Birthday Reminiscence

[Chidi Anthony Opara, FIIM]

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

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Chidi Anthony Opara is a "Life Time Achievement" Awardee, Registered Freight Forwarder, Professional Fellow Of Institute Of Information Managerment, Africa, Poet and Publisher of PublicInformationProjects

[Osakue Omoera]

Compellingly beautiful story, Mazi Opara.

[Harrow, Kenneth]

thank you for the story and memories of good people, good feelings. we need more stories like this to counter the plagues of the world.

ken

kenneth harrow

professor emeritus

dept of english

michigan state university

517 803-8839

har...@msu.edu

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From: usaafric...@googlegroups.com <usaafric...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Osakue Omoera <osakue...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 9, 2020 4:22 AM
To: USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Birthday Reminiscence

 

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[Michael Afolayan]

Sacrosanct!

May the spirit of your mother roam the space of our lives.

Tears and cheers,

MOA