PENMIND MEDIA & CREATIVITY

I remembered this particular incident that shaped and reshaped my closeness with family members vividly. This incident also made me make a decision never to put any of my children under the tutelage of any family members. It happened in the year 2010,there was a girl called "Esse." Esse was from Bayelsa state, she stayed with her aunt named "Mama Joseph." Mama Joseph had four children, three boys and a girl, Joseph was the eldest and he was my friend. Mama Joseph sells recharge card and clothes, alongside studying. I noticed that Esse was always maltreated, she was a very nice girl to me and my mother, that much I can confess. I got talking with her one day, Esse, I called out, "Yes, Emmanuel, she answered. "Why is it that you always looked troubled ? She looked left and right and after a very deep breath, she was reluctant at first, but I persisted in trying to make her speak out." Finally she obliged, "I don't know the reason but,...

Every fortnight, Gbenro is always in a haste to visit his parents, often he misses them so much especially the warmth of embrace of his mother. He had only one sibling, a girl. Gbenro was fond of his sister, he protects her more than a country is being protected from terrorists. However, there was the smallest of details he failed to checkout in his life which exposed his darling sister to the cold hands of misfortune. As industrious, studious, intelligent Gbenro was, he was negligent of his shortcomings and this was always being in the company of chained smokers and dipsomaniac each time he visits home. He wanted to feel among his peers, though he engaged in their escapades once in a blue moon. Another part of him was taking medical drugs without the doctor appropriate prescription as an allergy patient of cold. One fateful day, he asked his precious sister, Ariat to accompany him to see one of his friends. Getting there, he developed nausea, he asked his sister to wait for him...