Looks like a good day to tell my running away story.

I can't remember how old I was, 15 at most. Happened too long ago.

I had just confirmed that Titi likes me. Titi is our neighbor's daughter, although older; we were in the same age range. I had read her diary and found she

said nice things about me. Like, "Niyi is not like the other village boys in this area".

I lived in a quite, not upscale but decent area in Ibadan. It was my parent's first house.

Titi is the last born of her parents, I am the first. Her sister, aunty Yewande used to take us

to cyber café's together. It was those years that you buy one hour in the cafe only to spend all the time opening emails.

It was through one of those first trips that my first email was borne [email protected]

Back to it.

My teenage hormones were raging and to me "Niyi is not like the other boys in this area", was the same thing as "I love Niyi, I want to spend the rest of my life with him, we will have 8 babies and make them play monkey post together".

With this new info in mind, I had to start

repackaging my packaging. I have to win Titi my love over. I had never seen boobs before and she being older, she was already growing a pair, not like the flat girls in my class. Dating someone older was my only goal in life. When, I say only goal, I mean only goal.

Keep in mind that there was only a small fence between Titi and I's house. You could sit on it. So imagine my discombobulation when my mum told me there was no water in the house and I should go and fetch water.

Emi big boy, should go and fetch water? Titi will now see me

carrying water on my head and say I'm like the other village boys in this area. Lailai. I'm not letting my mother get in between me and my only goal in life. If she wanted water, she should send my little sister or go herself. Big boys don't fetch water, lailai.

So I told her No. She in turn told me, no water, no food for you.

Wow,

So, I thought. I had to put an end to this disrespect. I'm a man. I have to win my respect now. It was now or never

So, Satan whispered into my ears. "Run away, when your dad gets back and he can't find his only son, he'll blame your mother and she'll never send you water again"

Before Satan even stopped whispering. I was already walking. It was morning mind you.

I just started walking, my knowledge of Ibadan greatly increased that day. I discovered some new places, If I had a gun and some crew men, I would have jumped out of my boat and demanded

to see the village head.

"Ai sir, ai sir. I'm Niyitopher Columbus and I have come to give your people some civilization."

I walked that day ehn. By afternoon, nobody had looked at me, taken pity on me and given me money to at least buy food.

I walked till late afternoon.

No money on me, hungry like never before in my life.

It was when I was on some rocks with no house in sight that my head became correct.

Go back to your mother, say you're sorry. Maybe she'll welcome you like the prodigal son. You and Titi cannot have 8 kids and make

them play monkey post if you die of hunger, worse; you'll never touch boobs in your life.

We live to fight another day.

So I made my way back home. Another long walk, hungrier than before.

It was night before I got to my street.

My father's headlight was recognisable anywhere. As I cornered into my street. I saw it, I quickly hid. He went home and I followed. I skipped my small fence and made my way into a small corner in the house, that housed the visitor's

toilet. My mum was watching TV like say ano miss. The thing pain me. On another day, we'll talk about my mum's personality type. She no really dey send like that, I take most of my characteristics from her. My dad left the house once again, to go and look for me I think.

My mum stayed watching TV. I crept into my room through the kitchen door.

My dad came back later in the night to find me on my bed like nothing had happened.

He dragged me out of it, I was forming confused. Hello sir, what is happening here? Why are you angry? Who beat you?

Dragged me into the sitting room. My mum looked at me and kept watching TV like say ano loss.

My dad said. Help me lock every door. I was still forming what is happening here? I was trying to act like I had been in my room all this while.

It was when my dad blocked the small

window that leads from the dining to the kitchen that I realised, that was a stick up. He was coming for my ass and wanted to make sure I had no way of escaping. Anyhow sha, I got the beating of my life. The 3rd time and last time my dad beat me ever.

It was like that beating created a silent agreement between us that I'll never do anything that warranted getting whooped ever again.

Long story long, I found out Titi liked a older boy and she liked me like a brother. (Aye brother ma baje ni ). A junior brother she never had

I grew up to see and feel a lot of boobs after that experience and it seems like the sound advice, I gave myself on those rocks was solid.

Got a solid beating and the rest they say his history.

Older now, wiser now.

Titi is happily married now and she's a sister to me.

End

Disclaimer* Some events in these thread have been exaggerated for comedic purposes.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day.