Chapter Two – Finally D-day

‎The days passed faster than Karo expected.

‎What had once felt like a distant dream was now becoming real.

‎Her passport was ready.

‎Her visa had been approved.

‎The university had sent every document she needed.

‎Now all that remained...

‎...was the journey.

‎Almost every evening, she found herself opening her suitcase, arranging her clothes, then closing it.

‎The next morning, she would open it again.

‎Somehow, something always seemed to be missing.

‎"Mummy, I think everything don complete."

‎Her mother looked into the suitcase.

‎"You sure?"

‎"Yes."

‎Her mother reached inside and removed a pair of shoes.

‎"Where your slippers?"

‎Karo scratched her head.

‎"Ah..."

‎"I forget."

‎"I know."

‎Five minutes later...

‎"Karo!"

‎"Mummy, I dey come."

‎"Carry your cream."

‎"Mummy..."

‎"Carry am."

‎She smiled.

‎"I don hear."

‎Another ten minutes passed.

‎"Karo!"

‎She laughed before answering.

‎"Wetin happen again?"

‎"Medicine."

‎"Mummy..."

‎"Carry am."

‎"Mummy, America no be another planet."

‎"I know."

‎Her mother folded another wrapper neatly before placing it inside the suitcase.

‎"But carry am."

‎Karo laughed.

‎"No wahala."

‎Three days before her flight...

‎Her phone rang.

‎📱 Big Bro Calling...

‎She smiled before answering.

‎"Hello."

‎The familiar voice came immediately.

‎"Small Madam!"

‎Karo burst into laughter.

‎"No be only Small Madam..."

‎"...Na Rich Madam now."

‎"Rich Madam?"

‎"Yes o."

‎"So America don change you before you even travel?"

‎She laughed.

‎"I never even enter plane."

‎"So wetin happen?"

‎"I don reach twenty years."

‎"So?"

‎"I no dey small again."

‎"Hmm."

‎"So dey call me Big Madam."

‎A few seconds of silence followed.

‎Then...

‎"Never."

‎Karo smiled.

‎"Why?"

‎"Because no matter how old you become..."

‎"...you go always be my Small Madam."

‎She shook her head.

‎"You too stubborn."

‎"And you too proud."

‎Both of them laughed.

‎After a moment...

‎His voice changed.

‎"I'm proud of you."

‎Karo looked down.

‎"Thank you."

‎"I mean am."

‎"You work hard for this."

‎She smiled softly.

‎"I just pray make I do well."

‎"You see?"

‎"There you go again."

‎"Wetin?"

‎"You always dey doubt yourself."

‎She didn't answer.

‎"Karo..."

‎"If them choose you..."

‎"...na because you deserve am."

‎Her eyes became watery.

‎"I'll make una proud."

‎"You already have."

‎The morning of her journey finally arrived.

‎Before sunrise...

‎The house was already awake.

‎"Migwor, Daddy."

‎"Vrendo."

‎"Migwor, Mummy."

‎"Vrendo."

‎As she reached for an akara on the plate...

‎A hand quickly snatched it.

‎"Ehn!"

‎She turned around.

‎Her younger brother was already walking away, happily eating it.

‎"You thief!"

‎He grinned.

‎"I be thief?"

‎"You carry my akara."

‎"I no see your name on am."

‎She stood up.

‎"Come here."

‎"To do wetin?"

‎"So I fit collect my akara."

‎"Dey play, You too slow."

‎She chased after him around the dining table.

‎Their father quietly folded his newspaper.

‎Their mother continued serving breakfast as though nothing unusual was happening.

‎"If una break one chair..."

‎"...both of una go explain."

‎Neither of them listened.

‎Finally...

‎Karo caught the back of his shirt.

‎"Aha!"

‎"I catch you."

‎He laughed so hard he almost dropped the akara.

‎"Okay, okay."

‎He broke the remaining piece in half.

‎"Take."

‎She collected it.

‎"Good."

‎"I think you don get small sense."

‎"I know."

‎He smiled proudly.

‎"But the bigger piece still dey my belle."

‎"You no go hear word."

‎The whole family laughed.

‎By mid-morning...

‎The compound had become lively.

‎Close relatives arrived one after another.

‎Her closest friends came carrying small gifts.

‎Neighbors stopped by to wish her a safe journey.

‎Church members gathered to pray for her.

‎Someone brought a camera.

‎Pictures were taken.

‎Laughter filled the compound.

‎One elderly neighbor smiled warmly.

‎"So you wan abandon us go America?"

‎Everybody laughed.

‎Karo laughed too.

‎"I go still come back."

‎Another aunty pointed her finger jokingly.

‎"No forget us o."

‎Before Karo could answer...

‎Another woman teased,

‎"And if you see fine oyibo man..."

‎Her mother immediately interrupted.

‎"Leave my daughter first."

‎Everyone burst into laughter.

‎Karo covered her face.

‎"Maa..."

‎Later...

‎As the car carrying her luggage waited outside...

‎Karo quietly walked to the mango tree in the corner of the compound.

‎She had climbed it countless times as a little girl.

‎She placed one hand on its rough trunk.

‎"I'll miss this place."

‎Her father joined her.

‎For a while...

‎Neither of them spoke.

‎Then he asked quietly,

‎"You dey fear?"

‎Karo nodded.

‎"A little."

‎He smiled.

‎"Good."

‎She looked at him in surprise.

‎"If person no dey fear..."

‎"...e fit forget to prepare."

‎He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

‎"Courage no mean say fear no dey."

‎"Courage mean say..."

‎"...even with fear..."

‎"...you still move forward."

‎Karo smiled.

‎"I'll remember."

‎Far away...

‎Thousands of kilometers from Delta State...

‎A young man with striking blue eyes walked into a modern glass building.

‎Another ordinary morning.

‎Another list of names.

‎Another assignment.

‎He had no idea...

‎That one name on that list...

‎Would soon change his life forever.

‎End of Chapter Two

‎

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