The test
I've lived a clean life, so I've never really worried about HIV. I've never taken drugs or had sex. But recently, I decided to find out what it was to get tested for HIV because I wanted to encourage my friends to do the same.
I did some research and found a clinic that did HIV test, then I made an appointment. The testing centre was in an ordinary office building. There was no sign outside that read: "Get your HIV Test Here!" So that no one would know why people were going there. Once inside, I went to the main desk. When I rang the doorbell, a counselor appeared and I told her that I wanted to be tested for HIV. She took me to a separate room for counseling before the test. "Tell me what you know about HIV,"she said.
That was easy. At school we had covered the basics of HIV/AIDS. "HIV stands for Human Imunodeficiency Virus. It's the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS stand for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is transmitted through blood, or other body fluids. Most people get it by having sexual contact with an infected person. The symptoms are:
Fever,
Chills,
Rash,
Night sweats,
Muscle aches,
Sore throat,
Fatigue,
Swollen lymph nodes,etc."
"Good" she said. Then she explained that HIV test can be anonymous. With an anonymous test, no official record of your HIV test exists, so no one can ever obtain this information.
The test for HIV is a blood test. Blood is drawn from your arm with a needle and sent to a laboratory for testing. The results are usually returned within two weeks.
Preparing for the test
Next, the counselor asked me about my sexual experience: "Have you ever had unprotected sex?" I was able to tell her truthfully. Then she discussed ways to reduce the risk of getting HIV. She told me the best way was abstinence. So I did the HIV test. The nurse drew blood from my arm and sent it to a laboratory for testing...
The result
"Are you ready for the results?" Said the counselor. I said yes and she told me I had tested negative. "I would like to congratulate you on the way you care for yourself and others. However, if someone tests positive, that means that they have the HIV, and the clinic will help them to get treatment and counseling."
"You see, getting tested is important because the number of HIV-infected youth is rising."she continued. "That means that if someone is sexually active, the risk of being with a person who has HIV is greater. I can see that you understand that very well."
Today is 14th November, World Sexual Purity Day. Today is a day of awareness to let the whole world know that sexual purity is possible and attainable. **Happy Sunday**
A healthy body
The human body is like a machine with different parts. All the parts are carefully designed to keep the body healthy. If one part is sick, it affects the other parts. If you have a headache and fever, you may not be able to eat well or go wherever you want. If you have a stomach ache, you may not be able to walk if it is very severe. If something happens to the bone in the body, you may not be able to move from one place to the other.
The bones are the body frame that is covered with flesh. The ligaments join the bones together and help the bones to move at the joints.
The heart is the engine box of the body. A person is alive as long as the heart keeps working and pumping blood around the body.
The blood is very important in the body. It helps to supply oxygen to different parts of the body. It circulates nutrients round the organs in the body. It keeps the body organs alive. The components of the blood help to fight infections in the body. The blood keeps the body warm while the skin helps to maintain the body temperature.
The brain is the coordinating centre of the body. It regulates all the activities in the body.
Sometimes, a person becomes sick. The person can become weak and tired. The person may lose appetite. At such times, the body needs drugs, food that contains lots of calories and vitamins as well as a lot of rest. All these will make the body healthy again. Apart from such foods that contain calories and fruits like pineapples, oranges🍊, mangoes, pawpaw, pear🍐 and others. Vegetables should also be taken.
Sickness can be as a result of infections. When this happens, a person needs to take antibiotics, that is, drugs that will fight the infection and make the body strong again. Occasionally, the body has to be protected against some diseases. Drugs known as vaccines will be injected into the body. These vaccines contain small microorganisms. The body will then produce what is called antibodies to fight the disease. These antibodies remain in the blood system to fight any appearance of the disease for which the vaccine has been given. This way, the body is kept healthy.
Do well to take very good care of yourself. Remember, prevention is better than cure. **Health is wealth.**
Thanks for reading 😍.
A journey that never was
For days, I was unable to sleep. I was over joyous and too excited to sleep. Uncle Shola had written a letter to me two weeks earlier. My uncle promised to come to take me to Lagos where I would spend my holidays. I was only ten years old.
I had heard about Lagos,a beautiful and big city, with lots of tourist attractions. At last, I was going to visit Lagos. Mercy, one of my classmates, had always teased me. She would say I never knew what a plane looks like. I thought this would be an opportunity for me to visit an airport and see a plane.
I also planned to visit the beach in Lagos. I had always heard about oceans,seas and wave but I had never seen any of them except in books. Three days to the D-DAY, I washed all my clothes, ironed and packed them neatly inside a big leather box. As tired as I was, I managed to get to a departmental store to buy a camera. I would take the pictures of many interesting objects in Lagos. The following morning, I wrote letters to my friends and visited some in the neighborhood to bid them goodbye.
Throughout the night, I kept trying many clothes on. By the time I settled for a pink gown, it was already dawn. I quickly brushed my teeth and had my bath. The next minutes, I was in the sitting room waiting impatiently for uncle Shola. "Relax Prisca, your uncle will soon be around," my mother assured me. But it was getting late and uncle Shola did not show up.
