To Be A Man.

Life takes on a different quality as we continue to age. We come to understand a lot of things that seemed unclear to us at our tender age. There are some things we won’t know until we finally get to be in that position or stage of life.

There was a time when I thought life in the university was just fun and not as bad as my elementary school days. I was just after the freedom that comes from it. I anticipated being there in no time. When I got there, I realized that there was freedom, but even the freedom I sought didn’t come for free.

While I was preparing for my entrance examination into the higher institution. It was just my second year retaking the same entrance examination. I got scolded by some other people outside, but it never got to me because my parents, whom I had expected to scold and blame me, didn’t. Instead, they encouraged me to do better.

“Oluwaseun, this is just the beginning.”

Mum said to me one day after I was done losing her hair. She made me sit right in front of her, and she added,

“I know you feel like giving up, but don’t. Never listen to the noise from the market; rather, focus on what you want to buy in the market.”

I sat well again. Seems today is another day to be motivated by Mum.

“Okay, ma, I will try my best,” I responded. But I already had my thoughts far away.

All I could think of was a future I don't even know of. I was lost in thought for a few minutes, just trying to figure out the reason why Dad had not been able to grant most of my requests for a long time.

I have always ranted to his hearing that I needed a new phone to aid my studies. Actually, in my mind, I didn't really need it for my studies, but I just wanted to have a phone so as not to be left out among my peer groups, also to play games and listen to music.

Every day, I will daydream about the new phone that he had promised to get for me for over a year now. Anytime he arrives from his workplace, I will have the thought that he has my phone with him. Not until he got inside and didn’t bring any phone home. My disappointment increased again.

I called back my attention to mum’s conversation, she knew my mind was elsewhere as she tried to reaffirm if I was with her.

“Do you understand everything I told you? Please,” she asked.

“Yes, mum. Don't worry, I won't disappoint you this time. I will make you proud,” I responded.

She ended the conversation with prayers.

It was like dad read my mind all those while, moments after the conversation with Mum that day, he called Mum’s phone and asked her to tell me to meet him at the junction next street.

I was there waiting for him, thinking he would just hand the phone over to me.

He parked his vehicle next to me and asked me to get in. I never knew where we were heading. Maybe a phone store. But no, it's like we are getting into a more rural area. At that moment, I took my mind off getting a phone. I knew it was time for work instead.

Dad was a transporter then; he had this lorry he used to transport goods and get paid for the service rendered. That was how we earned a living then.

We got to the venue where we wanted to offload the goods, and it was just the two of us. After we were done, I was sweating so heavily and tired. From a distance, Dad smiled and called my name.

“Oluwaseun! Lazy boy!. Let's go.”

I was just so weak that I struggled to get up from where I sat and head towards the vehicle and hop in.

“Now you can see how easy it is to get money,” Dad said while he started the lorry, and we headed home.

“Daddy! I want to buy this, Daddy! I want to pay my school fees!. Now you can see.”

I just sat on the seat beside him, so thirsty and hungry. I had those thoughts about how I had always expected him to come home with a phone. Now I know the reason why he always reminds me to face my studies.

Ever since then, I have been so considerate when I want to demand anything from him. I wore his shoes once, and I felt how heavy it was to lift. Now I am grown up and I am actually in his shoes.