Thorns In My Boot - S01 E03

Story 2 years ago

Thorns In My Boot - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

We ran the race in batches of fifty persons, male

and female. I came back the fifth position in my

batch. Running had never been an issue for me, I

grew up in the Village so hunting games in the

forest had prepared me for the race, the only

difference was that here I was running on plane

and smooth terrain as we ran round the

circumference of the Barracks.

Upon arrival, our names and details were

recorded in a hard cover note book, the names of

the first ten persons were recorded while others

were declared disqualified instantly and were

advised to leave the barracks immediately. We

were then taken inside the Gymnasium for push-

ups and sit-up exercises. I did well in all the

physical exercises while more Persons were

disqualified.

At the end of the day, forty of us qualified from

all the batches and were eligible for medical test

the next day. I could not go home that day

because we had to report at the military hospital

early in the morning with our early morning urine

and sample of our feces, this was to be

collected before we taste anything in the

morning.

I knew my Mother would be very worried at my

absence from the house and I also knew that

Baba Miko would have questions to answer. I

had never slept outside the House in all my

growing up life. Mama at this stage did not know

of my plans to join the Army. I wanted it to be a

surprise to her, I knew she would oppose the

idea but Bab Miko had encouraged me to go all

the way as there was nothing to lose if I fail, he

also told me that I had to take certain decisions

as a man without seeking my Mother’s opinion.

After four days at Ede barracks, I was among

the Fifteen Boys and two girls of Osun state

Origin that were short listed for the 1990

Nigerian Army recruitment exercise. We were to

gather together in two weeks at the Barracks

from where we would be driven to Zaria for a

nine months training at the “Land of no going

back.”

I went back home and went straight to the

building site to meet Baba Miko but was shocked

to see my Mother seated at a corner with

swollen face, she had her scarf tied to her waist

and she was bare footed. Immediately she saw

me, she stood up and started walking away.

Oya! Oya! Just be going with your Mother like

that! Baba Miko said: pointing at my Mother’s

direction.

I knew better than say anything or apologizing to

Baba Miko at that moment because I knew what

my Mother must have put him through.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

It was a herculean task convincing my Mother to

let me go to Zaria for the recruitment exercise,

whenever I remember the drama that ensued in

the house on the day I finally left Esa-Odo to

meet our contingent at Ede, I weep. A mother’s

love for her Child is pure. Mother and Son wept

inconsolably, Villagers were gathered to see me

off as well as proffer several pieces of advice.

The Villagers kept singing into my head “Ma

gbagbe Iya e o!” do not forget your Mother o! Of

course I am all she had lived for, how can I

possibly forget her? I have no other person in the

world but her, we lived for each other, but I

needed to go and see the bigger world outside

my Cocoon.