They will make you believe it is so hot that it will burn your hands off.
That ignites your curiosity. You'd want to try it out yourself.
And worse if you're not the first born, your older siblings will just be playing with the same fire you were told is very dangerous. You'll just keep wondering if Mummy was right.
Gently, your siblings will invite you to try it out. Touch it fast and take off your hands. Fast! Just once!
You refuse the offer at first.
They'll invite you again, come on, see me do it. See? It doesn't hurt that bad. Just try it, it will make you a big boy, a big girl. You'll no longer be treated as a child. Just this once and you can confirm for yourself .
And with the speed of light, you try it out with the bulb of the kerosene lamp.
Ouch!
It hurts but just a bit. And it's delightfully warm too. Cool.
You stop for a few minutes to digest the experience and see if it will degenerate into something bigger or worse... Nothing happens.
Your brother smiles at you. Big girl, that's my boy. Oya, try it again, shebi you see it does not hurt. You gently smile and nod your head.
Then you remember Mum, what if she catches you here playing with 🔥? Won't she beat you?
You look at your brother in a questioning manner. He instantly understand.
"Don't worry about Mummy, I won't tell her. Besides, she's asleep now. Just try it again this last time."
Your face brightens up. Yes! We can now play with 🔥!
Welcome, the fire master!
You'll start playing with all the fire you see around, enjoying the little warmth that comes from it. You keep it private from your Mum, she must not know. For you and your brother, it's your little secret.
Days roll into weeks, weeks into months and then on a sunny afternoon, you sneak into the kitchen where your Mum was making joollof rice for lunch.
Yeeeepeeee, it's fire! Your new found friend. Even though you're barely as tall as the gas cooker, you enjoy the vooo vooo vooo sound coming from furiously burning fire.
Gently you look back to ensure you're alone. Yes. We're live on fire networks!
But then there's a problem, you're not tall enough to get to see this one properly. You can only see it from the sides.
You decide to damn the consequences and go for the jugular. Let's get something to climb this table.
Your Mum's stool just happens to be close by. Yes, that'll do just fine.
As heavy as it seems for you, you are able to get it to the side of the 6kg cylinder. Steady, steady, ready. You climb slowly.
Balance. We are right on top of this situation.
It's showtime baby! Let's show them. Who's da boss here?
Like you saw your brother do the week before, you pick the matchbox and bring out a stick. Point it towards the blue flames for a burst of energy.
Yeah boy, it works!
The matchstick catches fire.
You bring it out and watch as it burn .... Gradually it burns from the end down to where your fingers were holding the base.
Drop!!!
And you let go of it. You sure don't want it burning your hand.
Suddenly, you can feel a tingly, hot, searing feeling on your right foot.
Oh my! It's the ember of the matchstick!
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Mummmmmmmmyyyyyy!!!!
You kick about to get the pain off your foot in all directions .
Before you know it, you've hit the pot of jollof rice on fire. Oh no, sorry, your leg is holding the handle.
And off the two of you goes... All the way down the floor with a hot pot.
Only your cries can be heard now. And the pain is so blinding that you don't even notice your Mum was already shouting for help too trying to get the boiled rice off your body.
Shouts. More shouts.
****************
Shouts. More shouts.
Blackout.
****************
You wake up to a very sharp pain wrapping your body, your face and your leg. Only your back and left limbs are spared.
As you gradually open your eyes, your mum's face is the first you see.
Tears roll down your eyes.
How can you say sorry?
Your heart shouts but makes no connection to your mouth.
"Mummy I'm sorry!
I should have listened to you. My brother tricked me into it."
Looking to your Mum's side, you can see your brother too looking remorseful. No one will ever know he was the one who introduced you to the game of fire. And he will never admit he caused this. He will claim you brought the pot of rice upon yourself.
And trust me dear friend, he'll be right.
