Find Her

The changes

Mr Oluwa decided to make some changes in his life. He finally got some money to start his own business. He realized he needed to take responsibility for his children and therefore decided to redirect his resources.

Finally there was an electricity extension project that took place and Agasa also benefited. The residents were so happy because for the first time, they would be able to use electricity in the village.

Tasha's mother could not wait but weeks after the electricity was extended, she was able to buy a television and some other gadgets that the household needs. Her family was extremely happy. Things began to change in Agasa as a lot of people can now use electricity for many things and the village now looks bright and beautiful at night. It no longer looked dark and scary. There was also a communicate network extension project which now made it easy for phone communication in the village. Ms Betty took advantage of it and bought a new cell phone.

This made it easy for Tasha and her siblings to communicate frequently with their father in Shai.

Mr Oluwa promised to discuss some issues with Ms Betty concerning the academic performance of her daughter. He was not pleased with how things have turned out. He just could not understand why Tasha was not able to read fluently at her age. He was really disappointed in Ms Betty for not doing much to help their daughter. Mr Oluwa knows very well who his Ex wife was. He knows that she is more interested in the moral upbringing of her children other than their academic success. But he thought, she would have changed since she was a teacher and understands how important education was.

He was not in support when Ms Betty left him and took the children away but there was little he could do as he did not have the financial ability by then to take care of the children alone.

And since he become more sobber and have seen how the village did not help Tasha, he decided to propose some changes.

He found out that there was a town about 7 kilometers away from Agasa that had many amenities and a good private school. He made his enquiries and the school sounds convenient. At least that was the only private school in that enclave.

He informed Ms Betty about it and she was not all that pleased. The school is far away from home therefore Tasha will need to be conveyed by a vehicle and this sounds so tedious. Also there will be no one to help with the house chores. And if Tasha is allowed to go to this school, Ms Betty will be forced to hire a maid to help her with the children and other chores.

Tasha was happy when her mother broke the news about the new school to her. She was glad to have some freedom and explore other options at last.

Tasha went to the new school with her dad so she could take the entrance exams. She was really nervous because she doubts if she will even pass the exams. Her dad was there to encourage her to be positive. Tasha has always doubted herself because she was raised that way. Her mother had the habit of forcing her will on her. She does only what she feels is good for her. And if her mother says it is not possible, it definitely means it is not possible.

Tasha has lost her self confidence and she always depends on others to approve of her dealings. She always does not feel belonged.

The results for the exams came out and the outcome was not all that good. Tasha felt terrible and her dad felt disappointed. This means that she either repeats her class or go to a different school. And there was no other private school nearby so she will have to enroll and repeat her class. She felt sad because her friends would laugh at her if they get to hear the news. But her dad encouraged her not to worry since it is best for her and she will catch up with time.

Mr Oluwa knew that he now has a lot of responsibility to handle so he needs a stable source of income. He decided to start his own business. He opened a book shop in Shai since it's a busy town and there are a lot of schools and students. At least it guarantees a stable profit. He therefore planned to work hard and make the business grow and stable so he can finally bring all his children from the village back to Shai.

Schools resumed and Tasha is preparing for her new school. She will miss her friends in her previous school.

Her new school has a vehicle that will pick her up and bring her back home at a fee. Mr Oluwa paid her fees and bought the necessary things that will be needed.

Tasha's first day at school was not really exciting as she perceived it would be. She appeared a little older than the other kids in the class and therefore she received strange stares from her classmates. It was a new school and she knows no one. The teacher introduced her to the class as a new comer and she could hear some of the students who were behind her taking among themselves

She felt intimidated already because she knows they were talking about her. During lunch time, she sat and ate alone. She did not feel comfortable at all.

When school was over she entered the school bus with other students who will also alight along the way. She finally got home late in the afternoon and her siblings were so excited to see her. Her mother was also happy to see her.

Dinner was being prepared by Ms Betty before Tasha got back from school so she did not do match before retiring to bed.

Tasha had to wake up very earlier than usual so she can finish her chores and catch the bus. It was really tiring and she complained to her mother. Her mother asked her to endure since she is not ready to hire a maid. Tasha had to go to the river side and fetch water for the household as early as 5 o'clock am and it was a very scary moment for her. Therefore she had to wait on the way until it is 5:30 when the place is a bit clearer. This experience was very traumatizing for her because she was afraid of the dark, being alone at 5 am. She complained to her mother several which she finally agreed to also help her with the house chores so she does not have to wake up that early to be at the river side at 5 o'clock.

Tasha was able to catch the bus but was late as usual. She was always late and the bus driver had to wait for some few minutes. She was always running to get to the bus because of her lateness.