"Something must have delayed him, he will come around soon," I consoled myself. Not long, my mother received a phone call. It was uncle Shola. He said he was sorry he would not be able to come! He had an important assignment in Kenya and he had to travel by air urgently. I could not believe my ears. But my mum consoled me that there will always be another opportunity. Every disappointment is a blessing.
Bedroom ideas to make you stay in bed all day
11/11/'21 reminds me of 12/12/12. I was in the boarding house then. One of my seniors said this kind of date usually brings evil. But as God's children, we have nothing to fear. Because He'll keep you and me from all evils.
Sorry for the side attraction. New year is drawing near and we need to make our home beautiful to behold. We would be learning about having a decent bedroom.
**Learn how to make your bedroom beautiful**
“Bedrooms are the least public rooms in the house and very personal spaces,” says Hamel. “We should work toward making them feel that way.” When it comes to adding some extra-cozy touches, it’s all about embracing the concept of a feeling of warmth, coziness, and comfort.
**Choose a comfortable bed**
For the best feeling, keep the room with a four-poster bed. If you don't fashion curtains, opt for a streamlined version with simple posts and no crossbeams or fabric. I emphasize the bed in a larger bedroom, and at the same time make a smaller bedroom have some scale. Always go for a large scale. It should dominate your room. Don’t be afraid to purchase a playful bed frame. Isn’t the goal to stay in bed all day anyway? Make it a place of fun.
**Add Touches of Wood**
Whether your bedroom is tiny or oversize, including wood on the walls is the perfect way to add a sense of warmth. It can be as simple as a board cladding or as elaborate as limed oak paneling. When true wood is not possible, there are brilliant wallpapers that simulate wood cladding. Choosing wood furnishings and accents can also help create that feeling of warmth in spaces where you can’t add wallpaper. Because some landlords will never allow you to paste anything on the wall.
**Create an atmosphere of Lighting**
A cozy bedroom needs light, but not just any kind of light. There is nothing worse than a harsh ceiling downlight shining on you while you’re in bed. Turn off the overhead fixture after dark and concentrate on low light. The key to an intimate mood is adding various sources of lighting, including bedside lamps and ceiling lights . But of course, the best light source of them all will forever be natural light.
**Go for Calming Colors and Natural Materials**
When it comes to textures and colors, choose calm rather than bright pops of color. Bold graphic patterns do not rest well in bedrooms. Focus on smaller intimate patterns that work together while introducing rich textures.
**Add Soft Rugs**
When a person first touches the floor after getting out of bed, it should be onto a soft surface. That doesn’t mean you need to lay down carpet to create a cozy mood. A soft rug gives practical warmth while adding an extra oomph of texture. Try small sheepskin or shag rugs on the sides of the bed or layer multiple floor coverings to add softness.
**Cover the Windows**
Bare, cold windows are one of the biggest ways to prevent a bedroom from feeling snug and comfortable. When going for cozy, don’t skimp on window treatments. Another tip to keep in mind if you have large windows is not to include curtains in a strong pattern. When drawn, they shouldn’t dominate or take away from the balance of the rest of the room.
**Add books**
Make this a space to truly relax. Try to make your bedroom a low or no technology zone, adding books and natural elements such as fresh flowers or plants instead of a television. Trust me, the news will still be there when you wake up.
**Pillows and Pillows**
A bed like this is basically begging you to jump right in. Go for pillows that are comfortable. While you definitely do not need to justify the number of pillows on your bed, at least this way they’ll be more than just decorative.
**Wallpaper**
A beautiful wallpaper will add excitement into your bedroom. You can also add a personal or family pictures.
Happy New year in advance!😍
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Holidays
Holidays bring all types of fun. However, this particular holiday was the most memorable for me. My parents made me join a summer camp which was too much fun and then we visited our grandparents’ place.
Summertime is the most awaited time of my life while I was in Secondary School. It gave me a break from the scorching sun and blazing heat. The summer months are quite hot, however, I love them because they bring a sense of calmness due to the vacations. It frees me from the monotonous and dull routine of school and studies. It's not as if I am lazy though.
Holidays give me a chance to explore new things. I adopt new hobbies like painting, dancing, singing and more during this time. Furthermore, it gives me a chance to visit our grandparents.
As the first day of my summer vacations started, I started getting bored easily. Mostly so because all my friends had gone to someplace or the other. My parents noticed this and decided to send me to a summer camp. Our school itself was organizing one in which my parents got me enrolled.
At first, I thought it would be of no use and would be equally boring. However, to my surprise, I was wrong. The summer camp was one of the best experiences of my life. I got the chance to indulge in so many activities and in fact, it was the first time where I discovered my talent for painting.
We got up early in the morning at 7 o’clock, despite no school. We had trainers who would teach us different things each day. On the first day, I got to learn karate, which was very amusing and helpful. Further, I learned how to play sports like basketball, table tennis, and volleyball.
