The Early morning cold harmattan wind raced through Ifechi’s ears. It was his first time walking through the untarred road that leads to his grandpa’s farm. Since he was child till now that he had attained adulthood, his late parents have never brought him home to know his cradle. Only yesterday Pa Maxwell showed him the route to the palm plantation handed to him by his father. It is the only heritage he got from his parents.
During the early times, when machines had not been discovered in Europe and around the world, farming with crude implements was one of the most rewarding occupations. Every male child learns the trade from his father, who in turn trains his own male child in the craft.
A male child whose father engages in fishing also grows up to be a fisherman. But for the female child, their traditional responsibility is to learn housekeeping and to get pregnant and nurture the children till they grow up and become responsible adults.
Grandpa Maxwell had been a good man, he had just one male child, Ikem. He was the only man in the whole of Amanta that sent his child to school. Other men had felt that formal education was just a waste of time. They’d rather make their male children tend to the farms than go to school.
Ikem started elementary school in Ibadan, a city considered to be the largest city in West Africa. Upon completion, he continued to secondary school in Lagos at Eko Boys High school. As one of the best science students at graduation, Ikem got a scholarship to study Engineering at Davenport University. That was one of the greatest moments for Pa Maxwell.
Amanta heard of Ikem prowess in the city and all families had to reconsider their thoughts about formal education. Some of the men had to sponsor their male children to school outside Amanta and for higher studies abroad.
In no time, Amanta had gotten great men who had ventured into different careers. During a town hall meeting, the men collectively agreed to write the government at the centre to establish an elementary and secondary schools in Amanta or its environs.
But first, all the men appreciated Maxwell for his prompt action to send Ikem to school as the first person to take advantage of the white man’s education and to open the eyes of others to what benefits in schooling.
When Ikem returned from studies abroad, he was gainfully employed and before long, he got married to Anita. It was a good time for Pa Maxwell. His only son had brought joy to his household.
Many years later, Anita and Ikem have given births to three children, two boys and a girl. The first boy Ifechi started to give and attitude that Ikem would not subscribe too.
Several warnings yet Ifechi refused to turn a new leaf. Ifechi does not attend to his studies promptly. There were times he would not attempt his homework.
Chrisland College where Ifechi attends called his parents, Anita and Ikem that their so have not been living up to expectation that he has e has been suspended from school for two weeks for not attempting his home work.
Ikem got so angry when he heard the report. He immediately sent Ifechi to Amanta where he would live with Pa Maxwell and learn the hard way.
As he went to the farm that cold morning, he remember how he had had a good life in the city and all he ever needed was at the tip of his fingers but he never took it very seriously.
Grandpa Maxwell, though hold but still had strong bones could work tirelessly and still walk miles back home.
When Ifechi got to the farm, Grandpa Maxwell was done harvesting some tubers of yam and had made a new heap to plant the seedling from the harvested yams. Ifechi was too tired to do anything.
Every day after throng walk from Amanta to the farm at Obowu, Ifechi hadn't been able to make one complete yam ridge.
On this particular cold morning, when he arrived at the farm, Grandpa Maxwell sat him down and spoke some senses to his head.
Your father, who is my son, wasn't as lazy as you think. We walk this miles everyday before I sent him to the city to learn in the whiteman's school
Now, Ifechi's ears are wide open. He wants to hear more. He had thought that his father was born with silver spoon in his mouth.
He would work on the farm and in the evening when we are returning home, he will carry a load of firewood back home and walk the mile back home again.
Grandpa Maxwell continued.
I got my first bicycle after I was relieved of paying school fees because your father worked so very hard and got a scholarship that took him through school abroad.
It is beginning to make some sense. He would have to reconsider his way.
Everything your father has now, he worked for it. As such, you too should walk in his ways and not depend on what he has he has been able to gather.
It was at this juncture that Ifechi began to shed some tears. He promised to be of good behaviour and to study hard to upscale his father's achievement.