Walk to Destiny

It was a cool evening – the evening following a hot day resulting from the heat of the African sun.  It was 6:20pm and we were already at the train station, waiting for the train scheduled to come by 6:30.

“Dad, how does the train work?”

“I don’t know, Jimmy”

“Dad, I like the train, I want to know how it works. I want to own one”

“You can’t know how the train works Jimmy, neither can you own one. You’re an average student in an average school, besides I’ll never make enough money to send you to a good school where you can learn such things, it’s for the rich kids”

I was quiet for a while, wondering if my dad’s long-held philosophy of ‘inequality of fingers’ is valid or not. He says, “You can’t dream of big things when your dad is just a cleaner at the office and has no money to send you to good school. Leave that for the rich kids.”

The train started approaching from afar. Oh, how I wished I could build one. My dad told me several times how he dreamt of being a pilot but his dad always told him ‘dreams are for the people that have the means to make them come true.’ He probably felt the way I feel too. But then, he seemed to have adopted the same philosophy – of cowardice. I looked through his eyes and could guess what he was thinking, “Why dream when you can’t afford it? Face reality and live within your means.” Those were the words of his father, which now run through his veins too.

The train stopped before us and the doors flung open. I never understood how doors could open on their own without a hand turning a knob. Dad presented the ticket, moved in and headed straight towards his seat at the back of the couch. I followed him and sat on his laps. I already knew he would not buy me a ticket so it was not a big deal anymore. He loved to sit at the extreme end where he could see everyone in front but he’s hardly seen, except by eyes that rolled to the back – and they must really be searching for him. We have been through that route for about seven years and we have sat elsewhere only twice – both times someone else got to dad’s seat before us.

As the train started out, father and son looked through the window. Bushes passed, trees passed and then we got to the infamous CCIT – one of the topmost engineering schools in our part of the world. This was where my fate lied.

“Dad, see!” I pointed at the school, “I want to enroll at CCIT”.

“Oh my God, when will this boy stop dreaming? You can’t be here, Jimmy. I can’t afford it and you can’t even win a scholarship”.

That was rather harsh, and I felt really bad. I guess he noticed my countenance because he afterwards spoke with a cool tone, “Listen Jimmy, I love you and will do anything for you. I would love you to enroll at CCIT but you know I can’t afford it. Such schools are not built for us, but for the rich. If my grandfather had not been cheated by his uncles, he would have inherited a large expanse of land, which my father could have used as a collateral to receive the government loan to farmers in his days, and he would have been rich enough to send me to a good school, I would have been a pilot and would have been able to afford your fees at CCIT. You see, it is not our fault; we’re just not cut out for it.”

I simply couldn’t fathom why some unfortunate incidence in history should continue down generational line.
“But dad, this doesn’t have to continue. I want to be rich so I can send my children to a good school.”

“It has to Jimmy. Now, don’t be stubborn. You can’t be an engineer and you can’t be rich enough to send your children to a good school, it’s not our place, period!”

I couldn’t believe he said that!

I started to cry. My dreams were about to crash right before my very eyes. I didn’t want to tell my children this same old story of why I can’t afford a good life because somebody who existed almost a century ago had a misfortune. I placed my head on his chest – a good sleeping position.

A couple of minutes passed and I woke up. It was already darker than usual and I instantly realized the implication.
“Dad, looks like...”

I paused partly because I was interrupted but much more because I was shocked to see my dad sob.

“Jimmy, you were right. Things don’t have to continue the same way. I was afraid things wouldn’t work out if I tried changing my job or studying to get higher qualifications for a better job. Not all people who tried good things made it and I’m afraid I’d fail if I try. But I guess it is worth trying rather than continuing like this. I at least have a chance at a better life. You will enroll at CCIT, we will try our best”

I wasn’t sure I heard him clearly. Looks like an angel spoke with him while I was asleep. I think the angel should visit him more often.

He wrapped me in his arms and father and son sobbed gently. Things would not be the same again.

“Dad, looks like we’ve passed our terminus”

“Oops!”

We trekked 45minutes back that day but for me, it was like a walk to destiny.