Finally, came my most awaited part. We were taught painting and unique tips to master this art. I learned it quickly and started enjoying painting. My passion for painting began from this summer camp, and I will forever be indebted to it.
After my summer camp ended, my whole family decided to visit my grandparents' village. It is situated away from the city and is full of lush and greenery. I love spending time with my grandparents so I was very excited to visit their village.
We stayed there for over two weeks, and that throughout that time, I was at my best behavior. I used to get up at 7 o’clock in the morning to take a stroll with my grandfather. Then all the family members would get together to have breakfast full of healthy things and fresh fruits from the farm nearby.
In the evening, we would sit by our grandmother’s bed and listen to stories. I'll write about that later. Then, my siblings and I used to go to the terrace and play games. We would also gaze at their stars all night, as we did not get that in the city.
Holiday was definitely one of the best times of my life. I got to learn new things and spend valuable time with my grandparents. I feel blessed to have a loving family with whom I can enjoy my holidays.
Thanks for your time.
A birthday in the hospital
I want to be a child again. My birthday has always been special. I'd wake up to the smiles of my parents and a birthday song. My mother would buzz around, organizing food and drinks and you’d think she was preparing for her daughter’s wedding. But 8th September,2021 was different.
I woke up very early in the morning with a sharp pain in the chest. I tried to figure out what could have caused it but I could not.
I thought of waking up my mum whose room was very close to ours but I later decided not to disturb her. Before I knew what was happening, I discovered I could not breathe properly again. My sister was ignorant of my condition as she was sleeping soundly💤 in the same room.
I didn't know how I got to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idiaraba. I opened my eyes to see a doctor with his stethoscope on my chest. It was his voice that brought me back to life. I must have passed out at home, I thought. I heard the doctor saying," she'll be all right". I looked around me and saw my mum crying beside me. I was confused but she told me not to worry, that I would be all right soon. I remembered waking up early to get ready for my birthday but what happened after, I could not remember.
The doctor, a tall, middle aged and kind looking man, examined me thoroughly while asking my mum some questions. He later went back to his seat and wrote some prescriptions. My mum asked him what was wrong with me and he said it was pneumonia. The doctor was a very patient and caring doctor. He took time to tell my mum what to do and what not to do concerning my ill health.
After seeing the doctor, we went straight to the Pharmacy Department which is a Stone's throw from the doctor's office. I saw many other patients, all children who were brought to the hospital by their parents. It was the children's section and all the children looked very ill. Some of the children were screaming. I pitied them all. It was then my mum told me that I fainted at home. Our next-door neighbor had been called and the two of them had rushed me to the hospital.
At the Pharmacy Department,we were promptly attended to. There were two pleasant female pharmacists. One patted me on the back and called me her sister. She gave us all that the doctor had prescribed and also added her own words of advice on how to live a healthy life. We thanked her and left. It was already 4pm. At the hospital gate, my mum flagged down a taxi driven by a caring old man, who, because of my condition, drove carefully down to our home.
By the time I got home, even before taking any medication, I had started feeling stronger. It was really good to be back home, alive to see the faces of my loving family, who happily gathered around me to ask how I enjoyed my birthday in the hospital.
I couldn't allow my birthday go that way🤩. I wore my blue-pink dress, took some pictures and ate my favorite dish of fried rice with chicken 🥗
Please pray for me I don't wish to have my next cake in the hospital 😪
Thanks for reading.
Food for thought.
Happy Sunday to everyone. How was today's service. I trust you learned a lot. Are you willing to share? Anyway, I'm willing to share mine.
Have you ever wondered why people commit suicide?
We see cases of people who because of problems commit suicide.
Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die.
Always talk and encourage people who have problems. It may not be for today but they'll remember what you've told them about a particular issue that might want them to commit suicide and change their mind. It may not be useful to you today. You may come face to face with a problem that will make you to attempt suicide but you will remember what you've told other people.
I know a man who always talk to people that once there is life, there is still hope. This man would encourage people to serve God even in difficult times and never to allow their problems to weigh them down. He once told a close friend of mine, who lost her dad and was thinking about the stress her mother was going through to sponsor her education, to trust in God for all things and never attempt to take her life for any reason. Few months later, this same man was faced with a very serious family challenge. We don't know whether his wife was possessed or something but what we knew was that she began to pull down all the things that the husband planned to depend on after retirement. She became so arrogant and incorrigible because her salary was more than her husband's. She even changed the key to their house without the husband's consent. At times she would travel and drop her three year old daughter with her sister in law lying that her husband instructed her to drop the baby with her. She wanted to be free from the control of a man. The situation became so serious and she succeeded in sending the husband out of the house. This man was very gentle and had to leave because he didn't want trouble. In all of this, this man became depressed. He developed high blood pressure. The devil decided to play pranks on him by giving him a suicidal thought. He became very vulnerable at this point. He was about committing the act when all he had been telling other people began to play in his mind. He thought about all the things he told others to do when faced with difficult situations. This was what eventually helped him.
