Shewa .. Shewa!!! Aunty Damilola shouted.
Are you not going to school today?! she asked.
I rolled out of bed with drools of saliva at the corners of my mouth and yawned. This woman will not even allow me to sleep in peace... I grumbled internally.
Anyway I got up, made my bed, took my bath and dressed up.
By the time I got to the dinning room, Aunty Damilola was already setting breakfast of bread and butter with eggs on the table for her autistic son, Ade.
PS: who is very annoying by the way.
She glanced up at me and asked" are you still standing there? can't you see the time?" it's like you want to be late for school today... she concluded.
I rolled my eyes internally at her antics, she had started again.
Good morning ma, I knelt down to greet her.
in my culture " Yoruba" a tribe in Nigeria, west Africa, we always greet our elders by kneeling down as women and lying flat on the ground as men.
I am sorry for waking up late, I lost track of time and went to bed late... I concluded.
Aunty Dami clapped her hands incredously, how won't you go to bed late when you will be operating your phone and chatting all night when you should be sleeping? she asked retorically with a dose of sarcasm.
I think my sister was giving you way too much freedom.... she added ranting as usual.
I almost slapped my forehead in frustration. why are all Yoruba women like this?!!!!
Blah Blah Blah ... she continued as I ignored her.
When I zoned back to reality, I realized that aunty Damilola had already left.
I walked closer the table and got a glass of water from the jug on the table.
How are you Ade? I asked him.
I am fine... he answered sheepishly.. but I'm not giving you any of my food, he countered as he pulled his plate closer to him in a defensive position.
you are not serious at all... I smiled as I rubbed his head.
I glanced casually at the sitting room clock and realized it was already 7:30.
I had to leave for school now.
I went up to aunty Damilola's room on the upstairs floor.
we live in a storey building with many extra rooms.
Aunty Damilola is a banker while her husband Uncle Dapo is an electrical engineer.
I knocked timidly at the door and waited for a reply. it is generally believed that entering someone's room without knocking is very bad etiquette.
come in, a deep baritone voice answered.
I gently turned the knob and went in.
Good morning sir, I knelt down to greet him.
how are you? he asked as he reached down to tie his shoes
I'm fine sir, I answered.
uncle Dapo is a very quiet man, he doesn't talk much but don't be deceived, he is a strict disciplinarian. you mess up and you get dealt with.
I recalled the last time he beat me and Ade for playing ball in the compound and breaking his car glass, I couldn't go to school for a week.
almost immediately, aunt Damilola came out of the shower with a towel wrapped around her.
aunty, I am going now, I said.
she picked up her purse and surprisingly silently handed me a 200# note.
I turned around and left after thanking her.
I didn't want to be late again.
I started walking to school which was 15 minutes away.
I never ate breakfast from home because it always made me sleepy during morning classes.
my mother died when I was eleven, she was a single mother so I never knew my dad.
she died from HIV two years ago.
After her death, none of her siblings or relatives wanted to take me in. nobody wanted to bring up a bastard child and who could blame them, my mum had just died from HIV for crying out loud.
Then aunty Damilola came like a knight in shining armor and saved me. she gave me a life and hope and for that, I'll forever be indebted to her. She took me when I had nobody, even when I didn't know my health status, she gave me a home.
Shewa!! Shewa!!! a familiar voice brought me out of my thoughts and back to reality. I turned around and saw Tumi running blindly towards me.
Tumilese is my best friend and the craziest person I know. we practically grew up together, she knows me like the back of hand and me her.
she finally caught up with me, panting like an elephant.
where are you coming from?! I asked her, this is not the way from your house.
I had to see someone and it was worth it, she said showing me #5000.
I felt my eyes widen with shock, Tumi where did you get that money from.... I choked.
I hope you didn't steal it, I asked.
should I be offended that you think so lowly of me, she answered..besides we are going to be late if we keep on walking and talking like snails and you know those wicked seniors will not take it easy on us... she whined.
*******
We got to school around 7:48am,the assembly had just been completed so we escaped punishment by a cat's whisker.
the senior prefects glaring at us as we walked by.
I am in Jss2 A and Tumi my bestie is in B.
I hurried into class and took my seat just as the Maths teacher, Mr Aloho came into the class.