MUSTARD IV – Ch. 2 | KT OLLA

NOW the heavy rain that poured wasn’t Morrow’s worry, that first time in ’79.

He’d built his house with strong reinforcement. Something solid here and there, to withstand the elements.

He was a learned man, a thorough-bred civil man. So, he planted stout trees in the yard lot since he bought the ground and drew a plan.

He’d taken grounds on lease to grow crops, leaving his late brother’s farmland.

Then he grew crops on fertilizers and supplements. So he used that knowledge to grow trees in small time.

Yes, there were wind breaks everywhere in his backyard. Tangerine tree, orange and young mango.

But the storms that raged defied him. They left those things, and went for him.

Yes, tropical rainstorms were the kind that would shake things, root out trees and electric poles.

Then they could throw a shelter about and drown hut buildings, too.

But Banji’s villa home was a solid green wall. Built to last and outlast him.

So, with the rains arriving, everyone went inside their houses – and Morrow, too.

Now he led bedtime prayer, and chose that hymn.

Well, that song was simply an evening anthem for a Christian home. And there were a few more songs chosen in his church.

So, Banji had simply led this hymn ritually. That night of ’79.

Now those dense clouds broke all at once. They poured torrents of water, with rumbles and lightning.

And at times torrents of wind.

Suddenly, the noise was heavy as everyone cowered in the living room.

Nobody left Banji’s sitting room after that goodnight song... nobody.

Everyone stayed there to feel secure. To find company.

For the noise soared till it was deafening ears. It landed with a huge crash on Morrow’s roof.

That sound got everyone startled, as eyes went up to ceiling that instant.

And right about then, the whole ceiling caved in under weight of something huge.

Suddenly, waters poured in from everywhere...

Morrow’s bedroom, Maria’s room, Comfort’s place, and Sarah’s. Everywhere had sagged down low...

As low as those clouds before they tore.

Morrow stood up and went around. He gazed up when he turned a corner, felt downcast when he turned around...

A heavy weight was over his head.

That first time was 1979. And it wasn’t a tree that fell over his roof, weighing that heavy.

It wasn’t street posts, concrete poles, or logs.

But then it was something quite odd that it got Joshua bothered when it happened again...

On that night of 1980.