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Babara, The girl who aged faster than normal...

I truly had plans to be super consistent with writing this 2020. I even planned to write a lot of fiction, but I have not kept to my words.

I've had this particular one since January, but I wouldn't upload it. It is too nice to share, I thought. And I feared plagiarism, lol. But then, I can't keep hiding this beauty in my archives.

I was helping an acquaintance do a voice over for a poem on early marriage and the inspiration for this came on me...

So... Let's talk early marriage... Fiction tho...



...
If I'd known this is what this world has in store for females
I'd have come in a masculine body
No! I take that back
I'd have just stayed back with God and the angels
I was born into a family of four, minus mum and dad
All four were females, father was sad
He was never around, he later went off with 'her'
The family cared less, what good does a girlchild bring?
I think they married dad off anyway...
Long story short, mama couldn't wait for my vagina to bleed (menstruation)
We lived in a village, tho' poor, but lived healthy (fed on naturals)
At 15, my bleeding started on the 20th day of the month
If you'd ridden a horse in mother's tummy, it wouldn't trip
She was super elated
She told me I'll bleed that way for at least 3 days every month
She said I was now a woman.
I was a woman!
On the 28th of the month, I saw Mr. Bala stroll in
He laughed a lot with mother, mother reciprocated with her brown teeth
29th to 13th of the following month, mother was exceptionally happy
We fed better
Father came home
Father's family visited
They showered me with panegyrics and flatteries
Dad showered me more love
He wouldn't let a fly perch on me
I was wary...
Who are these people?
This new father... This loving mother... Concerned relatives...
So even they had the capacity to love?
Should I run away? Their 'loving kindness' is creepy
On the 14th, mama got a new sack
In it, she stuffed my two piece wrapper and a hand-me-down gown from my Lagos cousin
I was more alarmed, what exactly is wrong?
On the 15th, it became clear
Mama sat me down at dawn in a heart to heart...
''DAUGHTER, I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THIS A MONTH AGO WHEN YOUR BLEEDING STARTED.
NOW IT'S TIME YOU PUT YOUR DIVINE CREATIVENESS TO USE
YOU CAN NOW BRING TO LIFE
YOU ALWAYS ASKED HOW I BROUGHT YOU AND YOUR SISTERS TO LIFE
AND I ALWAYS SAID 'WHEN IT'S TIME, YOU'LL KNOW.'
THE TIME IS RIPE, THE TIME IS NOW; TIME TO KNOW, TIME TO DISCOVER YOURSELF, JUST AS I DID.''
-Mama's words.
I was lost.
Before noon, I was found...
Again, Mr. Bala came around in his sophisticated car
His gaze never leaving me
The car boot was filled with gifts, of yam, drinks of all kinds, pots, different wrappers of clothes amongst others.
Accompanying him was another car with a life cow in it
Then he gave father and mother stash of cash, jointly and as individuals
I watched from afar with my siblings
Confused and finding succor in their embrace
Alas! I saw mama put the new packed sack in Mr. Bala's car
Then Mr. Bala came close for the first time, his arms around my shoulder
He propelled me to his car
Smiles never left father's face
Same as my uncles and aunties around
Mama also smiled, although a thin line of sorrow marked her face
Then it dawned on me, the realization of the rumours I've heard all my life when at the stream with other girls...

 ''YOU CAN ONLY HAVE YOUR FIRST MONTHLY BLEED IN YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE, THE NEXT MUST BE IN YOUR HUSBAND'S''
I entered Mr. Bala's car and beheld my siblings in pity
I knew a similar fate awaited them.
No wonder Mina my friend wouldn't let no one know when she started hers at age 13
No one would've considered the age
To them, she only became a woman a little faster.
Although her mama found her out in her third bleeding month
Prina is still hiding hers...
I couldn't hide mine when it started, for fear
''My bombom is bleeding mama, I will soon die'', I cried to her
...



That was how Babara was married off
At age 15
5 days away from her second month of menstruation
This is the similar fate of 44% of girl child in Nigeria who are married before the age of 18
And about 18% of the likes of Mina, who got married off before their 15th birthday

Women, rise to the course of your children
Fathers, to the course of your daughters
Brothers, to the course of your sisters
Enough of girl marriage
Don't rush adulthood.
Childhood only lasts 18 years at most while adulthood is till death
Let every girl child enjoy the luxury of girlhood or childhood


#GirlsNOTBrides



Please do not copy without giving credit to whom it's due, please. Y'all are my family right? Help my growth and ministry...
Araba Iyanuoluwa .T.
#EyilZ☺🤗🤗

Comments

  1. Maritime News and Gists19 July 2020 at 23:37

    Hmm

    ReplyDelete
  2. Xlence20 July 2020 at 08:26

    Superb! Almost felt for the girls but I had to reassure myself it's fiction

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eyilz25 July 2020 at 15:10

      Smiles...

      But then, there's an iota of nonfiction in every fiction...

      Delete
  3. Anonymous24 July 2020 at 16:33

    So fascinating, keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous24 July 2020 at 16:40

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown26 September 2021 at 04:30

    Would beautiful write-up dearie.
    More!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10 December 2022 at 03:43

    Had me glued till the very end, captivating is the word!

    ReplyDelete

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