Wasiu!! Father shouted my name
from his rickety space wagon.
Sah!! I answered, father called me to
come and untie the ram he bought
from the boot of his car. With joy and
speed Usain Bolt will be jealous of, i
dashed off to meet my father who
was struggling to open the door of
the car.
Open the boot and carry the ram, he
ordered. I opened the boot and saw
something that looked like something
straight from a horror movie. I
recoiled with fear because looking at
the thing father called ram gives me
goose bumps. I don't really know how
to describe the ram, its four legs are
bent in way that makes it look the
way our girls take pictures now. The
legs are so thin i wondered if they
would be able to move an inch.
Mucus is dripping from its nose and
with its bulging eyes that seems to
remind of Arinze. Its horn, i dont
know what to call that thing but it
gats to be horn, stood straight but so
thin like the toothpick father uses
even if he has only drank water. I
starred at it wondering how father
could have made this take of buying
such a horrible ram.
You like am? Father's voice brought
me back from my thought
Yes na, na fine ram o. Truth is, in my
house, you dare not condemn what
father liked or like what he
condemned. Don't ask me why
please.
Na the best ram for there i buy o you
no see meat for him body, i go tell
your mama make she use the head
prepare isi-ewu for me. Father
exclaimed happily. I look at the ram
again to be sure it is the same ram i
am looking at father is talking about, i
looked at father to see if he has
started using glasses. This ram is so
thin you could count the remaining
bones in its body, infact i wonder if
we need to kill it before butchering it.
Oya bring am down and look for a
good place to tie it, make sure u tie it
well o. He stressed the last part,
pulling his ear to let me know what is
in it for me if i don't tie it well.
No way in hell i am touching this
thing, i said within myself. Infact let
me go and call mama. I dashed off
again with another usain bolt speed
to call mama to come and see the
scary thing father called ram.
Mama was happy father bought a ram
especially in this Buhari's era, like a
flash, mama caught up with me and
we both stood before the cause of
my nightmare.
Allah Akbar!!! What is this? Mama
asked
Ileya ram, i replied!!
Is this what your father bought, why
is it looking like the thing alfa asked
us to pray against, are you sure this
is a ram or someone changed into
this....? Mama asked so many
questions i dont know which to
answer first.
There is no way you are bringing this
into this house, look for a way to
make this thing leave here before i
come back. She ordered
But father said i should tie it behind
your stall, i replied
What!!! You will do no such thing, she
said and went away.
Scared to touch the ram, i went
inside the car and found a way to
release the ram without touching it. It
fell with a thud i thought would kill it.
I led the ram with a stick like the
fulani would do to a place i can tie it
down. The ram walked as if it will die
if it take just one step but it got to
where i am to tie it down successfully
with just a breath left in it. I tied it
down the way one would tie a shoe
lace, careful not to let my hand touch
it and bounced off to play.
Una don buy ram? Sadiq my friend
asked.
No, papa just go buy am. How will i
tell my friend father came home with
an HIV infected ram? The jests and
mocking no go ever finish.
I got home to meet father and mama
arguing about the ram, with mama
telling father her pots won't be used
in cooking the ram.
Oya Wasiu come and show me where
you tie the ram, father ordered.
I took father to the backyard where i
led the ram to show father.
Where the ram now, father asked
E dey here o, i blinked refusing to
believe that the ram i tied just a few
hours ago is gone.
Show me now, father said. Grabbing
my shirt incase i decided to make a
run for it. The slap from father
hardened hand didn't let me finish my
statement.
But i tied it here, i said weakly while i
continue to block father's slap, mama
did not even come to my rescue like
she always does, i guess the ram
gives her nightmare or eveningmare
too. I managed to escape father's grip
and dashed off immediately. I can
hear father telling me not to return
home unless i found his beloved ram.
What will i use to entertain our
Asalatu group if they come and visit
me, he ranted on and on.
So please if you find a ram with four
bent legs and a toothpick horn with
its bones so visible you dont need an
xray, please contact the nearest
police station, army barracks and OPC
station, forget about how it will get to
me. We are resuming next week and
father has decided not to pay my fees
unless i bring back his ileya ram. Pls
help a brother.
put a smile on your faces sweethearts...life has no duplicated... and let your hearts flow with love cos it's the season of love
[b]happy celebration to our Muslim brothers and sisters [/b]
.
in the main time John's Ram is still missing lol
