@Venvie 10 April 2022

Where Are We headed? – The Future Looks Dark `With the many things that are happening these days, I am forced to think that we might just be approaching climax…` Early Tuesday morning, I received a call that a package arrived in my name and I should come pick it up. I’ve been expecting this call so I hurriedly did my chores in order to pick it up early as this package is perishable. Around 9:30am, I was fully dresses to go out. I applied my makeup (lip-gloss 😉) and wore my flip-flops and off I went. After standing close to my house for over 5 min without getting a tricycle, I decided to walk to the main road which is not too far away from where I was. When I got there, I saw some people standing, probably looking forward to get a ride to their numerous locations. A tricycle passed by and two women hailed it and in few minutes, it left without taking them(he didn’t accede to their bid) this made me discover that they were actually going towards my direction(the place I want to go) I quickly drew closer to them. Getting a tricycle if you’re the only one is a bit difficult but when the persons are three in number, it’s easy as pie. In a jiffy, we got a tricycle whose driveragreed to our bid and we all stepped in. The women chit-chat about random stuffs while I was just looking across the road enjoying the cool air as we go but the new topic of discussion got my attention and left me dumbfounded and cold. `I don't have a sponsor yet but I just feel they'll be amazing people - so weird 😁` One of the women began: “*this morning around 5:30am, I was fetching water to go take my bath and go to work, I saw my daughter washing the dishes. I was shocked because this is a girl who sleeps so much and has made it a point of duty for me to wake her up for school everyday. This is unlike her so I asked her what’s the reason for this rapid change and she told me that, she’s going to school this early because she is one of the contestants that will be contesting in a math competition. I didn’t see her studying last night so I asked “how do you intend to compete when you haven’t prepared and my daughter replied that she read in school” It will interest you to know that she told me a day before that today will be the result sheet collection and also the last day of school for the term and that I should give her money which I did. I didn’t ask any further thing. I simply entered the bathroom and took my bath. When I stepped out, she entered the bathroom too. While in the kitchen preparing breakfast, I saw her painting her face. All these for a competition? I asked myself recalling that I’ve got the number of a teacher in her school; I quickly took my mobile and dialed the number. This teacher told me that the there’s no competition at all; that students are only told to either come along with their parent or guardian for their results. I thanked her for the information and ended the call. Ah! In anger, I left the kitchen and entered the room. She was already fully dress in her church clothes. Feigning ignorance, I asked her if she was also told to dress like this to school and she replied in the affirmative. At this time, I couldn’t control my anger any longer; I descended on her with slaps all over. How dare she lie to me? The neighbors came in and begged me to let her go and I did after washing up all of the makeup off her face and asking the neighbors to help me ensure that she doesn’t step out to anywhere” The other lady added: “she must be going to see one of these dirty boys in her school. My daughter told me on time while we are discussing that students even have sex in toilets get pregnant and bring shame and disgrace to their families. You had better take your daughter to another school. The boys are not left out they’ll do anything to get expensive items like IPhones, watches etc.”* She went on to talk about a 16 year old boy who removed the eyes of another 15 year old boy who happened to be his friend because he was told that’s the sacrifice he had to perform to acquire money. I felt hot at that moment imagining how this took place. So much guts and effrontery for a 16 year old. This is something that we hear big people do but now teens? No contentment and things are getting worst economically. Hmmm the future is scary. God help us.