The Return of Aisha's First Love

t bounced over the uneven road. The humid air clung to his skin, carrying the earthy aroma of soil and vegetation. Occasionally, the lorry's horn blared, scattering chickens a

urrounded by mud-brick houses with a mix of rusted tin and thatched roofs. Nearby, a group of children paused their game of stone-throwing to

. Lagos had been a cacophony of sounds, blaring car horns, street vendors shouting, and music pouring from every corner. In contrast, Bogu has a quieter

de, fields of yam and cassava, punctuated by clusters of palm trees. The air wa

heir expressions carried a mix of curiosity and guardedness as they observed him. He could

Baba Olukorode, a wiry, sun-weathered man with a ki

ba Olukorode greeted warml

," he replied, shak

pecting you. C

side, the room was sparse, containing only a woven mat, a clay water pot, and a wooden stool. Compared to the c

watching his reaction.Dele nodded with a p

l adjust. This isn't Lagos, bu

jobs. Here, time seemed to flow at a different, unhurried pace.Mornings in Bogu began early, heralded by the crowing of roosters and the distant clanging of bells as herders led livestock to graze. Dele would wake t

ity. Struggling to balance the bucket on his head, he stumbled awkw

?" one teased, effortlessly balan

d, cheeks flushing

apting to the local dialect-which differed slightly from the Yoruba he knew, were new challenge

three classrooms and a roof that leaked. On his first day, he met the headmi

e lack resources," she said, handing hi

ren, aged eight to twelve. His first lesson was chaotic. The students,

alled, his voice f

aker, stood and asked, "Teacher, wh

d, Dele forced a smile. "Because I'm lear

nts eagerly raised their hands to answer questions and playfully

lagers. When his kerosene stove ran dry, his neighbor, Mama Bose, inv

ere," she said, expertly tending to

s roof to leak, a group of men a

re," Baba Olukorode explained

now felt comforting. The village's strong sense of community, unlike anything he had known in Lagos, was be

plicity and quiet strength, was beginning to change him.His journey in the village was far from over, there were still many lessons to learn a