Blessings to fathers all over the world and beyond 🥳👑❤️🕊

The year was 2002. That Saturday morning Mommy woke me up differently. The taps were gentler than usual, I just had to get up. “Good morning ma” I greeted. “Hmmm, how are you?” “I’m fine Mommy.” Joining my hands together, I shut my eyes, and bend my head to say the Lord’s Prayer. Smiling, she waits. Once I’m done, she pulls out some money wrapped in a handkerchief and folds it into my right palm. “This is 15,000 naira. Tomorrow is Father’s Day, and I forgot to buy a gift. So on your way back from school, branch Oshodi market, and buy a wristwatch. Fine one o” she instructs, and I nod diligently. My mind trailed off to the only possible problem, Kalu’s after-school party.

Blessing made me promise I wouldn’t miss it, and I did. I started thinking of what to wear, and my mom called me back; “Obioma! You hear me?” I take a deep breath, “Yes ma I hear you. Black leather wristwatch.” I said, and put my feet down, and into my flip flops. “You know say he get 2 brown already. And 3 chain watch. Make we add black join am. He go take am dey wear native for weddings. Make he see the one he go use dey change” My mom continues to patronize the love of her life, and I want to roll my eyes but, I dare not.

At 2:45 p.m., our Saturday classes were done, school was over. You see we went to school on Saturdays to make up for an incident that would have killed us, had it not occurred on a Sunday. The infamous Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast of January 27, 2002. We lost the school facility and had to share space with the primary school for a few months. (Long story.)9 So; Blessing rushes into my class and jumps on my chair, a happy child, “Quick, show me your dress Obioma.” I produce my nice jeans and tops stuffed deep in my school bag, and we rush out excited to get to this party. If only we knew we’d have the rest of our life to party. Lol. Good times.

Party got lit at 4. Gladness Azu, Azudialo George, Gregory Whyte, my humble self Obioma Peters, and Big Charles volunteered to make cocktails. At 6:30 p.m. I knew I had to run home because I was already in trouble, but if I didn’t get that wristwatch, then I’d be dead.

I get to the ever-busy Oshodi market at 6:30 p.m. and get a good bargain. 5,500 naira was all I spent on the black leather wristwatch, and 100 naira on a nice case with that cute foam that makes it look expensive.

I wrote a lovely poem but it didn’t stop the beatings I got for getting home at 8:30 p.m., and lying about being held up in traffic on a Saturday in Lagos, from Oshodi to Egbeda. “From 3 in the afternoon to 8:30 n’abali Obioma!”

My father yells with 2 canes in his hand.

The stupid lies we told back then as children. Hahaha. He loved that wristwatch though. He wore it for years, till the leather became threads. HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO EVERY BELOVED DAD OUT THERE. We are all here because you came.😉 God bless youuuuu!