Fulfilling our promise.

-INTRODUCTION- It was a summer monday, the sun had risen and was shinning with a bright face. The big tree standing in the centre of the house was shedding it's dried leaves on the bare floor which moved side to side by the influence of the hot morning air. The birds up in the tree, were chirping and singing melodiously. The rams and goats inside their cages were baaa-ing and meeeh-ing. While the c**k crowed— all indicating that it was a morning. Jiddo, the thirteen year old girl adjusted her body on the mattress and moved her head to the other side. "wake up and pray" a middle aged woman who was her mother patted her by her shoulder. Jiddo 'mmhm-ed' and put back her head on the pillow when she made sure that her mother had went out of the room. " i will beat the hell out of you, if you don't get up now" her mother said this time around, beating jiddo with the hand-fan near her. Jiddo stoop up reluctantly but abruptly and found her way out of the room without saying anything but rather scratching her eyes. She first of all performed ablution and prayed since that's the major priority. She then went over to where the goats and rams were, she untied the rope that was attached to their legs and set them free. She then, took the broom that was carelessly thrown on the sand filled floor and started to sweep the animal dungs in the cage or rather small room. She checked the time on their wall clock which was gifted to them during the naming ceremony they attended in their neighborhood. The time says 6:45am she smiled to herself because she still have some time left. she, at first thought its already late because of the way the bright sun is smiling at her. She quickly swept the dried leaves that had fallen from the tree and then brought two sticks of firewood to set the fire that she would use to boil hot water for her mother who doesn't like bathing with cold water even if the weather is hot. She filled the pot with water and then add some leathers and plastics to the firewood and lit it up. Placing the pot on the three triangular stones, she quickly went to the bathroom and took her bath. "good morning mommy " she said as she was rubbing Vaseline on her body. "How are you my dear?" the cheerful woman answered her daughter. "I'm fine mommy, i think your water have finished boiling by now" she said putting her half torned socks. "Thank you my daughter, may God continue to bless you" her mother who was so proud of her daughter said. "Ameen" jiddoh answered removing her na gode baba( thank you father bag: a type of bag made of nylon)bag from the nail on the wall at the corner of their small parlor. "mummy I'm going" she said. "take this, don't play, focus on your studies you heard me? " her mother untied her wrapper a bit and brought out a fifty naira note and gave it to jiddoh. "thank you mommy and i will do as you say" Jiddoh who can't resist her smile said stomping out....... ••• "why are you crying? " jiddoh questioned a nursery one girl she saw sitting alone while it was break and all the children of her age were playing within the school premises. " iitss one of my friends that ate my food" the girl stuttered crying. " stop crying cutie, take this.. And next time don't allow them to eat your food" jiddoh said giving the girl the fantasia biscuit and choco milo she bought from the school canteen. The little girl beamed and thanked jiddoh very much "What's your name aunty"? The little girl asked taking a bite of the biscuit. Jiddoh smiled and said "my name is Hauwa jiddah and you?" Iklam (ikram). Nice name jiddoh said pecking ikram's cheek. "Aunty auwa (hauwa) if my brother comes to pick me, we will go to well care and he will buy alot of chocolate for me and i will say he should buy for you too" before jiddoh could answer her she continued "you know my brother, Muhammad has alot of money " ikram explained expanding her two hands to a wide space. Jiddoh smiled and assumed the girl is a talkative and if she continue listening to her the girl would not stop talking. "Go and play" jiddoh said to ikram at the same time standing up to go back to her class. Jiddoh looked at the remaining ten naira left with her, she reversed, and marched back to the canteen to buy a satchet of water for her self atleast to reduce the hunger. ••• "Good morning sir" the jss3 students stood on their feet and greeted the principal who interrupted their civic education class. "Morning class " he answered looking at each and every one of them as if he's counting them. "well, i don't know if i did a mistake of counting but how many of you are in this class" he said adjusting his eye spectacles. "we are 26 sir" they chorused. "but my record is telling me that its only 18 of you that paid for the JSSCE placement examination" Jiddoh felt her hands sweaty and all of a sudden she felt like she's having a runny stomach. She felt tears forming in her eyes. Simply because she's among those that didn't pay. "the rest of you should try to pay before next week" he said and trudged out of the classroom. ••• "Aunty hauwa aunty hauwa" she heard a child voice screaming her name while she was about to cross the road. "Ikram, bye" she smiled and waved at the girl that was peeping through her brother's car window .........•• "jiddoh what's wrong with you? " her mother asked concerned. Jiddoh knew it that they are managing but they are not very poor. She knows how much struggle her mommy always went through to provide for the family. "mommy its about our upcoming examination fees" she answered not because she wants to. "then why are you worried? Stand up, go inside my room beneath the mattress you will see two set of earrings bring them for me" She went inside hastily and brought it for her mother. "okay now let's go, we are going to the market to sell off these golds" Jiddoh without thinking twice grabbed her hijab but as if something hit her, she began to think.. Where did her mum got the golden earrings ? and it looks like there are others in the room. Where and how? She kept wondering but decided to ask. "mommy where did you get these earrings ?" she asked fidgeting her fingers. " let's go and stop being a talkative " her mommy dodge the question. This is not the first time her mommy is ignoring her questions she was already used to it but one thing she understood was her mommy was hiding something.