Mr Adam’s

Living life is one thing, surviving the odds is another thing.

There is no way you can do it that you will get everyone around you to love and appreciate you for who you are. There will be some people who will be with you sincerely and genuinely. Some will be with you just for what they want to get from you, and some others don't even want to see you in the position you find yourself in.

This was an early morning conversation my uncle had with my dad when he visited us some months ago. I overheard the conversation when I was free from work and had to rest in the room.

The reality check is that everyone loves you for a reason and the same thing goes for those who hate too. They are acting in a spiteful manner because of something that you have and they don't. And all they will wish for is for what’s within you to get destroyed or vanished.

It might be power, money, knowledge, wisdom, beauty, wealth, or just petty accomplishments. They don't care. Since it's not theirs then it shouldn’t be anyone’s. They forgot that fingers are not equal. I had thought quite far that I couldn’t listen to the conversation anymore.

I got my mind back and concentrated more on their conversations.

Dad gave an example of his experience. I could hear the name of one of my uncles. He is called Alhaji Adams. Oooh I remembered the face and behavior of this uncle even though I was still so young then. I couldn’t forget his facial expressions and those of his family too.

He is a tall man, with an oblong face, on his jaws are some mixed color of white and black beards giving a greyish-white appearance. This tells he is older than my dad as of then.

Alhaji Adams is not a good person. My dad added.

I don't know why someone has to envy or get jealous of a little boy around the age of 6. What offence would he have committed against an elderly man to have behaved in a spiteful way against him?

Ade, My dad called on my uncle who came to visit in a regretful way. And said, “ I have left them to God to give them the best of what they deserve”.

Tears almost dropped from his face as he tried to stop it from flowing. He must have gone through the miserable and regretful experience he had with them.

My brother was just 6 years of age and he was just in his elementary classes then. He is a bright child from birth and also intelligent. Most times I even try to be like him but I end up becoming myself because we are just different.

He is so calm and well-mannered. Fit for the first child of the family. I got to learn a lot from him as a mentor and a model.

During his days in school, he has always been an outstanding student in his class. This is due to the home lesson in addition to his intelligence. There are many other intelligent kids in his class too. The competition most times is always a strong one. But if it's just a little gap my brother will retain his position among others.

Every end-of-the-year party in school he is always awarded the overall best student in his class. A proud moment for Mum and Dad and even myself too. He also gets many other rewards for being the best student in different subjects.

There was a graduation we had that year that after we left the party Dad asked us to meet him at Alhaji Adams's residence so we could head home together. We went there with all our awards and the food we got from school. Then after greeting my uncle, he asked to see the awards that we got from the graduation ceremony.

He checked mine and returned it to me. I guess he wasn't that impressed, but then he checked that of my brother and realized he was the overall best student in his class. Instead of applauding and congratulating my brother for his accomplishments, he said otherwise.

“Is it because you are the overall best and came first in class that made you proud?” This is not an achievement. He added.

Oooh. I never understood what he said then or how heavy those words were not until Dad repeated the story and I recalled those scenes in my head. What has a kid done to deserve to be envious about? An elderly person for that matter.

That's humans for us. My uncle concluded the conversation.