Title: THE FORTUNATE DAUGHTER
Episode 2.
True to her words, my mother kept to her promise. She sold most of her expensive wrappers and blouses just to meet the demands of the institution.
We did all kinds of jobs, working on people’s farms, washing clothes, and cleaning their houses, just to gather enough money for my tuition fee and feeding.
After a long day of working on a farm, we got home tired and hungry and sitting in front of our house when our neighbor came carrying a big sack bag, we greeted her and welcomed her in, and she came and sat with us asking us how we have been fairing, we told her how we have been surviving and struggling to meet up with my tuition fee. She felt sorry for us and encouraged us to be strong and have faith that things will get better.
She brought the big sack forward and gave it to my mother, she asked that we manage it as it was the little she could contribute to my education. Surprised we took the bag, opened it, and saw many foodstuffs including rice, beans, garri, noodles, spaghetti, beverages, and soup condiments. Immediately we knelt down to thank her but she held us back and asked us to sit and stop crying, she brought out an envelope gave it to my mother, and asked that we add it to complete my tuition fee. We couldn’t help but cry out loud because we never expected any help from anyone, let alone a neighbor, we knelt down to thank her again not minding her resistance. We cried, sang, and danced together and she left.
My mother and I cooked and ate our fill that night with so much happiness in our hearts.
Two weeks later, I was already in school and I stayed in the hostel with three other girls in the room. They were all nice and accommodating, but I was closer to Ojoma (Oj) because we were coursemates, although she was a year ahead of me. Oj helped me with handouts and past question papers, and she always encouraged me to be serious with my studies. She even went as far as waking me up at night to study ahead of the next lecture, of course, this helped to keep me alert and ahead of some of my classmates. I also help her to fetch water and clean the room when it’s her turn, most times I help her go to the market to get foodstuffs which we end up cooking and eating together.
All these got me so comfortable with her to the point that I opened up to her about my family which she did too. This made us even closer, more like sisters.
A few months later, I was already familiar with the school and environment.
I Was in one of the lecture rooms waiting for our first lecture of the day when I looked through the window and saw Oj with Arome, popularly called Aromzy, he was the richest kid on campus. Arome was never a serious student, he never attended lectures or participated in any of the presentations in class, but surprisingly he is one of the students with a high CGPA (grade), with me topping them of course.
Arome was always seen with girls flocking around him, but I was surprised to see Oj with him.
Unknown to me, Oj has been going out with Arome for a while and she kept it a secret from me.
One weekend, I was in one of the halls reading in preparation for an upcoming test, when suddenly I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder, only for me to turn face to face with Arome. I was shocked and at the same scared to see him there. He was smiling mischievously and was coming close to me, I took a few steps back and immediately raised my voice at him, asking him what he wanted. He stopped moving and stared at me for a few seconds before leaving the hall. I got so scared and also left the hall worried. I couldn’t find Oj anywhere in the hostel so I decided to wait for her return and I slept off. Oj came back and woke me up by throwing lots of shopping bags at me, I was surprised to see everything she came with, and at the same time eager to check them out.
She emptied the bags onto her bed and sorted out everything. She gave me two beautiful gowns, a trouser, and two tops. I was so happy to have them because the last time I had new clothes was when my father was alive.
Later that evening I told Oj about my encounter with Arome, and how I felt about it, she just laughed and brushed it off and told me it was nothing to worry about and that she would handle it.
The next day Oj told me about a birthday party she wanted us to attend together, I told her I wasn’t interested, and that I had to study for an upcoming presentation. She insisted and begged that she would need my company and that we won’t stay long. I agreed and got dressed in one of the beautiful dresses she gave me. I looked all pretty and nice, Oj also got ready wearing a small top and shorts, looking glam and beautiful.
We both left for the party and that was the beginning of another struggle.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Writen by Francisca Ejura Isaac
