Chap 7

I woke up, slowly I opened my eyes ,everywhere was blur and dimmed. I really had a bad hangover.

"Ouch,what the heck am I doing down here on the ground" I said trying recall what happened.

"What happened?" I asked

Then. I recalled what happened last night.oh my, I was critically in pain and was badly injured. I limped towards the entrance of our home and knocked,knocked,knocked and knocked but the door wasn't opened to me.

"Ma!!! Ma!!! Titi baby!!! Titi!!!! Emeka!!! Emy boy!!!" I bellowed my hands on my knee as I limped to backyard.

I knocked but still the door was shut.I then realized that pa was behind this. I went out to the streets but all eyes were on me as I limped. I was embarrassed,I limped faster to the mountains where I and my gangs would go when bored. It was such a beautiful view, everywhere all around were green In color. There was a beautiful stream right behind the mountains where, you know African ladies gather to bath, get water and have fun with their kids or friends. I admired them, my admiration made me wonder why Pa abused Ma.

Ma was beautiful as a lady, though she wasn't that 'so beautiful', she had all the physiques and good qualities of a woman.

I went up to a corner near the mountains and sat, I let out a sharp cry as I remembered all I had passed through. I wailed and wept like a new born baby. Where on earth did on earth did Pa expect me to go? Where was I to sleep? I never even thought of taking my savings with me! I took a glance from my wrist watch, it was already 10;00am. I was getting hungry,I didn't eat last night and this morning too. I prayed a miracle would happen. I was still bleeding from my arms and mouth and the bleeding from my mouths would occasionally make me spit out.I was never ready to go to work in this condition to tell all the whole world that my 'Pa was a lion and he was a wicked fella who couldn't take care of his children. I waited for a miracle to happen. I was getting hungry and restless. but it was said that heaven helps those who help themselves.

  I stood up from where I was, with difficulty. I knew that by then that, Pa must have left for work, all I needed to do were  get my clothes, my savings and my wrist watch for 300 hundred naira, it was expensive men, I couldn't lose it. I limped home, there I saw Ma and Titi were picking the dirts from the beans, I didn't want Ma to shed tears so I quietly went into the house and packed my clothes into one Pa's traveling luggage and took some of his money and valuable stuffs he owned. I took everything I wanted both mine and Pa's.

After I was done,I sneaked out of the house, and went to a nearby chemist to get my wounds treated. I went to our family's doctor and he got me treated. I paid him and i went out to the unknown.I traveled miles to get to the Lagos bus stop, I didn't know where I'd go to, but I could hear a bus conductor screaming saying:

"Anambra, Asaba, Onitsha"

Where was I to go? I decided to leave for Onitsha.

"Onitsha, how much?" I inquired.

"200 Naira" he said counting his money, shouting on top of his voice..

"Sir, its not 150" i said.

"Moo ogbo nkoti oso, ko so lo joor, abeg" he cursed in Yoruba.

"Yo ba iya e" I retorted.

He got off the bus and held me by the collar.

"You see this bandages,I go give you another blow, se o mo mi? Olorun fi  iya Je o" he cursed.

I kept shut, I didn't want to get beaten again. I have had enough. I picked up my luggage bag to find another traveling bus.

"Lagos train station" A bus driver bellowed.

"How much?" I inquired.

"Its only 200"

"No be 150?"

"Wo Le ka lo" he said.

"Thank you" I appreciated entering the bus.

I was feeling lonely, how was the world ahead gonna be like without Ma, Titi, Emeka and my mega city?

After 30 minutes, the bus was loaded with men, women and children.

Life!

Yeah, it has taught me lots of things. And I was overwhelmed by its teaching.I looked out the window and wondered if Pa was looking for me, whether Ma, Emeka and Titi were crying. my emotions were betraying me. I was thirsty and hungry. But it was first time on a journey, my curiosity came first.

I observed the trees, they were. so cool and gentle and I wondered why life weren't as gentle and cool as they were. It was 12pm and finally we've arrived the train station.

I was in a train station for the first time.

Wow!

Wow!

Wow!