WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?_ BY ABDULAI FAHBUNDEH.

The Reward for Forbearance is a Resounding Success: How Saliku’s Father Sacrificed His Life For The Sake of His Son.

“Chinchonnnnn chinchonnnnn Chilala chao chao chilala…”

The early morning bird sang right high in the cotton tree standing at one side of Foya village, the sun shined so bright, cold breeze blew slightly over the horizon, men and women strolled along the streets — one end at a time, life became more hectic than usual, and businesses flowed gently one Saturday morning.

It was luma time, and “Thing sweet”, the village rat swiftly jumped over Saliku’s head; shaking her tail while trying to get done with the leftover food that was in Pa Sesay’s bag. Saliku quickly woke up and screamed “Papa papa… see now; the leftover food is gone— I told you — thing sweet jokes with no such things in all her life…”

“Muhaha… but which other way would I have hidden the food? Anyway, that has been done, Saliku. It’s luma, let’s try to reach our customers first and see if we can get something to eat this morning…” After this short conversation, old Pa Sesay and his boy Saliku went to the luma. They were hawkers in the village. People in Foya and from around neighboring villages knew them best as hawkers. They were so famous because they exhibited loyalty in every single deal they had with customers.

Being that hawking is easily associated with stealing, people could not completely testify that there were some hawkers who do not steal. For that fact, Pa Sesay and Saliku were termed as “Loyal Thieves”– rather than completely calling them thieves. The label sounded a bit harsh for Saliku. Left with Pa Sesay, he never really got hurt by the hearing of this name.

Pa Sesay, though being poor, almost got a position at the market square. When traders of the village wanted their loads to be transported to their houses from the market, Pa Sesay and Saliku were their go-to-persons. Or if they had other works to do, they would wait for Pa Sesay to recommend some other hawkers to do it for them. So Pa Sesay was like a chief director for every hawking program in the village.

It was even because of this that Pa Sesay began making huge sum of money from other hawkers —as everyone would come closer and say: “Pa we are your boys ooo, don’t forget us today…” after saying this, they would take out some money and give it to Pa Sesay as a means of bribing his attention. Then he would say, “oo these boys, I know you are all like suns to me… I will not forget you guys ooo…”

One Friday evening, it was already nightfall; Saliku saw his dad hiding some money in a hole behind the in-completed building built around where the village’s biggest cotton tree was standing. This was a secret that Pa Sesay never told anyone. As sooner as he knew that Saliku had known everything, he called him and talked to him.

”My boy, I’m an old man and I shall die someday. But here is a secret that I have hidden from you for so long. We have been working together so hard, but you had never really known why our mouths do not always taste nutritious meals. It is all because I have a plan of making you a rich man before death comes. And I have already done that for you, boy… I have kept so much money now… rest assured, you will never suffer again…”

Saliku’s eyes flooded his face with tears while trying to console himself. “Papa, I have no regret that you made such plans. But I’m sorry; you chose me over fine dresses that can make you appear good, food that are better eaten by other people, and the luxurious lifestyle that everyone else has chosen. Thank you so much Pa… I will never forget this favor…”

Two days later, Pa Sesay got sick! The sickness was a severe one. Everyone including his customers and fellow hawkers came around to visit him. They tried so hard but it was not easy. Everybody’s mind was troubled as they thought they were losing their loyal friend, Pa Sesay.

One warmed afternoon, Saliku coming back from the market had a strange feeling; his heart bit so fast than ever. On that note, he quickly ran into the house to check on his sick dad lying halfway dead. He called and called, no answer. Then old Pa Sesay, in a heavy whisper voiced: “take care of yourself, Saliku. And for the money, take everything…”

Saliku wanted to talk back, but he finally noticed that his father was dead. He jumped out of the room and ran into the heart of the village, shouting so loudly “oo my father- oo my father…..” as everyone heard him scream, they too went to see whether the old man was dead. And to their surprise, the man was dead!

Crying became everybody’s comforter, sadness rocked the village’s streets in the following morrow, “aaaaaa Pa Sesay” came out to be the most said thing all around the village as other villagers also came to grace Pa Sesay’s burial ceremony. Everyone was there that morning, they buried the dead body, pass some ceremonies and walked away with gaped mouths.

After two weeks, Saliku went to the place where his father was hiding the money. He opened the pit and saw that the money was so plenty. He could not believe his dad was having so much money and still pretended to be poor when he was alive. He took the money, covered the pit and returned home to nobody’s notice. Thereafter, he bought a new house and a brand new car. He also started business with the remaining money.

In a year’s time, Saliku had already been known as the richest businessman at Foya. Some people even argued that he was the richest person in the whole district. What came up bizarre was people spoke of him as a ritualist. And that he got the money from the killing of his own father. Some couldn’t, however, conclude things this way. The talk sparked widespread speculation; was it really true or not- unknown to all- the jury was still out on this.

End…✍️

© Abdulai Fahbundeh.

- Sierra Leone.