Chapter Twenty-Two

 'I already did,' Abinla said, smiling.

Bola smiled back at her. 'I am happy for this dream of yours.' He reached out his elegant hand to help her wipe away the sweat on her forehead. 

'Thank you for helping out,' Abinla smiled again.

 'I told my father that once he becomes the President, he should make sure to include Environmental Education as well as Personal Finance in our school curriculum; from Nursery to University.' 

Abinla looked up at him with delight. 'I agree with you. Both should be taught in school. Money touches everything,' she paused and said after a while, 'Many schools teach Mathematics, Geography, Science, Home Economics…all are valuable for sure. But then, how often do we need to solve equations or read the map? However, Personal Finance is our everyday necessary life skill that should be taught in schools. I think it should really start from Pre-Nursery.'

'I also agree with you, Abinla. A child in Pre-Nursery can differentiate between paper and money. Give that child both to choose, no doubt, the child would go for the money and might even shred the paper into pieces and throw them at you.' 

Abinla laughed.

 Bola looked at the way Abinla's dimples had looked attractive when she laughed. He looked at her beautiful dark eyes, and her neatly plaited hair. She was beautiful in every way, he thought with a blissful smile.

 'Aren't you going back to Lagos for your exams?' She suddenly asked.

 'I will go when this is all over…but I will come back after seven years…for you,' Bola said in a serious tone as he rose to his feet and walked over to his rich friends that had just arrived.

Abinla blushed, understanding what he meant. However, she doubted if the future would permit their meeting again after he leaves for Lagos State. But then, whatever it was, she was hopeful for a beautiful future.

Now alone, Abinla reached for her diary, placed it on her lap, she gently opened it and began filling the blank pages with writings of the beautiful world she had created with the help of her friends. 

After several months of planting, Abinla found a few pieces of fruit on the fruit trees, and for the first time there were many fruit vegetables in the vegetable garden. Everything looked flourishing. The streets were smooth and adorned with trees and street lights powered by renewable energy sources. 

Here and there benches were set out as well as dustbins. Abinla couldn't be more excited as she watched the birds flying over the water that had once been cloaked in oil and trash. She was glad about the delightful fields of flowers, about the advanced technologies that could solve 95% of human problems, about the flow of grains, happy activity in the market, and the glowing sun. 

Abinla walked through the familiar streets that had today been transformed into a breathtaking sight. Although some work was still going on, but she felt that the environment was peaceful. 

Today, she had a flower bud on her head. It was her dream to wear a flower bud someday, and matching it with her white dress, she looked fresh and beautiful. What more can I wish for? She thought blissfully as she strolled on. This was what I wanted, my dream paradise. Before 2200, I am certain that the world would be almost like the paradise promised us in the new Heaven...

Her smile was radiating, and she looked like blooming flowers. As the sun sank beyond the western horizon, Abinla finally turned back to return to their new home adorned with colourful decorations. It was a mansion built for her family by the newly elected Bayelsa State governor. 

 Reaching home, she was surprised as well as excited to see her classmates who had graduated from secondary school with her, laughing with her mother and brother on the back lawn of her house. She saw Mr. Johnson and Tariebi there too. They were all dressed in their finery. Some of the invited villagers helped around, serving drinks, ice cream and delicious dishes; both local and western dishes. The long table was loaded with food and decorated beautifully.

 Somewhere not far away from the lawn, a group of children were happily playing on the swings as the adults who were more of Abinla former classmates, gathered around the table, eating and chatting with happiness. 

Bola, who was feeding his pet puppy, looked up when he saw Abinla. Lifting the white Kimola puppy in his arms, he strode over to Abinla who was greeting the people that had visited. He had returned only to host this feast in honour of Abinla. He would go back again this evening as his family's private jet was waiting to take him back to Lagos State, then, he would fly back to MIT where he was now studying Computer Science. But as promised, he would return after seven years, especially for Abinla. 

'Who would have thought that this little girl would become the hero of our time,' Bola said with a smile.

 'My sister has always been the hero, but we decided to refuse to believe it,' Ayibaemi said, happily eating his ice cream. 

 'Did you fly?' Abinla asked Bola.

 'Yes, I did. I couldn't catch a bus because it would waste my time.' He looked up at Abinla's dark beautiful eyes, which were obviously expecting an explanation. 'The jet is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It could save up to 66 percent in fuel...in order to reduce carbon pollution, a team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with government and industry collaborators, is redesigning airplanes that would reduce carbon footprint. Instead of throwing away what we use, we produce and redesign things that would reduce our carbon footprint. Don't you worry, Abinla. My airplane is among the new planes redesigned to reduce carbon footprint. It was supposed to be released by 2035 but I had to pay hugely to facilitate the process.' 

Bola was now studying Computer Science at MIT but he had come to host this victory feast for Abinla. Abinla got scholarship to study medicine at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Everything was fitting into place as Abinla had dreamed. 

 Abinla smiled as she reached for a glass of milk, taking a sip, she said, 'We only have to believe in our dreams. Before 2200, the world will be like a glassy Paradise, everything would look almost like the paradise from the new heaven...'

'You still have more dreams?' Bola chuckled. 'I thought this was enough.' 'It's never enough. Don't forget that the beautiful ones with computer brains are not yet born, so is the glassy world that is magnificent beyond description... We are the world; we mould it the way we want.' 

As Abinla said that, those that heard her words, turned to look at her in silence; perhaps wondering what the world would be like in the months or years to come. I wonder that myself, Abinla thought silently, lifting the glass of milk to take a giant sip. One thing was sure; the world would be magnificently breathtaking.