— Embracing a change in life.
Chapter three Little Beginnings
The twins were really grown, and their appearances could not but get enough attention, but according to their father, it was unnecessary attention, mostly after watching the twins polish their shoes with fervor. Polished shoes indicated one thing to the girls in the school: if a boy could remember to polish his shoes, then there was every tendency that the boy would remember to care for his girl if he ever had one.
The unnecessary attention was not bad; after all, Temitope enjoys the fruits of having famous brothers. The older girls took turns plaiting their hair weekly. There was no reason to worry about plaiting beautiful hairstyles.
‘’It is out of jealousy that your father rages; he got more attention than your brothers in the village.’’ Iya Ibeji once told her daughter. As often as he could, Baba Ibeji reminded his children that he was never a student, and so he never had many girls attracted to him.
He would say,’ ‘I was never as handsome as you boys are now.’’ ‘Because you grew up in the village,’ Taiye would mock. Necessary or not, the boys were getting attention, and that was enough for her as a mother. Their oriki tells it all:
Ejire ara isokun Edunjobi
Omo edun tii sere ori igi
O-be-kese-be-kasa
O salakiisa donigba aso,
Omo tii gbadobale lowo baba to bii lomo,
Gbajumo omo tii gbakunle Iya.
Winrin winrin loju orogun Eji woro loju Iya e.
Not only was growth found in Baba Ibeji’s family, Lagos itself was thriving daily. The population of Lagos grew, with more people flocking to this busy city to make a living. The number of tenants increased in Okesuna, and landlords were stirred to convert extra spaces into single rooms. They seized the opportunity of the increase in population to source for more money in an already choked environment. More tenants moved into the compound, which meant more quarrels in the compound, stronger bolts on the door to prevent thefts, and stronger attention when cooking. Traffic was gradually gaining footing in society, and that meant waking up before the cock crows.
A new term has emerged, and children are seen once again flocking the streets. A new term, especially the first one where each child gets into an advanced class, is always the most remarkable. Children from public schools are seen all over the streets with brooms, canes, cutlasses, and other items requested by the school for the new term. One witnessing this scene for the first time might actually take to his or her heels with the assumption that a student riot was going on. Traders and bookshops make more sales during this period because children are expected to purchase school supplies.
Also Read CHAPTER TWO Little Beginnings
The admission list for each student included Duster; however, this was dismissed by Iya Ibeji, who told her daughter that she was a trader, not a tailor.
”When they ask you for the duster in the school, tell them your mother is just a trader at Idumota, not a tailor.’’ She emphasized She had also said, ‘very soon these teachers will ask for the bucket we use in our bathroom.’ Sadly for her, a bucket was later demanded from each student resuming that class. And she was left with no choice but to wash the bucket used in flushing the toilet so Temitope could get it to school. Ever since that happened, she spoke less of the materials required by the school authority.
Temitope attended a government college in one of the colleges in Osborne, Ikoyi.
The school is located in a large compound with other colleges present. When students were given the opportunity to interact with students from other schools on the compound, learning was at its peak.
Temitope excelled like her brothers; she participated in almost all activities and had things work out for her, especially among her teachers. It is no surprise that a bright and courteous pupil always has the teacher’s attention more than other pupils.
There were difficult times when feeding was hard, and Temitope would trek from her house down to Osborne and would sometimes skip lunch so as to save money for the next day. It was one of those days that Temitope decided to trek with her friends who were heading towards the secretariat, Ikoyi, and her situation changed for the better. Indeed, “every disappointment is a blessing in disguise.”
While Temitope was in the company of her friends, who were still trying to pluck fruits, a little girl of about six years sat at the gate across the road crying. ‘’What is the matter, and why are you crying?’’ The little girl, instead of answering, cried more. Passersby stared as usual, but no one came close. Since the girl kept crying, Temitope’s classmates left while she remained with the girl. The little girl finally responded to her question by telling her that she was looking for her mother. She had played out of the supermarket while her mother was busy buying stuff. Wondering how a mother could have lost her daughter, Temitope walked down a distance and came across the store where the girl’s mother was found, with other store attendants searching for the child’s whereabouts.
The woman embraced Temitope in appreciation and offered to drop Temitope home. She gladly accepted and was dropped off at home by the woman who had promised to visit her next weekend in order to see her parents.
