Story

The Village Gardner

*Episode 8*

My son, so you want to leave old woman like me to die while you go to the city. You are not going any were o, unless you want me to die. You are the only thing that your late parents left for me and now you want to go away. Who will be fetching water, firewood and other things for me, tell me. My grand mother lamented after i told her that i will going to city.
ME; mama, please i will find a house help for you. You won’t die, i’m going to the city to work. This village has no future for me, beside i will be living with chief simon. I have to go mama please, i’m a grown up man now. Nothing bad will happen to me.
G.MAMA; what about Tochi, will you leave her?.
ME; yes, if i save enough money i will come and pay her bride prize.
G.MAMA; but my son, i don’t want you to go to the city o. Hope you won’t leave Tochi and follow city girls, coz i heard that city girls are beautiful and you are handsome too.
ME; aah mama, Tochi is my one and only girl. Infact she is my wife already. I won’t and will never leave her for any other girl.
G.MAMA; i will miss you so much my son. *sobing* please always visit home.
ME; i will miss you too mama, especially that your ukazi soup. Don’t worry i will be coming home, once or twice a month. Okay, please stop crying.
That was how i was able to convince my mother.
The following day, i was washing some of my clothes and my old bag that i will take to the city when a care drove inside our compound. I was looking for the person that drove in when Isabella came down from the car. I was surprised to see her.coz i never expected her to come to my poor home.
ME; Isabella, what are you doing around here.
ISABELLA; i came to visit you. Aren’t you happy to see me.
ME; of course am happy to see you, just that am surprised.
ISABELLA; yea, i was bored at home doing nothing i have no friend around here execpt you. So i decided to pay you a visit, hope am welcome?.
ME; yea of course, you are welcome. Please sit down.(i offered her the only plastic chair we have at home).
ME; what can i offer you.
ISABELLA; ooh, don’t worry thanks. I don’t feel like taking anything. What are you doing?.
ME; am washing, you look good today?.
ISABELLA; you are teasing me right.
ME; am not teasing you am just telling you the truth.
ISABELLA; thank you, what of that your girl?.
ME; you mean tochi.(she nodded) she is fine.
ISABELLA; how long have you guys been together.
ME; four(4) months now.
ISABELLA; hmm, okay my dad told me that you will be coming to city in two days time.
ME; yes o, that is why am washing some of my clothes. Please tell me about city.
ISABELLA; well, city is very big. You will meet difference kind of people, the good, the bad, the ugly ones and the fine ones and even ghost in human form. You will see all of them. All you have to do is to be careful with those that you will associate with. No dulling time at city, everybody is a hustler. That is it my dear.
ME; okay,i have heard you. Please one more thing, tell me more about your self.
ISABELLA; nothing much about me to tell you. I am Isabella by name, but friends call me Bella. I am 22 years old. I am in my final year in the university. That is all for now.
ME; do you have another siblings?.
ISABELLA; oh gosh, you ask so much question. I have an elder sister, she is 24 years old.
(i senior both of una self).
ME; okay, that reminds me. I bought some clothes for you.(she handed me a small bag which contains the clothes and a shoe).
ME; thank you very much. How did you know my size?.
ISABELLA; well, i always have you in my mind, that was how i got your size.
ME; how did you have me in mind.
ISABELLA; *smiled* dear, don’t worry you will know soon, okay.
We gist for a while, before she took her leave to her house. I really enjoyed her company coz she is very friendly. She doesn’t pamper herself like other city girls use to do.
The following day came, i helped my old mother to fetch water fire wood and other things she will be needing for the main time. I was able to found a helper for her, Chizaram by name. A female, i only have a day left to travel to the city. Chai i can’t wait o, my dream is coming to pass through.
In the evening,  the same day i went to visit Tochi to bade her good bye for the main time.
ME; Tochi, since i came here you have been crying, why na.
TOCHI; *sobing* i want to follow you to the city. i no fit live without you.
ME; Tobaby m, please stop crying. if you follow me to the city were are you going to stay na. Please let me go, i will still come back for you. If i save enough money, i will come and pay your bride prize, then we can go to the city together. So stop crying.
TOCHI; plomise(promise) me that you will not leave me for fine city girls.
ME; i promise.
TOCHI; and again, plomise(promise) that you will be fine.
ME; aah tochi, i will be fine.
TOCHI; and please don’t follow bad people o. i love you vely vely(very)much.
ME; thank you and i love you too, you hear.
I stayed with her for some minutes before i left her.(she cried bitterly, but i was able to console her. Tochi really loves me, no dout).
I left her to my house, coz I have a long way to go tomorrow.

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ToBeContinued...