FIONA- An African Inspiring Prose

It was a very hazy morning in Bekuma, Edo state. The Indigenes had gone to their various places of work in search of their daily bread. Looking outside the window was Fiona. She was gazing at the beauty of the sky at about 5:12am that morning. She smiled at the sky and quickly turned to the place where she kept her bible, took it and began prayers. Fiona prayed saying, “I thank you Lord Jesus for another beautiful morning. I thank you for your protection and guidance throughout the night. I thank you for my mother and my two sisters. I thank you for the people of the city. I ask that you bless…”, Fiona was still praying with her eyes closed when she felt a touch on her back. It was Mrs. Oghene, her mother. “Good morning ma”, Fiona greeted. “Good morning my dear”, Mrs. Oghene responded. Then Mrs. Oghene quickly turned to wake her two daughters who were still sleeping. “Hmmmmmmmm”, they stretched as they stood up to join the prayers. They all sang and prayed to the Lord. Now, the people of Bekuma had a tradition that guided every individual. That tradition was ‘hard work’. All were encouraged to work hard including the children as of then. One who wasn’t working would be so ashamed of oneself that one won’t be able to look another indigene in the eye. All men and women of the city had farms where crops were planted, nurtured and harvested every planting season. There were some horticulturists who planted flowers that grew very beautifully, expressing life in abundance. Bekuma was indeed a very beautiful place to be. Fiona’s mother had a groceries store where she sold all kinds of foodstuffs and vegetables. Customers within the village and even from the neighboring towns and farther cities came to make their purchases. She was counted among the richest women in Bekuma. Fiona and her family lived in abundance at the said time. “What of Fiona’s father?”, you will definitely ask. Read on to find out. Fiona’s dad; Mr. Oghene was also among the richest men in the village being an oil farmer. He was a man who loved his wife so unconditionally that one would hardly believe that kind of love exists. He was respected far and near for putting his family as his first priority and his level of transparency in dealing with his customers. But something terrible happened to him. He attended a meeting where he was poisoned by his fellow farmers. He would have survived the poison effect if not that he was shot dead by some serial killers the same day he was poisoned. He was not just poisoned and shot dead; he was butchered. It was indeed a black Thursday in Bekuma. But before his death, he had introduced his wife into trading and thought her how to make massive profits. That singular act was what sustained Fiona, Annabel and her mother. Lucy, on the other hand prepared to return to her husband’s house together with her son, Alexander, as they came to Bekuma to rest for a while. Her husband’s name was Roland. They were based in Lagos. Lucy was a full-time house wife while her husband was a sailor. It was another busy Monday in the village. Fiona and her mother prepared for the day’s sales while Annabel prepared for school. “Good morning mummy”, Annabel greeted as she saw her mother. “Good morning my dear. My daughter, pleases, as you go to school today, always be respectful and avoid problems. Do not let anyone intimidate you. Ok?”, Mrs. Oghene said. “Ok mummy, I will do as you have said”, Annabel responded. Annabel went to school afterwards. “Mama I’m done preparing”, Lucy said. “Ok. It is well with you dear. Wish you a safe trip. Take care of yourself and my grandson oo”, Mrs. Oghene said. “I will mama”, Lucy said as she smiled widely. Lucy and her son left the house, went to the park and boarded a bus back to Lagos. It was Fiona and her mother left. So, they locked the house and went to the store. Mrs. Oghene’s friend, Niniola, a Yoruba woman living in Bekuma on vacation, came to buy foodstuffs from them. They made massive sales as usual and returned home happy.