Deep Waters

His was a very faulty foundation 
He was born in a village 
The village was located on the outside 
of Ibadan, Oyo state 
His father was a public bus driver 
His mother was a trader 
They had farmlands close to their village 
This was where he grew up! 
On the farmland Planting maize,
cassava, yam, and other crops 
He was enrolled in school at the 
age of six 
But the school was dead, what was
once built and commissioned with
pomp and funfair had become a cemetery of
 dilapidated buildings 
There were no serious teachers 
The teachers sent to them by the government 
reported once or twice a week 
At the end of every academic year 
All the pupils got promoted to the next class 
He couldn't read properly until he got to 
primary five 
Even then it was his father who took it upon 
himself to teach him the Yoruba language 
He took to it like a duck to water 
He started practicing his mastery of the
English language too 
By the time he got to SS3 
He was the only one who could speak 
basic English 
He was made the head boy 
His best friend was made his assistant 
His basic duty was to divide the students
 into labour groups and oversee the cutting 
of grass and watering of flowers! 
The community leaders tried all they 
could to make the school
As functional as they could! 
They contributed some money to employ 
PTA teachers and wrote petitions to 
the government every month! 
The school was the only evidence of 
government presence in their community 
and it was dead! 
After much ado, the government transferred 
the principal and most of
The teachers away from the school! 
Another principal was brought 
A young and very passionate man 
He assessed still the students and 
told them they couldn't write the 
WAEC examination 
They were all guaranteed to fail! 
The new principal had a meeting with 
the community leaders 
He told them what he needed! 
The community responded 
The school was rebuilt 
New teachers were employed 
After a few months, an assessment test 
was done 
All the students improved but he and his 
friend couldn't wait 
They approached the principal 
We can see what you are doing sir 
But we want to write WAEC 
He told them they would have to register 
in another school in town and attend lessons 
in order to meet up 
They agreed 
The principal spoke to their parents 
He moved them to another school in town 
They were assessed and demoted to SS1
 They kept their heads down and grew
The only but they had was mastering 
the English language 
They were science students and they 
flourished in Mathematics, Physics, 
Chemistry and other subjects 
Their spoken English was horrible 
They could understand when they were 
spoken to but they wouldn't dare speak 
the English langage in public 
They wrote WAEC and passed! 
Of course, they failed the English 
language 
They had to resit for the paper 
The principal coached them personally 
They passed! 
He gained admission to a university 
The other guy gained admission into 
the polytechnic 
They parted ways 
He studied very hard! 
He got to 300 level 
He met this beautiful lady 
She was from Lagos 
A student in another department 
She was a city girl who spoke phonetics 
like an Americana 
Several guys wanted to be with her 
He wanted to marry her 
But he didn't know how to express himself 
He didnt have game! 
One day he went to her house 
He knocked on the door of her room 
She was living off campus 
He was determined to tell her his mind 
The moment she opened the door 
His determination flew away 
He said "I am going to fetch some water, 
do you have empty Jerry cans so that I
can fetch some water for you! 
(He spoke in Yoruba) 
She knew he was a student 
She had seen him in the neighbourhood 
He was very much older than her! 
She could read his body language 
She was not born yesterday 
She knew he wanted more than that 
She reluctantly gave him the Jerry can
He took off happily 
After that day he fetched water for her 
everyday 
Sometimes he would meet another 
guy with her "Toasting" her 
He would turn a blind eye 
She, in turn, would cook delicious meals 
and take food to him 
It was her way of saying thank you 
He fetched water and she fed him
They became close 
She told him about the other guys 
They played ludo together 
They talked often until late in the night 
He still didnt make any move 
She eventually thought she misread 
the whole situation 
Perhaps he just liked her as a "sister" 
They got to final year 
She needed to pick a husband! 
She had six toasters 
She picked one 
The next day she told him 
"I think I will marry so and so, 
I have made up my mind, when he 
comes to ask me about it again, 
I will say yes" 
He went silent for a long time 
His silence made her uncomfortable 
She asked him what was wrong 
He said "What about me? 
I have been here waiting for you to see 
that I might not speak fancy English 
but I have a fancy future! 
I love you and you didnt even give me 
a thought! 
This is our two years together! 
Have you ever seen a woman with me? 
Did I have anyone else?" 
Wow! It was the
Last thing she expected! 
She didnt say another word until he left 
He came by the next day 
He met her door locked 
He came by every day for a week 
She was nowhere to be found 
He didnt know what to do 
Why did he open his mouth? 
Why didnt he just keep quiet? 
He went looking for her
One of her friends said she went 
home to see her mother in Ibadan 
He took off for the village the next morning 
He told his mother everything 
His mother dressed up and followed him 
to her parent's house 
When she saw them, she welcomed him 
and his mother 
Her mother was at home
Both parents met for the first time 
His mother discussed the situation with her 
mother 
Her mother listened 
Her mother called her and said 
"Do you know him? 
Is it true that he had been with you for 
over two years and he really loves you?" 
She nodded 
Her mother told her to bring water and 
refreshments for her in-laws! 
She smiled Her mother smiled! 
They had the refreshment and left! 
Later that night, her mother advised her 
to marry him 
He ticked all the boxes and he would 
love and cherish her forever! 
She agreed! 
One year later they got married!

PS: Her mother's counsel was golden
Of all her siblings and friends 
Her marriage was the only one standing 
after ten years 
He cherished and loved her with all 
his heart! 
Their marriage is blessed with 
three children! 

Still waters run deep!