MY FRIENDS

 My School Friends  Among my friends, Uche rarely had visitors on Visiting Days. Her mother died while giving birth to her and she was raised by a stepmother. They lived in another region, quite far from our school so they could not come to see her often. She understood the situation and never com­plained. Uche was a very brilliant and intelligent girl. She desired to become a successful lawyer and worked hard to achieve this.

Nana was the first born in her family. She was a good mathematician and she worked hard to become a professor in mathematics. Yemi was an only child. She was very sociable and kind. She studied hard to become an engineer. We were all hard working students and none of us repeated a class. In our final year, we excelled and came out in flying colours.

Completing Secondary School

At the age of twenty I completed my secondary education. My age was not so obvious because of my small stature. On our graduation day, Aunty Agatha was all smiles for I passed with very good grades. The years had passed so fast, that here I was already out of secondary school. I had learnt a lot of things in boarding school and I was going to put them in practice. We were taught how to be respectful, hardworking and loyal citizens of our country. I had also acquired new skills in baking, dress making and playing the guitar.

After our graduation ceremony, I bade good­bye to my friends and promised to keep in touch via mobile phone.

Back Home From School

On our arrival home, Betty was excited to see me and hugged me tenderly. She had prepared my favourite meal of fried plantain with tomato sauce and fish. In my room I noticed there were a few changes. I now had a bigger bookshelf and on my reading table was a collection of books. My new mother knew I liked reading. Aunty Agatha and I talked all through the night in her bedroom after dinner. She wanted to know everything about my final term in boarding school. She was impressed by my good grades.

I rested for a week before going to assist in her shop. I was to work there till I received my ad­mission for the university. I was happy to give a helping hand in her business, as a show of grati­tude for all her love and care for me.