To be truly Nigerian is to have illusions about Nigeria. To say that Nigeria is a rich country with many poor people because of bad governance. To compare and contrast notes with United States when the only thing we can honestly boast of is a brilliant youth population. To go about the globe with a sense of entitlement and an infectious confidence. To study Nursing and practice as a doctor. To consider lawyers beautiful fixtures and never really a necessity. To want our children to want to study law but to pray against the need of a lawyer. To have a dream to ‘jand’ someday. To celebrate the grant of a visa. To guard the news from bad belles.

Omotinne was no exception. Like many Nigerian youths she merely wanted to get her “useless microbiology degree’’ and travel to abroad. To the United states, or Canada but if not possible anywhere would do. Omotinne was in her third year at the university when she met Jasper. Jasper had told her that she didn’t even need to wait to get her degree as he could easily get her job regardless and even enroll her in school to study Medicine like she always wanted on a full scholarship. She was going to be paid per week about #100 000 for taking care of a rich old woman. Omotinne needn’t worry about the travel expenses, he was going to cover it all as she was his girl. He was even going to travel with her so she needn’t worry about settling in and accommodation as he had a place in the abroad. However, here comes the caveat, she had to go to Italy. Europe was more welcoming of immigrants, Italy even more so.

It was a perfect plan.

In hindsight, Omotinne should have been less trusting of a man like Jasper but she was not in control of her faculties at that period. Love had taken over. To be in love was to be selectively mad. She should not have handed over her papers to him when they got to Italy. She should never have handed over her phone and severed all ties with her friends and relations.

Omotinne sometimes thought she deserved all that happened to her. She had handed her phone over to Jasper because she thought it was a good idea to leave relatives out of her life as they were prone to start making demands. Relatives who never made any meaningful contribution to her life anyway. She was self-made.

‘’Yes, I totally agree with you. You know how our people can be. The moment you land like this they are sending you a list of things you should send home to them. Like as if money grows on tree here.’’

‘’You know you should at least stand on your two feet before you start doing charity. Your travelling was very easy. It doesn’t now mean you should squander the opportunity’’.

‘’Yes o. I don’t know how I would have done all these without you.’’

Then, he fucked her.

 

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One Response

  1. “Morning Dew” ……an exciting and educative piece! With some Harlequin-like wordsmith, enwrought with “Nigerianized” English flavor, Temitope is undoubtedly one of the best budding authors in Nigeria. Keep it burning.

    Great Ife!

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