HOOKED ON. CONTEST #159

It started as a childhood hobby and later developed into a routine.

My mum was an English teacher in a government school before her retirement. She used to borrow short stories from the school library and give them to me to read. I don't know how the idea popped into her head, but it was her plan to keep me busy.

"You are at it again!"

My mother screamed at me when she discovered that I had broken a plate again. It's not my fault, really, I was a restless child at 8, I guess most of us are at that age or maybe it was just me. Whenever I was left unsupervised, I would get up to some kind of mischief. How could I explain to her that I was spinning the ceramic plate in the air when it fell and shattered? That was the 7 plate I broke that week.

"It wasn't intentional, m." I tried to explain, but she cut me off.

Pointing towards the living room, she orders me to go and resume watching my cartoon. I hesitated for a bit, and tried to linger around.

"If I close my eyes and you are still here, this day will be memorable for you, and it won't be in a good way."

I understood very well what she meant. The words simply means that I would get spanked, real, well designed strokes will land on my hide. So, I ran out. Mama's spanking is usually always intense whenever one of her children misbehave.

I would never understand why it's usually Africans that don't spare the rod, and spoil the child.

Cartoons and movies couldn't even get me to sit still, nothing held my interest for long. I was always in my head thinking of what to do. Don't you have friends or playmates to have fun with? You would ask.

"I used to have, but like everything with me, I ditched them cause I was bored."

Because I was the last child of the family, I was a little bit spoilt and I got a pass for almost everything I did.

I still remember one particular incident when out of boredom, I tied the belt of my gown to a pole. I was moving around the pole and further tightening the belt. When I was ready to leave, I realized that I couldn't untie my belt, it had become a knot.

My mum was close by, so she told my elder brother, Sola to untie it for me. He did and that gave me a new idea. Why don't I keep tying my belt to the pole and shout for help each time?

Seemed like a good idea at the time. The moment my mom looked away, I tied it again. It was fun for me. I called for help again, and my mom determined to teach me a lesson told my brother not to untie me again.

"You mustn't untie her again, maybe that will keep her busy for a while. We can be rest assured that she's not going anywhere." My mom says, staring directly at me.

"You shouldn't have tied yourself again, serves you right." Sola left me and went inside. I was alone at the balcony no one came to check in on me.

Brief version, I remained there for hours, begging, crying, and pleading to be untied. A neighbor passed by, Mr Joe and begged my mom to to untie me after he had heard the story. "She's just being a kid." He concludes, smiling.

My mother grudgingly agreed, and the belt had to be cut off with scissors because it couldn't be untied anymore. The knot had gotten tighter like a hangman's noose. I dashed off immediately I was free, I didn't even stop to thank my good samaritan.

Anyway, she started bringing me storybooks to keep me busy. I was fascinated with the many colorful pictures in the stories, and somehow I began to look forward to the next story she would bring.

It became an addiction and I couldn't do anything without a book next to me. Even when I was eating, I always had a book to read at the dining table.

It continued for years, and I upgraded the types of books I read. Apart from keeping me busy, I discovered that it broadened and improved my vocabulary.

My secondary school reading mostly consisted of the Harlequin series. Probably why I'm a hopeless romantic. I love suspense, mystery, crime, and a few other genres. A few of my favorite authors are Sidney Sheldon, James Hadley Chase, John Grisham, and David Baldacci, just to mention a few.

I just loved to read, novels and novellas especially. I'm not big on self-help or motivational books. As long as it's a novel, count me in, especially if it's a romantic one. I could stay up for many nights in a row to read any novel that gets me hooked. By the way, I'm a very fast reader. I'm the fastest reader I know, and I'm not exaggerating.

I used to read novels and reconstruct the ending or other parts of the story in my head, like why did it have to end like that? Why did the protagonist do something that silly? One morning, I picked up a pen and started writing a story that popped into my head.

I read it and I truly loved it. It was a hit, and not just because it's my handwork.

I showed the story to my sister who's an actress, and she loved it too. She told me to try publishing it. I wasn't even thinking that far, I just felt the urge to put it down.

I began to search online for platforms where I could showcase my talent. It was a bit rough then, cause I had no professional training. I just write as soon as a story pops into my head.

I came across some writing applications online and I began to publish my works for free reading on them. I wasn't even bothered about the fact that I wouldn't get paid, I just wanted to write and put my skills out there.

Gradually, some people reached out to me after reading my free books and started commissioning me for writing.

I upgraded my skills and took some professional courses in writing, editing, and proofreading. So far, I've written some really good pieces that earned me some money. I rebranded myself, and derived my pen name, Cmh Oluwaseyifunmi to add a touch of professionalism.

I took additional courses in script writing too after I was asked to write a script.

Writing is my passion, it burns hotly within me, and I'm not sure I could ever do anything else. I am a graduate of linguistics and communication studies, and I've tried to work since I graduated, but I felt trapped for some reason. There's a liberty that comes with writing from the deepest part of your heart. One I don't think nonwriters will understand.

Some things just can't be explained verbally, but the detailing in writing captures the essence of words perfectly.

Are you certain you want to resign?" My boss at my last job asked.

"I'm as certain as certain can be. It's time to move on."

Seeing that my mind was made and he couldn't persuade me, he wished me well and I departed.

That was the last job I resigned from this year. I have previously worked at a Television station as a newscaster, an insurance company as an advisor, and I even worked briefly as an on-air personality. Now, I've focused solely on writing. The best part is it's fulfilling and liberating. I don't have to worry about going to work late in the morning because I spent all night writing, I write my ticket and dictate the terms.

In an era where your secret is not safe with anyone, it's better to put it down in writing maybe in your diary somewhere, and you can be rest assured it won't snitch on you.

Whenever I feel burdened and there's no one to talk to, I'll take out my pen or sit in front of my laptop and just put it down. Sometimes, I get the inspiration in the middle of the night, and I get to work immediately.

You can tell your story perfectly with writing, and when you want to tell your side of the story to people who have crucified you before they have had a chance to hear you out, you could just speak through writing.

I know actions speak volumes, but words speak louder. And by words, I mean written words.

I can shape my story however I like, and tell my truth without having to worry about it being misconstrued.

I'm not all there yet, but I'm getting really close. It's a huge blessing when your passion is your occupation. They are usually not mutually exclusive. Qq

Writing isn't just my passion or hobby, it's my life, the very essence of my being, and money or not, I'm my boss and I can be lost in my private world of writing and call the shots. I mean, who would argue with me? It's my story to tell, and it's one of liberation.

IMAGE CREDIT BY ME.