Under the tree business.
Prior to internet and even now in some remote areas, trees especially those that were "anointed" as "landmark" were turned notorious for the confusing business of the tripping ladies heart and ringing their heads.
Under these trees "sat" the foundation of worries from mothers of teenagers and young maidens.
These locations were/are frequently patrolled by fathers who pretend to be absentmindedly passing while clutching to their machete praying that the feminine figure laughing to bad jokes from someone wearing boot cut and "papa's" cap is not from his household.
Under these woods, you can always find a Casanova deceiving someone's coy innocent daughter with lines what makes Elvis Presley a learner (at the early stages) while she giggles like someone high on Etekamba's pure Pammy.
While we swipe tinder and other "meet" networks today, our fore bears scouted trails to corners of bushes culminating in a big tree.
These locations are intelligently forged to meander just far enough from prying eyes but near enough to meet up with civilization on demand but more importantly with direct line of sight to the stream or as such major path that young maidens would traverse.
Under these, virgins have been taken, hearts broken, hopes shattered, futures derailed, experiences made, babies conceived, ideas hatched, atrocities committed, it was the basis for many "firsts" for people of that era and their version of social exposure and rite of passage.
Remember "Johnny " from Yemi Alade? Yes that one.
I am sure this is partly the reason our parents and gramps today choose to spend their retirement under the comfort of nature's trees in their compound chewing sticks and pretending not to notice our coded moves at running things, they are in the perfect mood to reminisce on "the hey days" - the mental joke that never goes old to them.
Be that as it may, when it was good it was bittersweet and that was life as they knew it.
This is the stage where your mind goes to a location (most likely now a market) presently referred to with the name of a tree.
💬Itak eto urua nyem ebe🤔near Methodist Girls School Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom.
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