Travails of Sisi Nene

Looking through my window, I noticed young good looking ladies in quite revealing clothes, and I couldn't help but look back on my youthful days. Days when I lived recklessly and had no thoughts about the future. I felt I only needed to have fun. But looking back at all of that now I wish I could turn back the hands of time and be given a chance to change somethings , I wish I had someone to caution me then, wish I was much more exposed to the truths of life and not get fooled by what I saw.

Sisi Nene are you thinking again..... I was startled I didn't even know when someone came in, must have left the door opened then.. it was one of my young neighbour a beautiful lady in her early twenties, she and her friends stay next door and they are youth corpers. Ever since they came into the compound they took a particular liking to me and have been extremely nice to me I would really miss them when they leave at the end of their service.

Debimpe mi ,like I fondly call her am sorry I didn't know when you came in I was lost in thoughts. How did your day go? ..... She looked deeply at me before responding "well it wasn't bad I was expecting to come while away time with you, but it seems you are in no mood for my chitchats today"...she replied sorely. I felt bad .."come on debimpe mi you know I would never get tired of having you around adebimpe mi owon"...her face brightened at the endearment and I knew we were back to normal... "So tell me my dear, what's on your mind I can see you aren't really in a good mood, although you are trying your real best to hide it but I can clearly see through your facade dear. Tell me what's the matter?. Flopping down on a single sitter she bowed her head, raising it slowly about to say something....wait, I moved from where I stood before you say anything let me get you something to eat and drink it's been a long day I guess....you don't have to worry about me sisi Nene please...she protested, but I wasn't listening I had already gone into the kitchen. I had prepared a really good dish of jollof rice this evening having it in mind to get it across to them when they got back but fortunately debimpe would be the first to have a taste of it.

Returning to the sitting room with a tray filled with food and water, debimpe stood up to help me with it.... Sisi Nene this really isn't necessary you should have called me to come help.....stop acting like a stranger bimpe you are always welcome this is also your home....hmmn now don't let me bother you with my rants enjoy your food.

After about some minutes she finished her food, packed her used plates to the kitchen, having relaxed for a few minutes. Hmmmn ...she began clearing her throat why she felt uncomfortable I couldn't pinpoint it. She has never been like that when we talked probably whatever was bothering her must be getting to her.

Sisi Nene this might seem awkward but I could really do with some elderly advice right now and its only you I could think of....she began and I didnt say anything didn't want to distract her...well..she continued my friends and I that's Sharon and muna they are the other ladies staying next door with bimpe. You know we are rounding up on service in just two months and since we aren't from so well to do homes, we are quite bothered about what would become of us in the labour market. We have tried to apply in different places and most of the offers we got was one that is quite demanding.... Go on debimpe mi I urged when I realised she was feeling insecure again.... well the offers we got she began hiccupping was the managers asking us to sleep with them before giving us a chance to work with them moreso we would still be on probation at the company, but would get to be retained if we cooperate and act according to their demands. Sharon and Muna see nothing wrong with it but I am not comfortable selling myself to get a job and now I seem like the holy art thou amongst them. I am really feeling like am being childish as it's not like I would be the first person to indulge in such, but I just can't see myself involving in it. What if it doesn't work out would I keep laying on my back for favours am really confused.....Sisi Nene I promise you I would do anything you advice me to I believe you can't lead me astray.

I felt my heart flutter, such a heart warming comment from a lady who I met just few months ago and knows nothing about me still she trusts me like she has known me since forever. Moreso she believed my words. To this I am determined to ensure none of them go astray.....looking at her I patted her head debimpe mi I understand what you are going through at the moment but let me ask have your friends giving in to the demands of the managers...... Not yet she replied they are contemplating on going back next week to give their consent.

Deep down relief washed over me...I thought there is still a chance to undo this... Since it's a Friday I know they would be home for the weekend as they weren't one to wander around unnecessarily so they would surely be home. Debimpe mi do me a favour and tell your friends to come see me tomorrow morning including you, since it's a Saturday you don't need to bother about your chores I would ensure a delicious meal awaits you guys by the time you are here. By the way come take more of the rice and some for your friends too, they must be famished by the time they are back. She smiled knowingly.... Thank you so much Sisi Nene you are a darling, a godsent I knew I could count on you. We moved to the kitchen to get the food and seeing her off to the door waving her goodbye, I closed the door behind me..signing tomorrow was definitely going to be a long day. I think it's high time I let myself out and share my story. Who the real Sisi Nene is.

The next day came quiet late, that's what i thought ,I hardly slept a wink all through the night. I felt quite anxious on what the day would become,several questions ran through my mind such as if my story would make the girls reason and try to strive further. As soon as the first cock crowed I got up immediately to prepare moinmoin a delicacy although from the south Western part of Nigeria is enjoyed far and near by both old and young. I added a lot of nutritious components in it ranging from egg, crayfish, titus fish, which I believe would make It taste more heavenly.

