TO HATE AND LOVE
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CHAPTER3
The harmattan breeze always reminded me that Christmas
is nearby, i looked forward to welcome my sweet aunty
Amanda home, my mother tried her best in making sure i
enjoy my Christmas like my mates, she saved enough to
buy clothes and shoes for me, “Amy, i want youvto know
that you are a big girl now , any decision you make now
will affect you positively or negatively in future, do not
keep bad friends, i’ll allow you mingle with your mates but
dont stay in a lonely place alone with a boy, mind the kind
of friends you keep”she advised me. My mother has
always advised me but this time she looked so serious, i
was even scared. “mama you’ve told me this more than
100times,i promise to make you proud, dont worry, i’ll wipe
away your tears” i assured my mother. She brought out all
she bought for me and i was so happy, i loved my wears
and shoes, i was so happy.
It’s Christmas eve, and everyone was busy preparing for
the D day, my mother bought two live chickens, we were
about slaughtering them when my mother’s phone rang, i
checked it was my Aunty Amanda! I gave the phone to my
mother, “my dear, we’re back oo, we just returned now,
how’re you? How’s my baby, Amy doing,? Pls send her to
my house to pick what i bought for you people” , aunty
Amanda said from the other end of the phone, “ezigbo oyi
m, we’re fine, i’ll send her right away,” my mother replied
happily.”dont worry my dear, i’ll come and see you
tomorrow afternoon, it’s been long i saw you, prepare ofe
onugbu for me oo, take care “aunty Amanda replied,” trust
your friend, i’ll be waiting for you ooo, bye”my mother said
and cut the call. She turned to me smiling,”your aunty said
you should come to her house and pick what she bought
for us,”my heart skipped immediately remembering her
children, but i was so happy that i forgot all that happened,
this time i made sure i bathed and looked nice before
leaving the house.
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I entered my aunty’s compound feeling happy and praying
so hard not to see any of her children especially Nelson, i
didn’t have any problem passing the gate as the gate man
is familiar with me, immediately i entered inside the
compound, i saw my aunty directing one of her maids on
what to do, i rushed to her and hugged her, she was so
happy to see me, she told me turn around to see me well,
“aah, my little angel is now a big girl, Amy baby, you’re
looking so beautiful”. She flattered me. I was so shy, she
invited me into her sitting room where we gisted about
what has been happening in the village, she told me her
husband went to pay homage to the king, i felt at home,
my aunty excused herself to get our presents, i was about
finishing my juice when i heard someone enter the sitting
room, i was scared, i looked up and saw Chioma, she’s now
a big girl, looking so beautiful and classy, inferiority
complex came in, i greeted her”good evening ma”looking
down at my feet. She stood staring at me, then she replied,
“evening dear, how’re you? “i replied almost immediately”
i’m fine, i came to see aunty, Amanda,she’s my mothers
best friend, she’s like a mother to me”i stammered, “oooh,
you’re Amaka, nice to meet you, you’re a beautiful girl, i
think i like you, can you be my friend, to take me round the
village and teach me village life”. I couldn’t believe my
eyes, am i dreaming, i pinched myself and felt the pain, she
noticed my strange reaction and spoke up, “there’s no need
being scared, i know you think i’m a snob, no i’m not, when
you get to know me, you will realise i’m not who you think
i am, my brother Nelson is the only one that believe
there’s nothing good in this country, he treats the poor as
trash, when people see him, they think we all behave like
him, she paused then continued, “i know village will be
boring without a friend like you, so are we friends now?
“the question took me off balance, i nodded like a lizard,
she came to where i stood and hugged me.” sit down and
feel at home, my siblings went to the city to get
somethings for Nelson’s pool birthday party, i’m personally
inviting you to his party “she concluded