MEMENTO ROCK

Prophecy of pain

“‘Neither my fault nor my choice to be born under such humility circumstances...’ My mother could be heard shouting day in day out. It was believed that she was born of r**e. Later on her mother committed suicide and she was left under care of her grandparents who mocked her of her background,” my dad narrated this story to us, as we sat besides the dam fishing.

He was holding a fishing line, that time to time he slang it right to left as the float danced over the water. Mother was sitting on a on a rock on the top of the heaped soil as gazed at us three. 

He went on, “a village seer said that, according to the ancestors, it was blunder to spare such children, as they could invite curses in the family lineage. As they used to communicate to them, they said that as a result, in my mother’s lineage there would be born a couple or married brother and sister”.

The float at his fishing line started sinking; he pulled it out in a lightning speed! A mega-mudfish was thrown over the soil. He then removed the hook from its mouth and left it to settle. Without wasting time, he fixed another bait into the hook and dipped it back.

“The married couple was to be born under alien generation of high technology where strength will be traveling through metals like water in pipes. It was also said that during the time people were to be moving fast when sitting than when standing”

I and Annitah fell with a sheepish laughter, we could hardly get an imagination whereby sitting person could move faster than when standing one. I could not get a picture whereby my voice could be heard over miles away. How huge could the mouth be? It was a long race to get, but may be it was to become true.

“Dad,” I called him.

“Yes son”

“Stop using proverbs to communicate, we are children, so small and young to understand” I grumbled.

“Okay, children, it is a mired and ignominious situation, that it is believed that it will come to pass one day one time. It is delusive that all sign that I am talking about, have already passed.

Alien generation, stands for the current generations; who never know about the traditions and culture, of your mother’s language. You live like you are rootless. Things are done inversely to your ancestors. In most cases, your call culture; the archaic obnoxious acts that impediment your desire.

Strength that flows in metal is the common electric current. Cables are made of metal as you all know. So it travels in cables like water in pipes. It can make big machines to work and do heavy jobs. 

The great voices that you hear of, is currently active, your voices, children, can be heard all over the country and even over the world.”

“Dad! My voice can’t reach even a kilometer, how could it happen that the world can hear me” Annitah got shocked and stood up “Tell me dad ...”

He produced a phone from his pocket and handed it to her. Their eyes met as they question; for what?

“Using that phone how many people can you speak to,” he asked her anxiously.

“Many, dad,” she answered in a confused way.

“That is it dear, people can hear you as you speak, contrary to our grandmothers and those seers who existed, who used to send messagers: wh useo could take hours, days, and even seasons, to take the message where needed. When you think of social media, a reporter or broadcaster talking in Nairobi can be heard over a long distances, his/her voice may travel far and wide in a given second. It is totally magical to the seers.”

“Wow! Dad, it only takes tremendous knowledge to explain it. That is why I call you penniless teacher,” Annitah said, with her eyes wide open.

“Well and good dear. Now when we talk about moving when sitting, they were referring to the vehicle that we currently use. When you are traveling in them you just need to sit then you go. You move with a great speed than a person walking in a hundred times. Do you get it now?”

“Yes we do” we answered altogether.

Silence followed for a moment. This made me to gaze at mum on a stone there up. I smiled at her then climbed where she was.

“Why are you looking at me in such a way?” She asked me gently.        

“Mum, you look so beautiful, from the way your hair flows in wind, your cool look, your ears, your nose, you look smart than I can explain mother. I wish nature favor you to remain the same until I marry. I will compare my girlfriend with you. If she is not like you then I will not marry her.”

“Really son?” she asked smiling.

“Yes mother. My dad was not asleep when he was looking for his rose. He got the best of all. I wonder how you were, when you were a young girl. I think your smile was killing. I guess, your walking style could put angels to shame. I can’t imagine how dad slept the first day to see you. I guess he slept without removing shoes and over the blankets, under mattress.”

“Hey! Stop over inflating the reality.”

“It is true that he did it,” I added

“John, how can you proof your words right?” She asked holding my hands.

“Look at dad, he is healthy, happy, always, always interested to see you around. That is why you accompanied us here. He always comes home early. He smiles at you every time: when serving or walking across the room. Among others...”

She gazed at me with amazement written on her face.

“Do you mean you spend all the time looking at us?” She asked in a low tone.

“Mum, I have to; you are the mirror to us. If you do things wrong, it will happen the same to us. You make me admire having my own family with an angel like you. I hope that I will meet a good girl like that Lucky Dube sung to. A girl who will live to understand my weakness and love my heart the way it is.”

“Son, just cool down, everything is under control and will be all right. Just give your heart what it needs. Never run for heartbreaks, as you will live with them. Wait for a shooting star to fall on you. Roses will shine and sun will smile on you in this harsh universe. Just wait and see,” she convinced. 

“Mother look at those birds, they fly in twos. I think that loving and being loved makes the world a sea of happiness. I may be right to say that nothing appears good without love and true love,” I told her as I looked up. 

Then, I lowered my eyes down and passed a glance on father and Annitah. I closed my eyes as I viewed my vision. Then dived in the world of imaginations where I saw a number of years ahead.  

An outstanding family, with a beautiful house and luxurious vehicles was the picture in mind. Great! Great to see a beautiful baby girl who smiled at me! Sadly my wife to be my had a hidden face but wore my mother’s best dress.

“Nothing mother!” I shouted. “I can’t see her well,” I added.

“Who are you looking at in blindness?” She asked.

“My wife to be...” I answered smiling at an angle.

“How? Have you started to drawing maps on waters? Stop it son... God has created somebody somewhere who will be yours till death. Never stress yourself, years are there for an angel to be born, grow and get prepared for you...” She said in a low lovely tune. 

Father was packing fish with the assistance from Annitah. I went down and folded the fishing rod then packed it in a bag. Then we went under an acacia tree to have a cup of coffee and share ideas. 

This was to stop and mark the end of fishing day and welcome a journey home. After taking a cup of tea, mother collected the cups and went besides the dam to clean them.

As we used to do, we had to assist her to do the cleaning work. She was to wash, dad to rinse, I was to dry using a towel and then Annitah was to pack in the bag. Within a little time the work was well done and we stood up and looked at each other.

“Well, well let’s go home...” Dad shouted, breathing deeply as he led us out of the dam compound.