The Road That Leads To You

CHAPTER FIVE

The rays of the early morning sun shone brightly in the morning sky. I stood up from my bed with a yawn and a light stretch and started preparing for school. I went downstairs to join Miriam and after we had eaten breakfast, we left for school on the school bus. At school, we chatted with some of our classmates in the hallway and a few minutes later, the bell rang signifying the beginning of the first class of the day.

The first class was economics, the second was english language and the third, animal husbandry. It was break time and I left Miriam in class and headed for the school field. I wanted to stroll, think and just enjoy the cool breeze. The weather was just right; calm, breezy and bright. The sun too, was merciful. I jogged a bit and sat down in the track to catch my breath, I was filled with regret because I left my water bottle in my school bag. I was really thirsty. I noticed a tall figure running towards me, I couldn't see who it was because the figure was far. When it got closer, I realized that it was Jaden.

“What a lovely morning.” He said sitting down beside me.

“It's lovely indeed. Did you follow me?”

“No I did not, this is just a coincidence.”

“Yeah right.” I said eyeballing him. He laughed and handed me cold bottles of water and Sprite.

“I don't know what prompted me to bring two more of these with me, but I'm glad I did.”

“Thank you so much, I'm so thirsty.” I said gulping down the entire bottle of water.

“Easy, so that you don't choke. I can give you mine if you aren't satisfied.”

“I am satisfied, thank you. I think we should go back, I'm hungry.”

“Yes, your Majesty.” He said, bowing, I laughed heartily.

He beamed with satisfaction. We talked all through on our way to the cafeteria. And during our conversations, I found out that he is the first born and he has two siblings; a girl and a boy, his parents are divorced and he lives with his father while his siblings lives with his mother. He loves to draw, he's a great swimmer, he didn't want to be a science student but was forced to by his father and he intends to pursue his passion in the nearest future. I told him that I always wanted to be a jourbalist but my mother said that they were always broke and that in life, one had to choose the best for themselves.

“I understand your mother's point of view,” he said gently, “but she is wrong. If you eventually become what she wants you to be, it'll be for her and not for you. Also, there is a high probability that you'll be miserable your whole life. I suggest that you follow your heart, Daisy.”

I thought about what he said for a while and I asked, “So what do you think I should do?”

“What I plan to do.”

“And what is that?” I asked with great interest.

“I'll write my WASSCE quite alright but register again next year, and this time, it won't be science subjects, it'll be art subjects.”

“That's a great idea, Jaden.”

The WASSCE, ( West African Senior School Certificate Examination) is an annual exam written by senior students who are in their final year in senior secondary school. It is a big deal and it determined if the student would repeat that term and resit the exam or go into the University. It wasn't the only determining factor, but it was the first bridge that every student had to cross.

In the cafeteria, I ordered Akara (beans cake) and custard while Jaden ordered Jollof rice and peppered fish. I called Miriam to know where she was, and she stood up and waved. Jaden and I walked to the table she chose and joined her.

“I kept a sit for one person. Lucky you, no one decided to sit in the other chair.” Miriam said

“Good morning, Miriam. It's lovely to see you too.”

I smiled. I knew that she would end up liking him and that they'll become friends too. After break time, we went back to class. Mr Frank, whom we call Pepper Red (because of the red shoes he loved to wear almost every day, regardless of whether they fit his outfit or not) marched into the class and we greeted him. He was our chemistry teacher. He started the class with a story. It was about how he focused hard when he was in the University, he didn't have friends, a girlfriend or did anything that would make him socialize with other people, as they were all distractions. All he had were his books and the zeal to succeed academically. He urged us to emulate him if we wanted to graduate with flying colours. I didn't agree with him. Yes, focusing and being intentional about your studies is very important, but I know that one cannot do it alone. One tree cannot make a forest, therefore you will need friends. I believe that the social part of school should not be skipped, one must experience it wisely so that they can be complete. I also believe in pursing new careers, meeting like-minded individuals, volunteering and taking internships, paid or not. This will help you gather experiences that would give you an upper hand when you leave the four corners of the university. After teaching for forty-five minutes, he ended the class with an assignment that we were to submit in three days time. He left the class, and in walked Mrs Roseline, the further maths teacher. Miriam and I weren't offering that subject so we and other students like us, left the class for the library. Miriam used the free time to write in her diary and I used it to read an encyclopedia. We were too engrossed in what we were doing that we didn't hear the bell.

