Chapter 5

Dear mama,

I keep leaving grandmother out each time we talk. The thing is, grandma can never take your place but she's trying hard to fill that vacuum you left.

She's getting frailer as the days go and although she's not there in the morning to kiss me goodmorning she does tuck me in, to sleep at night.

She tells me African folktales too.

There was one about ' Asin ', ' okere ', and ' ijapa '. The story explains why the ' ijapa ', the tortoise has a small nose. Asin means mouse and okere means squirrel. Funny names they've got.

In the story, tortoise is going home after shopping, on his way back he sights two people fighting. He becomes interested when he discovers that his friend okere is involved.

He decides to intervene and without finding out who is at fault he sides his friend and makes an effort to separate asin and okere.

Asin becomes very angry and as a result, bites ijapa's nose without letting go. Ijapa then burst into a song which the onlookers respond to with ' jo mi joo ', that goes thus:

Asin toun Tokere

Jo mi joo

Awon lonjo ja

Jo mi joo

Ija re mowa laa

Jo mi joo

Asin bu mi nimu je

Jo mi joo

Egbaa mi lowoo re

Jo mi joo

The song translates to

The mouse and squirrel

Jo mi joo

The two were fighting

Jo mi joo

I came to settle the dispute

Jo mi joo

The mouse bit me in my nose

Jo mi joo

Please save me from him

Jo mi joo

The moral of the story is just that we should not judge cases based on our own assumptions or because our friends are involved we should always try to find out the truth before jumping into conclusions.

It's a funny story though, it must've hurt to have his nose like that. I wonder how he was still able to sing. When next I see a tortoise I'll be sure to give him a bandage so he can heal properly.

Dear mama,

Today on assembly some students were beaten for falling among the last five in their classes last academic year. Most of them are even repeating the classes they failed.

A teacher called out the names of the students who emerged the best five in all the classes while the headmaster shook their hands. However, the students who happened to be the opposite were called out to be beaten by the headmaster.

The headmaster made use of what he called a ' koboko ' which is actually a horsewhip. They were made to hold a wall while the headmaster stroke them twelve times each on their bum.

Some of the students cried especially the girls while some who must have been regular customers did not utter even a sniff.

I can still hear the sound of the whip in the air. I definitely do not want to be beaten that way. I cried hard, I couldn't just help it. My classmates called me a ' cry baby ' who needs her mummy.

Lola allowed me to cry in her arms though, but she told me I will eventually get used to seeing such. I don't know about that. I don't think I can get used to that kind of thing.

This place is so cruel. It seems like people enjoy inflicting pain here and it doesn't stop there, people also enjoy seeing others in pain. It's sad.

Dear mama,

Time does fly. In a few weeks, I'll be writing my very first test in Nigeria. Yes mama I did find out what this place is after all. I had history today and our teacher told us that Nigeria is a country in Africa that happens to be the giant of Africa.

To think I've been living here for some months now without even knowing where I was. Now that I think of it it never occurred to me to ask anybody what this place was, also when we first came I saw a welcome to Nigeria at the airport but I never really took notice of it.

Anyway, Nigeria I have learned is far far away from the States. It's also a very large place with lots of culture and over two hundred languages.

It has three major ethnic groups, Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. Nigeria has thirty-six plus the capital Abuja.

I will love to visit the confluence state and see where the river Niger and river Benue come together to form a Y. One of my classmates claimed he has been there.

I will like to see Lagos too. We did arrive at Lagos when we came to Nigeria but I didn't have the opportunity to go sightseeing. Lola told me she has been to Lagos and that Lagos is like ' oyibo ' land.

She said it's similar to where I came from. Maybe it'll be nice to go somewhere that reminds me of home. I'll ask uncle Taju over the telephone at home tomorrow if I can come to visit his house in Lagos during the hols.

Dear mama,

I've been studying hard these days. I'm glad Uncle Taju bought me all the textbooks ill ever need. I'm actually very good with English the only problem is I have to learn the difference between American English and British English.

It's quite frustrating. Like seriously mama, color is spelled with u after the second o. I wonder why u is needed since it's not even pronounced.

My sums are alright but like you've always said practice makes perfect so I have been practicing so I can get a perfect score on my maths test.

My favorite subject is history though. I'm halfway through my history textbook. Nigeria has an interesting story right from pre-colonial times. Social studies is also fun. The country is sure rich in culture.

Anyway, I am learning a lot of intriguing things, everyday mum.

What drives me to read more though I must confess is Mrs. Sola's ' Mr do good ' and the headmasters ' koboko '

I'm sure I'll turn as red as a tomato if either should touch my skin

Dear mama,

I ate ' akara ' for the first time today. Deji one of the trouble makers in my class poured my food away and it wasn't a mistake.

While we were doing our history classwork Mrs. Sola stepped out of the class. The class became noisy at once with someone asking for answers and others giving out answers.

I finished my work on time and Deji who sits behind me noticed so he asked me to show him my work. I told him no, that will be cheating and I won't be a part of it.

He laughed at me and tried collecting my work from me but I was adamant. It was in that process that our teacher entered the class. Deji and I didn't notice and we kept struggling.

Mrs. Sola then asked both of us why we were fighting. I told her the truth and Deji although tried denying it Mrs. Sola didn't believe. He was flogged in front of the whole class. He swore to get revenge on me.

Lola told me that I should not mind him and that he is just an ' agbaya ', that is another word I need to lookup.

During lunch, Deji told me the headmaster needed my attention in his office. I didn't believe him but I went just in case. It turned out I should never have gone but the headmaster was friendly though.

When I returned to class to have my lunch my lunch bag had been emptied. Lola wasn't in class either so she had no idea how it happened. I saw Deji laughing so I'm sure it was him. Lola told me not to worry. She said that since I had money I could buy something to eat in school.

She suggested akara and bread. It wasn't bad actually I was just concerned about the hygienic condition it was made.

The akara was fluffy just the same way puff is but it had lots of palm oil rubbed on the body my school wear was not spared. It is Bose who washes my clothes I feel for

Lola told me to report to Mrs. Sola but what will I get from doing that. Deni will only be beaten or worse told to clear the bushes around during lunch or better still wash the toilet.

It will not bring my food back so there is no point. I just hope he has gotten the satisfaction he wanted.

Dear mama,

I came back from school very hungry and angry today. Ask me what happened mama, Deji stole my food and not just that my money.

The worst part is that I skipped breakfast this morning because I didn't want to be late for school. I had Bose pack it along with my lunch and I didn't even have a chance to eat it.

I confronted Deji about it. I told him that it wasn't funny anymore and he should just return my money to me if not my food. He laughed and asked me what I was going to do if he didn't return it besides I had no evidence that it was him.

He was right though I couldn't do anything to him. He told me that the same way I had gotten him beaten in front of the whole class is the same way he will make sure I get beaten but this time in front of the whole school.

Lola told me he was not making empty threats. Deji was a bully and he always kept to his words. I can't even imagine that ever happening to me.

I'm not just angry mama, I'm scared that Deji will make good of his word how he will do it I don't know. I just have to make sure that I avoid Deji and stay out of trouble

Dear mama,

Test starts next week and I'm actually very anxious. I sincerely don't want to fail. I wonder if there is also a penalty attached for failing a test. Whatever it is I certainly don't want to be a part of it.

Deji's threat is still giving me nightmares. He hasn't stopped stealing my lunch but it doesn't bother me anymore.

I've started eating twice the usual food I eat for breakfast and I always leave the stipend grandmother gives me at home. During lunch, I just find somewhere quiet to read or talk to Lola.

I've learned to ignore Deji and concentrate on my work.

I miss you, mama

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