A few years ago I met Jessica and Jennifer Ibe in Nigeria, newly coming to Africa from America. They were pretty cool and we hung out with each other, (honestly I wasn't regretting the idea of coming to Nigeria anymore.) I met their parents and they were like the coolest adults I had ever met. Life was great. School was good but, most importantly I had my two new best friends right by my side and I never thought I was going to loose one of them.
I remember when we had this huge argument and I didn't want to give in and she didn't want to either but, one day she came up to me and said, "Danielle we're suppose to be best friends but, we can't even straighten up this crooked line between us". I just looked at her and I looked into her watery eyes and said,"I'm sorry" and she didn't say anything but, all she did was hug me and I knew then and there that she had forgiven me and I knew too that she knew I had forgiven her. I respected Jennifer even though she was a grade below Jessica and I because, she reasoned better and understood more than her fellow class mates. In 6th grade I had only three people in my class, and that was Jessica Ibe, Saidu Shehu, and myself (Danielle Egbufoama) that made us only three students in the class. Saidu and I played alot with Jessica and sometimes we went a little over board with it but, we were just little kids just having fun, not trying to mean any harm. Jessica would always try to act annoyed when we messed around with her but, she would always laugh with us but, besides that we were having the time of our lives. One day after playing around with Jess, Saidu ran out to get a drink of water and I sat down with Jessica and we were just talking, I was still trying to mess around and before I knew it I said, " Do you love your little sister?" and she first looked at me as if I was crazy and finally she said, "Yes. Yes I do. Why are you asking?" I shrugged my shoulders at first and said, " Would you do anything thing for her?" she hesistated at first and then she said, "Of course I'd do anything for her. She's my little sister and I love her to pieces. Why do you keep on asking these questions? Don't you believe me? Why do you even care?". At that point I could see Jess wasn't lying, she was being honest , I could see it in her eyes that she'd do anything to protect her little sister ,Jennifer and I could see she was concerned just with the look on her face. I wanted to tell her to chill it was just some questions but, I didn't because, I just started asking her questions like that out of no where and I could see she was just being protective but I just shrugged my shoulders walked around to the back of the room and sat there, it was until Saidu came back the silence had broken, at the end of the day I walked up to Jess, and said, "I believed you and you're a great big sister, I just wanted to hear you say those words, I don't know why but, I just did" she smiled and walked away. After 6th grade Jess and I didn't really see each other because, she went to a different school and Jennifer went to a new school too. The last time I actually remember seeing Jess and Jenn was on Jennifer's 11th birthday and time to time I would call and see how it was going with them.They moved to Apo so I could n't see them and I would beg my mom so I could go over their house so I could hang out with them and maybe even have a sleepover at their house. When I heard about the plane crash I went down the list and saw Jenny's name and said to myself, "No ,it can't be her there can be alot of Jennifer Ibes' in Nigeria. What are you thinking,that's just crazy". To find out later it was actually the Jennifer I knew. It killed me inside. Sometimes I still think that maybe just maybe you'll wake up from death but, I know that's not going to happen.
Jennifer was a sweet girl and her smile was the best in crowd and it's just sad to know that she's really gone with Mrs. Ibe. I can't even imagine how the Ibes' will cope with their tragic losses. But, deep down I know that you're still here watching over us and even though you can't be with us phsically you will always remain in our hearts. I keep telling myself it's real, that you're gone but, my mind can't bear the fact that I won't ever see you and your mom again. Rest In Peace Jenny. You were a great person.