What am I saying in essence?
Suicide is not the solution to any problem. Never attempt to take your life because it doesn't belong to you.
The question is, do you know what to expect after death? Do you even know where suiciders go?
Many of us might have gone through or will go through difficult situations, felling depressed and not knowing what to do. The main thing to note is that GOD CARES FOR US. This may sound unreasonable to some people because of the challenges they are faced with. But, **Our experience cannot negate the word of God.** He told us in His word to cast our cares upon Him because he cares for us.
Being connected to family and community support and having easy access to health care can decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Speak out to people who can help you and most importantly have a cordial relationship with your Maker.
My experience as a bully
The fifteenth day of January 2021 is a day I will never forget in my life. In fact, I never knew I would be alive to tell this story.
Everyone in Tender Care International School knew the'boss' that I was called. The junior students as well as the senior students respected and feared me for I was a terror, the greatest bully in the school. I enjoyed my 'popularity' until I learned my lesson- a very hard one indeed.
My victims were usually the quiet, naive and cowardly type of students. They could be junior students or the senior ones. It didn't matter to me who they were. What mattered was that I needed something of theirs and I had to get it. Teachers were already getting tired of punishing me every time. The principal had given his last warning but I still continued to bully.
On this particular day,a day God had set aside to teach me a hard lesson, I had my supper and I attended prep as usual. Then at my appointed time, that is 2.00am, I went back to my dormitory for my target, a naive frail-looking JSS2 student who was in the same dormitory as I. He was fast asleep and it seemed like hours before I could wake him up.
Rain was pouring heavily outside as if heaven had been let loose. It was only the 'boss' that could be up at this unholy hour of the night. My target finally woke up, drowsy and confused. I whispered into his ears 'it's the "boss". Don't wake anybody up!' He got the message immediately. His drowsy eyes opened. I dragged him quickly to his dormitory locker at one end of the room and ordered him to open it. He hesitated and finally opened it. For wasting my time and for not having enough provisions in his locker, he had to suffer. I ordered him to go and sit in the rain and not to get up until he heard from me. He was scared to death but obeyed like a lamb.
I must have slept heavily for I didn't hear the noise made by the house master, Mr Jerry, who usually come to the dormitory at 5:30a.m. I learned later that he had shouted when he saw the lifeless body of Matthew in the rain. Matthew's limp body was carried to the nearby hospital by the school's ambulance driver. His condition was too serious to be handled by nurses at the school clinic. Everyone including I thought he was dead. I started sweating even though the weather was cold. Matthew's parents were invited while the doctors battled to save his life. I was later arrested by the school's security men.
I was told told that the principal had invited the police to come and lock me up in their guardroom. I was tortured almost to death. My parents refused to come to see me. They were really tried of me, I suspected.
After a whole day of torture in the police cell, I was relieved to hear that Matthew had been revived. For the first time, I knelt down and thanked my God. I also made a promise to myself never to indulge in evil again. Matthew survived and I begged him and his parents to forgive me. The principal had pity on my parents and recalled me after my suspension for a whole term. Indeed, I had learned my lesson and I was happy to turn over a new leaf.
My Ambition
Is there anyone who doesn't dream of something while growing up? We all had ambitions when we were little, which changed as we grew up. While I was in nursery school, I wanted to be a doctor but, it has changed.
We all must have at least one ambition to achieve in life.
Ambitions lead us to a definite aim in life. They help us focus on our goal no matter the cost. They motivate us to do better in life. Ambitions differ from one person to another.
Ambitions help people in focusing their mind to achieve a set goal. It trains them to be better in achieving their ambition. It teaches us the importance of discipline and hard work. Having ambition gives you something to look forward to each day. It makes you determined.
One common thing usually found is that over time, people switch their ambition to something else than that which they wished to be when little. We have many people in the medical field who wanted to be dancers. Similarly, some of the greatest politicians wanted to be artists. So we see how easily one gives up on their dreams and ambition to adapt to society.
The ambition of any person’s life usually depends on their choice and interests. I aspire to be a great dancer. I have always had the knack for dancing from an early age. My parents always encouraged me to pursue my passion. Like most of the parents, they never discouraged me because it is not the most sought after career.
It would seem odd to choose to be a dancer as an ambition, especially when everyone is in the race of becoming a lawyer, doctor or engineer. But, I still believe that just because something is not common, doesn’t mean we cannot attain it.
I wish to become a good dancer. I do not want the fame of being a dancer; rather I want the acclaim of being a good dancer. As my parents motivated me to pursue my dream, they enrolled me in dance classes. It helped me grow a lot as a dancer and also enhance my skills.
I also wish to be a dancer because I want to remove the stigma surrounding this career path. I want to set an example that you can do well in life even if you’re not a doctor or engineer. Especially in India, where these two ambitions are considered the most valid.
