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PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | JANUARY 27, 2022
Toyosi’s Escape
Every child deserves to have loving parents that will take care of them until that child is old enough to take care of themselves. Toyosi Adenrele is a fifteen-year-old boy that studies in a public secondary school. He is currently in SS2 (senior secondary class two) in Aguda Boys Grammar School in Aguda Surulere. He is the oldest child of Mr. Adenrele and his wife Olufunke. They live in a rented two-bedroom flat in Aguda not far from Toyosi’s school.
When Toyosi was in SS1 a NGO came to their school to teach the children craft skills. Each child had to pick one craft they want to learn and stay in that class every Friday from the beginning of the third term to the end. A whole 12 weeks of craft training. Toyosi was in the household products and cosmetics manufacturing class. Toyosi’s father was not in agreement with his child learning a craft but his mother convinced her husband that since the other children were learning as well Toyosi should be an exception.
Toyosi has two youger siblings, a brother who is eight and a sister who is 5 years. Both of his siblings are still in primary school. Today a lot of people are in their home, some are consoling their mum, while other are just sitting around. Last night Toyosi’s dad died of a serious case of typhoid fever. His father slumped after eating and he was rushed to the hospital but the doctor refused to treat him and asked that they take him to the General Hospital. However, before they got to the General Hospital his dad had died. Now people were in their home trying to console their mum. No one bothered to talk to them or ask them how they were. It was already 12pm and they have not even had breakfast. Folashade, his younger sister was crying even though she doesn’t know what is going on.
3 Months After Toyosi’s Dad Is Buried
“Toyosi, take your younger ones to school. I will tell Bisi to pick them up and bring them to the shop” His mother tells him as she leaves for the shop. That evening as they are ready to have dinner someone bangs on their door. “Toyosi check who is at the door” Says Mrs. Adenrele
Toyosi stands up from his seat, goes to the front door. He looks through the peephole and sees the Landlord. Toyosi rushes back to his mum. “Mummy it it the landlord” he says. His mother quickly stands up and goes to the door. She opens the door. “Good evening Landlord” she greets
“Mrs. Adenrele good evening” The landlord says
“Come in sir” Mrs. Adenrele says
“No thank you. How are you and the children?” The landlord asks.
“We are doing good sir. God has been good to us” She responds
“See I know this may not be a good time, but I came to remind you of the rent. I didn’t come to talk to you about it since Mr. Adenrele passed because I know what you will be going through” The Landlord says
“Thank you sir. I understand but please give me time. Things are not moving well in the shop. Since two hands have now become one, things are a bit tighter. We will pay you the rent, just give me some time” Says Mrs Adenrele
“Mrs Adenrele I understand your plight but you know I am retired and it is this rent that I rely on. Please I will give you another three months to pay or to get somewhere else” The Landlord says as he walks away
Mrs Adenrele closes the door and walks slowly towards her children.
Later that night Toyosi goes to his mum.
“Mum I want to tell you something” Toyosi says
“Please Toyosi don’t ask me about money this night. I am not in the mood” His mother says.
“No mummy. I think I know how we can get the money to pay the rent or part of it” Toyosi says.
“What do you mean?” His mother replies
“Mummy you remember that last year you helped persuade dad to allow me to learn craft when he would have told me to stop?” Toyosi says
“Yes I remember” says his mother.
“Mummy we can start producing some of those things for sale. I already make the liquid detergent we use at home and you even take some to your church” Toyosi says.
“With ten thousand naira we can start the business. You will sell some in your shop. I will also start selling some too. My teacher told me the other day that she would like to buy from me as my soap is of better quality and not too watery like the way others make their soap. I can also make disinfectant and toilet wash once we start making money. Plus our freezer is just there.
“The electricity in the shop is more stable than here at home. We can be selling ice block and cold water too” Toyosi tells his mum.
“Toyosi I can barely feed us. I have sold almost everything in the shop and we spend the money immediately we sell something.” His mum replies him
“Mummy yesterday a message came on dad’s phone that you gave me. Daddy has some money in his Zenith bank account. I remember that you are also a signatory to the account. We can use that money” Toyosi says
“What!” Mrs. Adenrele shouts
“Where is the phone? How much is the money?” She asks. Toyosi hands her the phone. She checks the message from the bank. “Fifty thousand naira! Jesus!!! I had even forgotten about the account number o! It is an account for emergency that your father and I started last year.” She says
“Tomorrow is Saturday and banks won’t open. First thing Monday, I will go to the bank. Thank God you will be starting your holiday next week.” Says Mrs. Adenrele
Four years later
“Toyosi!” Shouts someone.
Toyosi comes running to the front of the house. They are now living in their own house, The business of the production has grown so big that they were able to buy a plot of land and build a three bedroom bungalow. They don’t have to worry about a Landlord anymore.
“Mummy the manager is here” Toyosi calls to his mum
“Ah Manager welcome” Mrs Adenrele says as she walks out of the house. She brings out the key to her Toyota Corolla 2012 model from her bag.
“Has the bus for the delivery of the pure water been repaired?” She asks
“Yes Madam” The manager responds
“Toyosi when are you going back to school?” His mother asks as Toyosi is now a student of business administration at the Lagos State University. He is in his second year. He goes to school from home and helps his mother in the new pure water factory when he gets back home.
“I will soon be going ma” He says.
“Okay. Your siblings have already gone with the school bus” She enters her car and starts the car. The manager enters at the passenger side and they drive off. Toyosi smiles and thinks back to those days’, years ago when his dad was saying he shouldn’t learn craft. Thank God his mother was able to convince his dad to allow him learn a craft.
THE END
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