DAD STORIES: My father is my mentor and my hero

I salute you Maurice Wadegu for being a good father and taking care of us. You are my hero.

Although we rarely saw you when we were growing up, we always knew you were somewhere eking out a living so that we could be comfortable. And you never disappointed. We were well taken care of.

We were always the envy of the neighbourhood when it came to fashion and books. Nobody could match us when it came to the Bata shoes for school and the new books you bought every term regardless of whether the other books were filled up or the older shoes were still in good condition.

You loathed truancy and with a booming voice you would always roar when someone did not stick to the straight and narrow path. This earned you the nickname “Schwarzenegger” among our friends – we had learnt of the name after watching Terminator in which Arnold Schwarzenegger played the star role.

When I sat for my primary school exams, I did not disappoint you – I passed. But sadly, no national school called me and I had to contend with being called to a provincial school. You decided boarding school was the best place for me, saying it would shape me, make me more responsible and disciplined.

WISE COUNSEL

On the day I was reporting to my secondary school, you told me we would have a long trek from the nearest bus stop. Matatus plying the school route were scarce and rickety, and we were not going to wait. So here we were, me carrying my hockey stick and basin, while you took my towel, rolled it nicely into a doughnut shape, placed it on your head and placed my suitcase on top of it, ready for the merciless journey to my school.

You made sure I was admitted before you left at dusk, and then trekked down the same five kilometres on your own.

Dad, you always reminded us of the importance of education, saying it is one of the things that can enable a slave dine with kings, and could make a ‘nobody’ become a ‘somebody’. I never took your advice for granted.

In this journey called life, many things come to pass and you believed that there was a reason for everything. You recently reminded me not to let you down, and I hope I will not.

You were once asked to be a board member of a prominent school, but you declined the offer and instead volunteered to be the board chairman of a nursery school in the city. When you were asked why you did so, you said: “The parents here (in the nursery school) need me more than the parents there (prominent school).” Those words taught me a lot.

And as a result, your children seem to have emulated your behaviour and are just as humble as you are. The discipline you instilled in us has made us who we are today.

It’s sad that in 2006 you suffered a massive stroke. Your body has changed. But I still remember the days you were a tall built man.

I hold dear your wise counsel, your teachings, hard work and humility.

And even though you are ailing, your presence means the world to us. Our family is lucky to have you.

Happy Father’s Day dad.

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