Fictions by Ima.

                                   JULY 6TH 2000        According to the television and my mom who was dancing strangely by the window, this is a new millennium (whatever that means). Well if it is, then I’m grateful to God for keeping I and my family to this day, I owe it all to him.       Secondary school has been terrible. I had a fight two weeks after resuming with a girl who is now my friend...strange huh? It was love at first fight! I only found out that she is really nice and kind and I must have really annoyed her enough for her to fight back...that just tells me she is no coward. Personally, I don’t think I want to fight anymore... I know I don’t ace it with looks so I prefer not to further occasion harm.       Oh! I didn’t tell you, there is this guy in my class, he is SOOO CUTE! I steal glances every opportunity I get. He is jus...

                            JULY 6TH 1999     Fell ill again and again. My clothes hardly fit and my brothers were in the habit of calling me “skelebobo 101” cos of how thin I am.     I think I heard my mom crying in her room. I tried to listen through the keyhole in the door but I heard mainly muffles and something about losing a child.  I was terrified because, I’m not sure I remember her pregnant. I think it must have been a boy cos I know I always wanted a little brother. I wonder what may have happened.  She sounded so sad and I heard her say that it was the fourth son she had lost. I pray she never has to go through that experience again.     For the days after that day, I can’t remember seeing her smile. Hmm... I really don’t know what it means to lose a child but I can imagine. I tried my best those few days to be a good daughter until she came out of the depr...

JULY 6TH 1998     This now my third year in primary school and so far it’s been great. One of my big brothers has gone to secondary school and I’m getting used to the environment.      I got picked out for an excursion to welcome a man named Richard King to Nigeria. It was a swell experience! A Canadian lady took a liking to me and gave sweets and pie but my teacher who was totally hovering around me like a hungry vulture took it from me immediately the nice lady turned to leave. I only got driblets! But on the whole, I was glad I went for the programme.      Something else happened earlier this year. I was taking a walk with my best friend beside a football field at school where my brother and his friends were playing ball and before I could spit out the next word to my friend, I was on the ground. Turned out that someone- who would later be my crush- took a merciless shot and it hit the back of my head. It was unexplainable! My brother rush...

JULY 6TH 1997       Mom is always making me eat with my brother and the guy is soooo not nice! He eats the good portion and leaves me out on it and it’s because I’m a slow eater. Well, the last time we ate, I was very angry so I tossed some of the food in his face...I felt good about this...until he retaliated.        Oh! That uncle of mine is still here although the other two have left to probably make their own herd.         My best friend’s brother slapped me. He thought I hurt his sister meanwhile, I didn’t. I hate him for that, in fact I hate both of them for that.        Dad had promised me a bicycle if I came first in class this year and guess what? I did! The funny thing is, dad only gave me twenty naira. Humph! Twenty naira...I had saved in my bag about a thousand naira and all dad could give me was twenty naira...well...i thanked him and went on to spend it. I know I would blame my dad if later on...

                 JULY 6TH 1996       Hey, I started going to primary school this year. The first days were terrible but bearable because my big brothers were still there although not for long. I met a girl there and I already like her. She is as short as I am and she kinda is like me.         Well things back at home hasn’t been really good. Another one of my father’s brother came from the village. He specializes in touching me in weird places. Would love to scream but he threatened the life out of me and me being timid and all,...well...I’ve learnt to get used to it. All I know is that no family members will come to my home when I grow up.         Hey, I fell ill one time during the past year. It was so intense I couldn’t walk; I crawled. Dunno, but sometimes I like bad things to happen to me. I know I am mostly sorry for myself and really enjoy hearing people sympathize with me but s...

JULY 6TH 1995       Growing up with a certain kind of knowledge that sucks you into it every time is never the best way to grow. No one at home knew what happened last year and I am scared of speaking out; not sure what they would do to me. He said he’d beat me up and I don’t know if dad will do same. I hate living this way! Why do I have to carry this burden alone? I choose not to.                                         *        I guess the secret wasn’t to stick on me alone for long, my big sisters found out. I don’t like the way they looked at me, it was a mixture of fright, pity and disgust. I blame myself. If I was stronger and less afraid maybe it would never have happened to me. Maybe if I had screamed and fought him off, I would be telling a different story, a better one. Maybe if I wasn’t so fragile, thin and innocent...maybe if I wasn’t b...

JULY 6TH 1994 Four old years today and I’m beginning to feel like a lady. Nursery school is no longer a bother; I’m the best student in class, the teacher loves me, and other kids try to be like me...things could not get any better.      One day in the course of the year, I finally understood who Jesus is. Mom and dad had been teaching us about him but I never quite grasped the true picture until that day in church. His life is can be summarised thus: He left His throne/home, came to earth to show the way to salvation, died to show for it and is alive forever. Anyone who can’t see this sacrificial act as the best thing in the history of mankind is...well, a child younger than me. I fell in love with Him from that day and often was caught in day dreams of being held in His arms cos guess what? He loves little children! I am soo qualified.      Something else happened during that period. One of those days when I was left home alone with my uncles, I had...