03/05/2024
Indeed they are!
Yesterday morning, I was walking to the junction of my street when I witnessed a very funny scenario.
This young woman who has a baby strapped to her back, was also holding a boy of about three years old with her right hand, and in her left hand were the kids lunch bag, a school bag, and another big black bag.
It was a struggle for her as she kept trying to hold the boy's hand firmly, carry all the bags and intermittently adjust the baby on her back.
I was walking behind her. Just before she got to a big signage, she let go of the boy's hand, and tried to adjust the sleeping baby. Immediately, the little boy ran off, threw himself on the road and began to cry. Infact, he was wailing so hard that if I wasn't following and watching the whole scenario play out, I would have thought that the mother spanked him. The woman tried to drag him up, but he refused and rolled more on the dirty ground, staining his school uniform. The woman was already tired, she stopped and looked helplessly as the little boy kept screaming and screaming. I watched as she dipped her hand into her bag, ruminated for a while, and brought out her phone which was ringing loudly. By that time, I had already gotten very close to her.
"...please, I am still on my way, I will soon get to the office. Abeg, please don't be angry. I will soon be there."
Helpless anger was written all over her face. From her conversation, I deduced that she was rushing to work, but her little son was not helping matters at all.
Immediately, I walked over to where the boy was rolling on the ground and picked him up like a piece of paper. Boy was shocked. He didn't know what happened or how it happened. From his reaction, it was obvious that he was used to stressing the mother in such way without any intervention from any one.
"Thank you sir... Good morning sir." The woman blurted out. All she needed was to get to her office as soon as possible.
The little boy seemed to have recovered his composure, and he screamed again, but I gave him this bombastic side eye that made him to keep quiet immediately.
"What is your name?"
He looked at me in defiance as if to say na who call you for this matter?.
"I said what is your name?" I thundered, and the boy shook like a jellyfish before replying.
"My name is Victor."
"What?"
"My name is Victor, Victor Benjamin."
"Tell me your real name"
"My name is Victor Benjamin."
At this point, he was already crying. I guess he wasn't accustomed to people raising their voices at him.
"Your real name cannot be Victor, and you are acting like this, crying and screaming like a baby. Can't you see that you are stressing your mummy already."
"Ohooo! Tell him ooo." The mother interjected.
"I want cake and fanta."
I looked at his little mouth as he pouted his orders as if he was in a party."
"I have your biscuits and juice packed in your lunch bag. You ate your cake last night, so why would you remember cake and fanta in the middle of the road and throw yourself on the ground, eeehh Victor?"
The boy kept calm and looked away, all these while, I was carrying him in my arms and walking with the mum.
"Oga, thank you very much. This is our school, and I work here as well."
"You're welcome ma."
She stopped in front of the school gate, but I signalled her not to worry as I took the boy inside the school compound just before the assembly bell was rang. The mother hurriedly said her thanks and rushed off towards the admin office. By the time I turned around to say goodbye to Victor, he was already playing with one little girl, and admiring the ribbon on her hair.
I walked out laughing in my mind. See somebody who was releasing stubborn powers and stressing the mum a few minutes ago, he is now smiling sheepishly with his school mates. Children are indeed another form of curious entertainment. May God bless every mother and children out there.
Amen.
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3rd May 2024
Victor Firdance Page
