Trust me I understand his absences.
Was it not I, his official muse, that set him upon this path?
He is all over the world now; awards, book signings, book readings, CNN, even Bollywood want deals.
He is in Abu Dhabi this weekend… Al Jazeera interview slash a book signing.
And I’m stuck in Abuja presently… Tormented by our two boisterous kids, kids I’m struggling not to kill.
What manner of person travels on Valentine’s day?
Without recourse to the marginal propensity of forfeiture of life? Only my husband!
In fairness to him, he accepted the dates months ago. He told me, and I accepted. But I didn’t know it would be this fourteenth of February!
It sounded like just another day nine months ago.
So I picked up my Sony video camera, the youngest of our two kids and then headed to the man-made Jabi Lake to make and record some memories of my Prince for posterity.
Our daughter looks like her dad.
Our son looks like me.
Our son is me.
He is without doubt the cutest two year old I know. Trust me, its not just because he is my son. He is beautiful.
I had him on the screen of my video camera wearing a life jacket, rain boots and gleefully waving at me. His vocabulary isn’t quite there yet, so his replies to my questions are dazzling smiles and waves.
We are at the water front. The spot is ours. It’s about five thirty pm. There are a few people scattered along the water front to my right. But about half a kilometre away.
My phone rings.
I look away from the video camera propped on a tripod stand to my phone. It’s his dad. Smiling I pick up and look back into my video screen.
Duration of the action, five seconds or less.
My son is still playing about two metres from the water front. Still speaking on the phone I straighten up to ease my eyes and stretch my arched back.
As I lift up my eyes to see my son in real time, I see my son standing face to face with another child. A baby girl. About his age.
I remember looking back into the screen and back at my son, over and over and over again…
All I could see was my son with another child whose image wasn’t coming up on my screen!
On tape, on my screen he was alone. But from where I was ten meters away he was clearly with another female child.
I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do drugs.
I believe that evil exists and I believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. I crossed the distance in seconds screaming my son’s name.
I knelt down in the sand and protectively cradled his startled body. He tried to squirm free, simultaneously pointing to his new companion.
Heart thunderously beating I followed his finger. Sure enough, she was still there.
She was a beautiful girl. Almost too beautiful in fact. Upon closer inspection she seemed to be about four years old. But her eyes…her eyes were older, like the eyes of a twenty year old. She had on a wet, simple cotton dress. Her natural – looking hair was braided all the way back, down to her waist. Very intrinsic braids.
The pattern and style of her hair I had not seen before.
Her gaze and smiles were for my son only. She ignored me completely. Like I was not there. My son was as though hypnotised, he was smiling back arm stretched out toward her.
He kept squirming and trying to pull free of my grip, fully intent on holding the equally outstretched hand of the girl. Puzzled I held on tighter, their eyes were locked on each other. Arms stretched out, straining to clasp. I innately knew that my sons hand could not be allowed to touch the girls hand.
He suddenly threw his head backward, I reflexively turned my face to avoid the reverse head butt hitting my nose. He caught my bottom lip, I felt it split open like a ripe mango hitting the ground. The pain was searing and debilitating, the only two reactions I could manage was to hold him tighter and to cry out “Jesus!”
Instantly he relaxed and whirled round to embrace me. Face in my neck.
The spell was broken.
I could feel blood from my split lip running down and onto the back of his t-shirt.
For the first time, the little girl locked eyes with me. Her arm was still outstretched, but she was no longer smiling.
The malice and hatred she bestowed with her looks upon me could tenderize elephant meat.
I saw malevolence in her eyes. I saw lust. I saw covetousness.
And I saw love. Yes love… For my boy.
She wanted him.
Mothers worldwide can back me up on this; that instinct, that mummy thing just welled up from within me and burst. My eyes blurred in blind rage, I rose to my feet speaking in a tongue previously unknown to me… She recoiled in terror backing up into the water.
I held her gaze, my son and those strange words…she glared at me and then screamed, her tiny mouth wide open. I could see all the way down her throat… But no sound came out.
She pointed ominously at me and then dove into the murky waters… and until I gathered my stuff and beat a hasty retreat to my car I did not see her again.
Intriguing! Didn’t expect that direction though.
Thank you sir. I didn’t expect it either. After a while, if I’m lucky, the story starts to write itself. Talk to you in real time soon. Thanks for dropping by, you’ve made my day.
That escalated very fast..From 0 to 100 real quick. Intriguing
Thank you Arturo. Part of the pros of writing short stories. Love your work myself. Many thanks.
Aww thanks for the kind compliment. And I hope your boy is good and not in ‘love’ lol
Lol… Yes my boy is good. Have a fruitful week ahead.
For a few seconds, you had me believing I was reading a true lire story…….. nice one though.
Hahaha Bride, my cup runneth over… You’ve paid me the ultimate compliment. God bless.
Wow! Nice piece! Surprising twist to the story tho’. But nice nonetheless. You are good at telling stories ooo
Chiago! I’ve missed you here. Thanks dearie. I’m glad you said so. Means much to me.
Hian! Uncle Dan, I visit that Jabi lake a lot oh! lol! Great read! How do you think up these things?
Olivia I worry about me too. The inspiration hit me just like that.
Great read, You’re sure great story teller. It’s inspiring to read; and one gets hooked up.Another Achebe in the making or is it Soyinka!
Amen to that sir! Your views are cherished as always. Thank you so much. Truth be told, I am inspired by many, even you.
Great for me to hear this Dan. We all inspire one another in this space. And may it continue to be. Many blessings to you, dear friend.
Wow, that’s such a detailed description and I like the whole idea behind the story.
Thank you Mimi… May I call you that? I frequent that real life area a lot. Thank you for following. I love your work. Luckily I have the weekend to get into your head and read myself intelligent. Don’t be a stranger.
Sure, you can call Mimi… Hahaha, I guess you got yourself some really well paid job, reading yourself intelligent from my head..
You did keep to your word. I’m amazed at your determination, you got me reading some of my early posts myself. When I started this journey, I had no idea what I was doing, but God just got a way to keep me going, and this is how far He’s brought me. I hope you at least have picked up something to add to your bag of experiences and knowledge. Thanks once again for being so kind to pass by all the way into the archives.
I have not said anything because I have been in awe. Your motivation is not of this world. I love the way you write. You definitely have a gift. Your writing drew me in, and I appreciated that it is possible to reflect God in my work. Thank you for writing. Please keep up the good work. I feel smarter now, lol… I got pieces of you. Truly inspirational!
Wow, now I’m grinning and speechless. Thanks for your kind words Dan, I’m glad you found out that its possible to reflect God in your work. And I’ll keep writing, my pen doesn’t seem to ever want to rest, lol
Yeah…I should have stopped…but I’m here…
Will stop now..
Thank you for dropping by. You are thoroughly appreciated. Thanks