Children and Childhood

Less than Ten 

We would beg the sun to quickly set, and the night to break like an avalanche. Boys and girls from before would gather, I barely know their names now. The school was an escape from errands and house chores, nights, were a cage to most of us who had trouble sleeping with our parents in the same room. Evenings were the best of time when the moon comes out in her glory, and the stories burn and warm our heart as we sit around fire, tyres or anywhere else we find comfortable enough from home.

We would dance around the fire and share stories, some we formulated, others we heard from one older person or another. When the stories were exhausted after telling them too much, we create ours with real-life characters and plots that lead to something we saw on tv, heard or just allow our imaginations to run wild. It was an unwritten constitution to always come out every night and dance with the moon.

We shared our childhood together, though, most of us had personal friends from the same class, school or we just connected better on a different plane. Shade, one I will never forget. I was about seven and she was older, that’s all I can tell about our age difference. She had a thing for me, and would always look out for me, give me candy or wipe my tears when I cry. She showed me a lot, a little too much for my mind. She made me touch too, a little too hard for my hands. I was young, curious and I liked every bit of it.

Victor Oyedele