Cutscene

7th September 1982.

On the hill in Shintaku, facing Lokoja Confluence in Kogi State.

Five of them are watching the sunset when their older brother Joshua joins them.

Joshua is 14 years old, Victor and Patrick, who are twins, are 12 years old, Helen and Martina, who are also twins, are 10 years old, and Samuel is 8.

LITTLE SAMUEL: - Jojo, I'm going to miss you. (Then he gives Joshua a big hug.)

JOJO: - I will miss you too, Samuel. I will miss all of you. (They all gather around him and make a group hug.)

YOUNG HELEN: - Don't forget to write to us every week. (Then she winks at him and smiles.)

JOJO: - I will. (He winks back and smiles.)

YOUNG VICTOR: - Write every detail, even how you will be shooting guns. Boom! Boom! Boom!

JOJO: - (He smiles.) I will.

YOUNG MARTINA: - (Smiling sheepishly.) Write to us about the handsome new friends you make, oo. I heard that NMS boys are handsome. (She feels discomfort by the way they all look at her.) What?! You people should allow me, oo!

YOUNG PATRICK: - Jojo, don't mind Martina. When you go to military school, just take care of yourself, open your eyes, and be vigilant.

YOUNG MARTINA: - Ah! Patrick! You have come again with your big, big grammar.

YOUNG PATRICK: - At least I know grammar.

JOJO: - Hey! You guys should stop.

YOUNG HELEN: - First thing tomorrow morning, Jojo will leave for boarding school, and we are not going to see our Jojo for a long time, and you guys want to fight.

JOJO: - (He looks up at the orange sky.) Hey! Look at the sky. (They all watch the sunset, holding each other for about 2 minutes.) The sun is gone. We better go home before Mama and Papa kill us.

LITTLE SAMUEL: - Last person to reach home will fetch water! (Then he starts running down the hill as his siblings all follow him behind.)

"OUR CHILDREN" Written By Isa Hafsat Hamtin...