The first time I stole, it was a pen from a school bag in my primary school. At that time, I was 8. I must have stolen before then, but that was the first I can remember since ever being conscious of myself. I used to be a boy full of good within me. Stealing wasn't a part of me. I would see cash on the floor and wall away. Even if my friends had picked the money, I won't spend it with them. Or take from whatever they had bought with it. And it has been that way ever since then. Only that there was a slight turn for a while.
I desperately needed a pen one day. I have forgotten why. But I know for sure I desperately needed it. I had misplaced mine. And my mom would scold me if she asked for my pen and I couldn't provide it. If things got hit up, she would beat me. Yea, in Nigeria, child beating was somehow a normal thing or way of correcting a child. So I had to do something to save my ass. I had just bought the pen that morning. My mom bought if for me to be precise, with some really strict warning as I had misplaced 3 pens that week.
During break time, I walked into the classroom when everyone was out for break. My intention was to drink some water, but I found a pen in a desk of one of my classmates. I took it and hid it in my pocket. To round up this sequence, I got caught after the teacher searched the students pockets and bags for missing pen. And words got to my parents, my mom at first, then she took the case to my dad. My mom had beaten me for stealing the pen. I had cried and promised not to do such again. But that was only a boy at the receiving end of an African woman beat down talking. I didn't mean it; simply because I didn't see reasons to.
From then, I would take little things when I needed it. Anything but money. And they all happened in school. Until a day came when I stole a girls money in class and bought food with it during break time. Again, to hasten things, I got caught. Yea, I myself is wondering why the hell I always end up getting caught 😁. Well, words got to my parents again. But before then, the teacher had given their own part of the beating. During this period, I should be around 10 years old. Due to the fact that the teacher had given me some interesting beating, according to her, she decided not to beat me much. I only received a knock on my head and the matter was passed down to my dad.
Now, my dad had been getting these complains but had never moved a muscle. And when he got this one, he didn't still move a muscle as well. At least, so I thought!😆. It was until the next day, Saturday, that my parents had gone out and I was left home alone. There was no food available at home so my dad had dropped me some cash to eat when I feel hungry. And by the time I got hungry, I went to pick up the money where I had left it and it was gone! Absolutely nowhere to be found! I went through that day without food until they came back later on in the evening, not to close to nightfall though. Something like around 4pm. I had cried my ass out already when my dad and mom came to meet me there in the room. I explained I couldn't find the money and I had gone hungry since they left around 10am.
My dad revealed he took the money and I was shocked! Including my mom to was astonished. He told me he wanted me to feel the pain of how it is when you couldn't find something of yours because it was stolen from you. That way, I would understand the pain one will go through of I ever want to take something that belongs to them. Damn! Seriously?🥶 I could recall my mom had some slight argument with him over that. But the truth is, I really understood the message. I learnt and honestly changed my ways. I learnt the hard way! And the hard way paid off.
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For more article to entertain you as well as adding more values, you can check out:
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- What Has Hive Done To Me Since My Arrival
- Is It A Crime To Eat? (Agony Of A Rat)
Date Published: Monday, 24th August 2020.