I believe in the power of dance, and how it conveys the message without words. Dance is the language of the soul, and it makes me feel alive when I indulge in it.
I aspire to become a great dancer to set an example for aspiring dancers. These aspiring kids are discouraged from pursuing dance because of lack of financial perks or social stigma. However, I wish to change that.
I wish to dance so I could teach others to become experts in this field. I wish to help the underprivileged section who are interested in this ambition. I want to reach a height which enables me to offer them proper dance training free of cost so they can reach great heights.
Finally, I wish to be the wind beneath their wings. I want to create awareness about the importance of dance and how it benefits us physically as well. I hope I can achieve this ambition of mine someday. Till then, I won’t leave any stone unturned in reaching the finishing line with God on my side.
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Why I love my mother
My mother👩❤️👩 is not an ordinary woman she is my superhero. In every step of my, she has supported and encouraged me. Whether day or night she has always been there for me no matter what the condition is. Furthermore, her every work, persistence, devotion, dedication, conduct, prayer life is an inspiration for me. In this write-up on my mother, I am going to talk about my mother and why she is so special to me.
**Why I Love My Mother So Much**
I love her not because she is my mother and we should respect our elders but, I respect her because she took care of me when I was not able to speak. At that time, she took care of all my needs when I wasn’t able to speak.
Additionally, she taught me how to walk, speak, eat🍼 and take care of myself. Similarly, every bigger step that I have taken in my life is all because of my mother. Because, if she hasn’t taught me how to take small steps then I won’t be able to take these bigger step.
Love
She is an essence of truthfulness, love, and sincerity. Another reason is that she showers her family with her blessing and life. Furthermore, she gives us everything but never demand anything in return. The way she cares for everyone in the family👨👩👧👧 inspires me to do the same in my future.
Her love is not just for the family she treats every stranger and animals the same way she did to me. Due to this, she is very kind and sensible towards the environment and animals.
**Her Strengths**
Although she is not physically very strong she faces every hurdle of her life and of the family too. She motivates me to be like her and never submit in difficult times. Above all, my mother encourages me to improve my all-round skills and studies. She motivates me to try again and again till I get success in it.
**A Companion of Trouble**
Whenever I was in trouble or scolded by dad I run towards my mother as she is the only one that can save me from them. Whether a small homework problem or a bigger problem she has always been there for me. Whenever I disobey her instructions, she beats me😭 and I have no other person to run to. But I still love her because she wants me to go the right way. She teaches me to work and pray and never forget God.
When I was afraid of the dark she would become my light and guide me in that darkness. Also, if I can’t sleep at night she would hold my head on her lap until I fell asleep. Above all, she never leaves my side even in the hardest of times.
Every mother is special for her children. She is a great teacher, a lovely friend, a strict parent. Also, she takes cares of the need of the whole family. If there is anyone out there who loves us more than our mother is only God. Not just for my mother but for every mother out there who lives her life for her family deserves praiseworthy applause.
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the Second Sunday in the month of May. It’s celebrated to appreciate the hard work that our mother’s do in their life. And the sacrifices that they make to keep their family happy. My mom is also a very good cook🍲. Anytime she finishes cooking, we always have uninvited guests🍽️ who were invited by the aroma of my mom's meal🥘 to eat.
**Why my mother is so special**
She is special because she is a mother. She is the superwoman that do all the housework, teach and take care of their children, looks after her husband, do her job and at the end of the day if you ask for her help she says ‘yes’ with a smile😀 on her face.
Let me end by singing this song for her
My mummy, my mummy
Your baby is singing
I'll be singing and dancing and shouting for the rest of eternity.
Love you mum 💖
The man who never lied
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Once upon a time there lived a wise man by the name of Toyo. He never lied. All the people in the land, even the ones who lived twenty days away, knew about him.
The king heard about Toyo and ordered his subjects to bring him to the palace. He looked at the wise man and asked:
" Toyo, is it true, that you have never lied?"
" It's true."
"And you will never lie in your life?"
" I'm sure in that."
"Okay, tell the truth, but be careful! The lie is cunning and it gets on your tongue easily."
Several days passed and the king called Toyo once again. There was a big crowd: the king was about to go hunting. The king held his horse by the mane, his left foot was already on the stirrup. He ordered Toyo:
"Go to my summer palace and tell the queen I will be with her for lunch. Tell her to prepare a big feast. You will have lunch with me then."
Toyo bowed down and went to the queen. Then the king laughed and said:
"We won't go hunting and now Toyo will lie to the queen. Tomorrow we will laugh on his behalf."
But the wise Toyo went to the palace and said:
"Maybe you should prepare a big feast for lunch tomorrow, and maybe you shouldn't. Maybe the king will come by noon, and maybe he won't."
"Tell me will he come, or won't he?" - asked the queen.
"I don't know weather he put his right foot on the stirrup, or he put his left foot on the ground after I left."
Everybody waited for the king. He came the next day and said to the queen:
"The wise Toyo, who never lies, lied to you yesterday."
