WORTHWHILE

Chapter 2

Ivy’s family gathered in the living room that afternoon. Their parents stood in front of them with the kind of faces that meant news was coming. Their mother spoke first.

“I’m sure you all saw or heard that Onyii’s aunt visited the other day,” she said. The children nodded.

“Well… she said she would like to take Ivy with her to the city when she returns after the Christmas holiday. Ivy wants to go, and your father and I have agreed.”

Ivy’s face lit up immediately, her smile stretching wide. Their mother continued slowly.

“You all know how things are. We are not very comfortable financially. Aunt Stella is, and I believe she will take good care of your sister.”

“When will she be leaving?” her third brother, Abby, asked.

“In two weeks,” their father replied. “We already spoke with her yesterday. The date is set. Ivy will be leaving for the city in two weeks.”

“That’s just a week after her eighth birthday,” her older sister muttered in their native language.

“Who cares? It’s not like we have money to celebrate it anyway,” Abby grumbled.

“Alright, that’s all,” their mother said, dismissing them. “Go back to your chores.”

The room emptied quickly.

Ivy didn’t even wait a full minute. She ran straight out of the house to call Onyii and her cousin so they could play their usual sand-pudding game- the pretend cooking game almost every child in their street loved. Sand food, small tins as pots, tiny stones as meat… their little imaginary world.

Onyii had told her earlier that she would be going to boarding school next term. Ivy had cried that day-or almost cried. She couldn’t even remember the whole conversation, only the fear that her best friend would leave her.

Now, Ivy skipped happily to Onyii’s house. She pushed the gate open and rang the bell. It took a few seconds before a voice shouted:

“Who’s there? I’m coming!”

The door opened, and Nenye, Onyii’s older sister, appeared.

“Is Onyii around?” Ivy asked quickly.

“Yes, she is. How are you, Vee?” Nenye smiled.

“I’m good,” Ivy replied.

“Onyii is in her room,” Nenye said as she moved aside for Ivy to enter.

“Alright,” Ivy murmured, walking inside. She headed straight for the stairs. Back at her own house, she didn’t have a room of her own, so entering someone’s private room always felt special.

She climbed the stairs, reached the familiar door, knocked once, and entered as soon as she heard, “Who’s there?”

“Veee! You’re here!” Onyii said with surprise, lifting her head from her colouring book.

“Yes, and I have something to tell you,” Ivy said, breathing fast from excitement. “Unless Aunt Stella has already told you.”

“Tell me what? She came here some days ago but she didn’t say anything about you- at least not when I was indoors,” Onyii said, confused.

“Well… I’m going to stay with Aunt Stella in the city!”

Onyii stared at her like she didn’t understand English. “What do you mean?”

Ivy sat beside her and told her everything.

“You mean my aunt is really taking you to the city?” Onyii repeated, still shocked.

“Yes! I’m so excited,” Ivy said, almost bouncing.

“I’m going to miss you,” Onyii pouted.

“I would have missed you even more,” Ivy teased, “since you were planning to leave me and go to boarding school anyway.”

“That’s true,” Onyii sighed softly. “I guess we’ll miss each other.”

“Do you want to go outside and make sand pudding?” Ivy asked suddenly, wanting their last days together to be special.

“Sure, let’s go!” Onyii jumped out of bed immediately.

The girls ran out of the house, laughing loudly, Ivy chasing her friend with playful shouts.

Little did Ivy know… this decision -this simple moment of joy-would change her entire life in a way nobody could have imagined. Not her. Not her family.