Just a bite

.

.

The tick-tock sound of dripping water coming through the windows caught my attention. I slowly opened my eyes to the rays of sunlight piercing through the window. The weather is still chilly as it just finished raining. I sighed and stretch my hand, reaching the mini drawer beside my bed. Its a Sunday morning. Time to complete this story, i said to my self as i opened the rainbow coloured dairy in my hands.

My name is Ahmad, a successful young man in my early 30s and this is my story........

Growing up in the Northern part of Nigeria where religion, culture and tradition are predominantly the order of living is a stressful life for a boy with complicated feelings like me. I live in a small town where farming and fishing activities are reigning due to the good soil of the town and the abundant river that passed through the town. Many people from different part of the country come to my village for trading and other business activities. Every household in my town are either farmers or fishers. Young boys like me only end up in the farm and young girls are married to rich men while others are sent to the city as house helps. Only a few whose families still have the idea of education are allowed to go to school. Even though i disturb my family about enrolling me in the public school in my town, my father and older siblings will scold me and call me lazy. I don't know what you gave birth to, my father said referring to my mother, boys of Ahmad's age are always seen in the farm or market,but he literally spends all of his day either at home or in that useless school you claimed you enrolled him. Calm down daddy, my mother replied, Ahmad will soon be writing his final exams and i will send him to the city, so you won't have to bother seeing him, she said. Send him to which city? My father shouted, as if the years he wasted going to that school is not enough, now you want to send him out, with whose money, he shouted again. Oh please Mr, i want my son to be educated, least you forgot, i am also a farmer and i have enough money to sponsor my child, you already have his siblings following your tracks and dancing to your tunes, let me also have Ahmad do as i wish, at least i would know that i benefit from this marriage, she said as she drop the tray of grains on her laps. My father threw away the cutlass on his hand in anger, I don't care what you want to do, but i am getting Ahmad married next year, he is already 20, i see no reason he would still be under my root extorting my hard earned money, he said and walk out of the house furiously. My mom hissed and enter her room. Oh my God, i sighed as i drop the book i was reading, this early morning fights has become a daily routine in my house. I wonder why my father is so cultured and obsessed with marriage. As if he would be the one to be married, why would he force me to do what i don't want to, i hissed as i closed the book and head out of the house.

Ahmad! Ahmad!!, I heard my friend calling my name as i was walking my road to the river. Mr Lukman has been expecting you at school yesterday but you were Absent, what happened, Mike asked as he tapped my shoulder, he was panting seriously. Oh Mike, you know my father and tradition, he forced me to attend a function at his church yesterday, he wants to get me delivered from what ever he thought was disturbing me, i said and we both bursted into laugh. Seriously Ahmad you need to give you father a break, Mike said as we continued walking to the river. Get out Mike, its easy for you, your family understands that you want to study and they allow you even though you are a dumb lazy kid, i know you are just using school to escape farm works, i said hitting his head. But look at me, i am putting all efforts into this but my father won't consider it, i added. Stop the bitter face Ahmad, it makes you look ugly and those girls will stop looking at us, Mike said paying attention to the girls walking towards us. When will you admit that you only follow me around just to talk to girls, i asked hitting his head. Will you stop hitting me already, Mike said. Well, i wish i was the one that's this handsome with brain, he added laughing. Unfortunately, you are ugly and dumb, i said and we all laughed. Hey Ahmad, the girls greeted as they were passing.