I needed the girls to be filled to their heart content. After having done that I made ogi(pap) it's made from corn and prepared on the fire, but some prefer boiling water and adding it to the mixture of ogi and cold water. Anyway one feels comfortable with what matters is the outcome which is virtually the same.

At around 8:30am I heard a knock on my door, after having opened it the girls trolled in giving me hugs and kisses as they came in." Sisi Nene my love"...that's Sharon she is quite the lousy one amongst them....."yes ma" I responded mockingly...she giggled "don't be like that nah, I heard you wanted to see us, but do you know what made me eager to be here....is the fact I get to enjoy free breakfast also not just free but mouthwatering one I could smell it from my room".... I couldn't help but laugh Sharon is one hell of a naughty girl always up to something also free minded... "Do you know any other thing aside food"... Muna asked looking quite displeased with her friend.... Sharon shrugged "what? Shouldn't I express my self. Anyways nah your own yawa be that abeg sisi Nene am hungry "...... I nodded while laughing , as I was about to enter the kitchen I noticed that Debimpe was quiet but I didn't want to bug her so I went ahead to get their food with the help of Sharon. They got settled and ate their food, with Sharon being the chatter box she kept on and on till I almost choked on my food.

After about thirty minutes we had all finished eating, Debimpe and Muna offer to wash the dishes. So I let them and few minutes later we all got settled into different sitting positions and then I cleared my throat.

"I know you ladies have always wondered why I am always deep in thought , you must have thought of getting to know if not all but at least something about me. So, today I would be telling you my story and how I came about the name Sisi Nene. Please do bear with me because this is going to be a long day.

I am a native of Delta state, the middle belt of Nigeria my village is ughelli south local government. Growing up in a village is what you would describe as peaceful especially to we the children. Life was fun all we did was play, eat and sleep. Although we went to the only school available in the village but all the same we had very little to worry about.

It was a regular Saturday , as usual I had gone out to play with my friends and was heading back home late in the evening. I noticed my mother had a visitor, mind you we hardly had any since mother was not the too friendly type moreover, only my mum and I live in the hut since my father is late. I wasn't the only child, mother had five children including me but all four died making me the only child alive. Getting really curious I increased my pace and got into the compound greeting my mum.

"Megwo mama"

"Nno, come my dear have your seat. Won't you greet our visitor" mother chided me

"Megwo aunty"

"Megwo my dear ".... the aunty replied giving me a friendly smile, then she handed me a snack. I couldn't be any happier , such commodity is hard to come by here moreover it's an expensive item to mama. So getting such from this aunty makes me really happy. Showing it to mother she nodded to me giving me the permission to eat it.

" Go in now Nene your food is by the basket , when you are done eating go and have your bath then come here to sit with me". Obeying mother I went in immediately, I decided to keep my snack till after having my meal . I ate and bathed in no time, as I was heading back to meet my mother, she and the visitor came in and mother told me to wait for her outside. Our hut contains only one room, which means that our visitor would be sleeping on the only form of comfort in the house an almost tattered mattress . While I and mother would sleep on the floor. I waited for mother outside patiently chewing on my snack.

"You didn't eat your snack before?" Mother asked smiling at me.i nodded shyly . Then she sat beside me clearing her throat. "Nene my child ...how old are you now?" . Perplexed at why she would ask me such question when she knew perfectly well how old I was. But I answered anyway . "I am ten mama" . She heaved heavily "I am thankful to God you know how old you are, which shows that you can also handle somethings. You know since your father died it has been hard for us to survive. Also as all of your older siblings aren't alive to ease me of the stress. After all of my endless prayer to God , ogenedo has finally said an amen to my prayers he sent us an helper. You see that aunty inside"..... I nodded yes " ehnehn she is the helper ogene sent, she is the wife of your father's friend, they live in Lagos and she has decided to take you along with her, you know it's a big city which means you are going to become very rich as she has promised to send you to school, you would also learn to trade. She gave me money to take care of myself and has promised to keep sending me more." She was weeping now. I didn't know how to console her "mama, don't cry I would go with her you don't have to worry please stop crying". I patted her back gently. " My daughter please I beg of you do not forget where you are coming from, focus on your education and do not disobey the people accomodating you. Don't do anything they won't want you to do. Listen to them and be a good child I beg you." I was crying now too, thinking of all that I was leaving behind, my mother, my friends and everything I had grown accustomed to. But my mother happiness was paramount and I realised my going made her happy. Promising to abide by every rule and also to make her proud. I went to sleep and the next morning after so much praying and weeping I left my mother to a land of no man. Lagos city ( Eko Ile) where it all began.