Lost Dream, Last Hope...

This has been the fate of the faith he gave, Jasper is His name.

He grew up from pretty flowers, Got educated by a rich daddy, was fed the best meal by a caring mummy.

This has been his way of life, hoping for greater dreams.

Was hunged to loneliness all his childhood, He grew up with parents who were travellers due to their kind of occupation.

He was left at home with the maid and the driver.

The maid who will take care of him and look after him while the parents were away, the driver was obligated to see to it that jasper goes and come back from school on time. " I lived in a superior world", he had always thought to himself.

School had begun that session and Jasper had long gotten ready for school.

He was happy he was going to write his secondary final exams that session.

On the very first day school began, Etikpo "the driver" had driven Jasper on his way to school.

Sooner or later, while he sits in the car, he stretches his eye around the city of okpara admiring its vegetation.

Jasper has always believed in the strength of those who began little.

While his eyes still remained on the street of okpara city, he sites a young guy dressed in a mechanic uniform, he looked so shattered and hopeless, his face was stretched up, jasper imagined the pains he was going through. The young guy he saw was leaning on a frustrating car, that spelt no hope round it repairs. It was shattered beyond repairs.

The car had passed the scene Jasper was staring at, but still, the picture of the scene was captured in his brain.

The driver had driven into the school compound and dropped Jasper by the apaian walk.

Jasper waves goodbye to him as he moves straight to the classroom and awaits the devotion bell to be rung.

The lesson had begun in earnest, the waec candidates had been put through a lot of lessons during this period. As the month of the exams was fast approaching.

Jasper an art student, fondly called "jas jas" by his classmates was called out by Mr Edem during the second period of their lectures to the front of the classroom, where everyone could see him.

"Jasper", he called out to him, expecting a response.

Jasper in his amazing state looked up to Mr Edem and responded,

"yes sir".

I want to ask you to do classwork now, everyone listens up, Mr Edem said looking back at the students in class.

Jasper here will answer one of the questions in this English waec past question.

What if you are asked to write a touching story you've ever experienced what would it be Jasper?

Mr Edem had dropped the question on the board even while he was talking. He looks up to Jasper and granted him consent, to begin with, his answer to the question.

Jasper stands in gaze, as one who is thinking of what to say, the class was all quiet as a graveyard, listening to the answer Jasper will give.

He finally sums up the courage and begins with the scene he saw on his way while heading to school during the first week of resumption.

Sir, I'll title my story-- LOST DREAM_LAST HOPE. 

Everyone was surprised by what he really meant until when he began to put the picture of the scene he saw into a short story. 

He began:

Once upon a time they lived a secondary school graduate, who had just finished his last exams, his father named Mr Iwok decided to send his only son to learn handwork. 

His son Ubom chose to learn mechanics (which was about motor repairing).

His father was surprised and decided to ask his son his reasons for choosing such over numerous professions.

Ubom smiled at his father and said, Daddy, I believe that in every dirty work comes out clean joy and money.

Papa, they look dirty but I don't mind.

I'm determined to be a good and professional mechanic.

His father could not help but believe his son.

He promises to make him start the work as soon as possible.

Ubom was happy, he will learn how to repair damaged things and restore the spoilt beauty of people's vehicles.

He had a self-belief in himself and that's what convince his father to believe him too.

Two weeks later, Mr Iwok had gone to agree on a particular payment with one of the famous mechanics in the city in order to get Ubom started with his work. But he has never told Ubom that he has mortgaged their house property to get a loan to pay for the training.. the bank gave him two years to repair the loan.

He came back home and surprises Ubom that he will be starting his mechanic studies and work the following day at Benjis Mechanic in the city, as he had made payment for him.

Ubom was excited and didn't even wait to hear his father's last words, as he ran to his room out of joy.

Ubom had begun his work in the city, he was so dedicated and committed to his master.

He was humble and watchful of all the techniques involved.

Two years later, Ubom had become a master of his own, his father supported him to get started with his own business.

Ubom was grateful, he told his father, he will be travelling out to live in the city and start up his own business.

Mr Iwok, Ubom's father quickly opted for the decision.

He looked at him and shifted a seat closer to himself, giving an indication that he should sit down.

Ubom sat down and was curious about what Father was going to tell him.

"Ubom my son, it's not all about the city, but the power in the skills you know. It doesn't matter the little site you began, if you are good at your work people will travel down to look for your service, even from the city."

"The problem is not basically about where we started but how we remain at the same place we started for too long".

Ubom still doubted the words of his father.

"Papa the city is large and the population of drivers is in the high. Papa let me go and start up my business in the city". 

Ubom said with an intention to get a final consent of go-ahead from his father

Ubom, going there seems like a competition with your master who taught you. Well, if you go there, who will look after me at old age, your mother is no more, you are the only child.

"Papa I'll be checking on you from time to time". 

He said firmly reassuring his father.

It's OK Ubom. Go and focus.

The life of a young boy in the city begins, fair and glowing.

He succeeded in getting a site to grow his business.

He successfully planted his business in Umoufo, a street so wild 

Many feared this town, but the town was busy for businessmen.

