If Tomorrow Never Comes

The screen now was showing the living room of my parents.

My Dad and Mom are sitting on one side and my first sister and I are on the other.

My parents have tears in their eyes. I remember this day as if it was just yesterday.

You see, our O’level results came in a couple of weeks ago and we both did excellently well. Also, we had both gained admission to our schools of choice for the A’level but there was one little problem.

My parents, being civil servants, could not afford for the two of us to go at once. They had tried to raise loans to make up the difference but things were not panning out as planned so they had decided I, being the oldest, should go while my sister waited a year.

This generated some argument because I wanted her to go first while I helped out an uncle who had just set up a poultry farm to save some money to help out but my parents and siblings would not have it.

I was then sent to the bank for a banker’s draft to pay my school fees. I set out to do what I was told but when I got to the bank, I did the exact opposite of what I was sent to do. The draft was made to my sister’s school instead, based on the information I presented.

I was scared afterwards because I knew I had disobeyed and my Dad did not take kindly to that at all.

But I mustered courage and went home, confessing my ‘sins’ and asking for forgiveness.

So, my dad called my mom and sister into the living room that day and updated them on what had happened.

It was the first time I saw tears in my Dad’s eyes ever. I saw some pride for me in there too as he sat and stared at the banker’s draft in his hands. My sister, however, will not have it. She fought for days to get the draft changed but when it became a daunting task in those days, we all finally came to an agreement that she takes the opportunity granted by ‘yours truly’ and go to school.

Now, I’m looking at myself a few years later. The baptismal talk was ongoing and the baptized candidates for that day were asked to stand and ‘yours truly’ was among the lot.

It was a happy and proud day when after we were immersed one after the other into the pool of water to symbolize our dedication to Jehovah and our commitment to being part of the kingdom preachers, we were received with loud applause, hugs and good wishes from proud family members and the entire association of brothers present.

Next, there’s a gathering of sorts. I know this place very well. See, I schooled here too even though it was just for a semester. It’s my sister’s special day, her graduation.

I’m always amazed at how determined she is, you know. When she completed A’Levels and her results came, she gained admission to UCC and UG but she turned them down because she was not offered the course she had applied for.

She waited for a year as suggested but when she still did not get the course she wanted, she decided to go to the polytechnic to read accountancy.

I watched with admiration when she mounted the stage to receive the Overall Best Student Award for that year. It was such a joy that day as everybody tried to get a piece of her, the media not excluded and ‘Yours Truly’ was right there beside her together with my proud parents and siblings.

The screen is showing a hall now… a very long hall and that is the Kingdom Hall we used to attend meetings until the English congregation was formed.

It was song practice and the three of us always made time to be present. The thing is we love music, too bad none of us went into that profession.

My all-time favourite Kingdom Song “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” was on board that day. I couldn’t help but sing along:

When eyes of blind ones see again

And ears of deaf ones hear again,

When deserts blossom as the rose

And from parched ground fresh water flows,

When lame ones leap just like the hart,

When loved ones never have to part,

Such blessed times you’ll realize,

If you keep your eyes on the prize.

When tongues of mute ones speak again,

When old ones will be young again,

When earth will yield her rich increase

And all good things will never cease,

When songs of children fill the air,

When joy and peace are ev’rywhere,

Then, too, you’ll see the dead arise,

If you keep your eyes on the prize.

When wolves and lambs will feed as one,

When bears and calves bask in the sun,

A mere young boy will lead them all,

And they will heed his childish call.

When tears belong to yesterday,

When fears and pain have passed away,

You’ll see how God these things supply,

If you keep your eyes on the prize.

Eight