But the queen told him about the words of Toyo. And the king realized, that the wise man never lies, and says only that, which he saw with his own eyes.
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The cunning tortoise
Once upon a time in a far away land ruled by animals and referred to as Animal Kingdom, there was scarcity of water. All the animals came together to decide on what to do. Mr Lion🦁 was their king and he was well respected by all the animals. The animals decided to dig a very deep well so that they could get water from the earth.
The king decided that it would not be the work of only the servants and slaves but of the whole Animal Kingdom. It was agreed by all that the digging of the well would be in the evenings after the day's farm work.
Mr Parrot the town crier, was appointed to announce to the whole Animal Kingdom the day the work would commence.
When the appointed day came, Mr Parrot informed all the animals. Everyone gathered at the village square where the well was to be dug but Mr Tortoise was missing. All the animals except Mr Tortoise worked tirelessly till it was dark.
After the day's work, two animals,Mr Rat and Mr Cat🐈, were sent to Mr Tortoise's house to find out if he was really sick, as he has said. Mr Rat secretly climbed into Mr Tortoise's roof because he suspected foul play while Mr Cat🐈 went into his house to see him. When Mr Tortoise saw Mr Cat🐈, he pretended to be sick. Mr cat sympathized with him and left. When Mr Tortoise felt he had gone far away from the house, he started laughing and said, 'This is a kingdom of fools.' He did not know that Mr Rat was hiding in the roof of his house. When Mr Rat heard this, he quietly got down from the roof and went and reported his findings to the king.
Mr Lion called a meeting of the animal kingdom excluding Mr Tortoise. There they decided to send another delegate to investigate Mr Cat's report. It was agreed by all that if Mr Tortoise was fooling them, he would be denied the opportunity to drink water from the well and would finally be killed since it is a law in the Animal Kingdom that anyone who stole or lied would be killed.
Mr Wall Gecko was chosen this time to go and confirm Mr Rat's findings. He sneaked into Mr Tortoise's house and found the he was half and hearty. He reported his findings to the king. The animals decided that Mr Dog🐕 should keep watch over the well so as to prevent Mr Tortoise from drawing water from it.
The third day, after the well was dug, Mr Tortoise, thirsty and hungry, walked secretly in the night to the well to draw water. He did not know that Mr Dog was there. Mr Dog🐕 saw him and started barking and howling. Mr Tortoise pleaded with him to allow him to draw water in return for some farm produce. Mr Dog🐕 refused and instead took him to the king. He was detained and later killed to serve as a lesson to other animals.
***************************Happy New month friends. Let's learn to be hardworking this month. May God help us.
*************************** I was prompted to write this after reading an article @doziekash_
This is a writingprompt @JonicaBradley
I wish I had listened to my mother
Hi everyone. I believe you're enjoying your day. It's my first weekend writing. I hope you'll enjoy reading.
The 30th day of October,2020 was a memorable day for many but for my family and me, it was a day that crumbled our dreams and made us become paupers.
We were just released from the covid-19 bondage and given the opportunity to go to the market between 10am and 1pm.
My mother had warned me not to leave the house that day so I would be able to do my chores and also for security reasons. She said this before going to the market. She had prepared my favorite meal: fried rice🍧 and chicken🍜, and instructed me not to use the gas cooker to cook anything at all except to warm my food whenever I wanted to eat. I was told not to leave the house for any reason.
I later felt hungry and as I had just put the pot of rice on the cooker to warm my food, there was a knock on the door. It was Prisca, my classmate who lives two houses away from us. I opened the door for her and as we got chatting, I forgot I had put something on the fire. She took the book she had come for and asked me to see her off. I remembered mum's instruction not to leave the house but I brushed it off with the the thought of coming back as soon as possible.
We got downstairs and there was a fight between two naughty boys in the neighborhood that caught our attention. Some elders tried to separate them but they refused and continued to fight. We stayed back to see the end of the fight.
When the fight was over, I wished my friend goodbye and rushed back to the house. The stench of smoke that greeted me was enough for me to know what had happened. I tried to get to the kitchen but it was not possible. Inside the kitchen there was fire, wild and threatening. I could not risk my life. I thought of my mother and her warning, and I felt devastated. I ran out in confusion shouting, 'Help! Help! Fire! Fire!'
Everyone rushed in the direction of our house. Some were carrying buckets of water, some had sand but the fire had grown so wild for them to handle. I screamed and rolled myself on the ground and refused to be consoled. Some good Samaritans called the fire service men and, as usual, it took them one hour to get to our house. By then, the house was in ruins. It was a sorry sight to behold. My parents certificates were all burnt. Nothing was saved.
Few hours later, my mom returned. Looking at what used to be our house made her faint. She was rushed to the hospital. The doctors, like the fire fighters, battled hard to save her life and in the end, they succeeded. But, she ended up with stroke. The shock was too much for her. My dad was devastated when he was informed about the incidence. Thank God for fire insurance.
