Just Like My Mother

Adum international school once sat upon the prestigious throne of the
best in the state. Not just for its teachin ability but also for her
ability, lyk a skilful carver, to create masterpieces out of the lives
of young children. Inculcating in them priceless values.
It was a reference point for excellence. Every child wantd to b there.
At state and national competitions, they won landslide victories.
There were only two schools in the old Gongola state: Adum
International and others. It was the north star of any school
proprietor navigating the stormy academic seas. The school was their
compass, their map, their manual. Their standards were high and their
morals were strict.
In the midst of the schools environment was the security post. It was
different. It looked like an irritating stain in a well-tailored robe.
The faded yellow paint on its walls silently cried out for aid. The
office had a rust-coated ceiling fan, a non-functional wall clock, a
crucifix on the wall amidst old and obsolete furniture. The carpet was
torn in many places and the dirty curtains helped make the office look
like the modern adaptation of amadioha's shrine. The roof of the
buildin was very very rusty. Like the little boy who walked into the
school premises on one of life's many fateful days. He was accompanied
by a woman in her mid-thirties. It was their first time of comin to
Adum International. For the boy, it was the first amongst many to
come. For the woman, it was not just her first...it was also her very
last. Although fate had hidden it from her at the moment.
Right from the first instant, the little boy, Oluebube Isaac Ephraim,
was a strange lad. After his first day in school, when it seemed his
smile could lighten up the whole class, he gradually withdrew into his
shell as the days passed by, like a bonfire slowly dying out.
His promotion from primary one to two was by a very small margin -
many of yet to come. He had no friends. It seemed as though he enjoyed
the comfort of his own company. Many times he was caught talkin to
himself...or maybe someone only he could see. His outfit was unable to
conceal the fact that he was a handsome lad. His fair complexion was
complemented by his very black curly hair. All these features combined
wit a pointed nose and hazel eyes helped raise suspicions that he was
half-caste. But was he? Maybe time would tell.
Nothwithstanding his charming, disarming smile and well-sculptured
face, many did not lose their fear of him. Both teachers and students
alike. He was always the brunt of insults from several bullies, yet he
paid them no heed. This infuriated them the more. Then one day,
something happened! He was in primary four then. It was reported by
eye witnesses that in a blind fit of rage, he had grabbed a bully in
class six, lifted him high and threw him down from the balcony of the
second floor of one of the school's many three-storey buildings! The
victm only escaped wit a fractured ankle, a dislocated elbow and minor
bruises. That was absurd. Where had the strengthh com from? When asked
wat promptd his action, he said the bully insulted his mother. After
he was disciplined,he was asked if he had learnt his lesson well. He
replied with fire in his hazel eyes and an unnatural voice, "NOBODY
INSULTS MY MOTHER!" With this incident, the mystery about him
intensified...
When Ebube got promoted to class five, he was placed in Aunty Tricia's
class. In no time, it was clear to his classmates that he liked his
new teacher. On children's day, the pupils were asked to present gifts
to their teachers. They had been told aforehand. Everyone's gift was
wrapped in shiny wrappers. But as usual, Ebube's gift was unusual. It
was in a black nylon bag.
When it got to his turn, the teacher was very uncomfortable. She did
not know what to expect from him. He opened the nylon bag and brought
out a bracelet made with beads. Half of the beads its beads wre
missing. In order to make him happy, she quickly stretchd forth her
hand and he put it on her. She thanked him. Then he smiled and said,
"You look jus like my mother."
Aunty Tricia was stunned but Ebube was not thru yet.
He brought out a half-filled bottle of perfume and gave it to his
teacher. His classmates sniggered but he paid them no heed. In order
to put them to shame, the teacher put a little of it on herself and
acknowledged Ebube's gift as the best. The other children got angry.

When he was through, he said, "Now you smell just like my mother..."
then he turned around and as he headed to his seat, added in a ghostly
whisper, "...bfore she fell ill and left me." he walked back slowly to
his seat. Everyone was listening, but only Aunty Tricia heard what the
lonely boy had said.
With that little revelation, she sought for more information about
him. She discovered that his mother had died a short while after he
was admitted into the school. Apart from paying Ebube's school fees,
the father was not interestd in his son's welfare. This explained why
Ebube was hostile to any male teacher that crossed his path. It
explained so many things. After that discovery and several other
discoveries, she made up her mind to always be therefor him. That was
where their journey - Ebube and Aunty Tricia's journey - began. She
organized private lessons for him and every facet of his ife improved.
Even when he left Adum International as the best student in his set,
and got admitted into a unity school, nobody was surprised. Aunty
Tricia had done a good work on Ebube. When he left the school, they
remained in contact wit each other. She was always available to advise
the fair-skinned boy on anything. From the normal to the absurd.
Absolutely anything.
6 years after he left primary school, she received a letter. It was
from Oluebube Ephraim. He had passed his WAEC in flyin colours and had
gained admission to study law in a prestigious university in the
country. He had been placed on scholarship by the chairman of his
school's Parent Teacher Association. Aunty Tricia was overjoyed. But
God was not through yet.
They still remained in contact with each other. When she was getting
married, he played a very significant role. To her he was a younger
brother from another father. That was in his first year in the
university.
Then seven years after the last letter, another letter came from
Ebube. It was to inform her that he had graduated as the best student
in his faculty and also finished law school in flying colours.
After that, there was a communication gap between them. Aunty Tricia
had relocated wit her family and they had misplaced each other's phone
number.
So it was wit a mixture of fear and anxiety that she opened the box
that arrived in her name 18 years after her first encounter with
Ebube. She opened the box. It was from Ebube. It contained a letter; a
very nice piece of expensiv fabric; a parcel that cntained a handbag,
a pair of exquisite shoes, wristwatch, and a make-up kit: all made by
Georgio Armani; a jewellery set and an invitation card. He was gettin
married. Her joy knew no bounds.
Afta thankin her for the role she played in his life, he requested
that he wantd her to b a member of the high table at his wedding. But
that was not all. He said, "I want you to sit where my mother would
have sat if she were stil alive."

As aunty tricia finishd wit d leta, her husbnd came in and read d
leta. As d tears welled up in her eyes, she made to clean it. Her
husband stopped her. He said to her, "Rememba wat u use to say: not
all tears are an evil." then they hugged themselves and jubilated for
ebube.