HIDDEN MOMENTS, Romeo Fredson [good beach reads .txt] 📗

HIDDEN MOMENTS

My memories

4/19/2012

MR. ROMEO JEFF FREDSON

Preface

How would one tell of his own life if he has not made success in his life? Well the author of this book (Romeo Fredson Jeff) who is studying science at Achimota Senior High School, and wishing to further his education at KNUST in Kumasi, has penned his past life experiences and its betterment now in his life so he could make impact in the lives of others. This book has a whole lot to teach young people that life is just a little flower one has to hold on very firmly and never leave the people who come with them and never lose hope.

With immense love he approaches any reader of strong interest in how, when, what and all the question tags in this very piece of his own.

To my dear mum I say God bless you for not neglecting this pregnancy. You really knew you would be able to raise me to be somebody one day.

To my dad thanks for the fatherly support to a son of your own.

To my siblings; you gave me the encouragement to each day`s work.

To my friends I love you all for inspiring my life.

To ma Silke, I love you for your endless and bountiful support to my educational, religious and social wellbeing. I say God bless you so much.

And all others observed……God bless you all.

CHAPTER ONE

This has been the place I have ever lived since the age of 10 years. I lived in complete poverty and hard life, back 10 years ago I was likened to a poor child: yet there was still love, affection, charity, devotion and discipline in my life. Though most of the time my mum was all I thought I had, I never knew that God was also watching.

Too young to understand why my mummy cried a lot and nearly died, I hardly felt peace in my heart. I would always grieve alongside my mum. I wholly took comfort in her. Few were the times when I saw my dad. He was far away from home, and I never understood why he was never around to help my mum. Sometimes I almost thought he was dead but he comes out of the blue; in fact unexpectedly. He comes out of nowhere into the light.

Before these times, back in 10 years, my parents were one happy couple and they made one good home; yes one but it all changed when little problems began to affect the good home. One was the loss of my dad’s job at airport shell, then he tried masonry yet that wasn`t enough, striving very hard he tried minor jobs. My mother on the other hand went teaching at a school called St. Francis catholic and really she was very good at doing it. But since she was the mother of five children by then, she had to stop and keep the home running and spend time with her lovely children.

Everything by then in life was merciless to us. We had to borrow foodstuffs from neighbors who were fairly good to us. The largest sum I can remember we owed was by then in old Ghana; 3,000,000.00. This depth kept piling until I could not tell how much we owed. Even up to now, I don’t really know the exact amount even though I can`t imagine how my parents were able to pay the depth. Most times we barely had three square meal. The main menu could be rice and stew or ``banku`` and okra soup or palmnut soup or groundnut soup this is was our local dish. This is really accompanied by lots of water just to keep the tommy full. Our small piece of land became a farm, where we planted maize, cocoyam, yam and plantains or potatoes. These crops barely do well because the nourishment of the land did not support the growth of the crops. When there was no money, nothing seemed to do well or work well. Our schooling was at stake. At home we were beaten when we failed to learn, my parents made us good pupils at home. Whenever little money came home it was always channeled into our education hoping for a better improvement in us: bringing home good grades in our exams. I especially felt the weakness at home because when my mummy got ill my daddy was away for a long time, I turn to be the female of the house, all because I was the firstborn child and capable of running the errands. I was about 8 or 9 years old, when I knew how to do everything a girl could do. I cook, fetch water, wash the dishes, sweep the room, and the compound. Sometimes I do feed my younger brothers and sisters. My sister was just 7 years and then she was followed by tripplets who were about three months old. Not long enough my mum got pregnant again with the expectation of a sixth born. She had had pains during the times when she gave birth to the five of us. She went through many operations to be able to deliver successfully. So this time she really felt pain having this one. Her wound of the previous birth was not properly healed. She cried a lot and even died out of weakness. I loved my mummy so much that I wouldn`t complain when I got too tired to be sent. I was there to make her happy. My mum was so loving and caring, she also cherished discipline. She beats me when I do something she told me not to do. She will wipe me till I am really dealt with. My dad will only talk twice the third time he would use a different strategy, i.e. he would beat me till I am very well beaten.

