Umbilical Branch; Saving the Youth
Umbilical Branch; Saving the youth.
There were five of us who grew up in the same neighborhood
People said our births were divinely orchestrated for love
We shared love like children from the same umbilical branch
We shared our thoughts and every dream
Our families weren't too wealthy either.
We would most times go help our mothers trade in the market
To enable them make great sales. We saw that part, yes that part
Of life where the desire to meet every days struggle was our aim.
I prayed that I would be a great lawyer to help our neighborhood
The other girls had their yet unfulfilled dreams and aspirations.
Just within a little span of years, Grace's aunt came down from
the west with the aim of training Grace at the school they had there.
We cried the sisterly cries and gave her our pieces of advice, then
she left for greener pastures.
For the problems indigent living cost us, we have no means to contact
Grace. Amara met a foolish old man who lives three blocks. Well, there
is no news other than the fact that the old man got her pregnant from
here usual hawking exercises. Did I say the man was blind in one eye?
Well, he was actually a one eyed foolish old man who knew nothing but
ladies skirt's. I don't blame him much; since Amara had chosen to open
her legs for his seed, who then was I to tell her to abate the already produced
Fruit. That was just how Amara got entwined maritally to the old one eyed.
On one of the occasions, Chioma and myself had gone to hawk oranges that
were peeled by our mothers. We got to a lone street. Distracted by Chioma's
Wonderful well crafted gist, we lost every bit of caution. We paid no attention
to the lion's territory which we had just walked into. We were both called into
their house to render sales. Within seconds, the men grabbed us into the large
house. Our trays of oranges had fallen from our heads with our oranges scattered
all over the place. My eyes were tied. I was in a dark room. I saw nothing. Perceived
nothing. I only heard sounds of tears which belonged to Chioma. Her tears were flowing
from her dry throat. Then I started to scream; asking them to leave her alone and stop
hurting her. I could not tell what brought the tears but I felt something evil had befallen
us. Who would know we came her only to hawk our lives. Just then I heard his voice saying
"It's done", " bring out the other one". Cold chills ran down my spine. My heart raced skipping beats. My young body shivered. I could hear my own fearful breathes. My fingers trembled.
I touched my legs only to discover they were tied together with a strong rope. Cold from abyss had befallen me. Fear!!! Hot tears kept rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably. Am I doomed? The door handle creaked. The hinges gave way. The door knob slowly turned without making any sound. Then I heard him say come out quickly. Run for your life. Do not look back. Never come back. The spirit of your friend beckoned to me to rescue you. Where is Chioma? I asked, she is the new guest in our land. The land. Yes! Land of those forcefully ...
I ran. I was lost. I was in a lone road. My race never stopped. I saw a young boy with a Barrow. I pleaded with him to carry me in it to the main road. Seeing my feet were bleeding. He aided me. I got to that junction of life and death. Then I ran like a wind in a chase. I got to the gate of my house. My mama saw me and rushed saying they have been searching for me for seven days. Tears rolled down my mama's cheeks. I saw Chioma's mother rush towards me asking after Chioma. My spirit left my body. She, Chioma was gone for life.
That day I saw them come into the street seeking for youths, the notion behind the search for the youths were far beyond my knowledge. Our sisterly world was broken with only Oge and myself hanging strongly unto the umbilical branch. Our time of mourning was finally over. It was just the two of us. The men approached us asking us various future-revealing questions. During the interviews conducted by the men who had come into our street, I was asked; “who would you want to become after now”? then answer came; I would want to become a lawyer, to fight for the streets rights, seek for the people who killed Chioma my friend and bring them to justice…I didn’t know how long I had sobbed until he said, we will help this one. The interview was over. The man who had interviewed me followed me home to meet with my parents that evening. I did not know what they had discussed. All I could fathom was the outcome for I was told to go and pack my belongings. I shared few good bye moments with my parents and then I left with him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bid Oge farewell because there wasn’t time for that.
My lifes’ journey had officially started. I had been enrolled in this school. Everything was different and so new to me. But I was determined to attain my goals. My perspectives had changed. My training was not so smooth yet I learned even harder and better. I was awesome. My handler, Mr. Martins had me going. I was fast. I was sound. The world of academics was highly favourable to me. After my years of unstoppable training, I was called and enrolled into the countrys’ Bar Association. I was ready. Ready to face the odds of life.
I was back to the streets to find Oge but she's was no more. The story said Oge (the deceased) had accepted the proposal of the leader of the worst gang in the streets. After a deadly operation that took the lives of the gang members, Oge herself didn't survive the shots that came upon her at the night of the blood gush. I was alone again but this time, I swore to aid every youth in the streets. Many enrolled in different disciplines while the rest learnt different facets of trade. The streets; no my streets were no longer known by the terrible deeds the youths did. The upcoming generation are successors of us, our positivity and our workings.
So I thought to myself, if Grace never left for greener pastures, if Amara never married the one eyed old man, If Chioma and I never went hawking on that day she would have still been alive, If I hadn't met with the interviewers, if I never studied Law, if Oge never got into that relationship that claimed her life, she would have still been alive. The ifs still counts but the streets might never remember that I was one amongst the umbilical branch. The tree which housed the umbilical branch has fallen. Struggle begets gain I must say.
