My name is Maria and I am 10years old, I have two younger siblings who are always in and out of the hospital. I am not going to school because there’s a lot going on in my family. I attended a government school before but couldn’t Continue because I had to help my mum with farm work and also hawk “sachet water” so that we can feed since my mum is taking care of my siblings health and my Dad got some health issues 3years ago.
My Dad has stroke and can’t do anything right now, it hurts me so much to see other children go to school while I stay at home. I didn’t show my worries because my Dad is always crying that he has failed as a man, if he knows how I feel he may kill himself. Even though my Dad is not capable of doing anything at all I still love him so much and want him to be alive because it is better for him to be a “burden to me while seeing him alive than him becoming a memory”.
I saw light in the tunnel when my brother and little sister became very strong and my mother announces to me that her sister is coming to carry me to the city to further my education.
Aunty blessing stays in Lagos with her husband and two children, she’s very nice to me and my family because she has been helping us financially right from the time my father got stroke. I was so happy to travel but also sad that my mummy will work at the farm alone. Don’t worry sister Maria, I will take care of mum I heard a voice beside me, I checked and it was my 7years old brother Idango.
“How did you get in here?” I asked because I’m very sure I locked the door. The door was open he said. How did you know I was worried about Mama I asked him. You are my sister and I have seen you like this before, sister I love you so much and I wish you won’t go away, sometimes I ask myself why things are so bad in our family, who did we offend? Edache my friend is going to school, Agada is going to school and they always tell me about their experience in school. I’m also always very sick and some people are calling me “ogbanje” sister am I an ogbanje? He asked.
I looked at my brother and saw so much pain in his eyes, it hurts me the more to think that he has been carrying so much pain in his heart at this age. Tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably as I assured him everything will be fine and he’s not an “ogbanje”. My brother hugged me and was crying uncontrollably too, my heart was shattered and I was torn in-between the decision of leaving the village or staying.
The next day my mum called me to sit beside her while she advice me to be a good girl and also never to take my fighting habit to the city.
“Mummy, you know I only fight back when someone hits me. I fought Eboh the other day because while we were at the stream fetching water, she came with some of her friends to make jest of me because I don’t go to school, I didn’t say anything and Continue filling my Calabash with water, do you know she also call my brother Idango an ogbanje in my presence and I ignored her? That was not her first time of doing such to me whenever I go to the stream to fetch water. I only gave her the beating of her life when she broke my Calabash of water and slapped me and was ready to do more, so I defended myself by punching her, lifting her legs from the ground and putting some sand in her mouth for using that mouth to call my brother ogbanje.”
“Maria, please be a good girl if you go to the city. When you resume your new school there, make sure you don’t fight but report to your class teacher and also to your Aunty when you are back from school when someone offend you.”
“what if I report and they do nothing about it? I asked her. ehm ehm she said not knowing what to say before finally saying they will definitely do something. Idango told me you were worried about me, please do not worry yourself because we will be fine and we shall be praying and hoping on you! Please my dear daughter, don’t get into any trouble.” she concluded.
“Okay mummy, I will try. What do you mean by you will try? Maria Maria Maria how many times did I call you? 3times ma.” She looked at me, stood up and left.
By Esther Ochoga
