How My Curiosity Was Rewarded

At a very tender age, I was the only grandchild staying with my grandmother. At that early stage of my life, people knew me to be very inquisitive; a fly wouldn't pass without me asking questions. Those who found my questions disturbing thought it was because I was a kid and believed I would change when I was older.

But the truth is, this trait is a unique quality that is inborn in me. She was the only person then who saw my zeal to learn, which made me see her as the only friend I had. She was the only person then who saw my zeal to learn, which made me see her as the only friend I had.

My grandma witnessed so many wars during the 1900s, and she never failed to share those stories with me. During their time, land was not bought with so much money, but earning that little amount of money was what one had to labor tirelessly for. Being a strong woman, she was able to purchase some plots of land—not so much but three. This achievement made her stand out in the village.

She was my mentor; the majority of our discussions were on history relating to Nigeria and our community.

As the days passed, people began to marvel at the kind of stories I shared and wondered how a little girl of mine knew so much, yet they still doubted the power of curiosity. I was very grateful to my grandma, as I cried that night when she lay and found it difficult to stand, shivering so hard and losing the energy to eat.

I felt I should be the one feeling what she was feeling. Then, making a phone call was hard, but luckily, someone helped, and we got to my mom and others. We knew her time was limited, so we spent more time with her together as one big family.

One evening, the moon was shining brightly, sending brightness to the earth. We laid on the mat, cracking jokes that left us all happy. After a very long laugh, my grandma iced it with an unexpected surprise as she said, "Among all the grandchildren I have, you are exceptional. Your quest for knowledge is incomparable, and that alone has earned you a plot of land. I know the plot might not be 5 acres of land, but your curiosity has earned you this gift."

Then, I didn't know what to use a plot of land for; in my mind, maybe a carton of biscuits would have been more meaningful, but I hugged her tightly, forgetting she was ill. I thanked her for the gift and for never finding my questions tiring. It was in adulthood that I realized the significance of that plot of land—that it was more than a carton of biscuits.

I never stopped in my journey of uncovering mysteries. My curious life has led me to a life full of discovery, growth, and wonderful memories. Above all, curiosity brings a sense of excitement and discovery to our lives. It ignites joy in uncovering new knowledge.