said, "it started 4 months ago. " Mrs. Ajileye was shocked. She could not believe such a thing could have passed right under her nose without she knowing about it. "But, why didn't you tell me. " She asked the young girl, but the look on her face was so clear that she knew the answer to the question she had asked. Few days later, Shola was invited to an all night birthday party with her friends. The very birthday party that broke and destroyed Shola beyond repair. The birthday party her parents knew nothing about. It was a Friday, and her mum had told them that she would not be returning home that day until Saturday afternoon. She had given them all that they needed till she would return, and their father had just travelled the previous day, and nothing would make him return as early as the next day. "Pamilerin, make sure you lock up everywhere" Mrs. Ajileye said, facing Pamilerin the house help. "Shola, take good care of your siblings. " She said as she faced Shola herself. At exactly 8pm, when Shola's siblings were fast asleep, Shola went to join Pamilerin at the sitting room where she was watching Africa Magic. "Pamilerin, I'm going for a night party. " Shola said. Pamilerin was shocked and surprised, but, with the sum of #2,000 Shola bought herself the whole night, and the two teenagers had an agreement.
© 2015. Austus Ofmat Nwanne
What did you think happened at the party? Do you have an idea of what befell our little Shola at the party? Well, tomorrow is not too late for you to find out. So, join me again tomorrow for the continuation of the story, and the story remains SPILT MILK.
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AUSTUS OFMAT NWANNE (Mr. Tackle)
Inspirational Speaker and Business Consultant,
TYO Konsult Services.
+2348072970850
tackleyourobstacle@gmail.com
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