Beside The Still Waters

My return trip to the village is a memory that would linger in my heart in perpetuity. It was a dream come true. My heart pounded with wild beats of anticipation, so much that I thought it could burst. A little less than five years, when I escaped from there, I was a frightened heart-broken girl with an uncertain future. I remembered that long lonely flight and it seemed to me as though it took place only yesterday. The dismal images rose vividly in my mind and stood tall, eager to remind me of my not-too-pleasant beginnings. Reverently, I lifted my heart in prayer whispering. ‘Dear God, let this experience be to me all through life, an eloquent reminder of your constant care and love. And if perchance, according to Your divine will, some contrary situations may arise again, then let me look through it to be renewed with fresh faith in Your all-sufficient goodness. The village did not look to be any different than it was when I left it. The houses, the same with their thatched roofs glowed misty grey in the gathering twilight. Family members gathered together in groups at the frontage of compounds, awaiting their evening meals, turned to look at us as we slowly zoomed past. I even saw one or two women hurrying home from the stream. We drew closer to my home. I stretched my neck in excitement. A woman I realized to be my mother came out of the little shed we use as a kitchen, just before the entrance to the main building. She was rubbing her eyes with her palm, apparently to wipe of the effect of the smoke from the firewood she was cooking with. Then she saw the 504 saloon car coming into her compound and stopped. No sooner had the car stopped than I jumped out of the car waving at Mama, I yelled with excitement. ‘Mama, here is your daughter Udo!’ I saw the shock rise in her eyes. She stared blindly. I rushed at her, gathering her in my arms. She just looked on, inactive for a while. I guess the scene that met her gaze must have overwhelmed her. Slowly, I felt her numbness melt away as true recognition flashed her mind and her eyes brightened. She tenderly disengaged herself from my embrace and held me at arm’s length, looking me all over. All this while, the driver watched this re-union with fascination. My daughter, is this really you?’ ‘Yes ma,’ I gushed. ‘It’s me Udo, your daughter.’ ‘Hale and hearty?’ ‘Yes, mama, alive and very well too.’ Slowly, she turned her face toward heaven and raised her hands. When she brought them down, she clutched her chest with them. It was only then I noticed that she had grown much thinner and frail. But, I was happy to see her alive and when she beamed with joyful laughter and embrace me, we both shed tears of happiness. Then I refrained from her embrace and asked: ‘Where is Papa? Where are Ikenna and Ezinne?’ Mama ignored my questions and walked up to the driver, who all this while had stood watching us. ‘You are welcomed young man’, she greeted warmly and the driver responded. ‘Please come in for a drink of water.’