Compellingly beautiful story, Mazi Opara.
Osakue S. Omoera, Ph.D., FIMIM, M.Sonta
Department of Theatre & Media Arts
Faculty of Arts, Ambrose Alli University
Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
Editor, EJOTMAS: Ekpoma Journal of Theatre and Media Arts
Emails:omoera@yahoo.com; osakueomoera@gmail.com;
Department of Theatre & Media Arts
Faculty of Arts, Ambrose Alli University
Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
Editor, EJOTMAS: Ekpoma Journal of Theatre and Media Arts
Emails:omoera@yahoo.com; osakueomoera@gmail.com;
osakue.omoera@aauekpoma.edu.ng
Mobile:+2348035714679, +2348059997573
Mobile:+2348035714679, +2348059997573
The secret to having everything you want out of life is the realization that you really don't want most of the things you think you want. (Bo Bennett)
On Sat, Aug 8, 2020 at 11:46 PM <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
- Birthday Reminiscence - 1 Update
"Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM" <chidi.opara@gmail.com>: Aug 08 09:17AM +0100
It was a Friday. The authorities of Enyiogugu Secondary school Aboh-Mbaise
had warned me and a few others to stay away from the promotion exam on
Monday because we had not paid our school fees.
On reaching home, I informed my mother of the bad news. Woman of steel was
quiet for sometime and finally replied in her usual defiant manner, "you
must take that exam on Monday, I will sell my remaining george wrapper".
I pleaded with her not to sell her remaining george wrapper and instead
offered to go and plead with some relatively financially comfortable
kinsfolk. I also informed her that I hope to make some good money at my
usual Saturday menial job runs at timber market Owerri.
That evening I walked the whole length of my community begging for
financial help, but none came.
The following morning, being Saturday, I left for timber market Owerri.
The day was good, I made some money, but not enough for the school fees,
since I would still give mother some money from the earning for
our(mother, self and younger brother)weekend feeding.
Approaching our compound on my way from timber shed Owerri, I saw a woman
we call Da Fanny, a seamstress, leaving our compound with my mother's
remaining george wrapper in transparent cellophane bag, I knew that mother
had sold her remaining george wrapper to pay my school fees. The
implication is that she would no longer attend any of the numerous
colourful women's functions until she gets another george wrapper, which
would not be soon considering our financial standing.
That night mother was in a happy mood and never cared about the
consequences of not having a george wrapper like other women.
By 8.00am on that Monday, mother was at the school premises and paid the
school fees herself. Watching her leaving the school premises with her
head held high, I decided on the name Nneka for my first daughter.
Today, I am 57 years old and a Professional Fellow of the prestigious
Institute of Information Management, Africa. I have paid school fees for
graduates and undergraduates without having to borrow or do menial jobs.
Moreover, before Catherine Ngam Opara died, I replaced the george wrappers
and other things she sold to pay my school fees.
Thank you all for your time.
Chidi Anthony Opara,
Umude Avuvu,
Ikeduru, Imo state,
Nigeria.
8th August, 2020
--
*Chidi Anthony Opara <http://www.chidianthonyopara.blogspot.com> is a "Life
Time Achievement" Awardee, Registered Freight Forwarder, Professional
Fellow Of Institute Of Information Managerment, Africa, Poet
<https://www.google.com.ng/?gws_rd=cr&ei=PwmjUpuuFObw0gWMiIHgCQ#q=chidi+anthony+opara+poems>
and
Publisher of PublicInformationProjects
<http://www.publicinformationprojects.blogspot.com>*
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