Skip to main content

MUSTARD III – Ch. 23 | KT OLLA

NOW Banji moved to Ede and got transferred at work to that town. He was 50 at that time when Abraham died and he went home.

Then time crawled from 1975 – 9. In those passing years, people grew a little more, and youngsters matured.

The many children of Abraham grew in their 30, 20s and teen...

And Bamiji grew into a father, the father of them all.

Now among Banji’s precious things had been that wooden piece he got himself several years before. His piano.

The man had given a thought on how best to move that chunk home, but he hadn’t found a way.

He’d got a new car – those old days when the teaching career paid well. Then he changed it after an accident.

Now all he’d got to move precious things were his saloon car, and a pickup. (The lorries then carried logs.)

So then, Banji sold off that treasure, his piano. The thing was “heavy duty”—quote ’n’ unquote.

Then he moved back home.

The man took up new responsibility. He put his brother’s kids through schooling, paying through their education.

He was school head, so he used his fat pay for the kids’ studies.

They went from primary schools to secondary; and then some, tertiary.

Joshua led them all through school.

‘They are my children,’ he would say. ‘And they must excel!’

But then those days, his sisters happened to lose their men. For both their husbands died early, so it happened they went back home.

Well, these women had raised their own kids, and they left with full custody of them.

Banji’s sisters preferred to stay unmarried. So their brother took in their kids, too; and sent them through school.

He felt responsible to train them.

This way, Jo nursed Abraham’s seed, and they call him Father.

He trained all Morrow’s grandkids... Abraham, Comfort and Sarah’s children; for he couldn’t marry.

Now Joshua wasn’t afraid to wed. But then he was.

He often called a class teacher to his office as the head of school. Always a dashing female.

He would intend to have a chat and plan to ask her out. But he’d find himself asking lesson notes once the pretty one stepped in.

And no, he wasn’t stuck. (Maybe not!)

Well, he’d go again, and yet again; then move to some other lady.

Still he’d just be drenched in ice cold shiver once the girl showed up.

No, he wasn’t knocked out by beauty—like he wasn’t the man.

He saw fear, felt fear... unless he wasn’t loving them.

Now Banji was able to see several women, so far he wouldn’t settle down with one.

So, he found nobody to call home.

Well, Morrow had little concern for his single status. As far as he still had his brother’s kids as his.

The school teacher didn’t mind not having his own kids, so far his nephews and nieces grew on well.

Yes, those relatives lived with him in town; but then the nephews stayed nephews; nieces, so...

And ‘Uncle’ never turned ‘Dad’.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sons of the Flaming Throne 2 – Ch. 9 | KT OLLA

ABISHUM wasn’t done speaking. So she picked up on the matter as things were bound to change. She spoke: ‘See, it was a bedroom cry for Aleph. But not until the day things were shoved in her face… ‘And that day she gave up on hoping! ‘Well, what Aleph thought was the reason why Beth couldn’t marry, was different from what it was with people. ‘She used to think it was because there was no man in her house to ask the daughter from. As is our customary practice in Israel.  ‘But when a drunken man shoved it in her face one night, it hurt her too much what people say. ‘“No one will marry your daughter, woman! Why will anyone do? When death hides in her bosom like it hid in yours. Or why did your husband die? ‘“Look, if you don’t know it – your family is cursed! You only have one child in a nation of plenty. ‘“God has prospered Israel with many children like the sea sand. But what do your family bear? Only one! ‘“So, who will want your cursed daughter for his son to love? You really don’t...
Post a Comment
Read more

MUSTARD I – Ch. 7 | KT OLLA

NOW it had rained all morning this day. And the sun was finally tearing through clouds to take the day’s glory. It was a brief break for the villages of Ede’s farmlands. As they rested from taking turns in harvesting yams. The town’s harvest season of yam and cassava tubers were in the rains... So they worked double to get them stored in barns and sold in markets – to avoid early rot in the wet weather. Yes, the crops were sources of flours and flakes for main foods. And several kinds of yam – like the ewùrà, ebòlò and the white yam, were also prepared as meals. So, everyone was out going about their own business those rest days... The farmers would go for a routine check on their farm every morning. And return earlier than the time to gather for talks by evening. Every evening, the men would sit under the shade of trees, and play board games amid talk and drinks. They’d talk about everything. From the ruler to their people. And to their wives and children. The young Moro chose to go a...
Post a Comment
Read more

MUSTARD II – Ch. 8 | KT OLLA

NOW Oji and Daleka went in to meet their brother as his wife hurried out of the house. ‘You meet me well, brothers,’ Morrow smiled as he dished his food. ‘Care to join for breakfast?’ ‘Oh we just had ours, big bro,’ Oji answered for them. ‘Thanks for the offer.’ ‘In that case, will you—?’ ‘Oh never mind,’ their youngest smiled, ‘we can sit and talk while you go on eating. We also have things to share with you.’ He looked to his partner for agreement and Oji nodded back. Yes, it was the culture there for someone to invite their guest to table when the latter meets them dining. Then, it was the right ethic for the guest to decline with thanks. Morrow glanced at them. ‘Oh really? Have your seat then. ‘And meanwhile, you did a lot helping last night – I appreciate it. Please tell your wives, too, we’re grateful.’ ‘Well, that is nothing,’ Oji waved a hand. ‘We are grateful that you returned! That you came home alive!’ Morrow looked at them and smiled. He had just finished dishing, so he smi...
Post a Comment
Read more