Real Life Tale Part 1 – GranAmah’s Heart
I witnessed my first “child crimé” when I was around 8years.
I remember sitting outside and waiting for my people to return from work.
I have gone to stay with my uncle and his wife, they decided that shouldn’t go back, I should live with them and I agreed but that wasn’t for long before i became home sick (a story for another day)
They live in a big compound with lot of tenants.
I sat in the dark on a stool beside the door where I usually sit to do my home work after school that day.
My eyes kept traveling to the gate anytime I hear a sound.
Many walked past without noticing that a little me was quietly sitting outside.
My uncle coming back late is not unusual because sometimes they return late, due to traffic or close late in the office.
But is never this late.
They gets home before 7:30pm but on a very late day, 8pm.
I called out to one of the neighbor, we call him uncle Gbenga, he was just returning from work.
He startled at first because he didn’t expect to see me sitting in the dark.
“Uncle Gbenga good evening, please what is the time..? I asked as I stood up from the stool.
“Hey Ama, why are you sitting in the dark? I presume your people are not back, don’t worry they will soon return. There’s traffic on the main road. You can go over to Iya Tolu or Machi their house and stay with them until your people comes back. You will watch television or play with Machi and her baby sister..”
“I don’t want to go anywhere..” I said loud enough
“Will your uncle and Aunty beat you if you do..?
“No, they won’t but I don’t like going to people’s house. I want to stay here and wait for my uncle and aunty…”
“… Please what is the time..? I asked again.
“Is 8:34pm. Is not good for small girl like you to be outside here alone. Are you not bored? Do you want to come to my side and watch TV, my wife will give you something to eat..”
Gbenga’s got married few months ago and his wife is already pregnant but she is not very friendly.
Sometimes she fìght with other tenants either because of space for spreading cloths or one thing or the other.
Titi is her name but I have heard some neighbors gossiping with her name but instead of calling her Titi they nicknamed her Tigris so that she won’t know she’s the one they’re talking about.
She sometimes fìght with Uncle Gbenga.
She håtes whenever children are playing within the compound.
She said they’re making too much noise and she does not like noise, especially when she want to rest.
“No uncle Gbenga. I’m fine, thank you..” I replied.
“Okay Ama. the food seller is still outside, you can go outside the gate and sit in her shop, tell her to give you food, I will pay..”
“I have eaten, I’m not hungry…”
I have actually eaten when I returned from school and I also ate biscuits that my uncle usually bring home for me.
I was waiting for a proper dinner but I was not trained to collect something from somebody or to eat outside home.
He said okay and walked past.
Since is 8:34pm, my people will soon return.
Maybe they’re even close to the gate.
Our security outside bulb light spoilt and is yet to be replaced
A little reflection of a neighbor’s light comes to our end but some part is still dark and where I sat the light didn’t cover that end.
There’s a table where I still had my books, I used my hand to make a pillow on it and placed my head.
I silently said a prayer that God should bring my people back safely.
My aunty usually brings fruits, peanuts and some other things home
My uncle buys biscuits mostly
I wasn’t looking forward to the goodies but their safely retuning back home is my utmost concern.
Is usually 8:10pm highest and they will be home, since they close around 5pm sometimes 6pm.
Ever since i learnt Time, the long and short hand first before every other thing, I check time every minute I got.
Both when is necessary and when is not.
My uncle bought me a small watch which later stopped working but I still wear it like that to school and with pride I will let everyone know that I know time.
When uncle Gbenga said 8:34pm I know they will be home any moment because is past their usual time.
I was there, silently watching like hawk as everything begin to go more quiet.
Mothers were in the kitchen cooking or families are already eating dinner.
I guess it was past 9pm yet my uncle and Aunt are yet to return.
There’s a boy in the same compound, his name is Tumo.
Tumo was not really a boy of my age, he was older with either two or three years.
he was around 11 or 12years of age then.
He’s fair, slim and very quiet.
His parents are fair too, he had younger ones and he never gets into trouble.
He’s believe to be a good kid and very gentle.
They live at the other side of the same compound.
Their room window was almost opposite to our apartment.
So we literally hear them most times that they’re having misunderstanding.
Tumo never hesitate to wash the plates and sweep the room whenever he’s asked to do it.
He was a good kid.
I have overheard his father shouting at his Mom, accusing her of taking some money in his pocket one day
The woman will sweär with everything she can think off that she wasn’t the one and do not know how his money kept missing.
I also sometimes hear the mother beating Tumo’s younger brother for taking meat in the soup pot and he will say he never did but his mother will keep insisting that it was the younger one that stole the meat.
They hardly accuse Tumo.
He’s never on the suspect list, he appears too innocent to do any harm.
He was also very cheerful and plays around little babies in their mother’s arm rather than play with his mates.
Neighbors will say “awwn! Tumo love babies too much..”
He was my friend because he was never on the blacklist of the naughty neighborhood kids.
Some parents will even use Tumo as an example to their sons, those who fights or have a naughty behavior.
We’re not in the same school but it’s believed that Tumo comes straight home after school, do his chores before going out watch other boys play football
He hardly play.
Three nights before that day, while sitting outside that evening around 6pm and doing my homework.
I overheard some compound people’s uproar
The noise was coming from the backyard, I assumed it was uncle Gbenga’s wife quarreling as usual or husband and wife banter which was very common.
I later heard the woman saying she did not see that kind of amount of money with her two eyes and do not know what the man was saying.
The man hít her and she screamed.
He called her liâr and a thiéf
He mentioned that the money was for his boss and he needs to return it or he will be sâcked from work.
The amount was huge.
From the exchange of voice I knew it was Tumo’s parents.
The man went on scattering the house as he searched for the money but didn’t see anything.
It was a serious fîght as Tumo’s father thréáten to send his wife packing if she does not provide the money.
The woman kept pleading that she didn’t see the money, he probably lost it before getting home.
He insisted that he came back with it and only went to the bathroom, coming back now the money was gone.
He told Tumo’s mother that she will pack her things with the children and go.
The only person that will remain with him is his good and lovely son, Tumo.
I don’t know how they later ended their mïsunderstanding.
While sitting down that day in the night, waiting for my people, I saw Tumo sneaking down with something in his hand.
I was sitting almost opposite to their window so I saw everything like I was watching a movie.
Since some people didn’t know that I was still sitting outside there in the dark, I decided to remain invisible until my guardians return.
When I saw Tumo, I straightened because he was acting suspicious at that time of the night.
He didn’t see me or know that I was sitting in the dark and watching him
At first, there was nothing to suspect about him but I was curious to know what he was up to.
Unknown to me that I was about to get the real shock of my life.
Alot is about to unfold.
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This is not fiction
Is a real life tale
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