It was at the first break of light, after the cock crow that Ifeanyi woke up that Saturday morning. He stood up and sat on his wooden bed frame which was gifted to him on his sixteenth birthday. He looked towards his window at the early golden sun rays piercing into his room and illuminating part of his room. With that light, he looked down at his bed frame and chuckled. “It has been nine years since I got this as a gift.” He said to himself, “I am not getting any younger at all” he concluded. He finally rose up and headed out to the barn, which was pretty much his routine every Saturday morning.
The farm was all he knew, it was where he was born and grew up too. It belonged to his family and it was part of the Utulu heritage—a family with a long line of industrious people who were highly respected. Inside the barn, he picked up a black metal bucket which served the function of carrying water towards the livestock in the barn. Ifeanyi moved outside the barn towards the nearest tap. Due to the size of the farm, the plumbing was done in a way where the nearest taps were less than a minute away from anywhere you stood. Soon he was done filling up the feeding trough meant for water. He moved towards where the hay was kept and moved some portion into the feeding trough for it.
While he was moving the hay, he noticed a middle-aged man wearing blue jeans with a Lumberjack shirt, walking into the barn. That man was his father and someone he was always grateful for. Despite how things weren’t so great for the family financially, he knew how much his father was focused on making sure he had the best. Ifeanyi grew up as an only child and as a result of that, he saw himself as a very required extra hand at home.
“Maybe I should tell Dad about my plan?” he thought, “now might not be a favourable time and place to discuss it with him” was another thought that came up. Saying he was in a dilemma won’t be able to describe what Ifeanyi has been going through these past weeks. He had plans, plans that were so big but unfortunately, he didn’t have the courage to match such a big plan.
”Good morning Dad,” he said before he got lost in his thoughts.
“Good morning Ifeanyi, I hope you slept well last night?” his dad replied.
“I sure did and you?” he replied, trying not to give a hint of the current thoughts that troubled him. His father nodded positively in response to the question. “I’ll be heading out to the field for football practice as soon as I am done here,” Ifeanyi informed his dad.
“Make sure to eat something before you leave, you know how long you tend to stay at the field” said his Dad as he was leaving the barn.
After his dad left he thought to himself, “I guess now isn’t a good time for that discussion. Maybe I will try when I get back home from the field.” He quickly went through the rest of the tasks he had to do in the barn and looked at his watch. It was 25 minutes to 7 am and he heaved a sigh of relief that he would make it to the field early this time around. He was late last week and the punishment he got from the coach wasn’t one he was looking forward to experiencing anytime soon. He quickly dashed into his room, packed his football playing wears into his bag and dashed out, faster than he came in.
He arrived at the field on time, as he predicted and he quickly put on his sporting clothes. He exchanged pleasantries with the coach and the players around. Without a doubt, he knew was going to get full match time during practice today. And why not? He was their star player of course and everyone knew and testified to that. His defensive skills were so great that no player could move past him unless he permitted it. He got selected as he expected and started the game. After about 45 minutes, the practice was all over.
“Ifeanyi I want to see you, follow me,” Coach Onyeka beckoned to Ifeanyi. He followed him and he had a clue as to what that discussion was going to be about. It was most likely going to be about the opening for a defender at a club in the city. The coach had previously informed him of this golden opportunity and he was expected to provide a response.
“Any feedback on the defensive opportunity we spoke about some weeks ago, Ifeanyi ?” coach Onyeka asked.
“Coach…” he said while hesitating, thinking of what to say. “I don’t have any feedback yet, sadly coach. I am yet to discuss it with my dad. I have not had the opportunity to do that yet.”
“You can’t keep making excuses about this thing Ifeanyi. Time is ticking and opportunities like this don’t come up often” coach Onyeka said.
“I know coach and I am trying. I will soon have feedback,” Ifeanyi said.
“No problem. You can go but remember, time is ticking.”
Ifeanyi moved away and could see his close friend Osas from afar, thanks to his distinctive red and black striped jersey. He quickly went to him and the look on Ifeanyi's face showed he wasn’t having a great day that morning.
“Why is Ifeanyi my friend worried?” Osas asked. “Is it because of that same issue?” Ifeanyi nodded a yes to him. “You should be fast and make a decision, Ifeanyi. I am even quitting my current job this week to chase my dream” Osas informed him. “You are bluffing right?”
“Not at all Ifeanyi.”
“But how can I take such a big move? Moving is tiring and everyone already knows me in this town. Starting all over again in a faraway city is not an easy decision.” Ifeanyi said, trying to defend his procrastination.
“I get you but decide fast please,” Osas replied.
Ifeanyi went back home and continued his daily activities. He lost track of time and it was already night when he retired to his room. Football was his passion but he didn’t see it as something he would take up full-time. In fact, to him, it was just his way of exercising and keeping fit. He couldn’t possibly leave his Dad all alone to take care of the farm by himself, that would be selfish of him. “Maybe I’ll try tomorrow,” he said as he closed his eyes and went to bed.
Photo by Halanna Halila on Unsplash
