SISTER ADURAGBEMI
PART 9
By Ojo Rhoda Ayanfeoluwa.
Peace reigned in their family once again because the mouth of the devil was shut.
Mr. Akinpelu took his children to a school very near to their abode.
The headmistress of that school insisted that the two girls should be placed in the same class.
Shocked?
Mrs. Akinpelu argued about that, because Adura was older than Sade. Their father also wasn’t in support of the two girls being in the same class.
“If you are not ready to comply with my instruction, do take your children away. Besides, I don’t think we can admit a lame student in this school. I guess you people are Christians?
Why haven’t you prayed enough for a miracle to happen in your daughter’s life? I guess you two haven’t been praying so hard to God. Anyways, I don’t think we need a lame student here.” The headmistress said as she looked at Adura disgustingly.
Her mother controlled those tears from falling off her eyes, because if she was given that opportunity, she would have poured out her tears, filling a big bucket.
Her husband was full of rage at the trash that came out of the headmistress’s mouth. But he remembered the part of the scriptures that said “anger rests in the bossom of fools.”
He forced out a smile, evaporating the anger in him.
“What is your conclusion? We can’t admit a lame girl in this great citadel of learning, because we don’t want a little girl to tarnish the image of our school. If we even want to admit her, she would be in the same class with her sister. So, what is your conclusion.
Make a decision now, because I have a lot of things to attend to. Should we admit both of them into the same class? ” the headmistress asked.
They agreed because the school was nearby. It wasn’t because the school was the best in town, but the distance to their house made them consider the school.
Adura became a student of Dominion Nursery and Primary school at 6.
At 6, her mum was her supporter. She supported her by placing her on her back to school, placed her on a seat she sat on from morning to the closing hour. Although, her aunt assisted her whenever she wanted to ease herself.
Seeing herself in the midst of children she was older than broke her heart apart.
She couldn’t do what others were doing. She couldn’t do “jumping jumping, I am jumping” whenever it was time for rhyme.
She was helpless. Just always on a spot till her mum comes around to pick her home, by putting her on her back.
Adura’s first day at school was a draining day for her. Her experience that day truly reminded her of her condition her parents never used against her.
Many pupils ran away from her. Many pupils from other classes came to her class to spy. She was bullied.
Some mocked her. Some pitied her. They felt she was unfortunate.
Many teachers called her names. In fact, some advised her to attend schools specifically meant for special children.
When she returned home that day, she cried her eyes out to her father, who encouraged her never to be moved by what people said about her. Her mum came to her side and gave her a soothing hug, although before that time, her heart was shattered when she heard about her daughter’s experience.
The following day, her mother went with them to school to warn everyone involved in traumatizing her.
Well, many people thought that the fact that she was lame would paralyze her brain. They thought she would never know anything. But, that particular term, she broke the record. Her teacher was surprised. She couldn’t hide how surprised she was.
Later on, everyone was aware of Adura’s excellent performance.
Lame, but blessed with a special/magnetic brain .
Her parents were proud of her. They kept on ringing words like “you are not different from others. You are perfect. You are wonderfully made. You are a star. You are going to excel more than those who have legs. You are going far…” into her ears.
And those positive words helped her. Those words sharpened her life. She saw herself as someone who wasn’t unfortunate. She knew she was loved by her parents and even by God.
Sometimes, friends mocked her, but she wasn’t moved. She felt everyone has mouth and there is freedom of speech. Anyone can say anything. But she made up her mind not to view herself from the standpoint of others, but viewed herself based on what God has said concerning her. She viewed herself just as her parents viewed her.
Adura was specially taken care off to the extent that her younger sister became so jealous of her. She would always cry whenever her mum carried Adura on her back while she was allowed to walk.
She would always feel bad whenever they praise Adura more than they do praise her.
****
When Adura got to Primary 4, she became the glory of the school.
Her intelligence became well known to everyone in that locality.
One day, the headmistress sent for Adura. Immediately, her teacher carried her on her back😭.
“Tell your mum to get a wheelchair for you.” the teacher said jokingly while trying to carry the heavy Adura. They went straight to the headmistress’s office.
(Imagine, it was that same headmistress who said they would not like to admit a lame student).
Immediately they entered, the woman wore a beautiful smile that made Adura’s heart to skip.
“My daughter, you will be representing this school next week for a competition. I know you will definitely make this school proud.” the headmistress announced.
She expected Adura to receive the news with gladness, but the girl was disturbed. She had mixed feeling.
As if the headmistress read her mind, she stood up, went to the store and brought out a brand new wheelchair for her.
Adura screamed for joy!!!!
Her parents intended getting a wheelchair for her by the time she enters JSS1, because of finance. But having a wheelchair at primary 4 was a dream come through for the family.
When her mother came that day to pick her children up as usual, she couldn’t believe her eyes that her daughter was given a wheel chair.
“Who could have done this?” she asked no one in particular as she rushed towards Adura.
Adura was beaming with smile. Lost in her imagination. “So, now I can move around without having to be carried by someone like a new born baby.” she asked herself as she just couldn’t hide the excitement that evolved from her heart.
“Adura!!!!” Her mum’s voice jolted her out of her imagination.
Adura’s Aunty announced to Adura’s mother that the proprietor got a wheelchair for her daughter. An imported wheel chair! That worth fortunes!
Her mother’s joy knew no bound.
She rushed down to the headmistress office to show her sincere gratitude for the kindness displayed towards her family.
The headmistress accepted her gratitude and extended the gratitude to her boss, the proprietor and used that opportunity as well to inform her about the forthcoming quiz competition that was going to involve Adura and some other students from a reputable school.
*****
Preparation for the forthcoming competition began. Many thanks to her father who was Adura’s special teacher🤣.
Sade came up with her usual behavior one evening when her father was busy teaching her sister Mathematics, in preparation for the competition.
She threatened to kill herself.
“Why do you hate me, daddy? Mummmm!!!!!!” She shouted, leaving her mother in a confused state.
“Mummmm! Why do you hate me? Why did God hate me so much? Whyyy???? Is it only Adura that is in this world. Why didn’t they choose me for the competition? Why didn’t God bless me with good brain? Why is my own different?” she cried.
****
Small girl jealous at her young age.
Hmmm!
To be continued.
©️Ojo Rhoda Ayanfeoluwa.