***Precious Eminent ***
There were five of us who grew up in the same neighborhood
People said our births were divinely orchestrated for love
We shared love like children from the same umbilical branch
We shared our thoughts and every dream
Our families weren't too wealthy either.
We would most times go help our mothers trade in the market
To enable them make great sales. We saw that part, yes that part
Of life where the desire to meet every days struggle was our aim.
I prayed that I would be a great lawyer to help our neighborhood
The other girls had their yet unfulfilled dreams and aspirations.
Just within a little span of years, Grace's aunt came down from
the west with the aim of training Grace at the school they had there.
We cried the sisterly cries and gave her our pieces of advice, then
she left for greener pastures.
For the problems indigent living cost us, we have no means to contact
Grace. Amara met a foolish old man who lives three blocks. Well, there
is no news other than the fact that the old man got her pregnant from
here usual hawking exercises. Did I say the man was blind in one eye?
Well, he was actually a one eyed foolish old man who knew nothing but
ladies skirt's. I don't blame him much; since Amara had chosen to open
her legs for his seed, who then was I to tell her to abate the already produced
Fruit. That was just how Amara got entwined maritally to the old one eyed.
On one of the occasions, Chioma and myself had gone to hawk oranges that
were peeled by our mothers. We got to a lone street. Distracted by Chioma's
Wonderful well crafted gist, we lost every bit of caution. We paid no attention
to the lion's territory which we had just walked into. We were both called into
their house to render sales. Within seconds, the men grabbed us into the large
house. Our trays of oranges had fallen from our heads with our oranges scattered
all over the place. My eyes were tied. I was in a dark room. I saw nothing. Perceived
nothing. I only heard sounds of tears which belonged to Chioma. Her tears were flowing
from her dry throat. Then I started to scream; asking them to leave her alone and stop
hurting her. I could not tell what brought the tears but I felt something evil had befallen
us. Who would know we came her only to hawk our lives. Just then I heard his voice saying
"It's done", " bring out the other one". Cold chills ran down my spine. My heart raced skipping beats. My young body shivered. I could hear my own fearful breathes. My fingers trembled.
I touched my legs only to discover they were tied together with a strong rope. Cold from abyss had befallen me. Fear!!! Hot tears kept rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably. Am I doomed? The door handle creaked. The hinges gave way. The door knob slowly turned without making any sound. Then I heard him say come out quickly. Run for your life. Do not look back. Never come back. The spirit of your friend beckoned to me to rescue you. Where is Chioma? I asked, she is the new guest in our land. The land. Yes! Land of those forcefully ...
I ran. I was lost. I was in a lone road. My race never stopped. I saw a young boy with a Barrow. I pleaded with him to carry me in it to the main road. Seeing my feet were bleeding. He aided me. I got to that junction of life and death. Then I ran like a wind in a chase. I got to the gate of my house. My mama saw me and rushed saying they have been searching for me for seven days. Tears rolled down my mama's cheeks. I saw Chioma's mother rush towards me asking after Chioma. My spirit left my body. She, Chioma was gone for life.
That day I saw them come into the street seeking for youths, the notion behind the search for the youths were far beyond my knowledge. Our sisterly world was broken with only Oge and myself hanging strongly unto the umbilical branch. Our time of mourning was finally over. It was just the two of us. The men approached us asking us various future-revealing questions. During the interviews conducted by the men who had come into our street, I was asked; “who would you want to become after now”? then answer came; I would want to become a lawyer, to fight for the streets rights, seek for the people who killed Chioma my friend and bring them to justice…I didn’t know how long I had sobbed until he said, we will help this one. The interview was over. The man who had interviewed me followed me home to meet with my parents that evening. I did not know what they had discussed. All I could fathom was the outcome for I was told to go and pack my belongings. I shared few good bye moments with my parents and then I left with him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bid Oge farewell because there wasn’t time for that.
My lifes’ journey had officially started. I had been enrolled in this school. Everything was different and so new to me. But I was determined to attain my goals. My perspectives had changed. My training was not so smooth yet I learned even harder and better. I was awesome. My handler, Mr. Martins had me going. I was fast. I was sound. The world of academics was highly favourable to me. After my years of unstoppable training, I was called and enrolled into the countrys’ Bar Association. I was ready. Ready to face the odds of life.
I was back to the streets to find Oge but she's was no more. The story said Oge (the deceased) had accepted the proposal of the leader of the worst gang in the streets. After a deadly operation that took the lives of the gang members, Oge herself didn't survive the shots that came upon her at the night of the blood gush. I was alone again but this time, I swore to aid every youth in the streets. Many enrolled in different disciplines while the rest learnt different facets of trade. The streets; no my streets were no longer known by the terrible deeds the youths did. The upcoming generation are successors of us, our positivity and our workings.
So I thought to myself, if Grace never left for greener pastures, if Amara never married the one eyed old man, If Chioma and I never went hawking on that day she would have still been alive, If I hadn't met with the interviewers, if I never studied Law, if Oge never got into that relationship that claimed her life, she would have still been alive. The ifs still counts but the streets might never remember that I was one amongst the umbilical branch. The tree which housed the umbilical branch has fallen. Struggle begets gain I must say.
***Precious Eminent ***
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