Mr. Chime who happened to be my uncle, is a man who believed that children should obey their parent's every decision without argument.
Mr. Chime is a traditionist, unlike my father, who is a devoted Christian; my uncle works according to our forefather's beliefs. He believes that women do not need education of any kind but if they must be trained, it should be to learn to read and write.
Mr chime (my uncle)has four children, Maddie, Mandy, okechukwu, and Chinedu.
Maddie, being the first daughter, and Mandy, the third child and also a girl, were not having it easy with their father. Maddie has always wanted to study medicine, but her father thinks it is a waste of money and resources to train them.
Maddie is an intelligent girl, and pressure has been mounted on her father by my daddy.
Mr chime decided that he would train Maddie to the secondary level and get her married. But fate has another plan for the girls born in the Chime family.
After Maddie finished secondary school, she stayed at home until Okechukwu and Mandy were done, too, cause they were twins. Mr chime decided to send Okechukwu to a high institution instead of Maddie or Mandy cause of his beliefs.
Okechukwu tried but couldn't gain admission; Mr chime, my uncle, was disappointed, so he called a family meeting inside the living room one day.
As we were all seated, he cleared his throat; I call this meeting because I have something important to tell you all, as you all know. I can't use the money that I plan to use and train Okechukwu and Chinedu in school to train you, girls.
Maddie sight and muttered under her breath, "That's no longer news; say something new abeg. I was equally surprised at my uncle cause of his education why would he be reasoning like this
Did you say something, Maddie, Mr chime asked?
No, Daddy answered. Maddie was obviously irritated with whatever the father wanted to say.
So, for that, I have decided that Mandy and Maddie will go and learn tailoring until I see a husband for them.
Daddy, so I won't go to a university. Is that what you are saying, Mandy asked amidst tears.
You are correct, that what it's Mr. Chime replied
But Dad, that's unfair; we are all your children, and you shouldn't treat us differently, Mandy says, sobbing seriously.
There is nothing unfair here; I can't train a child that another man will enjoy the benefits Mr Adamu said.
But uncle, I am also in school, and my dad doesn't see anything wrong in it I said, trying to make my uncle see the reasons.
Did I ask you to speak, when are you leaving, your holiday is over, shout my uncle Mr Chime?
I just have to keep quiet and shut it.
But my husband can't you see your brother's children are all in the university, they are also girls, yet you want to kill the dreams and aspirations of your girls.,that's really not good if you ask me, my darling Mrs chime, my uncle's wife, replied.
You say if I ask you, but I didn't ask you, keep your opinion to yourself; as for my brother, he has money to waste, and my decision is final. Mr chime says glaring at his wife and me
Okay, Daddy, can you train us in university to study any of the unimportant courses so we can answer graduate, even if it is not something that will fetch us money in the future, Maddie said.
No, you will learn sewing, and that's final, Mr. Chime shouted very angrily.
Ok, fine can we choose where we will learn the sewing Maddie said politely
I will give you the leverage to choose where to learn the tailoring Mr chime answered.
That's fine, thank you, Daddy, Maddie replied.
But how can you agree just like that without a fight? Mandy queried her sister. As their father brought the meeting to a close and walked out.
Tension was high in the air.
Do you think you have another way of convincing our father? You know daddy is stubborn, so you follow him diplomatically, Maddie says as a matter of fact.
Mom, say something. Will you fold your hand and allow your girls to be secondary school leavers alone, Mandy says, turning to their mother for help.
At this point, anybody that has a good suggestion should bring it out, their mother says.
Chinedu, who was still a child, was just looking in confusion as he didn't understand what was going on. okechukwu was sad for his sisters, and he couldn't do anything equally.
The living room was silent.
Maddie cleared her throat; I have a suggestion, but I will need everybody's support on this, especially your's mum.
Out with it, their mother said.
That was when Maddie dropped the bombshell.
Mom, okechukwu, Mandy, sister christy I have something to say. Me and Mandy have been admitted into the high institution to study medicine and law, respectively, Maddie says, her face full of smiles.
Everybody shouted with joy; congratulations were falling in place for Mandy and Maddie. After a while everywhere was quiet.
How will you leave the house to attend school, their mother asked.
That's where you come in, Mom; you will convince Dad to allow me to go to Uncle Vincent's (that's my father)place in Portharcourt to learn sewing. While Mandy goes to Aunt Amaka's (my father's younger sister)house in Enugu state to learn her sewing, Maddie says.
Their mother was overjoyed, I will do that; just leave that to me their mom said, almost dancing.
But how will you pay your fees and other things, you know my petty trade can only afford foodstuffs for you two and some fees their mother asked
Aunty Amaka has agreed to cater to Mandy's needs while Mandy will take up weekend jobs to support herself, too. Same thing with me Maddie answered
My intelligent daughter, you already have it all planned out, wow, I am super proud of you their mother said, tearing up.
Wow, sister, you are the best, Mandy said Hugging her sister. Why didn't you tell me that our admission list is out? No wonder you were quiet and didn't argue with Father Mandy, weeping tears of joy.
Okechukwu and I were overjoyed for his sisters. Although he's yet to get admission, okechukwu was happy for them.
That's how Mandy and Maddie went to school and became graduates without my uncle's knowledge until the day they graduated.
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