The Early morning cold harmattan wind raced through Ifechi’s ears. It was his first time walking through the untarred road that leads to his grandpa’s farm. Since he was child till now that he had attained adulthood, his late parents have never brought him home to know his cradle. Only yesterday Pa Maxwell showed him the route to the palm plantation handed to him by his father. It is the only heritage he got from his parents.
During the early times, when machines had not been discovered in Europe and around the world, farming with crude implements was one of the most rewarding occupations. Every male child learns the trade from his father, who in turn trains his own male child in the craft.
A male child whose father engages in fishing also grows up to be a fisherman. But for the female child, their traditional responsibility is to learn housekeeping and to get pregnant and nurture the children till they grow up and become responsible adults.
Grandpa Maxwell had been a good man, he had just one male child, Ikem. He was the only man in the whole of Amanta that sent his child to school. Other men had felt that formal education was just a waste of time. They’d rather make their male children tend to the farms than go to school.
Ikem started elementary school in Ibadan, a city considered to be the largest city in West Africa. Upon completion, he continued to secondary school in Lagos at Eko Boys High school. As one of the best science students at graduation, Ikem got a scholarship to study Engineering at Davenport University. That was one of the greatest moments for Pa Maxwell.
Amanta heard of Ikem prowess in the city and all families had to reconsider their thoughts about formal education. Some of the men had to sponsor their male children to school outside Amanta and for higher studies abroad.
In no time, Amanta had gotten great men who had ventured into different careers. During a town hall meeting, the men collectively agreed to write the government at the centre to establish an elementary and secondary schools in Amanta or its environs.
But first, all the men appreciated Maxwell for his prompt action to send Ikem to school as the first person to take advantage of the white man’s education and to open the eyes of others to what benefits in schooling.
When Ikem returned from studies abroad, he was gainfully employed and before long, he got married to Anita. It was a good time for Pa Maxwell. His only son had brought joy to his household.
Many years later, Anita and Ikem have given births to three children, two boys and a girl. The first boy Ifechi started to give and attitude that Ikem would not subscribe too.
Several warnings yet Ifechi refused to turn a new leaf. Ifechi does not attend to his studies promptly. There were times he would not attempt his homework.
Chrisland College where Ifechi attends called his parents, Anita and Ikem that their so have not been living up to expectation that he has e has been suspended from school for two weeks for not attempting his home work.
Ikem got so angry when he heard the report. He immediately sent Ifechi to Amanta where he would live with Pa Maxwell and learn the hard way.
As he went to the farm that cold morning, he remember how he had had a good life in the city and all he ever needed was at the tip of his fingers but he never took it very seriously.
Grandpa Maxwell, though hold but still had strong bones could work tirelessly and still walk miles back home.
When Ifechi got to the farm, Grandpa Maxwell was done harvesting some tubers of yam and had made a new heap to plant the seedling from the harvested yams. Ifechi was too tired to do anything.
Every day after throng walk from Amanta to the farm at Obowu, Ifechi hadn't been able to make one complete yam ridge.
On this particular cold morning, when he arrived at the farm, Grandpa Maxwell sat him down and spoke some senses to his head.
Your father, who is my son, wasn't as lazy as you think. We walk this miles everyday before I sent him to the city to learn in the whiteman's school
Now, Ifechi's ears are wide open. He wants to hear more. He had thought that his father was born with silver spoon in his mouth.
He would work on the farm and in the evening when we are returning home, he will carry a load of firewood back home and walk the mile back home again.
Grandpa Maxwell continued.
I got my first bicycle after I was relieved of paying school fees because your father worked so very hard and got a scholarship that took him through school abroad.
It is beginning to make some sense. He would have to reconsider his way.
Everything your father has now, he worked for it. As such, you too should walk in his ways and not depend on what he has he has been able to gather.
It was at this juncture that Ifechi began to shed some tears. He promised to be of good behaviour and to study hard to upscale his father's achievement.
Beautiful life story, the imprint of several generations in one. congratulations, good luck!
Yeah. The man was a good example of parents who leave behind them a good legacy.
You did well to show us the prompt word with your story. I enjoyed reading through and to be honest, I have seen so many parents who do this to their children and it always ends well.
Beautifully written
Sometimes lessons are better learned the hard way, glad ifechi turned a new leaf...
Just like in the case of Ifechi. His father wanted him to walk in his footprint, thereby he sent him back to the village to learn under grandpa Maxwell.
I really like this story. (Prompt 62 I think, but that is not important.) I learned a new word: "harmattan." This reminded me of when I met a man here in Canada who came from Kenya. His teenaged son was behaving badly and running amok. He sent him to Kenya (where the son had never lived since he was born in Canada) to live on a farm with his uncle. The man explained to me that his brother, the boy's uncle lived in a home that had a dirt floor, and he knew his son would learn to appreciate good things if he saw where his father was from. It worked. It also was good because the man regularly sent money home to help support his family, and this taught his son the value of continuing the practice. I went off on a tangent. Sorry.
I really enjoyed the story. To me, it spoke about the importance of gratitude and not squandering opportunity.
!LUV
!PIZZA
Harmattan is a cold condition in Africa, West Africa especially where people freeze out and get to where thick clothes to avoid cold.
The story depicts an average African style where development could spread from one person to others in the community.
This is an interesting use of the prompt, and a good application of the skill challenge:
We do see the scene. The footprints of the father on his long trek help to set an example for the son.
Thank you for sharing this story with us. We appreciate that you support other writers with your comments.
Thank you, @theinkwell.
Ifechi must work to survive instead of depending on someone.
Life is all about doing what can make you be successful. Leave your father's properties and fight hard to get yours....
Depending on his father's wealth and not intending to work assiduously to get his could be detrimental and his father wanted him to walk in his footprints, sent him back to where he would get his act together.
Happy day!Excellent life story @mrenglish . The effort was successful. This also includes life experience and family legacy, which is always important to maintain. Change happened when Ifechi graduated. He was an example of life, he left a footprint that would later be followed by his people in the village. That way everything improves....
To keep improving, there is need to keep checking. And be concise in what we want to prove within our space.
Ifechi had allowed his father's wealth stock to his head, he had forgotten he has a dream to pursue.
This is a story that help need us to know the importance of appreciating the good things we have because if don't learn the easy, we make end up learning in a hard way.
Ifechi was called back to his sense by being sent back to learn how to become successful in the village with his grandpa, Maxwell.
Hmmm! How heartbreaking to see a son you work so hard for not take his education very seriously. Ifechi needed to follow the footprints of his father and I'm glad a trip to the village and a moment with Maxwell was all it took for him to understand the importance of education. Great story.
Sending him back to the village is to make him recover himself.True, @zyzymena. Ifechi's father wanted to see his son do well and not be distracted with mundane things.
I'm glad it all ended well.
A very good read, it totally gives a different point of view of what is MINDSET. We always want to believe in 6 and do not consider 9 nor are eager to learn. You clearly made it clear and also your concept of relating it with the father figure is quite emotional. Most of the readers will be able to relate to it.
Beautiful story, reminiscent of the issues faced by most of our young ones these days who are born with silver spoon and have everything at their beck and call.
Good to know that Ifechi eventually decided to turn a new leaf
He turned a new leaf, thanks to his father who handled like an average African parent would.
GreetingsHello @mrenglish. I loved your story. The grandfather's teaching to his grandson taught him the value of work and it is very important to know how to appreciate it, especially field work. I really liked that you gave value to it.
Thank you @malka for you insightful comment. Life indeed is a teacher, the more we live, the more we learn.