The agony of a rising star: Life after the war
What you need to know:
- Bogo and his siblings were at risk of not schooling and their home was up for sale by a relatives to meet their own demands. This plan had been hatched by the relatives as a way of raising money for personal gains.
Bogo’s mother was curious to know the cause of chanting and the young innocent girl, who lived in the wealthy neighbourhood knelt down to narrate the news of the bursary for Bogo. Elated, she coerced pupils to sing an inspirational song. The pupils were thrilled to join in the chorus of the poetic rhyme that foretold the future for those who struggle hard.
The pupils left after an hour later and from that time, Bogo’s home became known all over the village. It was a source of pride and fame for the whole village. During that time, the village had been hit by famine, following a prolonged dry spell that was experienced after the war. Bogo’s father disappeared mysteriously and his mother became the breadwinner. The missionaries gave some relief food, but it was not enough to cater for the many dependants in Bogo’s homestead.Being a woman-headed home, there were many challenges. People started finding faults with the situation and grudges ensued that pitched Bogo’s siblings against the dependants.
Less did Bogo know that there were people in the compound who were not his siblings, nor near blood relations. During the good old days, Bogo’s father was a service man and had collected his extended family members.They had grown up in a very admirable setting and there was unimaginable serenity. During the night when the moon was bright, they would gather around the fireplace and stories were told by aunts about many aspects of life.
The father figure would watch from a safe distance, as he swallowed Teachers’ Whisky. He would light up a cigarette and puff it in all directions, as if he was fumigating the environment to rid it of the mosquitoes, which were a common phenomenon in the evening. The acquaintances of the old man were always at his service to restock the liquors, as they were guzzling. They often obeyed him as if they were his troops and never questioned his wisdom.
He would keep them entertained with stories of urban development. Telling them of how an aeroplane seemed like astrophysics and they would not want any interruption as he narrated the white man’s ingenuity and technology. The highest level of elevation of the folks was an atoll in the neighbourhood. Hearing about travelling above the clouds would mesmerise them and they looked at Bogo’s father as being a different species.
They used the excuse of the stories from the service man to tap into the good meals that had a rare delicacy of beef. They would often first devour supper then quickly request to retire to their homes. Bogo had come to believe that these acquaintances and other people were friends and family during times of plenty. When the dependants felt the effect of the disappearance of the service man, they unleashed their venom and frustration on Bogo and his siblings.
They would get wild yams and prepare in their respective huts, but could not invite Bogo or his siblings to nibble at their food. Things started changing. There were no more bonfires, no more shared facilities and everyone seemed to be on their own. One day, as Bogo was returning from the well, one of the relatives told him that as soon as the bursary expired, Bogo would no longer go to school and advised him to be washing clothes for him, as that would be his next occupation.
There was increased hostility towards Bogo’s mother and her children. Then famine raged for a long time and many of the relatives disappeared, too. It was then that it occurred to Bogo that his siblings were at risk of not schooling and their home was up for sale by a relatives to meet their own demands. This plan had been hatched by the relatives as a way of raising money for personal gains and was not in the interest of the rightful beneficiaries. The plan was opposed by a section of relatives who were honestly close to the absent service man.
One day, the parish chief came with a Land Rover full of uniformed men with many guns, dressed like Hollywood actors. They parked their vehicle at the front of the house, jumped off and took off into the nearby bushes, speaking a language that was not discernable. It was a language that was exclusive to the military men and Bogo’s father used to speak it from a walkie-talkie during the days he was in service. They corked their guns and ransacked the compound, bedrooms and neighbouring bushes. They were looking for the missing serviceman who was believed to have joined the war against the government.
They picked the few relatives who had come around to oppose the selling of the home. They did not return and so the grand evil plan was executed. The land was sold to a local businessman who had just migrated to the village. An abandoned structure of tinned roof, mud and wattle overlooked the missionary school. A story was told that a maroon car had once appeared and picked up the old woman who had long lived in that place.
It was an isolated home, but surrounded with fruits such as jackfruit, raspberries, guavas and pawpaws. Children would often pass by when the owner was still around and help themselves with the fruits. The old woman would let off an alarm whenever there was intrusion and so the children learnt to be unobtrusive and often whispered to themselves as they climbed up the jackfruit tree to collect the ripe ones.
One day, a snake appeared to the boys and they fell off the peak of the tree together with the jackfruit. It was a heavy fall that made one of the boy’s bowels open in his pair of shorts. The story of the boy’s escapade ran around that he abandoned school due to the constant teasing.
Bogo’s mother had rented this place to continue with life after the relatives had sold off their home. It was rumoured that the old woman was picked up by her son to go and live with him in the city. It was said that in the city she could not use the washrooms because sharing lavatories with the bedroom looked rather unhygienic and an abomination. This was how adjusting to urban life was not easy, especially transiting from pit-latrines to flush toilets. Many times, the old woman became sentimental and longed to return to her homestead where things looked more natural and understandable.
Bogo’s mother used her little earnings to pay the rent of the new place aboard that was also home to reptiles and other creatures due to the long abandonment. To be continued....
