“ I couldn't bring myself to show it to you. Our situation is beyond hopeless. How could I burden you any further with an increased tuition fee?”
“ Nne, I promised your mother you will go to school. I will not fail her.”
“ Papa. We are struggling to eat twice a day. How will we gather over seventy thousand Naira in two weeks?”
“ It says here that one can pay by installments. Right? So we will work with that.”
“What about Somadina?”
“ What about him?”
“ He has to go to school as well. Papa, I can not accept this. If Mama was alive, she will understand you have done your best.”
“ I know she will, but that's not the lifestyle of we, the Igbo people. We don't make promises and back down like glorified imbeciles. Besides, I have no doubt that your brother will support me....”
“ I do!”
“ How long have you been standing there?”
“ Long enough to know you want to kill my joy. Listen, sister Nnenna. It's important to me that you finish school.”
“ Somadina, I'm just worried about you and papa.”
“ Same here. We are also worried about you. I have told several of my friends that my sister is in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. You better start packing your things to go back.”
“ You will force me out, abi?”
“Why not? Someone taught me that if push comes to shove, men should act. I promise you, I will bundle you like a bag of crayfish if I have to.”
“ Your height must be deceiving you. Just be looking like over fertilized cassava stem.”
“ Okay. That's enough. Very soon, your scuffles will ring like service bell. Somadina, go and get me my cutlass. I will harvest the corn field.”
“ Papa...thank you....”
“ University girls shouldn't be crying. Let me do that for you. By weekend, hopefully, we will have enough money for the first installment.”
“ At least, let me help you with the harvest.”
“ No, let me go instead. I'm stronger.”
“ Somadina, you are thirteen. How strong can you be?”
“Age is just a number, sister. Besides, I don't scream and run like a five year old when I stumble upon a snake.”
“ You little snitch!”
“ Don't worry. I will do the work in the farm. You should work on your GP. I heard you saying that it has fallen from a two-storey building.”
“ Papa!”
“ Somadina, stop bickering with a woman. We won't achieve anything if you delay!”
“ Did you hear that? He recognises me as a man....”
“ Come here and give me a hug....”
“ Mama would be proud of you. Papa and I will stand by you whatever the cost....”
“ It will affect the both of you. That's what bothers me.”
" I know that, sister, but that's what a family is: sacrifices and undying solidarity. I have your back," he said, and sped up like a jet before take-off.
