14th January
2005
Everbright Nursery And Primary School
Kelechi bounced excitedly while clutching his mother's hand as they walked towards the school gate.
"Good morning ma."The gate man smiled raising a hand in greeting while using the other to open the gate properly.
"Good morning Uncle Uche!"Kelechi said smiling brightly and in turn earned himself a smile from both adults.
"Morning young man, you're looking very sharp this morning." Uche replied smiling as he gave Kelechi an obvious once over while nodding in appreciation.
Kelechi's smile grew even wider,eyes practically shining like stars.He immediately turned his back to Uche hands clenched which the thumbs out pointing at his new sophisticated looking brown bag with some stripes of black at the edges.
"How is it?" He asked practically bouncing in excitement and joy. Eyes filled with expectations of praise.
"Wow,it looks very good. How I wish I had one when I was your age." Uche replied eyes wide in approval before slyly shifting to mock sadness.
Chioma very nearly laughed.
"Alright, alright that okay. We won't want to keep uncle Uche busy right? After all he has work to do." She said interrupting anything Kelechi might have planned to say. She then gave Uche a smile which he returned and led Kelechi through the gate.
Everbright was in every sense a good school.it didn't just have good teachers and a precise school curriculum,it also had a very well made and conducive learning environment.
The school was large with a big football field that was divided in sections that served for both juniors and their seniors. It also had a track for inter-house sports and other physical activities.
The classrooms were well arranged and placed with the nursery section being down and the primary being placed upstairs. Nursery and primary teachers shared the same staffroom but it was divided into well understood sections with the principal office around the corner.
There was also a big hall mainly used for PTA meetings or indoor parties in case of unexpected weather.
The pair of mother and child walked on a well made road alongside some parents with their children by the side of the football field.
"Good morning Mrs Nkechi."
"Morning nwam."
"Good morning Mr Mike."
"Ahh,a lovely morning to you nne."
The greetings rolled on as they passed some parents and moved into the building.
Some minutes later Chioma came out after dropping off her sweetheart at his class and a few exchanged pleasantries with his teacher. She exchanged a few more greetings either with parents or some teachers before a last wave towards Uche as she passed by once more before heading to her car.
Once she entered,she closed the door with a small thud but didn't turn it on immediately. She first placed her two hands with one clutching the car keys on the steering wheel before releasing a long heavy sigh.
After that she then raised her bent head and turned on the car before checking her review mirror then changing gears before finally pulling out of the school parking space then drove off.
RINGG!
Once she reached a steady road her phone began ringing prompting her to look over and after seeing the familiar id when she picked up the flip phone and opened it,she smiled.
"Obim, how are you doing?" She said brightly eyes on the road and the phone on loud speaker as she was the only one in the car. She then raised her window a bit to hear him more better as the other windows were already closed.
"I'm better after hearing you're sweet voice my love."
"Sweet mouth." She said smiling.
"What about you obim?" He asked. "There were no problems right?"
"I'm fine my love and no there were no issues." She replied already understanding what he meant while gently overtaking another car.
"That's good to hear. We'll talk more later my love,be safe okay." He said already aware that she was on the road.
"Alright then,you too okay."
"Love you."
"You too."
The drive continued with no unexpected things happening afterwards except for the usual road bustle.
The day was a long one.
Chioma is a successful business woman an entrepreneur. She open a supermarket and even had a warehouse with a few more shops rented out.
Chikodi is a mid-level supervisor in a still rising company. They both pooled money together and both several lands and are currently building on some.
Time passed slowly before finally evening came. In the well lit Egba house the television was lit up with NTA playing some native children stories.
Kelechi,now in house clothes and obviously back from school sat down on a sofa watching the ongoing program with light in his eyes.
"Kelechi!" His mother called from the kitchen.
"Yes mummy?" He replied eyes still on the black and white screen.
"I hope you are done with your assignments for today?" She said her voice carrying a hint of unmistakable threat.
Kelechi winced.
"I-I'm almost done with all of them. It's only remaining one." He stammered panicked.
Life first, television later.
"Hmmm..." She was not amused.
Suddenly before tensions could rise any further a honking sound came from outside.
*Honk! Honk!*
'Daddy I love you biko!' kelechi though inwardly and immediately ran outside to clutch onto his now present lifeline.
His mother sighed helplessly smiling a little as she heard him leave.
He came outside and looked from the small space made on the gate and covered with a sheet of metal that could be locked and saw his father coming out of his car.
"Daddy welcome back!" Kelechi shouted happily as he opened the small gate and rushed to hug his father.
"Mhmm, that's ma boi." Chikodi said carrying him up in his arms and looking at his face smiling.
"I hope you have done your assignments young man?"
The happy atmosphere instantly froze. Kelechi's eyes widened for a bit as his smile froze and despair flowed in.
'Daddy not you too!?.' He wanted to cry out but just couldn't.