LifeSightsSound

The 90’s was filled with all manner of coaching or should I say lesson centres for those taking S.S.C.E, WAEC and UME, I do not know what they are called now. They were so many but I chose Ife graduate tutors, I want to believe it was because all the tutors graduated from Ife or something, it was situated in Itire, a wood shed more likely, very close to OKfoods/OKplasts and a walkable distance from my house, I had finished school but the bane of every student “Mathematics” not every student but every commercial student, we hated Mathematics maybe cos our teachers were really bad at it, anyway back to my story.

I walked into the 5pm class and it was filled to the brim with all manner of young people,scanning across the room, you will see those in cliques, those aloof, Awon bad boys, Awon bad gehs, the smokers, those that just came to waste their parents money, those that came for the friends and non parental gathering, there I stood, on my best washed slippers and jeans trouser that has passed through generations to get to me, my file I got from my branch church, one long “higher education” like we used to call those long exercise books (do they still make those).. I found a seat a little bit to the front, long benches with half of my bum almost out…

The day was over and as I was about to leave the class for home, I heard a sing song laughter, captivating laughter, I turned and saw her….

Potruding forehead, big eye balls, slickly packed hair, shining skin, like glass, legs that fill out not anything like mine that looked like a broom stick, wedge slippers and a laugher that could envelop the whole room, didn’t know who she was but one thing I knew she was very beautiful and I want to be her friend..

I kept going to the lessons but never got a chance to speak with her, she had her clique that hung on to her every word, guys drooling just to be with her, there was no way she would ever be my friend so I thought.

My Mother had a stall in front of our house, it was my duty to get it ready for the sale of the day, sweep,bring out the food stuff, open the gate and sit there waiting in case someone wants to buy something.

One morning, months after my lessons were over and I didn’t have money to continue, I sat outside after arranging the stall to read, I saw her, just in the house opposite, I couldn’t believe she lived just opposite me, oh my she is crossing the road over to my stall, how much is your crayfish? She asked, I told her the amount and she picked some and paid me,as she was about to leave, I spoke up, I know you, we attended the same lessons months back, she was surprised and then she smiled, why didn’t you say hello? And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

She will cross to my side of the street, gist with me abit, if I was picking crayfish, she would join me, she calls my mum “Mama in a high pitched voice”  to say I loved her was an understatement, I cherished our friendship even when my family thought she was bad for me, she made me feel it was okay not to have anything and still be happy, she was a happy child, she came to Lagos and was staying with her father’s brother cos her Dad felt warri was spoiling her, she attended Okigwe girls and she was from Abia state, I knew all about her, I even lied to her aunty that her contraceptives were mine (didn’t even know what they were at that time). She gave me my first sleeveless dress with a front slit, my first dress and hadn’t seen generations of wear.. I loved Evelyn.

One morning she came and told me she was going back to Warri, I cried, I really cried. A part of me was going away, she said she needed to go cos her aunty was giving her hell…

Years after, I sat down and I yearned for such a friendship so I started my search for Evelyn, I searched and searched till last year, I saw someone on Facebook that looked like her, I knew her brother’s name was Obinna so I took the first step by telling this person all about his sister and he said oh my goodness you do know her. He give me her number and I was so excited to speak with her, I told my sister about it and she told me not to get to excited, you might no longer be on the same wave, I laughed it away and said okay..

I spoke with my friend August 26th 2016, we started chatting and I was so happy, she now had 3 kids, she married the man she was working for and is still in Warri… times have changed, my sister was right, we no longer were on the same page, she had other things to think of, not the slick hair, big eyeball, high pitched girl I used to know.

Relationships happen in our lives to help us through life stages, Charity learn to let go. I still have friends who I do not need to see everyday or talk to every day but I know they have my back and love me, I should learn to separate those friendships from friends for the seasons, God brings them to your life to help you through that phase and they leave beautiful memories, my friendship with Evelyn was such,

This might just be your story of me, I might be that friend for that particular season of your life.., 

God bless those friendships, May our eyes be open to recognise them, smile and let go when they are done.

Yours Sincerely

CIA