An 8-Year-Old's Tale of Deception: A Lesson in Handling Responsibility
Bisola Bankole
Dynamic Content Strategist | Creative writer | Empowering brands for success through compelling content and storytelling.
I remember the day someone duped me as a child.
Cheating an 8 year old should be a punishable offense
but just I digress…
I remember it was a cool evening and after an afternoon spent running around, I was busy taking a nap in my grandma’s shop.
My aunt eventually came to wake me up since it was time to lock up for the day and in typical 8-year old fashion, I got up grumbling with my eyes still half closed.
“Take this carton of key soap home”, she said as she placed the said carton on my head.
Still half-asleep and feeling like the weight of the world had been placed on my head, I made my way home.
The half-awake part of my brain had an issue with why tiny me would be saddled with such a heavy task and this was what I thought my aunt realized when the next series of events happened.
I was almost stepping through the gates that led to my street when a young man go about 22 came running towards me, calling my name.
“Bisola, Bisola, your aunt said you should give me the carton while you come back to the shop”, he said to me in Yoruba.
Till date I have feel no remorse for the amount of relief I felt handing over the carton to him.
And round about I turned , heading back to the shop.
Call it a sixth sense, but the moment my aunt saw me, she knew something was definitely amiss.
“Bisola, how come you got back so fast?”
Answering in “ignoramus”, “shebi you told that boda (brother) to collect the carton from me”, I replied.
As if I had lit her on fire, my aunt rushed forward, “which boda? Run back right now and collect the carton of soap for me. I didn’t send anybody to you o”
My future flashed in front of my now fully awakened eyes, and it was filled with images of me receiving the spanking of my life in a not so distant time.
I ran with all the strength my eight year old body could muster towards our home, looking at all the faces I passed on the way.
But alas, I saw no ‘boda’ among them neither did I see our missing carton of soap.
As I stood by the roadside searching for the face I probably wouldn’t recognize, I thought of the only thing I could probably do to let the world know I had been cheated and the person deserved to be caught.
Under my breath, I started muttering “ole, ole, ole” meaning thief, thief, thief.
At first nobody heard me but when they did, most were amused , probably wondering what anyone could have stolen from me.
After a few minutes, I finally accepted that I would never find the young man or my aunty’s beloved carton of soap.
On my arrival at my grandmother’s shop, a small crowd was already waiting for me as though to herald the return of a valiant warrior.
Their eyes collectively fell when they saw I had no carton with me, finally accepting that our merchandise was most likely being sold at that very moment at half price.
Fortunately for me, my aunt wasn’t in the mood to use the cane she so expertly wields on a normal day and told me to take a break from my indoctrination into the lies adults tell.
I narrowly escaped a baptism of whips but one lesson did stick with me:
Sometimes, it’s in your best interest to deal with difficulty. The moment you give it away could be the moment you realize the value it had all along.
P.S : Do you have a poignant moment from your childhood? I will definitely want to read about it
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8 个月Bisola Bankole Thank you for sharing this captivating story! It's a powerful reminder of how childhood experiences can shape our perspective and teach us invaluable lessons. Your story beautifully illustrates the importance of handling challenges head-on and recognizing the value they hold. A poignant moment from my childhood was when I learned the hard way about trust and the importance of being cautious. It's these early life lessons that often stick with us and guide our actions in adulthood. I'd love to read more narrations from you as time goes on ?? , Bisola Bankole.
Brand Strategist | ForbesBLK Member | Brand Consultant|Certified in Brand Management & Content Strategy —I help companies and C-level executives craft compelling Brand stories, increase Brand visibility, and drive sales.
8 个月Bisola, your childhood story beautifully captures both the innocence and the learning moments that come with growing up. The "ole, ole, ole" moment is both endearing and highlights your quick thinking! Your closing lesson about facing difficulties resonates – a valuable takeaway for any age. Thanks for sharing this!