To Be A Man – Emeka Edozie
I was a very hot day. I have been jostling around the crowded market to see if anyone would need my services.
I was thirsty and hungry but I had no money on me.l remembered my two children and my Lovely wife, Ebere. I told them to give me small time and I would be back.
They were so hungry before I left my house but I couldn’t do anything since I wasn’t with any money. My wife stared at me in concern.
“Honey, please take care of yourself oooo. Don’t carry goods that are too heavy for you so that it won’t affect you”, she spoke faintly.
I knew she cared about my well being but as it stands now, I was willing to do virtually anything to take care of my family.
I checked the time and it was past 4 pm. I sat down near the road side to think about how to get money for my family at least to eat that day.
I was still thinking about it when I sighted a chubby woman coming out from a shop with cartons of noodles and provisions.
I rushed towards her with my wheel barrow.
“Fine Madam, you de go…. I go carry am go anywhere in this world”
She turned to look at me as she chuckled!!
“You’re a funny man ooo, she said”
“I want you to carry this goods to No 5 Ajibo Street near okibo area”
“Do you know that area”?
“How much”?
Before she turned to ask me if I knew the area, I had already loaded all her goods into my wheel barrow.
“Madam, make we go ooo. If we reach there, give me any amount you have”
How could I allow this opportunity of getting money today to pass me by, I thought.
She looked at me again. I guess she wanted to talk but she couldn’t. It was surprising to her.
She led the way as I followed her.
We walked for more than 45 minutes before we got to her shop.
I offloaded her goods from my wheelbarrow but she couldn’t stop staring at me. I engaged her in a friendly discussion and she was surprised how polished my English was.
I was still waiting to be paid when she entered into her big shop and handed #2000 to me.
I was awestruck!!!
“Ma, you just gave me #2000… It must be a mistake”
“No oooo, just take it and hurry back to your family…. I discovered that you’re a graduate and also a good man”
I tried to utter a word but nothing came out of my mouth. Before I could get myself to say “thank you”, she had already entered into her shop to attend to the numerous customers waiting for her.
I rushed out like a young goat as I danced on my way home….
I knew #2000 would sustain us for like one week.
I kept singing a song in my mind till I got to my house.
As I opened my door,……..
Immediately I opened my door and entered my house, I saw my wife clutching my last born with both hands.
She was moving from one end of the room to the other.
When she saw me, she ran to me immediately.
“Honey, Junior is running temperature…I have done everything possible for it to subsidize but no way”
“I will be right back”, I replied.
I dashed outside and rushed to the nearest pharmacy to buy drugs for Junior.
I couldn’t let anything happen to my child.
The pharmacist gave me some drugs after I explained to him how Junior was feeling. The drug he gave me was worth #1300.
I was hurriedly going home when I remembered that none of them had eaten since I left in the morning.
What would I buy with this remaining #700?
I rushed to the shop of the woman that sells food and bought food for them as I took it home.
As I brought out the food from the bag, my children pounced on the food as if their lives depended on the food.
It was then that I discovered that it was hunger that was dealing with Junior. He wasn’t feeling sick.
I sat with my wife as we watched them devour the food like hungry lions.
I watched helplessly as little drops of tears dropped from my eyes.
I quickly turned and faced the wall so my wife won’t notice that I was crying. I can’t give up now. I can’t show her that it was becoming too much for me.
I remembered how I opened a foodstuff shop for my wife but we crumbled the business.
We fed from her little shop. She made sure we didn’t go hungry.
After some time, there was nothing in her shop anymore because she took care of the family with all the foodstuff in her shop.
I looked at her as she was watching the children. I knew she was hungry too but she didn’t want to show it.
I gave her the remaining #300 to go and get something to eat.
She collected the money from me and stepped outside to get something to eat.
I was surprised when she returned with Fried yam and Garri.
She made the Garri with the little sugar left in the container and sat down to eat..
“Honey, come and join me ooo” , she beckoned on me.
“I am not hungry sweetie… I ate before coming back home”, I replied.
My wife stood up from the floor and moved towards me as she started feeding me.
At first, I wanted to resist it but I couldn’t because I was about to faint because of hunger.
My wife had studied me like a textbook!
She knew when I told lies and when anything is bothering me.
We played and discussed few things before we slept off.
As my wife slept off, I turned towards her direction as I stared at her.
My wife was becoming older than her age due to suffering. I could see wrinkles all over her face although she was just 38 years old.
I found it difficult to understand why she had been so strong for me!!!
She had always been a shoulder to lean on when things becomes too difficult.
I was still wondering about these things before I slept off too.
We were still sleeping only to be woken up by the beep from my phone!!
I jolted from the bed and grabbed my phone….
#OpraDre To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man To Be A Man
Story Continues….
