OSUWAKE
Episode 1
According to my mum, i was baptised in a catholic church at the age of two(2). But along the line, my parents switched to another church and so, we the children followed up.
The church became our family church thereafter.
It happened that my dad and mum met each other while still in secondary school. They were dating seriously and was so much engrossed in love.
Along the line, my dad impregnated her at the age of fourteen(14) and she dropped out of school as a result of the pregnancy. Meanwhile, my dad finished up secondary school.
My mum’s pregnancy compellled her to come and live with my dad in their family house. It was not really easy for my mum as my dad’s family never welcomed her – my grandmother and other of his family members despised her.
My mum was constantly abused and humiliated by my dad’s family members. It came to a point, my mum couldn’t stay in the house alone without the presence of my dad because my grandmother attacks and beats her up in my dad’s absence.
Even before my dad finished school, he normally rushes home from school to rescue her from my grandmother and other of his family members assaults on her.
My dad will caution them to stay away from his wife and let her be in peace. It was not very easy for my dad and mum coping with his family members in the same house.
My dad was attached to one middle class but well educated man. He was working for him as his boy. He spends most of his time in his house.
After a while, my dad got a job in one of thr state ministry and things started taking shape for him and his family.
My dad began progressing as he was also good in mending bones – dislocated or broken bones. People visited him to mend their dislocated bones and paid handsomely. He became pretty rich.
My dad and mum were so much in love with each other and nothing could threaten their union as of that time. It was very obvious to the detriment of his family members.
Things were unfolding and taking shape gradually as they gave birth to seven of us – me and my elder sister who is the eldest amongst us with five other boys.
My dad and mum enjoyed a great union as we prospered and things flourished. We were enjoying ourselves and living a good life.
My family was also very active in our church and we strictly followed the church’s doctrines.
At some point, my dad was made an elder in the church and that was after the church organisation compelled him to finish up all the remaining marriage rites on my mum’s head and he did exactly as the church instructed. Everybody was happy.
we lived as a happy family to the detriment of those who never believed that such luck will smile on my dad and family.
My dad’s family members were isolated and we never mingled with them. We avoided them like a plaque because my dad never wanted anything that will trouble his family especially my mum, after all she has been through in their hands.
So, we lived on our own and shunned the company of my dad’s family members despite the fact that we were all living within the same vicinity.
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Everything was moving on well for my family untill one fateful day. I was around 11 years of age then and so, was in the early days of junior secondary school.
i had serious issues with my friends and never believed or imagined they could do what they did to me.
it happened that i was playing with my friends in their house as their parents had gone to the farm for farming activities; as at then my mum was not used to farming and so, never graced the farm.
it was only me and my friends left in their house that unfortunate day. They were four in number – two girls and two boys plus me making it five.
i had issues with my friends as we were playing and before i knew it something very bad happened to me. The four of my friends – two girls and two boys forced themselves on me! They raped and molested me!
they threatened me not to ever tell anyone and that if i ever do, they will beat me and i won’t be their friend again.
it was such a painful and terrible experience at such a tender age and worst of it all – from my own friends and girls inclusive.
to be continued..
A life story saturated with intrigues, controversies and life struggles.
written by: ©️Emeka Nwobu
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