Thomas Fox.

FAMILY

   I was born in the year 1509. Born to a family of just four 'father, mother and my elder sister.
  My fathers name was Adesoji Rotimi while my mothers name was Abike. I grew up to know father as a Fisher man and also a farmer. I could recall I and him walking towards the Badagry river which linked to the Atlantic ocean to cast our nets hoping to get some fishes for our consumption and for trade.
   Mother on the other hand was a full house wife and also a trader..., she sold some of the fishes father caught just to support him in fending for the family.
    My family tried to keep a good reputation to be loved and respected by all. I was told of legendary stories which awed my mind as I pondered over them.. From Queen' Moremi down to the Ife empire. Which I always dreamt of visiting one day. I was also told of the "Alaphin staff" many stories I was told of which always made me had that deep love for my tribe.
     My Parents taught me of developing good values, having respect for the elderly and avoiding prideful egotisms. These and many more my parents inculcated in me as I grew up as a child.
   I had a distant relative who lived some few miles away from our home, his name was Pa' Fagbemi Rotimi' a cousin of my father. Pa' Fagbemi was well known for his skill in beating the 'talking drum "gon'gon". You see our family was also known for having that unique skill. No wonder Pa' Fagbemi resided in the chiefs palace to sing heart warming songs to the hearing of the chief accompanying it with the sound of his talking drum.
   I on the other was a good swimmer. I would run towards the waves of the Badagry river with friends who never cared that one day things would change. I also love playing the 'Ayo game. A  game played with pebble stones simultaneously placed on a wooden rectangular craft. Or on the soil, I also loved fishing. Life was wonderful.
    My elder sister who was just three years older than me was a jovial person.., kind and hardworking as she would help mother in doing one chore to the other.
    I even forgot Pa' Fagbemi's children, I was told he had four children but they all relocated to another village to learn a trade. I only knew of his younger son Femi who was always up and down helping his father in one job or the other. Pa' Fagbemi had a wife whom I never really knew that much. But I heard their marriage had some issues.
    Cousins' yes I had! From the Rotimi's house to the Gbenga's house all child of every house was my cousin.
   The Rotimi's were my Fathers people. His elder brother was the head. Pa' Daramola.., he had seven daughters and two boys, Pa' Daramola had a big family, he had two wives. I would run down to their house to give out of the surplus my father caught from fishing to them. I was always deprived of leaving unless I had a meal with them or I passed the night with them.. We shared many playful memories together as children.
    The Gbenga family were my mothers family. Well.. I was not really familiar with them because they lived very far away from us. I was opportuned to meet one of them when he came to learn a trade in my village. You see mother was from another Yoruba  land.
    I had friends who I  looked upon as 'family.
   My family owned a farm land which was far away from My home..we crossed many rivers and walked through dangerous bush paths. Well.. were we alone ?. No! We had the backing of other villagers who also had their farms around ours. It was never a tiresome walk as the young ones walked within the sight of the older men, walking and chatting.
    By the way I'm 'Aremu Fagbemi. But soon another name was added that overlapped my real name, this we would see later on.