Okoroafor Chike
02-09-2010, 10:30 PM
Uncle Uche had offered to help us in the best way possible. Perhaps, in retrospect to his sincere request of someone (a nephew of his) keeping him company, my going to Lagos seemed to be an appropriate barter.
I sat for breakfast. I spooned; but a few, considering the fact that my appetite had been lost over more rounds of excitement that filled my stomach. But in a case of normalcy, the sheer size of such a small meal would disappoint me and leave me grumbling bitterly for long.
Then came the moment. Reality began to play harder than my untamed immaginations. The clearity of leaving home - leaving my mother and brothers - dawned on me as we happily chatted up to my uncle's car. The feeling of a new life, especially away from my mother, made my beat quicken strongly.
In the middle of her slightly nervous laughs and talks, my mother caught my eyes. I was now gazing at her. She put out her hands to take mine, and obediently, mastering the sudden inner dread - if this should take a turn for the worse, would she come and get me? - I laid my hands in hers. Her flesh was cold and my hands shivered a little at the touch. Looking up at her again, I perceived the shadow of a smile that softly beckoned me to stay but then she buried me in her strong embrace. I felt the tears gather around my eyes but I tried to be manly about it by disengaging from her soon afterwards.
Our journey finally began. I watched my mother and brothers bid us good-bye as they faded with the distance behind us.
To be continued in 2 days time...
I sat for breakfast. I spooned; but a few, considering the fact that my appetite had been lost over more rounds of excitement that filled my stomach. But in a case of normalcy, the sheer size of such a small meal would disappoint me and leave me grumbling bitterly for long.
Then came the moment. Reality began to play harder than my untamed immaginations. The clearity of leaving home - leaving my mother and brothers - dawned on me as we happily chatted up to my uncle's car. The feeling of a new life, especially away from my mother, made my beat quicken strongly.
In the middle of her slightly nervous laughs and talks, my mother caught my eyes. I was now gazing at her. She put out her hands to take mine, and obediently, mastering the sudden inner dread - if this should take a turn for the worse, would she come and get me? - I laid my hands in hers. Her flesh was cold and my hands shivered a little at the touch. Looking up at her again, I perceived the shadow of a smile that softly beckoned me to stay but then she buried me in her strong embrace. I felt the tears gather around my eyes but I tried to be manly about it by disengaging from her soon afterwards.
Our journey finally began. I watched my mother and brothers bid us good-bye as they faded with the distance behind us.
To be continued in 2 days time...