I stay for a reason

Waking up into the bright new day I see myself on my bed still feeling tired to wake up, recently life has really been extreme not knowing what to do or how to behave. From my room I smell my mothers cooking shocked she didn't disturb me this morning to join her as the Ada of the house. I immediately rush out from the bed and headed to the kitchen to know what and what I could do before she tell me how I'm not responsible and how my husband will chase me away from the house.

`Ada' my mum said why are you waking up by this time, I've always told you to be up early or you thought I'll come disturb you this morning? I really don't have your time anymore I'll just focus on my other children, mummy no na I said don't do like that I'm sorry I won't repeat it again I was just tired cause I was studying all night you know I have an exam coming up. I had an exam really but I was not reading for it I was talking to my friend on the phone all night . Yes it's true I know but it doesn't matter try to wake up early and I know you weren't reading I heard your voice through the night who where you talking to, I was talking to my friend about the exam we are having and she was explaining what I needed to read. Ok my mother said and told me to go call my dad and siblings to come eat. My mum prepared Egg sauce and Fried yam my favorite. My dad has been sick for a while he was diagnosed of diabetes so he ate a different food cause he was banned from eat any other food and put on a special diet plan, my dad was a lowly paid civil servant who suffered in affliction like diabetes was the very height of ambitious unfortunate. The expenses on his drugs and insulin e was enough for the upkeep of 3 grown "ass" children. The little income mum made from her food business was what was keeping us stable plus the little pension given to my dad where what we were surging and living on.

My mum reappeared at the table, with another tray which had my father's breakfast. The front of her dress was a little dirty from the mess in the kitchen.

My father stood from his armchair and struggled to the dining table to have his breakfast. My siblings later joined us. Brenda sat close to me and Jerry and Austin sat close to dad to have breakfast they kept sucking on their egg sauce making funny noises.

My mother voice called on Stella. There was no reply what do ever.

Stella!, Stella! My mum shouted "yes Ma" a voice from outside answered. Stella entered wearing a long sleeve white shirt with purple shorts.

How come it took you so long to give me a response? My mother asked. "Ma I'm so sorry I was clearing the bush you asked me to clear yesterday I was just completing it when I heard your shout" my mum rolled her eyes at her end but she knew the girl wasn't telling a lie the bush has been growing for a while my mum even told me to do it but later to Stella to.

"Stella go to the kitchen your food is in there, eat your food so you can rest for a bit and clear the kitchen". I won't say my mum is spoiling me or something but I'm done with school I'm just writing GCE cause I've already gotten into school so I hardly do anything cause of that it's either Stella or Brenda doing stuff In the house.

"Have you gotten the University documents for you Post Utme yet"? My father continued " you don't have to wait till last minute my dear daughter your education is more important to me ok"

You need to write the exam GCE is important but your exam into the university is also very important. Of course I've gotten the form my friend helped me to buy and fill the form, I didn't tell my dad so he could give me the money for it. I then said "daddy I do not have the money to get the form yet" immediately my dad stretched to his pocket and got his wallet and gave me the cash.

My dad love everything about school he doesn't use school stuff to play at all in fact he went to school a lot.

"And I hope you've been studying," my dad added "because it will not be well with any child of mine who will destroy my household and decide on not going to school and getting proper education it will be a taboo,"

To my parents especially my dad education was the top notch.

Once in secondary school, I wanted to go into games like table tennis and basketball. My friend came to my house talking about it me. When my mum heard it she looked at me like I got pregnant out of wedlock. Then she used a long Cain and flogged me for not concentrating in my studies and playing instead of reading on my buttocks. My dad came into my room later that day and started talking to me." Ada, do you want to be something for yourself in this life?" He asked.

I starred into his eye "do you want people to respect you in this society as a female?" I wanted that I wanted to be a big girl who is a chemical Engineer in the future.

"Do you want to end up selling pepper and tomatoes in okigwe market?"

I shake my head in disagreement

My body started shaking with the thought of joking sellers who sent food stuff from different places to the local market. Most them them looked so tartare and wretched.

"Do you"

No, I really didn't want that honestly I had big dreams.

"Then you must not waste or spend time playing when you need to read and study, focus on your books m. A good education is all you need to make it in the future and survive in this world, do you understand my baby girl?"

I understood and I knew what I had to do to be better. He also said that if I don't want to be in the kitchen cooking like a maid to any man and make my own money, that I shouldn't be a liability to any man, I should work for my money and help. "Even the Bible said wisdom is better than gold". Not only did I pay attention to my father I believed him completely. I was total taken and brainwashed, I instantly focused on my books. I just watched my mates play basketball and table tennis but never got involved with it ever again. I simply believed they didn't believe life as much as I did. The more my score became one of the best is the more I disassociated with my Best friend miracle who still didn't know the difference between I'm and am at her grown age, and our neighbors daughter who was finding it difficult to learn surd. I continued to be the best in my class till I got to SS3 and had a boyfriend that's what actually pushed my score a little backwards cause I didn't concentrate in my books again. I was more focused on my man that I failed my WAEC(west African Examination Council). I was greatly punished at home I was flogged and beaten by my mum, my dad didn't because he isn't feeling fine at all. Failing waec really broke me into pieces, I didn't completely fail I just failed Further Mathematics and failing it I'll have to write again that's why I applied for GCE examination.