Welcome to the counselling room with Madam K. As usual, we will read stories from survivors, people who have been through the odds and have stood against the odds. I am sharing these stories to awaken us, to make us know that people are going through a lot of inhumane treatment. I was in the office {On the couch} when this young boy walked in and said he needed to talk to me. I was shocked, I wondered what the talk was about… What does this young boy want? 

Here is the heart to heart conversation with this young boy. It felt like a salvo of pain. 

Madam K : What is your name?

Young Boy : Mojolaoluwa is my name. I am here to see you. I want to be living with you. I don’t want to go home anymore.

Madam K : Why? Where are your parents?

Young Boy : My parents are here in Lagos but I am tired of our house. Our house is always on fire. My mum and dad are always fighting. Yesterday, they fought and broke the art work I did. I was supposed to go and submit it in school but they broke it and now, my classmates got marks, leaving me out. It’s not my fault, they fought and smashed it.

Madam K :[sighs] Why do they fight?

Young Boy : I don’t know but ever since I became a big boy, I have always known them to be fighters. It’s either my mum fights my dad or my dad fights my mum. Most times, my dad is always at fault and my  mum tries to kick back.

Madam K : How old are you?

Young Boy : I am 11 going on 12. I am craving for peace ma, let me stay in your house. I am not doing well in school anymore because  their fights give me sleepless nights, I dream about it and sometimes while the teacher is teaching me, the fight appears before me.

I couldn’t help it. I grabbed this young boy and gave him a warm hug. He wept and I did too. What a life. See what this young boy is going through? When the family is at peace, our children will be at peace too. You want to help your kids, don’t stay in an environment that kills them mentally. A lot of women would say they are staying in the marriage because of their children unfortunately, they are killing these kids by staying in that marriage. So, I got in touch with the mother of this child and here is the conversation

Madam K: Why are you always fighting at home? Your son needs peace. He is suffering. 

Woman : You see, it is not my fault. I don’t mean to hurt him but I have suffered too much with this man for him to take me off like that and be sleeping around with different women. When he didn’t have money, I prayed and worked with him to have it and now that the money has come, he has become a pain in my life. In fact, God should make him poor again.

Madam K : Hmmmm… you are all about yourself. It seems you have gotten used to this life style that it has become normal to you. Do you have an idea that your son is suffering from all of this? Do you?

Woman : {becomes sober} But what am I supposed to do? I can’t leave the house. They will drive me back from my parents house and I don’t have any place to go? How will my son feed? this man made me a full-time house wife. How would I cope?

Madam K : Should we call him and get the both of you seated on this couch for the sake of this bright boy? maybe we can talk peace into coming to your home again?

Woman : That is if he responds to your request but you can try .

Madam K : We will get in touch with your husband but for the mean time, your son will be here with us. It might push him to come and look for him 

Young Boy : Mum, I slept well this afternoon, I want to sleep well again this night. Go home, Madam K will take care of me.

As I followed her out to the gate, she broke down in tears. She couldn’t believe what her son said… She kept repeating as she got into her car… Ma, he said he slept well this afternoon and wants to sleep well again tonight… Ah! 

I told her to go home and repeat those words to her husband. 

{to be continued}