The best day of my life was when I heard I would go to school. I jumped up and down, and knelt down and prayed to God.
When I was 7 years old, I was still living with my parents. One morning when I woke up, I saw my mother crying bitterly. I asked her what happened but she was reluctant to tell me. I also sat down and started crying.
My mother now said I should come closer. She then told me, “Daddy did not travel for work.”She said my daddy had died.
I first jumped up and started shouting and asking,“My God, why did you do this to me?”
My mother now tapped me and said I should not worry and that God will provide whatever I would need in my life.
Whenever my friends came to my house to call meto go to school together, I would lie to them that I was not feeling well and that hopefully I would jointhem the following week. But the truth is, my daddy was not around to pay my school fees again.
I quite remember my mother’s aunt gave her 3000 naira so that we could get ourselves some food to eat. I ate rice that day and right after diet, I started to think about my dead father. I encouraged myself, saying, “Everything comes from God.” I slept afterwards.
Days later, I told my mummy I wanted to go and live with one of my father’s brother, who would take me back to school. She agreed. I went to stay with him and started schooling again.
Unfortunately for me, when I was in primary two, he was attacked by a severe sickness and he couldn’t respond to treatment. He too kicked the bucket. I cried bitterly! I said to myself; “This is the end of my life and schooling.”
I went back to my mother to stay with her for sometime without schooling. My mother wasn’t happy and I wasn’t as well. She later brought me here to her sister’s house and I have been living with her to date.
With a benefactor, I strive to work hard and take my studies and books serious so that I can also earn something in future to take care of my mother. I pray for her everyday
Alimot, 13. Nigeria
Credit: Henry Anumudu
The School of Life 