Echoes of my youth

Chapter one

My life had a drastic turnaround, The once loving child became the center of hate among peers and including my mother.

When I woke up the next day, I felt energized and full of life, like nothing ever happened. I went to school, Did my classwork, played football, which is my favorite sport and went home.

This continued day in day out and I never saw that child again. Just as I thought, because on the eve of my entering secondary school, it reflected itself on our television, like we were all watching this movie and I was the only one seeing this child.

"Daddy see that boy " I said running to my dad for help pointing at the television.

"Who my son"

"Daddy that boy in my dream"

I was running mad

Stay here with me my son, maybe you are sick or is the movie scary

"No daddy" I replied trembling

"Then relax son" my dad answered

"Don't mind him, he's always acting like a weakling " my mum said instantly," He thinks we will pet him forever, look at your junior brother, see how composed he is"

I sighed and continued watching the movie, hoping the boy won't show up again. and he didn't. That encounter made me to be scared of the dark.

As I Grew Up, the fear of the dark wasn't ordinary, because as an adult, I still got scared of the dark. Trying to sleep in the dark was a problem.my mom had this sudden hate for me all, she would always side my junior brother despite my innocence she would beat me mercilessly for doing nothing. I was still scared that that little boy might show up this time to kill me.

It was the fear of the little boy that made me to start reading the Bible I found closure every time I saw him or had a nightmare of him.

Reading the Bible was the only way I could communicate with God since despite all my prayers going to the chapel asking him to stand in or to help me was in Vain.

I thought it was the only way. It wasn't only reading the Bible I became a mass server in our church, washing the paten, chalice, cups used for communion. Also washing the priest garment, in a way to get closer to GOD.

This acts gave me that zeal to wanting to serve GOD as a priest.My mom on the other hand will beat me anytime I say I was going to church sometimes she would come up with one excuse, it's either to go and wash the plate or to go and wash my school uniform or for siesta.

Any slight provocation, she will call me a bastard, she always belittle me in front of people,The only excuse that she will give my dad whenever she beat me mercilessly was that I was acting so stubborn.

Whenever I leave the house, especially to go to school, I always had this freedom to do whatever thing I wanted.yes actually I was stubborn, I always looked for a way to skip class especially during the fee drive.

My dad wasn't that financially buoyant, my mom as a housewife will always assist him in some little ways she could as a traditional housewife. we couldn't even eat three square meal. my mom at times will travel out of the state to go and sell wrappers that was given to her during her wedding. it was so hard that at times we do eat indomie during break time in school for six months, and it was bought on credit.

Due to my skinny size, I was always bullied by my friends and my classmates. At times when I try to act brave I will be beaten so badly that I would lose one of my tooth. My dad was my mum's most favorite person, because he was her first love and as such he was the only man she knew all her Life.

There were times my dad will leave us for two months to travel on a business trip leaving us without any means of communication nor any money to eat. my mother at that time will have to sell her wrappers to feed us. When the landlord came for his rent or quick notice she will immediately look for a way to borrow money from our neighbors or use the money from the wrapper that was sold to pay.

She was always the dutiful wife as always, and when my Dad returned from his travels, she will shower him with so much love that everything that had happened in the past was overlooked. Her only source of happiness was seeing that her man was back without any sign of discomfort or injury. My dad also loved her so much, he made it possible to spoil her at any given opportunity, they would always play music especially on Sundays and allowed us their children watch them dance.

It wasn't only my mum who loved my father, I saw him as my hero. He knew that all financial and family burdens were on him and he needed to be the man in the house.

On my own part, I always beg for biscuits or ice cream from the well to do family in my school, or even steal to eat, Yes I did that. And when caught I was either made to cut a whole soccer field with a blunt Cutlass or stripped shirtless and flogged in front of my classmates

Nothing much was known about my primary school days, but what I could remember was that I was a good learner and came out top of my class.

The headmistress was always fond of me, in her words I looked like her child that died two years ago

"I do believe in incarnation, because you look just like my son who died right in this School" she would tell me

He was knocked down by motorcyclist just outside the school gate.

everyone in school remembers the story

"Am sorry ma'am" I would reply,

"it's ok my son, hope you will be a good boy just like him" she asked me

"Yes ma'am" I replied innocently.

The day I stole my classmate's money to buy biscuits was the day I saw our headmistress so angry. She punished me so badly that I almost skipped school the next day.

"You break my heart, son. Don't you know it's a sin to steal"

"I know ma'am, I read it in my Bible, please don't tell my mom, she will beat me. She doesn't like me" I pleased tearfully.

" I have to tell her, because if I don't it will be a sin and I don't want God's wrath on me "

And yes, she told my mom every detail and I guess you know what happened next.

She beat me so badly I fell sick for two days, skipping test and homework.

When I resumed, the headmistress made it her point of duty to take me to the school chapel to pray to our blessed virgin Mary.

"Ma'am I don't know how to pray" I will tell her

She sighed and said

"When you come to this place, you kneel down, Jesus will remove all your burdens and give you peace."

"But ma'am the boy won't let me pray" I said fearfully

She could tell from my facial expression that I was scared of something, the only woman who believed me for once about the boy in my dreams.