Fulfilling our promise.

Chapter two [the result]

Life is not as easy as we see it, Time too really flies without waiting for any one. Changes occur naturally without our consent.

Life for jiddoh, is really complicated and unpredictable. Jiddoh grew up as the only child under the care of a single parent, her mommy. She never heard about her father from her mother all these years. What surprises her is the amount of wealth her mommy had, including the golden jewelries, the flock of rams and goats, hectares of lands and so many other things. Their house in particular is large but lack modernization.

She knew her mother is a degree holder in agriculture but her mommy is not working in any government institution but rather she is an entrepreneur.

Now, that joddoh had finished writing her JSCE examination and is waiting for her result. She sometimes become very nervous whenever she thought about failing the examination. How is she going to face her mother if she fails? Will she have to wait for another year before she starts senior secondary school? Her mommy will sometimes understood her by mere looking at her face and told her not to worry about it.

Her lips curved into a smile as she was looking at their graduation pictures. She had only five of them. One of which she took with her best friend, the other with 'that girl from nursery' ikram.

The girl had loved jiddoh since from the day she gave her biscuit, she even cried the day jiddoh left the school but she stills visit jiddoh at home from time to time with her brother muhammad.

Muhammad, ikram's brother have now become the best of friends with jiddah. A very strong simple frienship which their parents are aware of.

The other one she took with her classmates then with all her teachers and the last one with her mommy.

Her nokia phone which she suffered alot before her mommy bought it for her, rang interrupting her thoughts and smiles.

"hello, Assalamu alaykum " she said.

"wa'alaykumus salam, hauwa its me, hafsa" her best friend beamed in a voice which sounds like she's jumping .

" how are you and everyone at home"? Jiddoh asked.

"fine... Our result is out and i aced it my uncle just checked it for me".

Suddenly disquietude invaded jiddoh. Before she discerned, she felt her hand soggy. She finally found her voice at the end of her throat and spoke

"wow congratulations bestie... Wishing you all the best i will go and check mine tomorrow morning since its past six now, its getting dark"

"thank you thank you" her friend yawped which indicated she's in a bouyant mood and hanged up the call.

The adhaan call for maghreb is what snapped jiddoh out of her reverie. She stood up and waked up her mommy who's taking a nap and then performed ablution and prayed.

"mommy our result is out and i can't wait till monday to go and checked it at school" she said while folding her prayer mat.

"really"? Her mommy asked her interested.

"yes hafsa told me, i will check mine in the cafè tomorrow morning "

"yeah since its getting late now, may we witness tomorrow and dont worry you are going to succeed ". Her mommy said patting her.

••••

"Mummy i will go and checked it now" jiddoh informed her mommy while jotting her examination number in a sheet of paper.

"Take care of yourself and come back early, all the best" her mummy prayed for her as she gave her five hundred naira note to check the result and print it out.

Jiddoh being the care free type, didn't put any makeup on her face neither did she wear anything glittery.

She went out walking calmly, ever since she woke up today she no longer feel nervous abou checking the result. She had now submit everything to God and she's ready to accept any fate that comes her way. She was walking but she's zoned out.

"are you deaf" she heard someone say and she suddenly regain herself and moved to the other side of the road to give the big truck a way to pass.

"Assalamu alaykum" peace be upon you she greeted at the entrance of the cafè.

"wa'alaykumus salam" the man answered her.

"erm i want to check my result please, JSCE"

"I'm sorry young lady, you see there is no electricity and our generator is faulty but if you don't mind you can leave your details if they bring light you should cone to see it"

"no thanks" she said as she made her way out of the place feeling light.

She strolled around gashash road but didn't find any cafè and decided to just go back home.

"aunty hauwa" she felt someone, a kid held her feet she looked down and saw ikram with a leather bag which no doubt is full of sweets and chocolates.

"aunty ikram how are you" she said pinching ikram's nose.

"I'm fine" jiddoh stretched her hand for her but ikram said

"aunty hauwa I'm now grown up look at me i will be turning 7 next month" ikram said twirling around.

"where are you ikram"? A deep masculine voice asked which belongs to a man coming out from well care.

"aunty look at brother muhammad please excort me to him if not he will beat me" ikram said with a puppy face.

"alright let's go "

"Good afternoon" jiddoh greeted him while looking at the floor.

"afternoon how are you"

"I'm fine... Bye ikram see you another time"

"come lets drop you " muhammad offered.

"no thanks mommy must be waiting for me and i need to go back now since i didn't do what am supposed to do"

"what's that"? Muhammad asked curiously.

"our JSCE examination was released and the cafè man told me that i should come back when they bring light" jiddoh found herself telling him because she's too eager to see her result.

"Aright then, if you are okay with it give me your details when i get home i will check it for you on my laptop, you can also give me your number so that i will forward it to you "

She handed him the paper and dictate her phone number to him without second thought afterall through out the years of their friendship they had never exchange numbers .

"thank you" she waved and walked as fast as she could. She didn't know why but these days she's shy of him.

"brother muhammad, i will tell mummy to bring aunty hauwa back to our house so that if you will beat me she will tell you sorry and you will not beat me"

Muhammad laughed and just decided to kept quiet.

Thats how ikram kept blabbering about jiddoh that she's kind, this and that.. Through out the ride making Muhammad replaying her innocent and beautiful face in his head.

••••

"Congratulations! The management of the school is happy to inform you that you have been given an admission into our senior secondary school " Jiddah read the message she received.

Jiddah was overwhelmed with happiness and was head over heals to start going to school. She couldn't resist her smile whenever she remembers she's going to be a senior now.

"mummy" she shouted like a child.

"what happened "? Her mother asked sieving the flour.

"i have been admitted into the school i wrote the exam last week".

"wow congratulations my daughter I'm proud of you ".

"thank you mummy....... Mummy where is my father? " jiddah asked for the umpteenth time.

"erm see your phone is ringing can't you hear now go and get it". Her mother dodge the question.

"hello brother Muhammad good evening ". Jiddah greeted muhd through the phone.

"am fine, how's mummy"

"she's fine"

"okay give her the phone"

"mummy brother Muhammad wants to speak with you"

After mummy had collected the phone and exchanged pleasantries with muhd ikram's brother, jiddah collected the phone and they bid farewell.

"why are you smiling like this" mummy asked jiddah with a very serious frowned face.

"erm mummy its erm am happy about going to a new school"

"okay that's good".

Jiddah was smiling because she had a phone call with muhd but didn't want her mummy to know. Her mummy, too, thought of that but because she trusted her daughter she believed there's nothing between jiddah and muhd and that's what she wants.