ETH AINA'S CREATIVE ISLAND.

Mr and Mrs Akomolafe, together with their two children, were leaving happily before the sudden death of Mr. Akomolafe in a fatal accident. When he was alive, he loved his wife and his children very dearly. In fact, he didn’t allow his wife to work or sell anything. But when he died, his family members inherited everything he had worked for and also willed for wife and children. Mrs. Akomolafe was also sent out of the house but she fought hard before she was allowed to take her children along. She rented a room and a parlour from the little money she had in her account and continued to live happily with her children. A year later, she could not afford the rental charges again therefore she decided to rent one room apartment.
One day, Lekan the first child became very sick and Mrs. Akomolafe did not have money to take him to the hospital. She went to her wicked husband’s family for assistance but they sent her away like a dog. Unfortunately, Lekan died. Mrs. Akomolafe was downcast and became depressed. Some weeks after the incident, she decided to start working as a cleaner from house to house so that she would have enough money to cater for her only child, Bukola. Mrs. Akomolafe got three big compounds where she would be paid seven thousand naira monthly apart from that she would also be selling sachet water, sweet and biscuit of different types.
From the little income, she still managed to enroll Bukola into a private nursery and primary school. One day, Bukola was sent back from school because of school fees. She did not go to school for one week so her mother used to take her to wherever she wanted to go and sweep.
“Mama Bukola, why has your daughter not been going to school for one week?” Mrs. Anifowoshe the owner of one of the houses she swept asked.
“It’s because of her school fees ma,” She replied
“When you’re through come and see me upstairs. Let me go and discus with my husband before I make any decision,” she added.
When mama Bukola finished sweeping she went upstairs to see Mrs. Anifowoshe.
“Without mincing words, mama Bukola I have discussed with my husband and he given permission. If you could permit me, I want Bukola to stay with us here as a child so that we can take proper care of her.”Mrs. Anifowoshe said.
Mama Bukola knelt down immediately. “I will be grateful ma”
“In addition, my husband said he wants you to stop sweeping therefore he said I should give you this 10,000 naira so that you can use it to support you petty trade although this month salary will be paid.” She gave the money to mama Bukola whose joy could not be described as at that moment. She went home gladly leaving Bukola in Mrs. Anifowoshe’s house. When she got home, she knelt down and started praising God. “Thank God, so my daughter will still become an accountant. My child will be greater than Kemi Adeosun and Michael Emefelu.” She said gratefully.
Mama Bukola bought more bags of sachet water and more packets of biscuit and started selling them in front of his house in Ogba, although she still worked as a cleaner in other two houses.
Bukola was well treated. In fact, anyone who did not know the Anifowoshes before would think Bukola was their biological daughter. When Bukola graduated from primary school, she was also enrolled into the same secondary school that Mrs. Anifowoshe’s children were also attending. After some years, Bukola had become a big girl, she would come back late from school and when she got home, she would spend hours making and receiving calls. Many a time, Mrs. Anifowoshe would call mama Bukola with the view to reporting Bukola’s waywardness to her.
Some years later when Bukola wrote WAEC, she performed excellently well. Because of the lingering strike in Nigerian universities, Mrs. Anifowoshe promised to send her children and Bukola to go and further their education in Ghana. She took them to the immigration office for their international passports, and other necessary things. One evening when, Mrs. Anifowoshe and her children together with Bukola was seated in the living room, when mama Jumoke one of the tenants knocked Mrs. Anifowoshe’s door.
“Yes come in,’’ Mrs. Anifowoshe said.
“Good evening here,” Mama Jumoke greeted.
“Good evening,” everybody in the living room answered her in unison.
“Big mummy, please I would like to see you in the verandah,” she pleaded.
Without any argument, Mrs. Anifowoshe stood up and followed Mama Jumoke to the verandah.
“Sorry to disturb you ma, have you not noticed any changes in your daughter, I mean Bukola,” she said.
“No, I’ve not” she replied promptly.
“Bukola is pregnant ma. If you don’t know, I’ve told you. Good night ma,” She declared and left immediately.
Mrs. Anifowoshe entered the sitting room quietly and told Bukola to see her in her room immediately. When Bukola entered, Mrs. Anifowoshe approached her without dilly dallies. “Bukola, you’re pregnant” she said angrily. Bukola was already shivering, she wanted to talk but words wouldn’t come out of her mouth.
“Do you know who is responsible for the pregnancy?” she asked.
“Yes ma,” Bukola replied.
“That’s good; tomorrow you will take me there.”
The following day, Mr. Anifowoshe drove his wife and Bukola to Idi-Agbon where the person was living. When they got there, Bukola alighted from the car and entered a house to call Alomen. Alomen was smoking marijuana when Bukola entered his room. “My parents want to see you outside” she said.
“Your parents, wetin happen, I no dem?” he said rudely.
Latter he agreed to go and see them outside, Mr. and Mrs. Anifowoshe had already come out of the car.
“Good afternoon,” Alomen greeted them.
“I greet you well, gentle man.” Mr. Anifowoshe replied.
“Are you the one who impregnate my daughter” Mrs. Anifowoshe asked.
“You daughter, I don’t even know any of you before. What kind of rubbish is this? Alomen said. He denied Bukola and blatantly rejected the pregnancy. He did not allow them to say anything again when he had started shouting on them. Mr. and Mrs. Anifowoshe had to leave hurriedly.
Immediately they got home, Mrs. Anifowoshe packed all Bukola’s belongings and told her to leave her house. She also called her mama Bukola to get her informed.
“Hello mama Bukola be expecting your daughter. She is pregnant so I have sent her out of my house.” She said.
‘I am finished. This girl has thwarted my dream and also destroyed her future because of five minutes enjoyment,” Mama Bukola lamented.
Some minutes later, Bukola got home and met her mother crying. She couldn’t help crying too.
“Bukola, you have disappointed me and equally embarrassed yourself. I have always proud of you. Now you have disgraced me. Where do I want to start from? Who will help me?” she wailed.
“You have shattered my dreams because I can’t afford to send you to the Polytechnic not to talk of university. I only sell sachet water and biscuit for students. You were properly placed on the bed but you dragged yourself to the floor. No problem, you will join me in selling water around the street. You will hawk from morning till night and from Monday to Sunday. You show the pregnancy to everybody so that you can be well humiliated,” Mama Bukola finally said.
Bukola joined her mother in selling sachet water and they continued living in pain and abject poverty.

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E.T.H…AINA

ISBN: 978-941-647-9

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