The sun had barely come up over the horizon when Olivia went out, nervous energy and excitement in her chest. It was cultural and storytelling day in the village, and she had been asked to assist the children to prepare by the headmaster.
The playground was abuzz. Children swept, set out props, and went over lines. Olivia drew a deep breath and felt the sense of duty but also the excitement of the challenge.
"Good morning, everybody!" she shouted, slapping her hands together to get their attention. "We display to the village what we're capable of. Concentrate, cooperation, pride—does everybody get it?"
"Aye, aye, Miss Olivia!" they exclaimed together, leaping around nervously, some nodding gravely.
Chidera walked in, lugging a bundle of props: woven masks, vibrant fabrics, and
hand-carved musical instruments. He looked at Olivia, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you good to lead this madness?" he asked dryly.
Olivia grinned, washing grunge out of her uniform. "As ready as I'll ever be."
She grouped the children and taught lines, songs, and dances. The little ones required special direction, but older children practiced storytelling decisively. Olivia moved among the children, correcting pronunciation, adjusting props, and urging reticent performers.
A goat walked to the rehearsals hall, leaving papers and props flying every which way. Olivia stood still, and she erupted in a fit of giggles, surprising the children. Chidera laughed as well, shooing the animal out.
"See?" he said. "Village life humbles you."
Olivia wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "Or insane," she replied, smiling. Despite the chaos, she felt a deep satisfaction—she was teaching, leading, and managing this tiny, energetic world.
By late afternoon, the villagers had started to converge. Parents, elders, and inquisitive villagers found their way to the open ground close to the school. Olivia could tell that her heart was beating nervously.Deep breathing, Olivia," she whispered, leaning over her. "You've trained them. Trust them.".
She smiled and looked towards the children. It started with songs, followed by storytelling, and ended with short plays that the children had practiced under her supervision.
The young children hesitated now and then, memorizing a line or blundering over a prop, but Olivia cheered them along with claps and soft corrections. Every time they succeeded, every time the audience roared, she felt a rush she'd never known in Lagos.
Even as he hovered around, subtly assisting props, discreetly correcting children, and every now and then, casting her a reassuring smile, Olivia saw that his being there stabilized her nerves. By the end of the final scene, the children shone, their parents whistling and cheering. Olivia's head swelled. They had done it. They'd performed, endured, and impressed the villagers' elders.
Not bad for a Lagos girl," she murmured, feeling a sense of relief.
Olivia blushed, but there was an actual smile upon her lips. "Not bad for a village girl's instructor," she replied teasingly.
Once the crowd dispersed, Olivia sat down against the school steps, tired but grinning from ear to ear. Chidera sat next to her, offering her a cup of water.
"You shone today," he told her. "They looked to you, and rightly so."
Olivia grasped the water, her fingers touching his for a moment. "I couldn't have done it without you," she whispered.
He raised an eyebrow, amused. "You say that like I did it for you. I helped out because it had to be done… but I'll give you props, you did it well."
She smiled, feeling a strange warmth in her chest. Today had been chaotic, exhausting, but exhilarating. She had taught, led, and connected with the children. She had survived village life again. "And," she whispered, "you've been… a constant. I don't know how I'd get through some days without you."
The smile faltered out of Chidera, and he looked at her for a second. "You'd manage, Olivia. It just makes it easier when there is someone alongside you." The sun descended, casting dark shadows out across the village. Olivia sat back, observing the children laugh and play in the cold air. She knew that she had come of age—not necessarily in skill or confidence, but in understanding and rapport. And Chidera, sitting calmly beside her, was not anymore a fellow observer of chaos in the village. He became a member of this new world she was learning to accept.
For the first time, Olivia felt she belonged. It was the village, children, unpredictable days, and teasing company of Chidera that made this unfamiliar posting of hers, home.