His pride- The African mate

Leaving home

Amanda P.O.V

I am chimamanda Uzo, the first daughter and also first child of my parents Mr Micheal and Mrs Agnes Uzo. I have four other siblings which is normal in most Nigerian families.

In some othert Nigerian families, you see parents with six, seven or more children. it is believed that children are blessings from God.

My family can pass as middle class family because, although we are not extremely rich, we never lack any basic amenity. We live in a comfortable three bedroom flat. our parents are traders but they were mostly strict. It is so bad that they don't even allow us mingle with other children in our compound.

My parents scare away our class mates that tried to befriend us with the reasoning that they will influence us negatively.

All our basic daily activities were usually done within the flat. we are not permitted to go down stairs and play with other children in our compound. The compound is a three story building with eight flat apartments. Everyday, after school, we come back to do our homework and chores before settling on the balcony or windows to watch and envy children from other flats playing together.

Right from basic school to secondary School, it has always been from school, Church or erands to the house. my parents believe that peer influence will make us turn bad. That explained why I am a timid person.

It took everything I have, to convince my mom to allow me to travel all the way from our house in Onitsha to Oko which was the town in which my school was located. That morning my mom was still not sure if it was the right decision to let me go alone.

mom, I'm almost 17 for God's sake, my mates are doing this for themselves. the first day we went to the school together, I was the only person that came with a parent and other students were looking at me as though I was still a kid.

You are a kid. My mom responded, with a frown. don't think because you are now in higher institution that you are all grown up, No, most of those people whom you saw that day have been over exposed to the evil of this society, and I wouldn't want to see you associate with them, understand? she warned pulling her ears for emphasis

yes Mom, I replied softly. But please let me do this, I am just going to submit these forms and get my matric number. please mom, I made my best puppy dog eyes

mom couldn't help herself. I knew she wouldn't resist my puppy dog eyes. That has always been my trick to get her do things my way.

Have some breakfast with us. we are all going to take you to the park before we drive your siblings at school my mom ordered as she put some toast in my plate and poured tea in my tea mug. others were already eating as I took time getting ready and rechecking the contents of my file.

My father own a Sienna car that has served it's purpose for long. we are not complaining. not all families in our neighborhood own a car, so we are among the lucky car owners in the neighborhood.

We all ate in almost silence except for my dad, who will comment from time to time, adding to the numerous advice they had been giving me since the day I received my admission letter.

The higher institution is a world of its own. beware of wolves in sheep clothes, be wise like dove, face your studies; he continued as he chew on his toast.

My parents took me to the Ekwulobia mass transit park at upper iweka, onitsha. All my siblings were there to say goodbye even though I was expected back home by evening after my registration process. My siblings are all in different levels in college but just like with me, dad and mom preferred to take them to school and bring them home daily.

The bus left the park at exactly 7:30am. it was an hour drive from onitsha to Oko.

Everyone of my family members waved as the bus slowly made it out of the park.

looking at my parent's face, you will think that I was traveling out of the continent and not just to another town in same state. I wave back excitedly, it was the first opportunity to do things on my own.

yes, I am excited. I love my parents but their over protectiveness was begining to get on my nerves. Even in secondary School, I had always wished to attend boarding school in order to experience life away from home but my parents denied me that. they insisted I go to a day school and my mom made sure to take us to and from school everyday.

Most times when we pass by other children walking home and discussing along the road, my siblings and I are secretly jealous of their freedom.

However, I was lucky to be on my own for the first time today and I couldn't contain my excitement, not till I got to the school gate, that is when I realized that I don't even know how to start a conversation with strangers

Don't get me wrong. I am a straight "A" student but socially, I am lost.

The first person I to asked for directions, ignored me completely, the only action that proves that she heard me was, when she rolled her eyes and walked away. I was so confused. what did I do wrong. I had only walked up to her and said 'good morning with intention to Start a conversation?

The second girl replied my greetings but walked away after looking at me like I was wearing the back of my dress.

The guys who passed by will either coo or ca