"Yes papa?" I answered as I dried my tears
"I don t know what happened or what you think you did wrong but everything will be okay; alright?"
"Of course papa."I said as I returned to my seat,I knew what I had to do.My mind was made up and they are no turning back now.I looked up at my father who was observing me,perhaps waiting for me to say something,determined; I hand over the envelope back to him "I can't accept this,sorry papa."
While dad remained quiet,mom attacked me with questions "what are you talking about now kayla?This is your tuition fee and nothing else."
"Why?"father calmly asked me I Signed "dad,this money is meant for my tuition right?"
"Yes."Dad replies "two years of it to be precise."He added as he ate
"Aiden and filora s fees will only take half of that money right?"
"What are you trying to say kayla?
Speak in a language I will understand."
He said as he looked at me weirdly,they all was
"Yes,sorry."I paused then continued "I think It's best if the money is used for their tuition and probably take care of few things in the house,God knows they are many things to take care off."
"Are you even listening to yourself kayla?For years you have been dreaming of college,even if you didn't say it out,we figured it out with the longing look you had your face whenever those college students pass by the shop."Mother was clearly angry,as she continue "we had to sell a lot of things,worked a lot of shift just for you to go to college,and now that the dream is finally close,you are giving it to your siblings?What is wrong with you?"
"But mom..."
"Don t you mom me,you re our first child kayla,and you must be educated,wither you like it or not.Your sisters are still young they can continue their education some other time but not you."
I watched my siblings from the corner of my eyes,their head was bent down and they were tremblely,no doubt crying from mother harsh words,I close my eyes as I prayed to a higher power for confidence and strength because I will need it to persuade my stubborn mother "no mother,that s not fair."
"What?"she was shocked,did I just challenged her?Papa remained silent and just watched.
Yeah in my family,things like breaking the house rules,which are a lot by the way; challenging and throwing wordings at your parents or elders wither they be in the wrong or not,is never permitted,devoted Christians,did I mention?
But this was my younger siblings,if I don t stand up for them now,when will I ever? I love them very much."Sorry if I sounded kind of rude but I don t think this is the right way to go about it."
"And what do you know about the right way kayla?You are just eighteen.Are you going to teach your parents 'how to do the right thing?" she asked glaring
"here we go again our Nigeria parent thinking we are too young to know what is wrong and what is right.
"That s not what I meant mother."Annoyed now
"Oh really?What did you mean then?Please do tell."She added blankly
"Being the first child doesn't not mean I have to be the only educated one in the family."I paused,looked from dad to mom,both just silently watched me and I continued "I can always go to college or university,If I study hard enough,sure it won t be that easy but I m your child,I have brains,I am confident,brave,hardworking.Mom I can do anything,work or go to school if I want to; not going now won t stop me in the future,but what about them?"asked pointing at Aiden and filora,who were now staring at me with hope in their eyes and I drew confident from that "mama,with every dune,society advances,and five years from now Aiden will be sixteen and filora fifteen can they still go to grade 1?No of course not,even if they tried; it will be too traumatic for them.The constant stare they will get from little kids,and they obviously can't go to college without coming out from grade school."Should I end it here,I pondered 'nope since they re giving this chance to raise my voice,I need to lay it all out.I murmur to myself.
But then filora spoke up "big sister,I am sure that s not what papa and mama meant.I mean we can always go to school again right?"she asked but turned to mom
But I replied her "how are you so sure about that filora?If you haven t notice things are not really going smoothly for us,if this chance passed by,do you think you and your brother will ever be able to go to school?What happened if the work you decided to do in the future needs some well-educated,what will you do then?"
She slump in her chair "Oh...I didn't think of it that way."
"Yes,that because you are still young and you need me,papa and mama to do the thinking,I can still go to school,at twenty-eight even thirty; I can school.Married woman go to school,college and universities but not grade A. mama think about it,five years coming I will be twenty – three,I can'take pressure,I do can whatever the world throws at me.
I mean I m a Clement for crying out loud,and as a Clement we were taught to be strong,bold and upright.
So it doesn't matter what year mother,I can always go to school,but no them,when their fresh memory begin to dime and they start losing interest in schools or learning what will you do then?
Because either we like it or not,it will happen."I said as I looked at my mother for her come back to that.