I returned home very tired from my community development service (CDS) on a hot Wednesday afternoon, and as I was almost approaching my apartment, I stopped at a small shop to get my power banks, which were plugged in the previous day. "Hello, good afternoon, sir," I greeted the man who seemed to be busy attending to some customers before me and with the look of things, he had so much to attend to, and I decided to wait a little bit till he was done, not even minding how tired I was.
As I stood waiting, I watched him moving up and down with his two children, who should be around 7 and 9 years old, a boy and a girl who were working alongside him. They were helping their father. Since I have been patronising him, I haven't met his wife, not even once and I assumed he was the one taking care of the kids alone.
"Corper, please, don't be angry. I will attend to you soon," he politely said, and his face confirmed it even though he had to force a smile out, but it looked as if he was going through a lot and was trying to make a living out of his small business. "No problem, sir. It's nothing," I replied to assure him I wasn't in a hurry. The kids looked at me and smiled, and I returned it with all sincerity.
"Corper," staring and pointing at my khaki-green trousers, a white crested vest, a cap and my white shoes I had on me, "I hope my children will wear this uniform one day. Anytime you pass by my shop wearing this uniform, I used to pray in my mind that my children would wear and serve their country, too. Please pray for them." I heard those words from a concerned and loving father, and deep inside, I knew he meant it and wanted the same dream for his children.
I smiled softly, turned to his children's direction and said to them, "Someday, you will put on this uniform I am wearing, but know that you will have to study hard and be determined. That's what I did, and it brought me here." They nodded in the affirmative and thanked me. I collected my power banks, paid and left.
It's always the joy of every parent to see their children graduating from school and putting on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform, because as a Nigerian, it's always a pride and honour getting to that phase of life.
As I walked home, I couldn't stop thinking about those words he said and what I told the children. I began to reminisce back on how everything had been for me; the ups and downs before I could get to this point. I remembered how it took me so long to finally live in a dream I had once pronounced for myself. Just like what the man said, it was similar, but in my case, I told myself that dream and worked towards it.
"Busayo, you have reached this point all because of God and your determination," I calmly said to myself as I walked upstairs, counting as I took each step. At this point, I had forgotten I was tired and was walking slowly. It was as if that was a food I needed for my soul because I felt satisfied with the short but powerful statement I told the children and even said a little prayer for them. "I am living my dream," I thought to myself.
I had just finished my secondary school a few years ago, and on a Thursday morning, it was just like a normal day where everyone was about their hustle. Parents opening shops to start the business of the day, buses and bikes moving up and down with different passengers alighting at the bus stop, hawkers didn't stop singing with their beautiful voices selling their goods, children running and playing around, and there was my mom and I already seated facing the express road waiting for our customers.
Then, as I looked up to see where a particular noise that seemed like some people were fighting was coming from, I saw a small group of youth in their uniforms crossing the other side of the road. Instantly, something pricked my heart, and I told myself, "One day, I will wear this uniform and my dream will come true." Though it was a normal word but it spiked something in me that changed everything about me that day. The once unserious girl became serious all of a sudden. How beautiful change can begin in just a short moment. I looked at my mom, felt her struggles, and I was determined to make her proud (may her soul continue to rest in peace).
As I jolted back to reality, I realised I'd stayed longer at the entrance of the door with my thoughts that had wandered off to the past. I smiled, went inside and shut the door. I entered the kitchen and made something for myself. I couldn't stop smiling that day just because of that short moment with the man and his children, plus me, who was living the dream already.
Image Source: Chatgpt