What's my Crime ?

Chapter 1 – Little Boy, Big Eyes. The sun ascended languidly over Umuagu, meandering across the crimson earth as if it, too, were unsure of where it belonged. Chuka sat outside the compound gate, chalk in hand, drawing shapes on the dusty floor. He was only six, yet he knew how to keep quiet. Not the kind of quiet that came from being shy, but the kind that came from knowing when the world didn’t care to listen. At that age, he was always in his space, calm and quiet. He hated noise because he saw it as a means of distraction. His mother’s voice echoed faintly from the kitchen, sharp, tired, always busy. Inside the house as she sings, Chuka is the only child of his parents. His father died a year ago before he turned 6 years old in a ghastly car accident. Ever since, Chuka changed and became a very quiet kid. He was always different from the other kids who lived around the neighborhood. He was drawing a lion now, its face long, its teeth sharp, its eyes wide like his. His teacher had once said, “Chuka, your drawings look like they want to talk.” He didn’t answer. They did want to talk, but no one ever asked them what they had to say. A long shadow blocked the sun behind him. Chuka turned. “Good morning, Aunty Sandra,” he said quietly. The lady smiled, crouching down. “You’re always drawing, eh? That head of yours is full of magic.” Chuka didn’t smile back. He didn’t dislike Aunty Sandra. He just didn’t like how close she always stood. Or how long her eyes stayed on him when the adults weren’t looking. “Where’s your mother?” Sandra asked. “In the kitchen,” Chuka said. “And you're all alone out here” “Come inside,” Sandra beckoned. Chuka rose and followed her into the house. “Good, boy,” she said. Then she touched Chuka’s shoulder. “This lion looks strong. But you, you don’t roar much, do you?” Chuka shook his head slowly. “You should learn to roar,” Sandra said, gently squeezing his shoulder. “Even lions get eaten when they’re quiet.” She stood for a while, staring at Chuka, walking inside, clicking her teeth. As they got in, Chuka went into the kitchen to call his mother while Sandra sat on the chair waiting for him. A few minutes later Chuka's mom stepped out and was so happy to see Sandra , they exchanged pleasantries and hugged each other. Sandra was a friend to Chuka's mother, but she lived in the City , a place called Kozra. "Uhm, I came for what we discussed on the phone, about Chuka coming over to the Kozra to stay with me," Sandra said. "Oh, that's true. Thank you for agreeing to help me with this. "It means a lot to me," Chuka's mother replied. As they discussed further, Chuka, sitting there as he listened to their conversation, was trying to understand what they were saying, but it was a bit too much for him to comprehend, though mindfully he could tell that the main point was that he was moving to the city. Slowly he became sad , the thought of leaving his mother behind and going to the city broke him down and he echoed shakily, "Mom, I am not going anywhere, I don't want to leave you here all alone and be lonely". Hearing this, Sandra was shocked as she couldn't believe Chuka was listening to their conversation, but Chuka's mother tried to talk to him and make him see reasons to leave. "I will always be with you son, always remember that," she said. Chuka, hearing this, ran into the room, with his teary eyes, locked the door and lay on the bed. Sandra, after witnessing what had just happened, decided to leave and come back later when Chuka must've calmed down and everything resolved. "I will be leaving now, but I will be back to pick him up. I hope he'll be ready when next I come," Sandra said. "Okay, but can you at least wait to eat something before leaving?" "No, it's fine, I am okay," Sandra replied. Sandra left and Chuka's mother followed behind to close the door. "Chuka!, Chuka!, where are you son ?" as she echoes and searches for Chuka to console him. Chuka's mother was still a very young and vibrant woman, soft-hearted and kind, but things had become rough for her ever since she lost her husband, Chuka's father. Even though many men approached her to fill in the space of masculine emptiness in her life, she refused and rejected all efforts being made. She chose to be single and take care of her son. Due to the current situation of things, she decided to send Chuka to the city of Kozra to live with Sandra. This was because she and Sandra go way back, and she trusts her but I guess Chuka didn't feel the same. He just wanted to be around his mother. A few minutes later, Chuka opened the door for his mother and was still sobbing. She held him closer and was consoling the boy. "Stop crying son, everything is going to be fine , like I told you earlier, I will always be with you," she said. "Are you sure?" Chuka asked . "Yes baby, I promise". "Okay mom", Chuka said. As she hugged me dearly, she kissed him on the forehead and told him to go wait at the dining table, so she could get him something to eat. Now Chuka's face had already brightened up a bit, he smiled and walked to the dining table and she walked Into the kitchen to get something for him to eat. Chuka ate his meal quietly, the taste of sadness lingering in his mouth. The thought of leaving his mother behind weighed heavily on his young heart. He couldn't fathom being away from her, the one constant in his life after his father's tragic accident. As he sat at the dining table, his mind wandered to the memories of playing in the dusty courtyard of their home in Umuagu. His mother watched him closely, her eyes reflecting a mix of love and concern. She knew the decision to send him to the city was not an easy one, but she believed it was for his future. Chuka's mother had always been his rock, the pillar of strength that held their small family together through thick and thin. After finishing his meal, Chuka helped his mother with some chores around the house, trying to distract himself from the impending separation. The day passed slowly, each moment tinged with a sense of melancholy. As evening approached, Chuka found solace in the familiar routine of bedtime, his mother tucking him in with a gentle kiss on the forehead. As he drifted off to sleep, Chuka's dreams were filled with visions of lions roaring in the distance, a symbol of strength and resilience. Deep down, he knew that he possessed the same courage within him, even if he didn't always show it. The journey to the city loomed ahead, uncertain and daunting, but Chuka held onto the promise his mother made , that she would always be with him, no matter where life took him.