KIMORA

It was a cool Monday morning in the eastern part of Nigeria. The sun was still hiding in the sky. Many were still snoring on their beds as the crow of the neighborhood's cock woke Kimora up from a night full of dreams. In the first dream, Kimora saw herself riding a pony. The pony was decorated with gold trimmings around the neck and on its hoof. Kimora was smiling as she rode through the beautiful streets of the city. Thousands of people were on the streets cheering and waving excitedly at her. Some of those people were young, while some were old. Both boys and girls were also present.

All of them seem to know Kimora but she could not recognize any of them.

In the second dream, kimora was again the center of attraction. This time she was being crowned as the princess of the land. She wore a long pretty white dress. The dress looked like a ballroom gown, worn by women of royal heritage. Her neck was decorated with a fine diamond necklace, and on her ears, she had matching diamond earrings. Her left hand had a delicate gold ring, and on her wrist were fine bracelets, also made of fine gold. Kimora's hair was bonded backwards, and it cascaded on her neck as a long ponytail. She looked absolutely elegant, stately and composed. She also appeared to be very confident and happy. The whole world seems to be celebrating her. And she woke up. It was just a dream: a beautiful dream, which she wished could last forever.

Kimora yawned and rose to her feet. She suddenly became self-conscious as she examined her tattered clothes very closely. It was a complete contrast to what she wore in the dream. She felt her hair. It was woven, but very rough and untidy. She caught a glimpse of herself in the broken mirror on the wall. She looked unkempt, hungry, skinny and miserable. The dream was over, and now she was back to reality.

Kimora sighed and knelt on the tattered mat, which served as her bed. She said a short prayer and when she finished, she folded the mat and pushed in under the six-spring bed on which her mother lay. Her mother was still fast asleep. She was also snoring quite loudly, and as if on impulse, she turned to lie on her side. Her snoring reduced, and Kimora watched her for a few seconds wondering if her mother was dreaming, and whether her dream was as beautiful as hers.

Without further delay, she set out for her daily chores. First, she swept the front of their small compound. There were leaves on the ground, which fell from the surrounding trees, and she had to ensure that they were all swept aside. After sweeping, she went to feed her mother's two goats with some of the leaves. She also put some water in the old tin for the goat to drink.

Thereafter, she left for the stream near their house to fetch some water. She also took her bath at the stream before returning home. By the time she got back, her mother was already awake and cleaning her mouth with a chewing stick.

"Good morning ma, Mama, " Kimora greeted cheerfully, putting down the bucket of water which she had carried on her head from the stream.

Her mother responded happily and asked her if she had eaten some food.

"Not yet, Mama. I wanted to cook cocoyam for breakfast, but there is no palm oil with which we shall eat it," said kimora.

Mama pondered for a while and told kimora to pour some water into the empty oil container, she was sure they would find a little oil, which kimora could use to cook some porridge. Kimora did as mama instructed, although there were just a few drops of oil in the container, she used it that way to Prepare the meal. She also added some edible green leaves which she had plucked from the riverside, plus a little salt to taste. When the food was cooked, she dished some into a bowl for her mother, while she ate hers from the pot.

Mama took her bath, ate her food, and sat on a wooden stool outside. She called kimora to join her.

Kimora sat on the bare floor beside her mother, and put her hand under her chin, ready for the day's instructions.

It was the usual routine for mother and child to plan their day before setting off for various assignments. Today was a little different. Because kimora have just completed her secondary school education in the local Public school across the district. Now that she was free from school commitment, her mother has to engage her in some other activities in addition to what she was used to doing while still in school.

Kimora my daughter, "Mama began, "now that you are done with your secondary School education, I want you to find a job so that you can make some money to take care of me and to help yourself. As you can see I am advancing in age. My firewood business is no longer profitable as it used to be and all my goats are gone except for those two in the backyard. If I see those goats, we will be left with nothing again in this world. So you have to get a job my daughter, you are a big girl now. How old are you now? "

"Sixteen years old, Mama,"Kimora responded.

"You are also ripe for marriage. If I see a good suitor to marry you now, I will be very happy".

Kimora shifted uncomfortably on the floor where she sat.

"Do you know Mr. Adekunle, the palm wine tapper?" Mama asked, her face livening up.

"Yes, mama, I know, I know him. His daughter was in the same class as me.

"That is the man I am talking about. Did you know the man has a big farm where he grows Rice, cassava, maize and other important food crops? He also has a big poultry farm, and his chickens lay very healthy and big eggs.

Is that so, mama?" Kimora asked.

Yes, my daughter. Mr. Adekunle is a very nice and generous man. I think he will make a good husband for you. He will feed you and provide everything you need. You can as well extend the generosity to me, your poor mother.

Kimora frowned. She wanted to speak, but she could not find her voice. Her mother took her silence for consent, and went on with the conversation.

So as I was saying, Mr. Adekunle will make a perfect husband for you, his business is going well, he is among the richest men in our district. He is just the kind of husband I want for you, my daughter, mama concluded.

"Mama, please, I don't want to marry. I don't want to marry a palm wine tapper. I don't want to marry an old man. I don't want to marry chief Adekunle,"Kimora said firmly, rising to her feet. "Yes mama. I am ready to work and support you, but I don't want to marry anybody now.

" Hew!" Mama exclaimed. "So you want us to die of starvation? Can't you see that we need a man to take care of us? And that man is chief Adekunle.

"No. No, Mama! I can't marry him, I will never marry him,"Kimora said, bursting into tears.

Kimora's mother decided to cheer her up. She patted kimora playfully on the back and told her to smile because things would turn the right way. Kimora relaxed a little, but she looked quite worried. Her mother then instructed her to take firewood to the market to sell. Kimora knew the importance of her mother's firewood business because it was their only source of livelihood; off to the market, carrying a heap of firewood on her head, and holding a few sticks in her hands

As soon as Kimora was out of the vicinity, her mother got herself ready to embark on a very important mission. Kimora's mother believed that she had to act very fast in order to secure the future of her daughter with someone she thought held the key to their fortune.