C20 Chapter 20

Daddy where are you taking me to?

Jessy just follows me... I heard my Dad telling me to follow him as both of us were trekking along a tiny way in the bush.

Dad, we're lonely here and you know it's already late in the night.

I slapped myself on the arm to kill the mosquito that was perched on my arm.

Dad, I don't want anything to bite me here too. I jokingly told my Dad

How can I open my eyes and allow something to bite my angel? The only proof that I'm a man? What are all these muscles for?

Dad playfully said to me as he looked at me with a smirk on his face

I jumped on him... Daddy, you're a strong man oh. So you can carry me like this but you allowed a small girl like me to be trekking with you in this lonely place.

Both of us busted into laughter

... Jessy you need to come down. You're no more as young as you think. My back is paining me already.

But I'm enjoying it, Daddy. Carry me for some seconds again.

As your donkey? Please my back is paining me. My father said as he feigned pain.

Wait, Daddy. Just carry me, After you can meet your daddy to carry you.

I said as I held him tighter while he wanted to drop me.

Oooooh!!! Dad goes now!!

Okay, I want to tell you something... My father said with such seriousness in her tone.

What is it, Daddy? I curiously asked him

Look at my face Jessy!

How can I look at your face when I'm on your back?

You alone know how you can look at my face. But it's important

Ok, drop me off...

He diligently dropped me

I went ahead in front of him and looked at his face expecting to see something special.

Jessy, where we're going is more important than the jokes you're making. Focus on where we're going. He sounded so serious and even the expression on his face didn't say otherwise. He continued with the journey

Hmm, Daddy, you've never been this serious. Any problem?

That's why you need to be serious with my instructions

Yes, daddy..... I concluded and walked with him without saying any more words.

I didn't know how we got into our apartment in Abuja. He took me to his bedroom. Brought out a flat file from inside a small box already kept on his table.

This is the document of our properties. You need to be careful as you handle the files. My father said

And Jessy, remember you're a woman, be careful so you don't waste the only treasure we're handing over to you now. Be careful...

I heard a woman say from the other corner of the room. That drew my attention in that direction.

Mummy, so you were here and you didn't even welcome us? What's wrong with you mum? I screamed as I saw my mum sitting on the small wooden chair inside the room. I walked to her and then held her right hand.

I'm not sick Jessy, I'm just weak.

Oh! Sorry mummy you'll be strong soon.

Yes, my angel. just be yourself. I know you'll handle those Files with care.

I looked at the file I was already holding with my left hand. It doesn't look like something I knew.

But mummy where will I take it to? I asked her as I needed to know more about the file and where I'll take it to

Just take care of it. It's yours.

I held the file with both hands.

Jessy, what's happening to you? You're still in bed at this time? It's already 6:40 Am.

I heard someone scream my name. I woke up holding my hands as if there was something special I was holding. Looked at my hands to see the file but my hands were empty.

Oh, so it was a dream? That was the first word I said as I woke up

What was a dream? Jessy, what happened? Sandra drew closer to me and held my head closer to her chest.

What was the dream, Jessy?

I started narrating the dream to Sandra. She didn't look surprised as I thought but was just responding... Even then what happened? She kept inquiring more until I narrated all the dreams to her. then she said

It's well Jessy, go and prepare for school.

That her words left me with mixed feelings. Is there anything aunty Sandra was hiding from me? Does it mean that the dream has no meaning? or am I having malaria? But I'm not having any symptoms of malaria. Since my parents died I never saw them in my dreams. What must this dream mean?

I kept questioning myself as I prepared to go to school.

I turned to be too quiet again in the school. Despite all the chitchatting going on in the class since we had no teacher in the class then, I was just sitting alone. Puzzled about my dream.

Who would I talk to? Does anyone even know the story of my life and that of my parents in this school? I need to talk to someone because I'm not just myself anymore. But won't it be somehow to discuss it with Sarah? I was still deliberating alone when I felt someone's hand on my shoulder

Darling Jah! what is it again, cheer up even if just for now that others are playing. The person whispered it into my ears with such a low and pleasant voice. No need to check. I already knew Sarah was the one as she was the only one that could call me by that name. Jah

Babe calm down! I told her then held her hand and draw her closer to myself

Why must I calm down Jay? Imagine only you isolating yourself from this crowd. Even people we're better than are having fun. I won't listen to any preaching from you this morning unless you get up and follow me... Sarah jokingly said as she got up and was dragging me to get up

If that's the case, Babe you win

I said and got up still smiling but I wasn't sure my heart was smiling in line with my face.

She took me to the front of the class.

Class attention please...!!! Sarah said and everywhere got silent

This girl won't kill me in this school... I mumbled to myself

Well, who knows this beautiful girl standing here?

Sarah asked with a loud voice

I noticed some guys glancing at me as if that was my first day in school.

I heard a voice scream from the backseat

I know her. She's the only beautiful and quiet girl in our class. Other beautiful girls in the class are very noisy. But she too Sabi!!

Jesus! Too Sabi! Who said that?

As Sarah asked her question, everywhere got quiet again.

Is Desmond. He's here. A young boy said holding "Desmond's " hand.

Quiet class!!!!. A teacher screamed as she entered our classroom disrupting what we were doing

Get seated everyone. She was master in her command.

We all went back to our seats as she gave the order. She continued with lessons for the day.