Building Dreams on the Way from School

It was a bright Sunday evening, and I was at Daniel's house. Daniel was the cool guy who always took his assignments seriously. He lived close to me, so it was easy for me to take my assignment to his place so we could work on it together. Daniel's home was cool, they had an Air conditioner that's always on when there is light, which is something we don't have in my home, now tell me why I won't spend most of my time in Daniel's house.

Daniel also has two white mice that are his pets; he always takes care of them and doesn't bring them out; they are always in his room. I have always known Daniel to be a person who thinks outside the box, there was a time he used an Indomie carton to make a house.

Then one day, after school was over, we were walking home, and Daniel started this strange conversation.

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“Do you know I can build a flying car?” he said out of nowhere, swinging his backpack over his shoulder.

I looked at him and laughed. “Flying car ke? Daniel, you don’t even have a bicycle, talkless of car.”

He smiled like he was expecting that response. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I already have the idea in my head. I just need some things.”

We turned into the street leading to his house. It was the usual after-school hustle for traders, they want to sell everything they have to students. The woman that sells roasted corn was fanning her charcoal fire, and the smell of burning husk and hot corn filled the air. One man was sitting beside her, picking his teeth and waiting for his corn to be ready. On the other side of the road, the ice cream man was waving at us.

“Boys! Come buy ice cream!” he shouted, smiling.

I waved back but didn’t stop walking home. “Daniel, you can't build a flying car. Even rich people haven't done it. How will you do it? With broomstick and carton?”

He shook his head. “Not broomstick. I’ve been reading about drones and magnets. If I can get small engines, maybe from toy cars or old blenders…”

I cut in, “You see? That’s the problem. You don't have any of those things. You can't even open the blender in your house unless you are ready to go to heaven.”

Daniel just laughed. “I will get it done one way or the other.”

We kept walking, dodging street traders and skipping over some stones. Some children were playing football with a worn-out ball on the side of the road. We watched them but didn't stop walking because all we wanted to do was get home and rest.

“Look, Daniel,” I said, “you’re my guy, but let’s be honest. You can’t build a flying car.”

He stopped walking and looked at me. “One day, I’ll remind you of this conversation when I fly past your house.”

I burst out laughing. “Oya, no wahala. I’ll be on the ground waving at you.”

We reached his house and he opened the gate. I walked in with him because I wanted to drink some water. Instead of waiting for him to get me water, I followed him to his room and jumped on the bed. While I was relaxing on the bed, I heard Daniel talking to someone.

"You don't believe Fash said we can't make that flying car" He said as I sat up a little to see who he was talking to, only for me to discover he was talking to his pet mice.

"Yes, he said it won't be possible. When we are done building it, let fly over his hand and wave at him ok" he continued, and I just went back to laying down my head.

"Please bring the water for me so I can be on my way home!" I said, raising my voice from where I was lying down my head. Sometimes I forget how Nutty as a fruitcake Daniel can be sometimes. After I was done, I waved him goodbye and went on my way home.

As I walked home that evening, I kept thinking about Daniel and his flying car dreams. Maybe he was delusional or maybe not. But one thing I’ve learned is that, People like Daniel, the ones who dare to think wild thoughts, are usually the ones who change the world. That was my thought, and I just believe Daniel might change the world one day.

Maybe one day, I really will look up and see him flying past my house, waving from the sky.

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It's been more than 10 years now, and right now Daniel is into Fashion Design. I wonder what must have happened to that dream, the last time we saw, we had a conversation about it.

"What made you change your mind to further the pursuit of engineering" I asked him in a calm voice because I knew it was a topic that was daring to him.

"What can't really say?" He started "Probably because I knew it was something I couldn't do or because there was nothing like that in the country educational system. Also, the fact that there was no support too"

Daniel kept talking for a long time without me interrupting him. After he was done, I knew this was something still lingering in his heart but for now, he has to do everything he can to survive adulthood.

Sometimes, the dream we are chasing are dreams that are sometimes out of our reach.

The End.

Thanks for reading. My name is Fashtioluwa.

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