She was trying her best to catch up with what was going on in the classroom. She knows she has a lot of work to do in her academics and her dad promised her a gift if she was able to perform better.

The class was always competitive, the other students are very smart and intelligent. She wished she could also perform like them. Tasha was mostly unable to answer questions in class mostly of fear of being laughed at when she gives a wrong answer and also the poor foundation from her previous school. She always feels timid and intimidated.

Truly some of her classmates made fun of her by calling her names because she is a bit older in the class. Her class teacher noticed what was going on and encouraged her not to lose her self esteem.

She does not want to talk to her mother about what was going on in her school since she feels her mother will almost do nothing about it. During lunch break, she sits and eats alone because she just does not want to be teased by her classmates. Her favorite is sports but ever since she joined her new school, she just does not have the urge to play her favorite football. The fear and intimidation of not belonging or being able to fit in have really taken a toll on her.

Tasha had a little facial deformity due to the accident she had when she was a little girl. As a kid she did not find it annoying neither was she worried about it but since she become a teenager, she has become very conscious of her body. And she does not feel so happy anytime she looks into the mirror and sees the scare on her chin. She wished to do something about it so it could vanish but she knows no immediately remedy because she still feels the pains anytime there was a little pressure over there.

She wished her body was as perfect as others. She wished that accident had not happened, she wished to look into the mirror and see a different person. She has become so conscious of her body as a teenager and wished there was a way to have a perfect body. She asked her mother if anything could be done about her face but her mother told her not to worry, since her facial figure will get back to its normal shape as she grows older. At least this gave her a little comfort.

Tasha's classmate Abena was really a torn in her flesh. Tasha just hates to see her because she is always picking on her. Abena and other girls in the class enjoy making her uncomfortable because they know Tasha cannot retaliate. This was really getting on her nerves but she does not know how to fight back. They always make fun of her facial deformity. This was what as heightened her body consciousness.

They gave her names such as "cheeky, mountain jaw", etc. Due to this form of teasing, Tasha does not like to sit among her mates during lunch break. She prefers to sit under a tree that is behind her classroom where Abena and her friends would not disturb her. The worse of all was when Tasha was asked by her teacher to read a passage when class was in session. She was still fumbling with her reading and was not fluent. The whole class burst into laughter as she reads. She just could not continue reading as her book was flooded with the tears from her eyes.

Her teacher had to call the class to order and Tasha excused herself from the class. She run into the washroom and cried her eyes out.

She just cannot tell why her classmates dislike her. She wished she was a perfect child. She did not report the incident to her mother when she got back from school because she knows her mother will do little about it.

It was as if everyday in school and its episodes of disaster for Tasha. She began to lose interest in the school and wants to play truancy.

And she had decided to develop a tactics so she would avoid going to school. She always falls sick almost every week so she does not go to school at least for two days. He had to fake being sick so she can stay at home. And anytime she is given medicines, she hides them and dispossess them off by throwing them into a little bush around their house. She was enjoying her little tricks but does not know how long she can keep up with it. She definitely knows that when her mother gets to discover this fake habit, she would not be spared of punishment, but she was determined to do it as long as it keeps her away from Abena and her friends.

For almost a month Tasha was able to pull her tricks through without her mother noticing it. She returned to school normally and it seems all was okay and she was a bit relieved.

It was time for the schools monthly test. This test is written every month ending to test the students knowledge in what they have learnt so far. It is also used to prepare them for their final or terminal exams.

The time for the test was approaching and Tasha was getting all nervous because she had not had the time to learn. Tasha hardly learns when she comes back from school or in the evening. This was mostly because she spends her evening doing house chores such as helping her mother to cook, fetching water from the river side, washing plates, bathing her siblings, etc. So by the time she was done with those chores and finished her supper, she becomes too tired to learn and even dose off as she tries to learn. Her mother had not been able to monitor whether she learns in the evenings or not because she had the habit of retiring to bed very early most of the times or goes to church for choir rehearsals.

The day for the test came and she cannot run away from it because it was compulsory. During the exam period, she visited the washroom many times to ease herself because she was nervous.

The results came letter and she did not do quiet well except in art and drawings.

The results were pasted on the school's notice board after a week and most students were rushing to check their marks and positions.

Tasha did not even want to visit the notice board because she knew the results will not be positive.

Abena and her friend sported Tasha's name and the mark she got. They could not hold back their laughter. Tasha anticipated this so she did not mind them. She and some other students who failed were not spared. They had their dose of laughter and teasing. Tasha knew that if she will ever get out of the trap of these mean students, then she has to double her academic steps.

