the reward

the reward 2

Continues..

Your three months stay on this land is up and I’m here to inform you to pack bag and baggage and leave here. He said in a bit of anger. He said in a bit of anger.

My parents burst into tears. Papa, we are begging you in the name of almighty God to have mercy on us. As you can see, my son is still struggling to survive. We’ve still not gotten enough money to cater for his ailment. My father pleaded.

What kind of trouble at all is this? Where at all are you people from that you are forcefully taking over my land? The man responded angrily.

Sir, we will move out of here very soon but may I please ask one simple question? I asked.

Yes go ahead and ask anything. I want you people out of here right now. He responded.

Sir, please, how many children do you have? I asked.

Is that all your question? He rhetorically asked. Well, if you care to know, I have a daughter and a son. He responded proudly.

Sir, as I lay here, as I just closed my eyes and opened, I saw your son on a shrine mat. Terribly sick and at the verge of dying. I saw a lot of witch doctors around him but they are unable to save him. Sir I saw your son’s sole screaming in pain and agony as…..

Stop it! Stop it! You should have told me you are a seer.

My son is currently in the states, please help me, what can I do to save his life? Please talk to me!! The man screamed in fear.

Calm down sir, please calm down. Everything is going to be fine but please tell me how you feel right now. Tell me before I help you. I said.

I feel sharp pains through my spine. I can’t afford to loose my son. I must do anything possible to save his life. I’d rather die in his place.

Please Zach, help me. He burst into tears of plea.

Sir, I am not a seer, neither am I a spiritualist. I only wanted you to feel what my parents are feeling right now. I wanted you to feel how it is like, to watch your son die without being able to help.

My parents are aged as you can see. They don’t even have the strong voice to wail for people to come to their aid, yet you look them in the face and tell them to carry me out of your land whiles my siblings are not around.

Wheredo you want them to take me to?

You only felt your son’s pain and look at the tears you are shedding. What then are you going to do when you see him dying like the way I am? Think through these and find answers for yourself. I said whiles struggling to stand up.

The man stood there motionless.

Zach, you can’t stand on your feet, where are you going to? My mother asked in tears.

I want to stand up to pack our things for the man to have his land. I responded.

Don’t worry, just lay down, I will pack the things. My father responded and started packing up.

Eeerrrmm please, stop packing. I’m sorry for my hostility, I never meant any harm. I just allowed my brains over my sympathetic heart. Forgive me.

I will give you enough time for your son to get well and also to get a proper roof over your heads before I come for the land. The man told my father.

And to you Zach, God has given you real intelligence, I will not leave you to die. I will do anything humanly possible to get you well, and I believe God won’t forsake you. He said.

Thank you so much Papa, we are very happy to hear these words from you. Thank you. My father responded happily.

Sir, the best apology in this world is a changed behavior. Since you have changed your mind, whatever hostility you’ve shown to us is forgiven you.

I see a father in you. God bless you abundantly for offering us a land to occupy and the promise you’ve just spewed towards my health. I said with tears on my cheeks.

It’s alright Zach. Anytime you talk, I have goose bumps all over my body. You are so intelligent.

I promise to be here tomorrow to take you to the hospital. He said.

Hospital? Is that the name of your shrine in this town? I asked naively.

Hospital? Is that the name of your shrine in this town? I asked naively.

No Zach, it is a modernized place where diseases are cured. They don’t use gods to cure diseases as it is done in the shrine, they use medicines. He explained.

Alright sir, thanks for the clarification. I responded.

Anything for you Zach. I will see you tomorrow. Just stay strong. He said and walked away.

My parents were so happy for the latest development.

We all rejoiced in spite of the pains I was going through.

In the evening, my siblings returned from their job with the little they earned for the day. We prepared supper with it and enjoyed it as a family.

Early the next morning, my siblings left for work leaving behind my parents and I.

We were eating our left over food when the land owner bumped into us again.

Good morning family. Zach, I hope you are ready, I’m here to take you to the hospital. He said.

Alright sir, I’m ready but I can’t walk unless we wait on one of my siblings to come back home to carry me. I said.

