The beginning

The beginning

While growing up, I was always taught on the necessities of life, it's strategies, it's tactics and a lot more. Life seems to always have various ways to make us hate it, curse and feel frustrated. So many people have given up the ghost because,they couldn't keep up with the turn of events.

" what a shame !". It's isn't as simple as they thought it would be.

But my life feels so different from others. I was raised to love and cherish it, to make it work

even though it feels impossible. I was also told that " if you hate life, life will also hate you " . We can say it is a reciprocal action . Only those who have been taught how to hold life by the horn can actually conquer it.

I was a young boy from Nigeria, brought up and raised in Imo state . My life as an Igbo boy wasn't as easy I thought it would be. I was always abused and humiliated not only because I was dull and a " crackhead " as my folks do call me but because I was also without a father . Since I could remember, I have always been the talk of the town . The trash talkers in my town never cease the opportunity to mention my name in their early morning gossip, I was always tired of people gazing at me with pity and disgust . Sometimes it feels like I could read their thoughts, the way they stare at me like I am some of creature. It always makes me feel uncomfortable . People whispered behind my back, their voice laced with disdain.

As a child ,I didn't understand why I was treated differently. Why my peers would exclude me from their games , or why the adults would look at me with a mixture of pity and suspicious .

But it wasn't my fault, I didn't wish to be fatherless

or was I the cause of my father's death. In our community being fatherless was like carrying a scarlet letter .

I remember the day I realized that being fatherless wasn't just a label - it was a burden . I was playing with a friend a mine at the veranda of his house . It is a well known traditional game played among little children ( Ekpe ) . It was played with a small ball made from wrapped leaves or stone .

It was sunny and bright that morning, the sun looked somewhat peaceful, I was getting suspicious of it .The clouds was bright and cool,the birds were singing beautifully .

My friend and I were engrossed in the game that we didn't hear Nkem's mom calling him . Nkem's

mother stormed out of the house, her face twisted in anger.

" Nkem! Nkem! " she had been calling , but her son was too caught up in the game to respond . Now, she stood before us, her eyes blazing with accusations .

I felt a shiver run down my spine as she turned her attention to me .

" I bu nwa ama , I bu nwa anyi di ndu ! " [ you are a cursed child , the child of the devil ] Her voice had cut deep , making me feel like I was under attack .

" You are the one responsible for distracting my son , " she spat , her voice venomous . " You are always taking him from his chores and his studies . You are a bad influence. "

I felt a sting of humiliation and embarrassment as Nkem mother continued to berate me. I look at Nkem hoping for some support , but he just stood there looking sheepish.

" You are wizard , " she hissesd . " You area trying to cast a spell on my son ,to take him away from me . But it won't work . I won't let you have him ."

I felt a surge of anger and hurt at her words . How could she say such things about me ? Didn't she know that I was trying to ba e good friend to Nkem.

Before I could respond , she dropped a bombshell " And what's worse, is that you are fatherless and your mother is probably a witch, just like you ."

" ... Gaa na is ofe ! " [ Go and report to your master ! ] she said her voice dripping with malice .

As I walked away , I remembered the look on Nkem's face . He had not being able to meet my eyes, and I felt like he had abandoned me in time of my need .