They wanted me to be a boy

          I still remembered when I was ten years old, my father wished that I were a boy. It was the time when my father killed Ikemefuna. I really did not mind that  if he thought of me like that because I know he wanted his children to be as same as him. Start from the moment, I always did man’s chores such as brought my father’s goatskin bag like what both of my brothers would always do.

           After seven years being exiled, there were many changes happened in my family including my own brother, Nwoye. He did not belong to our clan anymore. Nwoye, who was supposed to be a man like our father but he has disappointed our father by changing his belief. So, instead of Nwoye, my father put his hope on me so that i could help him to gain back his power in the clan after being exiled.

              There were many young men and wealthy middle-aged men of Mbanta came to marry me but my father said to me that he would be happy if I marry in Umuofia when we returned home. I knew right away that my father still wished that I were a boy because I could bear no other person but my father. So, I agreed with my father’s decision because I understand his wishes. This was the only way for me to show my love towards my father. I did not want him to despair on what I was doing as he had put high expectation on me.

              Since my father knew that I understand him well, he asked me to explain to my half-sister, Obiageli about the marriage. I had actually influenced my half-sister about the marriage and she also agreed on it. This was an accomplishment for me and also shows that I obeyed my father.

glitter-graphics.com