Don’t worry Zach, I will help you into the car. I’ve parked my car right in front of the hut. He said.

He carried me into the car and drove me to the hospital (the anticipated shrine).

They did a lot of unknown things to me. Gave me what they called injections and some white stones called tablets to swallow.

Sir, your son will have to stay in the hospital for some days so that we can monitor his condition properly. The

doctor (anticipated witch doctor) told the land owner.

No problem doctor, I’m willing to do everything possible to make him better. The man responded.

They carried me into a room where there were other sick people. They gave me a bed to sleep on.

Wow! This place is more comfortable and nicer than the hut in which I stay with my parents and siblings. I wish I will never go home. I thought.

The workers attended to me one after the other.

My siblings and my parents visited me from time to time.

The man also visited me at regular intervals with foods and drinks I’d never tasted in my entire life.

Days later, I was discharged from the hospital with a massive improvement in my condition. I had few rushes left on my body. I felt the weakness no more.

These people in this so called hospital are more powerful than the witch doctors I have in my hometown. I thought.

The man paid for everything and took me back to my parents.

Thank you so much for saving our son for us. Our God will reward you handsomely. Thanks a lot. My mother said to the man happily.

Papa, can we please know your name? My father inquired.

The man giggled for a minute.

Please, I am the one to call you Papa, and not the other way round.

You can give birth to me so simply call me Owusu Ansah. He responded.

Alright Owusu, we are a family now. We will like to know your home so that Zach will come there from time to time to run errands for you. My father said.

I want him to get fully fit, and I will come and pick all of you to visit my home. He responded.

I want him to get fully fit and I will come and pick all of you to visit my home. He responded.

Zach, don’t forget to take your drugs as the doctor told you ok? I might be here tomorrow to see you if I don’t travel. He said and left.

My parents continuously showered words of blessings unto him after he had left.

Days passed, and the man had not visited us again. I began to worry. What at all has happened to this man? Where can I locate him in this big town? I thought.

When he was not visiting us again, I joined my brothers in the market for the loading job.

It was so tedious but I tried my best.

A month afterwards, I was on my way back from the market into the house with my siblings when a car stopped by us.

Hello Zach, come on here. I can see you are fully fit. It was Mr Owusu.

Yes sir, I am doing well now. I’ve joined my siblings with loading of goods in the market for the market women.

We just closed and we are on our way back home. I responded shyly.

That is wonderful. Sorry I haven’t come to see you again. I traveled to the states to visit my son. I came back just yesterday. He said.

That is OK sir, please I hope he’s doing well? I asked.

He’s very fine. We even discussed you. I will come to your place to see you tomorrow and tell you everything. Just go home, your parents might be waiting by now. He said as he drove off.

My siblings had taken the lead, I run to join them and told them everything the man told me.

They got so happy.

The next day, I didn’t join my brothers to the market because of Mr Owusu’s promise to visit. Indeed, the man of his words visited.

He greeted happily and exchanged pleasantries with my parents.

He then explained to them why he had not come to see us in a while.

Eerrrmmm Papa and Mama, I have a surprise for you all. I want to take Zach to go and stay with me in my house so that he will run errands for me and my family. Mr Owusu.

This sounds too good Owusu. Oh, what have we done to deserve all these goodness from you?

You are real messenger from God. Thank you so much. My mother said happily.

So when are you taking Zach away? My father inquired in ecstasy.

I will like to take him away right now only if you will permit me. He responded.

You have our permission Owusu, just take him away and make him useful to your household. My father said.

I quickly packed up my few and only clothes into a polythene bag and joined Mr Owusu in his car to his home.

We got to the house and I couldn’t believe we were still on planet earth.

A total different environment I had never gone closer to in my entire life.

A magnificent storey building, well fenced with an electric security wiring.

I stood at the compound rotating my head, wanting to see things well.

Mr Owusu walked closer to me, and held my hand. Let’s go into the house Zach, you will have all the time in this world to watch the house for your stay here. He said.

I followed him into the room.

Instantly, I fell down on the floor due to the shock I had.