That morning, I was extra glad I wasn’t going to school. Don’t get me wrong o, I’ve always loved school but everyone, including me, needs a break once in a while. I had my much desired break one fateful day and I thought that was a good opportunity to see the world.

I stepped out with my dad and felt like I was about to have the best fun filled day of my life. I waved at my friends when I saw them on the way as we still had to take the same route to my “fun-factory”. My joys and imaginations knew no bounds, I was mightily excited.

I imagined going to an amusement park or somewhere someone was going to give us cake and coke. However, since it didn’t look like we were going visiting, I kept my cool knowing my dad knew best.

 We got to a tall building, entered it and began to fill some papers. I still imagined that we were going to see my dad’s friend who had to have it on record that we came.

 Then, we climbed and climbed dozens of staircases or so it seemed at the time. We finally arrived at the place and my dad talked to his ‘friend’ for a long time while I was eating biscuits and hoping my cake will come.

I was taken to a high chair that rotates, fun enough till we can go to the main place. Then my dad’s friend opened my mouth and started to poke me with a wooden knife, shining small light into it.

I didn’t like all of that but I trusted my dad’s friend was as nice as my dad, so I let him continue without following through with my idea of biting him.

He talked some more with my dad who then came to tell me he was going to leave me with his ‘friend’ for a while and come for me later. I thought the coke was coming. I obliged, with a smile. 

He left without a smile and then someone brought injection. I don’t like injections but I’d pick it over tablets anytime, any day. Only those who have malaria take injections, I’m not hot or vomiting my rice, I don’t have malaria. I cried and shouted and said I want to go home.

Then, the woman promised me more biscuits and sweets and I slowed down a bit. My gum was injected and everything else was a blur. I came back up, feeling soft and empty spaces where four of my teeth used to be. I had been robbed!

Then the tears started. I didn’t cry because the removal was painful. I cried because my teeth had been stolen. I cried because my decayed teeth had been removed and I didn’t have them anymore.

I cried not because my problems had been solved but because a part of my person had been stolen and I made up my mind not to trust anyone who offered me sweets and biscuits again, except maybe cake sha.

You know, there are a lot of people like me out there. People who undermine their ‘private’ problems and pretend all is well. People who go out of their ways to bury their problems for the pleasures of the moment.

My teeth would ache for days and I would cry for nights. Nights when no one slept, including my dad. But the moment the pain subsided, I was back to sweets. When the toothache became less painful, I forgot my problems. I played with my root canal and thought fun (sugar) was good.

I played with fire and hoped it wouldn’t burn me. Stop and think for a while. Are there things you do that wouldn’t cause or make any negative impact now but would cause pains or regrets later?

Have you promised yourself to change several times and you keep doing what you said you wouldn’t do? I’m guilty of this myself. And today, I consciously make up my mind to really follow through with my decision.

Not eating ‘sweets’ might be difficult but it is possible. Not having ‘fun’ might seem unimaginable but it can happen, especially if I remind myself always that it is for the greater good. It won’t come easy and it won’t be as straight as a line but it will be worth it in the end.

Try something different today too. Don’t just read and forget what you read. Who knows who or what might be saved in the process.

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‎The writer, Bunmi Adegbola,  is a scholar of Religious Studies who hails from Osun state.  She is a young writer who has great passion for books and good music. Although she is yet to publish any of her fiction her several short stories are both inspiring and entertaining. She is an innovative writer whose use of words would paint vivid pictures in her readers’ minds. From her works you can’t but notice wit and humour even in rather tragic stories. Bunmi currently resides in Ibadan with her Family. 

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