Wretched Flower

Continuation of episode 1...

As early as the virgin morning, Ebikeme and his father arrived at the river bank, setting nets for fishing. For the past three days his father wasnt able to fish because he had no money to rent a boat, they had to endure the wipes of hunger those days, but today he is having a little money with him, so hell be renting a canoe for a day. The place was like a basin, with the river and the river bank in it. Every far distance was occupied by long palm trees and vegetations, and the morning breeze blew mildly and chilly on their skins. More people were arriving to join in the business. Ebikeme and his father had gotten their net set for the job and were already paddling into the wide river with his father sitting in the front and him behind. As they paddle on, Ebikeme had questions he wanted to ask his father; questions about life; he needed explanations.

"Daddy"?

"Yes, Ebikeme"?

"I have a question".

"Ask".

"Why are some born hideous and some born beautiful? Does it mean that the ones born hideous dont deserve beauty and splendor"?

"Hmm, why do you ask"? His father paddles slowly, facing his right, trying to have an eye contact with him behind, but his attention still focused on the waters ahead of them.

“Im just asking because of the things I have been observing in this world".

"Poet Ebikeme". His father flatters him and he smiles broadly. "I will answer your question, make we find bele first".

"OK Sir". They kept paddling in the wavy waters of the river until they got to the particular spot they wanted to do fishing. Helping his father to adjust the once-upon-a-time-pure-white-but-now-brown fishing net, they both fling it into the river and it lies flat on the water as if it was a bed sheet, but gradually sunk in slowly to catch the living treasures of the river.

After spending all the morning hours of the breezy day in fishing, they were able to catch reasonable amount of fishes which could feed the familys stomach and serve as cash catching nets. They relaxed by sitting on the sandy soil of the river bank with the fishes in the boat beside them. His father looked around the environment, as if he was wondering in thoughts, and all of a sudden, he calls his name calmly.

"Yes Daddy". Ebikeme answers, looking at him.

"Today wasnt a sunny day, was it"?

“No, it wasn't". He answered, wondering why his father asked.

"The sun is a very good thing that we all need but it didnt show up in the sky today, but did that make today an unfruitful day for us or that the sun is no more"?

"No, we caught lots of fishes and the sun is still in space".

"Good. Here comes the answer to your question. Nobody is hideous or born hideous, everyone is beautiful in their own way; abi you no hear sey one man poison na another man food? Na condition make crayfish bend, but e no mean sey crayfish no sweet, today wasn't a dark day just because the sun wasn't visible in the sky. No one is hideous, its just the many imperfections in the face of a person that people focus on and declare the person ugly; but another man will look and see the perfections and ignore the imperfections. Talking about the beautiful ones, nobody is prettier than anybody. The ones having beauty in the flesh, sometimes are ugly on the inside, their character is nothing to write home about, but if a person is beautiful on both sides, then thank God. But one thing to know is this: before you declare a person ugly or beautiful try to know the inner person. That also goes for a poor and a rich man. A poor man might be poor but he can be rich in attitude and good morals of nature but a rich man who has money can be so poor in his conducts and in humanity, some don't have the good treasure of a good conscience. Have I answered your question"?

"Yes Daddy, you answered perfectly". Ebikeme says with a smile that showed satisfaction. His fathers teachings were his wealth and he cherished and treasured them.

"OK na, make we set dis fish dem carry go sell".

"OK Daddy".