“Hello? Don't you have homes to go to?” the librarian said. Miriam and I looked up and realized that everyone had left the library, we were the only students there. We left the library and Miriam hugged and kissed me goodbye while I waited for uncle Ezekiel to pick me up.

“Why are you sitting here? You want to walk home today?” Jaden asked as he approached me.

“I'm not walking home, I'm waiting for my uncle to pick me up. Why aren't you going home?”

“I want to sit here and wait with you.”

“You're waiting for your driver?”

“No, he's waiting for me,” he said, “he's parked outside the school. I told him to hold on a bit.”

“What if my uncle takes forever to show up?”

“We'll wait.”

I wasn't surprised. He's father was a lawmaker, a wealthy one at that.

Ten minutes later my uncle called me on the phone.

“He's outside waiting, I should go now.”

“Me too.” He said standing up

He opened the car door for me, greeted my uncle and asked me, “Have you forgiven me, Daisy?”

My throat and mouth dried up, my heart danced uncontrollably and goosebumps appeared on my skin. He wasn't supposed to ask me that question in front of my uncle! I was panicking.

“Yes, I have.” I managed to say.

“Thank you.” He smiled and walked to his car.

On our way home, uncle Ezekiel cleared his throat and asked me, “So, who's the gentleman?”

“No one.”

“Really? Well, it seems that “no one” cares about you. He's a decent kid.”

“How do you know that?”

“Just by looking at him. He has his troubles, but he's a decent boy.”

“Why are you telling me this, uncle?”

“Because I want you to know that I approve of him.”

“What?” I asked, almost shouting.

“As a friend, Tura. The government says you're an adult but you're still too young to make that kind of decision. Just be good friends and enjoy the time you have now with each other. Who knows what the future holds?”

I nodded in agreement. Would I be able to do that? It's going to be hard. We drove into our house and my uncle parked the car in military style. It's a term used to describe parking a car facing the direction you came in, so that you can go out easily. The sweet aroma of fried plantains and egg sauce greeted me as I stepped inside the house. My mum was humming to herself and making sweet magic in her pots.

“Mum!” I jumped on her

“My dear,” she said giggling, “you are heavy but I can still carry you. You're still my baby.”

“I missed you mum. How are you doing?”

“I'm better now that you're here with me.” She kissed me on my forehead and asked me to freshen up. I did as I was told and I joined her and uncle Ezekiel on the dining. He blessed the food and we began to eat.

“Things are going to change for the better, Tura.”

“What do you mean mum?”

“I didn't tell you about it, but I applied for a grant five months ago. While I was in your uncle's house, I received an email, the grant had been approved and the following day, it was disbursed into my account. It's big money.”

“Are you serious mum? Oh my goodness.”

“I will resign from my job at the pharmacy and focus on my salon. We won't lack anything anymore.”

I was so happy, that means I don't have to work two jobs anymore. I would just pick one and leave the other.

“I wanted to tell you on our way home but I controlled myself.” Uncle Ezekiel said, smiling.

We escorted uncle Ezekiel to his car and bade him farewell. When we cane back inside, mum told me that she has decided to divorce my father. She had already called her lawyer and they are going to send him the divorce papers in two days time.

“When did you do all of this, mum?”

“In your uncle's house. I had a discussion with myself, I want to live for you, for the people I love and most importantly for me. I got tired of everything, I can't save what has already been destroyed years ago. I let it go.”

“I'm happy for you mum,” I said, holding her hands, “what about grandma? I know that Daddy is nothing to write home about but I love grandma, we haven't visited her for a while now.”

“Your father's elder sister has taken her. She took her to her house. I sent them some money for her surgery.”

“What about her caretaker?”

“Your aunt paid her off.”

“So it's just you and me and uncle now?”

“Yes. But you can always see your grandma whenever you want to.”

“I love you mum.”

“I love you too, my darling.”