Times like then

For this week's prompt, I have a story. As a child I loved reading to the extent, that absence of light was no longer a hindrance to me. I would read till late at night, using whatever source of light there was. My parents warned me countless times about how unhealthy it is for my eyes and I knew they were right deepdown but then, I just wanted to read. So, there was this particular night, I and my siblings were the only ones at home. My parents were not around.

At that time, the torch in the house was bad so my sister lit a candle for us in the sitting room to help make out each other's reflection, and not stumble over things till my mom and dad got back. My brother and my sister, stayed huddled over the sofa, talking about whatever it is they were talking about. I can't really remember. I, sat at the dining, my head bent over a book, awfully close to the candle light. I can't remember what we celebrated that week, and why I had curly extensions in my hair. I just remember my hair being in a bun, full curly extensions that dropped all over.

I was so engrossed in the book I was reading that my hair caught fire. I didn't smell it, I didn't see the reflection. It wasn't until my sister looked up at me and shouted 'Oluchi your hair is burning', did I know to look up. My brother ran over and helped me blow the fire out but by then, some parts of my hair had turned crisp. We laughed over it, grateful that it hadn't turned into something unmanageable. I had to leave my book and join my siblings in their discussions.

Before the advent of technology, I was a huge lover of books printed in hardcopies. On days I didn't go to school, I would take a book I found in the house, even if I had read it so many times, spread a mat on the veranda and read. Lying there, I would read, forget my mom assigned us chores to do, forget that I was meant to eat something for the afternoon, forget about the other kids playing around the compound, my brother would by then, have sneaked out to go join them. I would just read. If the book I was reading finished, I would stand up, go sift through the books in the house and find one to reread. It was fun.

In those times I read, the only thing that brought me out was if my brother got into a fight with the other kids and they came to report him to me, or if I suddenly remembered the chores my mom assigned me earlier that day.

On days where I didn't read, as long as the kids in the compound were playing, I never found it boring. When I was done with my chores, I'd sit at the balcony, listening to them argue about their favourite musicians, their favourite footballers and the rest. I butted in when I felt like and they seeked my opinions in some, which I happily gave. Those kids fought a lot. And when they did, they sometimes sought me out to air my opinions on who was wrong or right but knowing they will reconcile in few minutes, with or without my input, I would start by asking them one by one, if they had washed the plates in their homes. Those who gave excuses, gave excuses. Those who stammered, stammered. Those who ran away, ran. It was always fun having them around.

Times like then where blackouts seemed to be a norm, and gadgets were a luxury, fostered relationships. Writing about it, brings back good old memories. I enjoyed the company of those kids when every adult had gone to work and there were on school break. Then, the moment power was restored and all the kids, in jubilation shouts 'UP NEPA', (a Nigerian exclamation for when light is supplied), everybody vanishes. Nobody will be found outside and the only sounds you'll be hearing are those of cartoons being aired on the television, the sound of refrigerators and other electrical appliances buzzing. I have no idea where those kids are currently because life forced each of us to distance ourselves but I do miss them.

The advent of technology has eradicated so many things to the extent that, being true to myself, I no longer fancy reading books in hard copies. I only do that when there's a power outage and my phone is down. Otherwise, soft copy it is.

So, to answer the thoughtful daily prompt for the week, I related more with people around me and read hardcopy books more, during those times.

[This is my response to the #thoughtfuldailypost prompt for the week](Thoughtful Thursday Prompt #37 https://peakd.com/hive-109288/@thoughtfulposts/thoughtful-thursday-prompt-37)

Thanks for reading

Image is mine

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