(MY BEDTIME STORY.)
Christina is the youngest of eight children.Money was very tight for the family. So her mother thought about how to generate money for foodstuff and some school supplies for her siblings. So Christina’s mother decided to send Christina to sell some of their produce at Onitsha Market in Nigeria .She counted the items that she wanted Christina to sell which included Cassava, Vegetables, mangoes and some ukwa.She counted it put everything in a big pan and Christina carried the items to the Bus stop,where she boarded a bus to the Market.
She sat in one corner to sell her items.She sold all the items.She counted her money and was very pleased that she made $40.00 (equivalent).She was lucky that a group of women ,who felt that Christina should be in School bought the items more than the actual price.They advised her to go home and go back to school and they left.They told her that she is a very beautiful girl that need to go to College. She listened and nodded her head throughout without any comment .But actually their advice didn’t sink in,as far as Christina was concern. She wanted to make extra money to help her mother.
Gambling is playing games in an attempt to win money. So she played with cards which involved payment if you lose. Her intention was to win plenty of money.
DISADVANTAGES OF GAMBLING.
Uncertainty. Upset stomach. Distress. Parents beat up. Migraine. Shame. Anxiety.
Possible Depression.
She went and used the Market restroom and was ready to return home as advised.Oh was she?
But on a second thought she decided against going home early because her parents will not understand how she was able to sell everything under two hours.
She saw some groups of gamblers and decided to try her lucky with them.They have their cards and talked very fast like they were singing or humming and advised her on what to do. So she played with two dollars and she won one dollar. She got excited and played with a higher amount $10.00 but she lost.They encouraged her to try again and she lost again. She cannot imagine going home. What will she tell her parents?
So she played until she lost all her money.It was like a terrible nightmare.She must go home to face her punishment.So she cried ewe,ewe,ewe, ewe,ewe all the way home.
When she got home,her parents asked her to wipe the tears in her eyes and slowly tell them what happened and why is she crying. It took her a long ,long time for her to stop crying and wipe her face.When she finished telling her story. Her father flogged her thirty six strokes, twelve in her right hand, twelve in her left hand and twelve on her tiny buttocks .She cried and finally fell asleep.She could not sit down for two days because her buttock was raw and painful.Her father said to her “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires,sacrifice, suffering; and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. ” -Martin Luther King, Jr.You Christina must learn to understand that without struggle and sacrifices it is difficult to progress unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Yes sir replied Christina.
Her pain was very painful for her siblings but they could not salvage her.
Her parents asked her if she knows how to make money. She replied “NO”.
And they asked her if she understands the value of money. She replied “Yes”.
Her father responded no you do not otherwise you wouldn’t have wasted all that money with criminals. Christina later realized that in Western world gambling is not a bad idea but lots of fun.She forgave her dad anyway because she learned a good lesson from her mistakes.Her parents after a few years became very successful in their business. Money is no longer their parent. Their priority became channeling their children to become successful citizens.
THE END.
Nurses You Move Me 