I hated myself for bringing doom to my family. How I wish I had listened to my mother.
Thanks for your time.
Have a nice weekend.
Quality or quantity: which matters more?
Few days ago, I was in a gathering of people where students' scripts were being marked. There was a particular student whose number of words written in the essay was not up to the required number. This student had good expression. There was another student who wrote more than the required number of words but, the expression was not good enough. The surprising thing was that, the student who wrote below the required number of words scored more marks than the one who wrote above the required number of words.
Then, the reality dawned on me that quality matters more than quantity. I guess the student that wrote below the required number of words didn't have enough time to write. If not, he would have written more.
You need four tires for a car. You can get four flat tires or three good tires. Which do you choose? In one of those choices, you will need only one or more good tires. Now, in industry, companies will urge you to produce a quota, good or bad, because someone will pay for the delivery. The fact that you may never get their business again doesn't matter if you need a one time deal. The most important part though, is whether you wish to keep costumers or you will keep trying to run for a con game. Guess who loses? The guy with four tires and the con man.
There was once a laborer who went out in search of a job. He was eventually assigned by a boss to clear a piece of land for#5000. In the afternoon of that day, the boss called another laborer to clear another piece of land of the same size with the first one. At the end of the day, the two laborers finished their work and were given the same amount of money as agreed. The first laborer felt cheated and inquired why he had to be paid the same amount of money with the person who came hours later. The boss replied and said that the two of them cleared the same size of land and that it only took the second laborer shorter time to finish his work.
It does not matter the time spent in doing something but how well we are able to do it. Sometimes, when we want to buy bread, we press the bread to know the quality of it. We're less concerned about the quantity but, the quality .
I realized that it does not matter the number of years we spend on earth but, how well we have fulfilled the purpose of being on earth. It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity.
The size of a thing does not really matter but, the quality matters. Like my mom would always say to me, "it is not the quantity of food that matters but the quality i.e sweetness of the food". When we want to buy clothes, we look for materials that have quality and not the ones that will start tearing after the first wash. We look out for quality ones though, they may be expensive.
When a man wants to get married, he does not depend totally on the beauty of the lady. He finds out the character of the lady through her friends, which is the quality. He finds out if she's a good cook, how well she can take care of the home and so on.
The happiness of our lives depends on the quality of our thoughts.
Thanks for reading.
Teenage marriage
Teenage marriage has been a serious problem to our government and well-meaning Nigerians for some years now. As one of the concerned people in our society, I feel obliged to write about it. A teenager is a young boy or girl between the ages 13 and 19 years. Teenage marriage therefore means any marriage, traditional or religious, contracted with any young person within this age bracket.
Teenage marriage is usually arranged by parents, mostly in the rural areas. The victims of this are usually females. The majority of these parents are ignorant and illiterate and so do not understand the implications of their actions.They usually marry off their young daughters to illiterate elderly men who, most of the time, already had wives. The teenage girl is therefore forced to live with a man old enough to be her own father or grandfather. She also has women who are old enough to be her mother's mates as co-wives. The environment itself is hostile and not suitable for her since she is still young.
The teenager usually gets pregnant as soon as the marriage is contracted. At a very young age,her body is not yet strong enough for pregnancy. Many of them die during childbirth and those who survive may suffer from *vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).* This happens because the teenager's pelvis is not yet strong enough to carry a baby. The pressure of the baby causes damage and urine leaks through the vagina. In other words, the teenage girl passes urine without being conscious of it.
The stigma is always too much for her as she smells because of the stench of the urine. When this happens, the husband usually abandons her to the care of her parents who may not even accept her. She may then end up in the streets. Only a few are lucky enough to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
The teenage girl is also deprived of her opportunity to go to school. Her mates will be in school whereas she is in her husband's house giving birth to children or in the streets or even in the hospital. This is a great loss to her family and the whole nation as the nation needs her to go to school and contribute her own talents for the benefit of the society.
I remember one of my classmates in Junior Secondary School. She is from a tribe that marries children off at the age of thirteen. Her parents gave her as a gift to a married man against her wish. She managed to finish her Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) with the pregnancy🤰. I still see her once in a while following a man older than her father to the farm. At times, I would see her carrying wood on her head with a baby strapped at her back. She would treck a long distance from her husband's house to the farm with the baby. She now looks lean and unkept. I really feel sorry for her. Sometimes when I see her, I don't want her to see me so as not to make her feel sorrowful😞. She has been in this for six years now.
Teenage marriage is bad and should be stopped🙅. It causes untold hardship and shame to the teenage girl. The government should set up enlightenment campaign in rural and urban areas, in churches and mosques, against this ugly and retrogressive practice. 'Education for all' cannot be achieved without stopping teenage marriages.
What do you think?
How the internet ruined my life
I got introduced to Facebook in 2017. That was when I bought my first phone, Samsung. I was already in my final year in Secondary School. I cherished the phone so much. I was so excited to tell my friends about my new phone. While exploring the phone,I spent most of my time on the internet. At times, I stayed up throughout the night messaging classmates and people I had never met in my life on Facebook instead of doing my homeworks and preparing for my WASSCE.
