Episode Two - Charles' Negligence Almost Cost My Life

CHARLES’ NEGLIGENCE ALMOST COST MY LIFE

You’re probably communing within yourself now, how could she have possibly remembered? I mean I was only four, but it might interest you to know I have a gift of remembering significant events especially something of such magnitude. Being hit and left for dead by an unconcerned bike man isn’t something you’ll be quick to forget.

When I was six I had quite a funny experience. As an average Nigerian family, going to fetch water from our neighbor’s well was a normal routine and I usually went with my other brother Charles.

I didn’t mention earlier, but I have two older brothers, John being the first and then Charles. Charles was my best friend and we played together all the time but we also fought a lot! *chuckles*… When we go to fetch water, Charles would draw from the well while I just carried the bucket(the smallest).

That fateful day, Charles thought I was big enough to draw from the well and left me to go play football with his friends that lived in the compound we fetched water from.

“Lexy? You’re a big girl now o, you should be able to draw water from the well” said Charles, “I’m going to play football with Emeka and the other boys. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on you”. He didn’t even give me a chance to protest my stance and ran off. It was just me and the well now.

“You can do this,” I thought to myself, “it’s just to fetch water and nothing more, besides, Charles is watching you”. And indeed when I looked over to where he was, he was already staring at me and nudged me to go ahead.

I started fetching; the first, second and third draw went well, it is not that bad after all, I smiled. I was done fetching into his bucket and I was fetching into mine when it happened. My arms were already weary and stressed from the pulling but I had tried to put up a smart face.

“Duhgum!!!” or something like that was the sound I heard followed by faint cries of my name…..

“Alexa!!!” Leeexxyy!!!!”… I was at the bottom of the well.

With the way I fell into the well, my head was definitely going to be smashed by the side stones that stood out on the side of the well-rings. But something miraculous happened and I turned 180° landing with my legs instead. I went deep into the well and floated right back up.

My heart was in my mouth and I was surprised I wasn’t dead. I heard my name being called out from a distance, I looked up and saw Charles and his friend, Emeka staring at me with shock and terror. I could have sworn that Charles almost jumped right after me but was held back by Emeka.

“Alexa, are you okay?” “Can you see me?” “Can you hear me?” Charles asked, his voice trembling.

“Yes, I mumbled “. He ran off again with his friend and this time I was terrified.

The walls of the well-rings were slimy and smelt funny, spirogyra was everywhere and my T-shirt was stained with its greenish color.

“Lexy?” a voice called out, “Look at me”, said the voice again. It was Uncle Bayo. Tall, huge, macho uncle Bayo. For someone in my current situation, I shouldn’t be looking at him with dreamy eyes but I was. He let down a rope tied at different points.

“Grab unto the rope as tight as you can, I’m going to pull you out”. I did as I was instructed and in a few seconds, I was out.

“Thank God” “Jesu o seun” “Hallelujah o”…. Were the comments made as soon as I was out. Before I could say anything my face was rammed into someone’s chest, it was Charles…

“I’m sorry”, “It will never happen again, please don’t tell daddy”.

I swear to you I didn’t tell either of my parents but you know neighbors don’t keep quiet.

“Alexa? Charles? Both of you, come here”, my dad called. “What happened this afternoon?”

At this juncture, there is no need to lie, we are sure that our parents already knows. We confessed everything without leaving any story out. “Charles, go and bring my belt from my room, Lexy, go and sleep”.

We all know how it ended for Charles.