Discipline indeed was the key role of the house and that made me one strong person in life. Times and months passed by and my mum recovered from pain. She was also able to walk and stand on her feet but she was still pregnant when she started going round to look for aid. Every day she had to go out or else it would be a hell for us all. The most meal we took when she was away as “gari and stew” or “soakings”. We were being locked in the bedroom until she got back from her rounds. But as time went on she began to leave the house with my young brothers and sister (the triplets). Just my sister who is followed by the tripplets and I were left alone in that quiet and lonely house. This went on for several weeks and months. We didn`t know where they went or what they did. All I did know was they had been somewhere and then they are back. Until one day, in the afternoon around 12:00pm, my mum and siblings were back than their usual time of arrival. They really were happy when they came back. My mum upon their arrival told me that I should go pack my things for the next day, we were going somewhere called children’s home. I had never heard that before and likewise didn`t know what it is. But at least the name sounded cool to me. So I packed all my belongings and helped pack for my brothers and sisters. My brothers were not that old enough to pack for themselves so I helped them. It took me the whole day to stop thinking about where I would school and never be sacked, and what foods I would eat without asking for more. I kept thinking whiles working with my mum all day. For once in my life I could that my mum was relieved. She seemed to be hymning some nice tune; which sounded to as if she was thanking someone beyond what she could say. That evening I didn`t know my dad had heard of the good news. He came over from sogakope, where he resided to work in a local hospital. When he arrived I took his bags and loads from him and placed it in the room where the whole family slept.

After supper that evening, when everyone was ready to receive some fresh air on the porch, my parents sat us down to give us some notes of caution as to how we should behave when we get there. And for the second time in the day I saw my mum talk as if she had not a problem in the family. My father on the other hand was okay about the whole issue, and my siblings kept telling me all the nice things they saw at the home and even how they were attended to as visitors. All went so well with us that night. We needn`t have to stay awake to learn, just a good night sleep.

THE SIX BLESSINGS FOR MY READERS

In times of difficulties never lose hope for God`s time is the best.

Who so ever that God has blessed is blessed forever.

God is ready to do exceedingly above all other creatures and gods.

Your downfall now is just the beginning to achieving your destined success.

Do not listen to what others would say to bring you down.

It is not over yet your miracle is on the way to your door step.

CHAPTER TWO

Early the next morning we all woke up to bath and had some breakfast. My mummy and daddy were already awake. My mum was preparing breakfast when we woke up and for my father he was long gone to work. He came because of the news. After everybody had had their bath and got dressed, we all sat on mat, placed the foods on it whiles we ate. This day was so soon in my life and I still can`t believe it; that for such a long time my dreams and hopes were coming into reality. As our mouths were chirping up and down, I noticed the sight of a taxi in front of our gate, and the taxi driver coming out through our wooden gate and towards our main entrance door. The driver came over to the hall where we were having breakfast. I approached and greeted him. I asked him of his reason of invitation. He told me my mum asked him to come that very morning. I told him to wait while I go and get my mum. So waiting in the hall while I left to call my mum he was chatting with my younger siblings. There I knew who that person was. He is a friend to my mummy. When I returned I told him to wait a minute while my mum came out of the room. In about a minute later my mum came out of the room to receive the visitor (the driver). They went further away from the hall to speak. She came back after about thirty seconds to tell us to hurry and get our things prepared. So in about five minutes we had finished and were packing our things into the taxi. Sooner we were done with the packing and my mummy locked the empty room and we went sitting in the car. By the time we realized we were all hauling in the taxi going to our dream land. Finally we arrived at our destination, we came through a corner with a sigh post on it written ‘’Angle`s View’’, beside it was another with the name ‘’Kinder Paradise children`s home’’. I felt happy and relieved of too much thinking. In front of one of four giant blue gates the taxi came to a halt.

We got out of the car