Mr Oluwa called Ms Betty and Tasha and her siblings had the opportunity speak to their dad. Tasha told her dad all that has been happening and Mr Oluwa promised to pay a visit to her school. Mr Oluwa was not happy with Ms Betty for not doing her best for Tasha. He was not happy that Tasha had not been consistent with her learning and her mother was not able to monitor her and also provide her with the best support.

Mr Oluwa does not know what solution to provide immediately and the thought of a home tutor came to mind. But the problem was which teacher was available to have extra classes with Tasha especially on weekends.

He thought of hiring one of the best teachers in Agasa or hiring a student who is in college. These were some of the reasons why he wished his children will be in his care.

Tasha is now conversant with riding the bicycle bought by her dad. From the beginning, Tobi was afraid so he did not want to learn. But with time, he was able to overcome his fears and Tasha was ready to teach him.

Ms Betty and her husband traveled for a three days church program in Agate. The house was left in the care of Tasha. There was joy as they know they have three days of freedom to do their own will. She had to make sure she did her house chores, bath her siblings and have their meals. Tasha spent most of her time playing football and other games. Riding bicycle with Tobi and just loitering about. The television was not spared. She did not do her house chores neither did they even take their bath on the first day that their parents left the house.

The compound was left untidy, the plates and clothes were unwashed, and the riverside become a playing field. All they did was just eating. Mr Asiba's wife noticed all that was going on and she promised to report Tasha to her mother when she comes back. This sent shivers down her spine immediately because she knows she was in big trouble.

She quickly began to tidy up the place before her parents get back.

On Sunday evening her parents got back from Agate. The younger siblings where happy to welcome their parents since they were expecting gifts but Tasha was not happy because she knows her deeds will be reported to her mother.

Early in the morning, Mr Asiba's wife reported the issue to Ms Betty. Tasha began to plead with her mother as she called to interrogate her. Her punishment that day was six good lashes before she prepares for school. Her morning had already started on a bad note. She finally joined the bus and went to school. She got to the school before realizing that she had not done her homework. That day, she did not get to school early because the bus developed a fault on the way and there was no other vehicle available to convey them. So they waited almost an hour for the bus to be fixed before continuing their journey. Class was already in session when she got to school. Her class teacher asked her to submit her assignment before she realized that mess she was in. It was too late for her and she cannot redo it neither can she give any excuse. She again received six lashes before getting to her sit. She could not hold back her tears as she cried out. The rest of the class burst into laughter as she cried. It looks like she was having a bad day and wished that day will be over soon.

The week was a very busy one at school for Tasha. It was sports and culture week. They spent most of the time outside the classroom and this made her very happy because finally she will have sometime off classroom. Tasha has allowed her timidity to affect her in all aspects. She loves sports especially football but during the sports week, she refused to partake in it. She was talented in football but she had decided not to join the school team for the competition. She felt she was not good enough or capable of doing anything right.

She just did not want to get herself in trouble or being blamed for any mistake.

She spent most of the free hours watching her mates play on the field. It was a fun filled week for her because the usual long hours in the classroom, the tests, etc were off and they closed earlier than the usual closing hours. She had a lot of time to sleep and rest.

Mr Oluwa was making all efforts so his business would work. That was his new profession therefore he must make it fruitful. He was facing a lot of challenges but there was no one that he could talk to. He did not trust his friends because of what he once suffered. He cannot afford to fail his children because he was determined to amend his mistakes and give them the best he could as a father. He promised to visit Tasha at school but he was not able to make it. Tasha was really looking forward to meeting his dad because she knows when he visits, she would definitely have a lot of goodies. Apparently, Ms Betty does not give money to her daughter for school. Tasha takes breakfast in the house and her lunch is packaged in her lunch box.

So when it was time for lunch break, she eats what she brought from the house. She does not buy from the school canteen like other students. There were many times that she was tempted to steal her mother's money so she could also buy the ice creams and sweets at the canteen but she was afraid of what her mother would do to her should she find out.

That was why she was disappointed when her dad could not make it to the school because that will be the only opportunity for her to also have some money and buy from the canteen. She knows her dad would definitely give her some money. Her dad promised to rather visit the family in the village and also find a home tutor for her.

Two weeks after Mr Oluwa promised to visit, he kept to that promise. He visited on a Friday which was a pubic holiday. Anytime he visits on a Saturday or Sunday, he finds it difficult to get a car at the station or back from the village. Most drivers in the village do not work on Sundays or Saturdays because Agasa is a farming community and they usually go to the farm on Saturdays and Sundays.