My studies was greatly affected because I got addicted to the internet. My teachers began to complain of my performance in school. My first term result in sss3 was written with red ink. My parents were seriously mad at me. My father even collected the dress I was supposed to wear on Christmas day from me. My mom inquired about what the problem was but, I couldn't tell her that it was my phone that hindered me from taking my studies seriously. I began to watch violent films on the internet. I also practiced some of the things I watched. I hated peaceful environment. I fought with virtually everybody at the slightest provocation.
One day, I took my dad's official gun to school just to show my friends. But, something happened. After the morning assembly, we went to our different classes. I was called by one of my teachers to distribute one of our test scripts. As I was distributing the scripts, one of the scripts caught my attention and I called the person's name with the score loudly. The score was three out of thirty marks.
The owner of the script came close to me and intentionally stepped on my toes. It was so painful. I wanted to slap him immediately but I was restrained by our teacher. He scolded the boy and told him to go back to his seat. I was boiling with anger. My classmates began to make mockery of me. I got annoyed and reached for the gun in my bag.
My classmates never knew what I was about to do. They continue laughing until I brought out the gun and they still thought it was a toy gun.
'Are you out of your senses? Drop that object now!' my teacher said.
He shouted at me to drop the gun. But, before he could collect it from me, I pulled the trigger and fired a shot at the boy.
Instantly, the whole school scattered. Every student ran out of the class by every possible means(windows and doors). The sound of the gunshot attracted the members of the neighborhood. Our class teacher eventually succeeded in collecting the gun from me.
Then I came back to my senses and realized what I had done. I rushed to where the boy fell. Behold, he was dead! I was handed over to the police and was tried in Court. My dad was laid off from his place of work.
My lawyer tried frantically to defend me but evidences proved him wrong. The final judgement was delivered this morning.
"This is my final judgement. You are guilty of murder offense as charged and I hereby sentence you to life imprisonment with hard labor"
Those were the words of the judge. I cried bitterly and pleaded with the officers to give me the last chance of putting something down in writing. My mom could not be consoled. I gave the writing to one of my friends who witnessed the sentence to share my story for people to learn to make the right use of the internet and beware of addiction to it.
Thanks for reading
My Hobby
You think hobbies are just a frivolous waste of time? Think again🤔. Not having a hobby can be a dangerous waste of time. You may be the pro-est of professionals, always hustling. But, hobbies definitely have their place and can be extremely beneficial.
Hobbies play a very important role in our lives. They are our escape routes from the real world that make us forget our worries. They make our lives interesting and enjoyable. Hobbies teach us a lot about different stuffs. They help in expanding our knowledge.
Despite the busyness and competitiveness of nowadays, we often get time for our hobbies. Overtime, we feel lonely and that is why we need to indulge in something in between to keep our minds fresh and active. What's better than a hobby for this?
One of the main benefits of having a hobby is that it is a major stress buster🧖. You actually enjoy doing it and it satisfies your soul. In other words, without a hobby, your life becomes an unhealthy cycle lacking any excitement.
Hobbies can also be a source of extra income. For instance, if you like painting, you can sell your artworks to make some extra money💰. If you also have a dancing skill, you can teach dance classes to people on your holidays. This way, your hobby benefits you financially.
Having hobbies promote better health and may lower risk of having high blood pressure. Hobby allows you to distress yourself while remaining mentally productive.
***My favorite hobby👯***
If I were to pick one favorite hobby of mine out of the many I have, I will definitely pick dancing. When I was young, I developed a taste for dancing. The way my feet moved to the rhythm of music, convinced my parents that I was born a dancer.
Dancing is very uplifting and very economical.
It makes me feel happier and more relaxed.
I have always had a love for music and dance. However, I never realized the utter joy they bring to human.
Dancing gives a lot of exercises.It teaches us to move rhythmically and feel the beat of every song. This kind of physical exercise is extremely delightful and enjoyable.
Moreover, dance also taught me how to stay strong and push my limits. I have had many injuries 🤕while dancing but, that didn't stop me from pursuing it further. In fact, it pushes me to do my best and realize my potential more than ever.
I feel we all should do things which we enjoy doing. Everyone is running after money and in this race,they give up their likings and preferences. I have learned from this race and decided not to take part in it. I wish to take the road less travelled by and take on challenges most people don't dare to.
In short, my hobby of dancing 💃 makes me feel alive and well. It is one of the things I look forward the most to.
Thus, I hope to achieve my dream of being a professional dancer and making way for people who wish to make careers out of their hobbies.
Enjoy a few hours of your hobby a week and reduce the risk of depression🙍
Thanks for reading
My name is Babatunde Priscilla. My friends call me 'prisca' for short. This is my first article here. I got to know about this site by my wonderful sister `@crownofbeauty`. I look forward to having more exciting experiences here.
@Priscababs
