Firesola was 9
months old when her mum began to misbehave. I watched as she arranged her
friends for her 3rd birthday party picture. Seun’s genome cheated me too much.
She looks completely like Seun, talks like Seun, laughs like Seun and she is as
intelligent as Seun. Seun led her class in the university from year one till
the end. When I struggled to maintain my second class upper, Seun sat
comfortably in First class. She is a guru of Economics. I often call her my
Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Firesola literarily looks like a smaller version of Seun.
She started reading books fluently before she clocked 3 years. Dictionary is
her favorite book. Closely followed by the bible. She has read the entire New Testament.
She is a wonder of a child. Her IQ must be higher than her age.
What bothers me
about her is that she has never asked about her mum. I know that she knows. Her
actions proves it, but I want to see empathy in her. She needs that motherly
care that makes everyone tender. Moreover, she is going to be a mother one day.
So she needs to know how to. I made a big portrait of one of Seun’s pictures
and placed it in her room. I once asked her what she thinks about the picture
and she said ‘it’s not necessary’. I have accepted that Firesola is older than
3 years in her mind. She is probably 13 years. Even her teachers agree with me.
Her third
birthday even attracted the media. Some folks who are fascinated by bright kids
came to interview her. The only explanation from me is that I always lay my
hand on her mum’s stomach when she was pregnant with her and pray in the
Spirit, declaring words over her. Her mum also read the entire bible aloud 3
times when she was pregnant. This must be the reason for the wonder in
Firesola.
After the party,
Firesola told me that she wants to see her mum. I was shocked at the request.
What should be my reply? This kid is too bright to be deceived. The last time I
saw Seun was when I visited a club where a friend had seen her. I went to the
club to confirm. Seun was in the midst of smoking and drinking with that same
guy swirling round her. I left the place before she could see me. I can’t allow
Firesola to see her in that state. I bent over and said ‘Oluwafiresola, your
mum does not want to come home yet.’ I looked into her face to read her
emotions. ‘I will tell God to bring her back’, she said and walked away.
I have taught
Firesola the art of prayer and intimacy with the Holy Spirit. I once prayed for
her to be filled with the Holy Spirit when she was just a little above 1 year
old. That night, she spoke out what I supposed to be tongues, but I couldn’t
confirm since she was just learning to talk at that time. I am still waiting
for the appropriate time to speak with her about tongues, but she has grabbed
the lesson of fellowshipping with the Spirit of God really fast. It’s not hard
for a kid anyway.
The next day,
Firesola told me that she has told God to bring back her mum. The next one week
was filled with discussion about her mum. She was always asking questions about
her. Why this sudden interest in Seun? I asked her why she wants her mum to
come back home. She said ‘because you miss her’. This girl will never seize to
amaze me. Frankly, I am growing out of Seun. She is gradually leaving my
memory. It’s over two years. She didn’t even look back. Why should I keep
missing her? But Firesola is always correct. That’s a lesson I have learned.
‘Don’t you miss her?’ I asked too. She shrugged without looking at me. I can’t
blame her, she was just 9 months old.
That night,
memories of Seun flooded my mind. The good times we had in school, at different
places and even on this bed. I smiled. The reality dawned on me that night. I
truly miss her. Her voice has a way of bringing my head to some form of reset.
Especially when she sings. My best friend. I was already dozing when my phone
rang. ‘Hello, hello, who is there?’ The call was dropped. I went back to bed,
but the phone rang again. ‘Please, come and save me. Please.’ The call dropped
again. I am not Captain America. I am not saving anybody. I slept off. In the
morning, Firesola asked me ‘Has mum called?’
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