The Painful Pleasure (TPP)
EPISODE 3
Since they all came before me, i just had to wait till they are done with theirs.
I sat down with the other four people on a long bench. “How much is the registration?” I asked the young girl sitting next to me (who looked quite pretty), “good afternoon” she answered. “Please pardon my manners, that should have been my line.” I said to her. She answered and said, “No problem anyway, i didn’t mean it that way, i just greeted you because i felt i had to, there is no big deal. Anyway, the guy said the registration is 1000 naira with printing.”
The price seemed quite much, but i didn’t want to create a seen or be a nuisance since that’s what all others paid. So while we were waiting, i just enjoyed a conversation with that pretty young girl beside me.
Me: So you are here to do your registration too?
Girl: Obviously, what else would i be doing in a cafe?
Me: You could be trying to browse the internet or something.
Girl: So if that’s what I’m here for, will i be waiting for those guys to be through with their registration?
Me: That’s true (nodding my head in agreement ), since we started talking, you’ve only asked questions. So, should i call you miss question?
Girl: You don’t have to call me that, because i have a name (smiling).
Me: So with this your beauty, your name must be princess.
Girl: (Blushing) Don’t wine me joor.(now smiling like sobosobo) I’m not princess o, I’m Sandra. So what’s your name, Prince?
Me: Prince ke, my name is Dapo o. Its nice meeting you (stretching my hands to shake her)
Sandra: The pleasure is mine (shaking hands with me). .
We talked on and on, and she told me that she was admitted to study philosophy. I waited until it was my turn, then I did my registration. Sandra left and waved me, “see you in school” she said. i waved her back, and she smiled from afar. It was when i saw that smile that it occurred to me that i should have asked for her number. But it was too late, she had gone already. “I may never see her again.” I said to myself. I just forgot about her since we have more than 25,000 people in OAU.
I finished my registration and went back home, preparing for school.
What happened next? Find out in Episode 4.
The Painful Pleasure (TPP)
EPISODE 4
Preparation was in top gear for resumption. My mum surprised me when she bought ‘born-vita’ and peak milk. “I appreciate your efforts but we don’t even eat this at home maami, you don’t have to buy all this. We are not that rich and you know it, the money you used for this provision, you could have kept it for something else.” I humbly protested. She replied immediately ” If i don’t buy this for you who else will i buy it for? All my discomfort, is it not for your comfort, i toil day and night so that you dont have to do that. Over my dead body will you go to school without provisions. I want you to be alright, i want you to enjoy life, soo gbo oko mi, just try and understand me.”
When she had finished saying all these things, all i could see was a mother who was willing to sacrifice her life for her son, who was willing to sacrifice her happiness for her son’s. I was so touched, and didn’t even know what to say, than to say thank you ma. I drew closer to her gave her a hug, and with tears rolling down my chicks i said “I will never let you down maami.” She replied saying “I trust you son, i know you won’t.”
Though my mum was so happy that i finally gained the long awaited admission, but she still can’t believe that her one and only son will leave her to go to Ile-Ife. But what can the poor woman do, will she ask me not to go? Hell no! She won’t do that, she was as happy as i was as far as the admission is concerned. I thought for a while and then i started having mixed feelings as regards the admission. “Well it’s not like I’m going for life, i consoled myself.
The resumption date was clearly stated- 13th of June 2011. Well, i had less than a week to go and i was so ready to face the new life, meet new people, learn new things, unlearn some things, teach people stuffs, correct wrong impressions and become new.
People were giving me money from different angles. “Pele o, omo ile-iwe gba koo fi se owo oko.” They were always tipping me, and my mum won’t stop telling them about my going to school. “Omo yin n lo school ni next week o” which means: your child is going to school next week. Am i really their child? No I’m not, but Yoruba people have funny ways of talking e.g “se o ti ri aburo e.” This means: have you seen your younger sibling, when you are probably from Ibadan, and the person being referred to as your sibling is from Kaduna. But i actually enjoy the whole stuff, because once they call me someone’s child, that person must ‘shake body’ (meaning the person must give me money). Since my father is no more, “whoever gives me money is my father jare” i said, smiling.
The day finally came, and all i had to carry was my ‘2 by 6’ mattress, the few clothes i have, my provisions, and some food items (garri in particular). And i headed straight to the Bus-Stop.
What happened next? Find out in Episode 5.
