Chapter 2
....I drove out immediately so I could catch up on Ehi..
Hello,I said as I drove close to her,,,ah uncle, you're leaving already,,,she asked.
Hmmm,I just remembered I needed to get somethings from the supermarket too,so come in let's ride together,you are heading there right,,I asked.
Oh never mind sir, I'd find my way,I wouldn't want to be a bother,she declined politely...
Oh come oh Ehi,you are not,I insist,I said..
Okay sir,she said and joined me in the car
.
Thank you very much sir,she said as she got in.
You are making me think am an old man,with all these sir sir sir thing,I teased her smiling,,my name is Amadi,but you can call me AD,I said...
She only smiled, guessing she wasn't comfortable calling me by my name...
So sorry about all you are going through,I mean your waec registration and all,I said.
No problem sir,it's fine,,,maybe education isn't for me, I'd just go back to Benin and learn a trade perhaps,she said...
Sorry for being inquisitive,,what about your parents,I asked..
My father died some years back,I have a younger brother,my mother sells fruits,it hasn't been easy at all since dad passed, the profit from mother's fruit business could barely feed us,let alone cloth and pay for our education..so when Mr Johnson, a brother to mother's friend, said he needed me to come live with him and his family in Lagos,mother agreed,as he had promised to send me to a very good school to complete my secondary education,and also my university education,,that promise wasn't fulfilled,it took a whole year before he could register me in a public school,and am supposed to have been out of school since last year,but he doesn't want to register me for Waec,,,I am done,she was already in tears,I am so done,I am sure Lagos isn't for me,I shall return to my quiet life in Benin,and look for any other means to assist my mother,I am supposed to have been done with secondary school and even be in the university by now,but here I am wasting away,,,I am so done,,,she continued crying....
Itsy okay,it's okay Ehi, please don't cry,by now I had to pull over so I don't lose concentration while driving,I wrapped my arm on her shoulder, trying to make her feel better,,,I was really touched at her story,such a young girl has seen too much for her age,I thought within...
Please stop crying,it's okay, please,I beg of you,Ehi,look at me, please look at me,I said,and she managed to raise her head to look at me..
I shall do all within my power to make sure you write your waec and go to the university,I know you have heard promises before,and have been disappointed,but please,have little faith in me,and trust me, please,I said,and she nodded her head positively In affirmation.....
We drove to the supermarket and she got all she needed,I picked one or two things too,paid for everything we took,and soon we where done....
If you don't mind,can we go to any hereby eatery and have something,I asked...
She wouldn't say a word but was smiling facing the ground,I took that as a yes, opened the door for her,and then we drove to a nice eatery....
She requested for a plate of Jollof rice and I took same order,I loved how she ate,oh she wasn't like the other girls I had met who would want to be perfect on the table,she was relaxed and ate like she was home,oh I loved that...
So how much is your waec registration,I asked her...
It's #15,500 she said...
Okay, here's the deal,I am going to give you that first thing tomorrow morning,so you can pay for your exam,and we shall pick it up from there,I said.do you have a phone,I asked her..
No sir,she said.
Okay then, where's you school located,so I could wait you there by 8am and then you make the payment,I said...
She was speechless,,,when she regained herself she spoke...
Sir thank you very much,but am afraid,I can't pay you back anytime soon,it's best I returned to Benin,she said...
I laughed, who's asking for a refund, please, nothing like that, it's just a way of showing my own little kindness,I said..
Thank you very much sir,she said smiling beautifully,she gave me her school's address by writing it in a jotter I have in the car.,she was very happy...oh that smile was all I wanted,,I went to bed that evening feeling like a king..
I was up very early the next morning,at 7am I was off...
Guy where you dey hurry go, Stan asked..
I told you I would be going to Ehi's school today to pay for her waec registration na,I said to him...
Oh man,I forgot oh,I totally did,but AD,I thought you were joking about this secondary school girl ohhh, Stan teased...
Stanley,her name is Ehi,and not that secondary school girl,If you must know she is an adult, she'd be 19 in few days, she's no minor,and I haven't even said anything yet,am just being a helper first,I said...
Well,even if she is 30,it doesn't change the fact that she's a secondary school girl,come on man,are you telling me you didn't see any of those sophisticated babes in school that you have to settle for someone who's way below your standard, Stan continued...
Well,I saw something in her,that I haven't seen in any of those sophisticated girls you are talking about,,, please l am running late,see you in school joor,I said and drove off, finding myself at Ehi's school gate....
I didn't know how to look for her,the only thing I know was she is in her final year and her name is Ehi,,,it was already past 8am,and they were already assembled at the school's field for their morning prayers,I had to wait till it was over....
When they were done,she walked up to me, apparently,she had seen me,even though I didn't see her,as they were many of them...
Goodmorning sir,she greeted as she smiled beautifully towards me....
Good morning ma,I replied smiling back...
She laughed at my response,I believed she got the message,since she wouldn't stop the sir thing,I decided to ma her too...
I thought you weren't going to come again when I didn't see you at 8,she said...
Am sorry dear,you know Lagos and traffic,and for the records,I am a man of my word,once I say I'd to something,I try my best to do so,I said smiling....
Thank you so much,am grateful,she said.
Please don't mention,I brought out a brown envelope and handed to her, That's #30,000 just In case you need to pay for any other thing,I said....
Oh my God, thank you very much uncle AD,I am so grateful, God will bless you for me,she said genuflecting.....
Aunty Ehi please it's okay,you are making a scene,I have to go,I have classes,I said and rushed out of the compound to my car,and drove off.....
I was smiling beautifully,and very happy with myself,I was very glad I was able to help.
The more I got closer to her,the more helplessly I fell in love with her,I decided I wouldn't tell her about my intentions yet,at least not until she's done with her waec examinations,,,I needed her to concentrate....
Ehi,what a beautiful young lady.....
To be continued
Written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
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