@Immaculata 8 April 2022

City Before I left for the city, mother always reminded me of the story of the old lady who made the mighty udala tree her home. It was said that the lady began to visit the udala tree after her only son left for the city. He had promised to come back in four market days. On the fourth market day, the old lady went to the udala tree to receive her son. The udala tree was on the pathway leading to the big city. Her son never showed up. Every evening she would camp out at the udala tree and never go home until midnight. For years she kept up at this but never met her son. She was rumoured to have died at the udala tree.

Mother said that this happened when she was a kid and that the old lady's son never came back even after the mother's death. According to mother, "the old lady's son was swallowed by the big city". The day I left for the city, mother was filled with tears and made me promise to never let myself be swallowed by the city. I still remember my promise to her, "mother I'm only going there to study. I'll make sure to call everyday and also come back during the holidays". That was seven years ago. I've graduated from school but I still roam the city without a job. It has been years since I last called mother. The last time we spoke was on my graduation four years ago. I promised to find a job, make enough money to care for her needs after which I will go back home. Living as an adult here in the city was a nightmare for me. To get a job here goes with the adage of using what you have to get what you want. Last week I met my friends from the University. Their lives are already going smoothly unlike mine. One of them had said to me, "you are a girl. Use what you have to get what you want". They promised to introduce me to one of the prominent politicians. This was after I had agreed to do what it takes to live a better life. Today is the day I met the politician arranged by my friends. After our meeting, he gave me enough money. Such that I never thought I could make in half a year. Standing outside the hotel waiting for a cab to take me back to my friends, I knew that I've also been swallowed by the city. Perhaps mother would camp out at the udala tree waiting for me to come home. If only she knows that her daughter has been swallowed.