Ubom named his business centre after himself.

"Ubom' s Mechanics & Repairs"

Within a couple of years. Ubom had grown famous in Umoufo. He was known as an intelligent mechanic.

One day while heading to work Ubom ran into his ex class prefect, Abigail.

Abigail had grown into a beautiful young lady, she was so beautiful to state.

They exchanged pleasantries and talked for a long time.

Ubom tells her about his business and Abigail was so proud of him.

They exchanged contact and off they parted their ways.

Ubom gets to his workplace the following day, while still working, he sees Abigail approach the veranda of his shop.

He looked... and was speechless. Ubom really admired her beauty and had begun to have the feeling of having her.

(By now the class was so quiet, as they all enjoyed the interesting story of Jasper.) 

"Ubom how are you doing?" 

Abigail asked with a smile.

I'm fine Ubom replied, pretending to have looked so busy..

"I just decided to visit and I brought you lunch, hope you ain't offended"

No beautiful Abigail, how would a man like me get offended by an offer from you.

I'm so much please, thank you.

Come here and have a seat.

He says, putting forth his hands to direct her to sit down.

How is work going Ubom?

Work is fine, Ubom replied her.

That's eba and ogbono soup.

Do enjoy yourself well.

I'll be going back home soon, to fix things at my tailoring shop.

See you later.

Ubom breaks in immediately and requested if it could be possible to see her again after work hours.

She frankly nodded in agreement as she takes off to her destination.

Hello...Abigial

It's Ubom

Ahh! Ubom how are you, I was just about to close the shop now!

Ok. Ubom responded.

I'm at the junction of Umoufo street.

Can we meet there?

No problem Ubom, I'll be there.

....

In less than 30mins Abigail has arrived at the place. And they went down to a quiet area and talked.

Ubom finally tells Abigial how he feels towards her.

Abigial smiled but changes the topic.

They had a great decision that night.

Two months later, Abigial and Ubom had become so addicted to each other.

One Friday evening, Abigial had hurried up exclaiming with tears down her cheeks.

Walking towards Ubom's shop.

Ahhhh, my beauty, what troubles you to cry?

He asked hurriedly...

My parent are gone ooooo

Our house got on fire before I could return back from work, it was already burnt down...

She cries uncontrollably.

And how about your parent.

They were inside when the fire exploded. They were consumed by the fire.

Oh, I'm finished...

Where will I go from here!

Where will I start life from?

Oh, mummy and daddy are gone.

She continues to wail.

While Ubom holds her to stand up from the ground sits her on a bench, and consoles her.

Abigial slept off on the bench, as she felt tired of the cry.

Ubom had no option but to take her home.

In the morning, Ubom had discussed with her, Abigial agrees to live with Ubom and thank him for his care.

One 1year later, Abigial has been pregnated by Ubom, after he had gone to do all that tradition demands in order to make Abigial his wife.

Ubom is happy he will go home to his father with a grandson. He is very happy, his father would be proud of him.

Abigial is 7 months pregnant. She has always been up and doing to work well for her customers.

During December time, work has been so heavy on her that she walked forgetting her state.

One week to her delivery day Abigial falls off from her sewing machine at the workplace and slums to the ground.

Neighbour's and customers who were close by, rushed down to the spot she lied and picked her up.

They rushed her to the nearest clinic. After much examination on the patience, still, they couldn't rejuvenate her.

Ubom 's wife dies with the unborn baby before Ubom could reach them. Ubom was so broken.

He travelled down to the village to inform his father what had befallen him,

Only to have the house of his father turned to a farm.

He asked neighbour's and they only pointed at a graveside, telling him his father had died not too long of hypertension. He was told the bank had come severally to ask his father for the repayment of the loan he borrowed... Ubom was surprised because his father has never told him about a loan or house mortgage...he was so bitter.

Ubom fell to his knee and wept bitterly, crawling to his father's grave. He screamed out " oh my hope, what has befallen me? where do I go from here?"

He sat down to think of his next step, while on the couch, he received a call from his neighbour in town that his workshop has been robbed and all the good cars and working tools were stolen.. what!

Ubom exclaimed" how did it happen"

The neighbour explained everything to him on phone. Ubom was further devastated. He wept uncontrollably, "My wife, my unborn child, my father, my workshop, my money!"

" oh my last hope, my dreams have been lost unborn.." He cried bitterly.

He could not stand the pains and shame, he hurried down to Umoufo and fall down to sit leaning on one of the damaged cars.

He said bitterly to himself, so I'm damaged, so my support I lean on is damage.

Night falls, Ubom had dozed off in thought.

Dear student, life cannot always be sweet, expect bitterness, don't be afraid to start, and don't be afraid to lose/fail as this is part of life. When you set your eye on your goal, you will reach your destination. No matter the challenges/circumstances, there is always hope for a turnaround.

Sir, I have come to the end of my story.

Ubom said while bowing in as a sign of respect to the teacher

Jasper, such was a nice one.

Mr Edem had commended.

Many students had already started crying, due to how emotional the story was.

The teacher promises that his story will be published in the school magazine.

Jasper has been cheered up by students and received many accolades for an inspiring story.