I grew up with chucky, gozie and Bobby.
These were my playmates.
I'm not going to lie, gozie was a sweet girl and she was intelligent.
I enjoyed playing with her. I think there was a connection between the both of us.
There was this particular feeling I had each time I saw her nor played with her.
I was just a kid but I think I was in love already with her.
Gozie was attending another school while myself and my siblings did attend another one.
One thing we did was each time we came back from school,we use to gather either at their house or mine to compare our classwork.
I'm just going to say the truth, gozie was the most intelligent amongst us.
I have watched several times each time we played choose a partner, I have seen Gozie always choosing me.
I didn't understand why she was always choosing me.
Maybe because she liked me, maybe because she was falling for me, maybe because I was her crush.
I have watched her several times come through for me as a child. I have watched her several times fight for me...I have watched her several times defend me.
If I had understood the meaning of love as at then, I tell you the truth, I would have been marrying her by today.
Remember I earlier said gozie was really intelligent. There was one particular thing she did that shocked my life.
All the times we have been playing together, she never mentioned to me that she was going to change her school to mine.
It was one Monday morning in class, the headmistress walked into my class and announced that we had a new pupil in class and that we should co-operate with her and carry her along.
Before we could say jack, lo, and behold, it was Gozie.
I was shocked when she came in to the class. At that point a whole lot played in my head.
She was asked to sit wherever she felt like.
I saw her twerk majestically to my seat. At that point, my head was big and swelling.. you know that feeling when a fine girl is coming to sit with you, that was how I felt that Day. I have never been that happy all my life but that particular moment, I was very happy.
I was speechless when I shared my space with her, I didn't even know what to tell her.
After school, we went home together.
That evening,it was time for our usual hide and seek. We all gathered around the mango tree and as usual, we were asked to choose our partners and she still choose me.
I was just a kid, growing up,I was very shy. I didn't know how to look into the eye's of a Lady.
Each time I was hanging around with gozie,"them no born me well to look her eye balls to eye balls"
That's to show you the level oy shyness then.
She immediately whispered into my ear, Kingsley, I really do feel comfortable hanging around you. I don't know how to explain this to you but I feel at home whenever you are around.
When I was a child, love almost carried me to where I didn't know.
I must say I really felt comfortable with gozie.
Going to school together, doing homework together was really fun with her.
I think gozie actually helped me to become better in spelling and dictations and I really do appreciate her for that.
Gozie was just new to my class and that particular term, she came first position.
I was never surprised,she did deserve to be the top in the class.
During the holiday, we did a whole lot of mental problems.
We kept on trashing the almighty "UGO .C.UGO"
The holiday was going smoothly not until her uncle who stayed in town visited them.
During that period, her uncle wanted taking her to stay with him and at the same time sponsor her until she's done with her primary school education.
It was Time for hide and seek Games, gozie had called me that evening, the looks on her face, I sensed all was not well.
I have asked her what was troubling her and she broke the news to me that evening.
I'm never going to lie, I was heartbroken. I tried talking to her not to accept going to the city with the uncle but her parents had made up their plan's to let her go.
I went back home that night and I couldn't sleep.
I was sad and I had a long night thinking about how I'm going to miss Gozie.
Gozie was the first female friend I had and until today, I have never been able to see her again.
I guess maybe by now, she's happily married and she's doing well for herself.
Life indeed happened to me.
In life, everybody is important.
Cherish every moment with the people who genuinely admire you and want the best for you.
Hello Gozie, you will forever remain the best friend I ever had.
I just wish and hope that someday, I get to see you again.