HONIE LOIE (THE CHILD OF A BIRD)

LABOUR IN THE FARM

CHAPTER 5 LABOUR IN THE FARM

Farming is the livelihood of the Lebbie family. It is their office where they get wages in order to be able pay their children school fees and sometimes it is not enough for them because they have to have some for next year farming if they sell all they would not be able to plant next season, if they sell everything, they would not be able to eat again. They have to share it wisely so that they can plant for next year by reserving some but lack of better storage. Since the Lebbie family only Musa the younger son has remained all the girls were also equally a help to the father in terms of work even work those men can do they can also do it. So, they become very active and strong if not their brother would suffer in the hand of their father.

Farming involves a lot of process and hard work by using cutlass to brush, hoe to dig, and pickaxe to cut trees that the cutlass can’t handle. Musa the younger one was the only man left around his father. His father always said work like the way you take the rice with your hand to eat with activeness and strength. His father was a very strong man that when he is working, he does not usually get tired or weak most especially when he would be singing sweet song in his name and in cultural tune. Musa the younger son always would be looking for opportunity to escape from the hand of his father at a particular moment. He would be praying for his father to send him for water to drink from the farm house or under the shade if they mistakenly forgot to bring along the water then that would be a big chance for him, if not he would take an excuse that he wants to excrete out. His father has noticed this several times, sometimes he can’t escape his father at all, his father would say we would soon go, be patient let work. To Musa it would just be like let start working now by then Musa have tired and he can’t even brush properly neither has energy to work. Until his father is fully satisfied in working or sorry for him if he is hungry then they would move to mama Lombeh by then she may have prepared a delicious cassava and soup with meat from the trap of Pa Lebbie. Musa would be so happy at that particular period of time especially when he eats alone and all the girls eat together which was not well pleased with the girls because the elder once would be in charge of the meat, they also control the bowl, they have authority over their younger one and mother or father would not say anything even they are bully. They said due to that hatred mind would not be among them. They may have love for each other and respect themselves or their elderly sister or brothers.

After the brushing and have waited for sometimes for the sun to penetrate on dry the leaves for burning. It will take them few weeks for that to be done by them Musa has to pray together with his mother for the farm to burn well because the clearing would be tough again after a lot of struggles. It is not good to be the only son, I believe Musa was facing that struggle he was forced to become a strongman like his father. His father does not call for laborers for help because everyone would be busy on their own farm work besides that he likes to do it little by little with his family. The harder side for Musa as he grumbles it sometimes to his friend was the brushing because his sisters cannot help but all the rest, they can involve in it. He respected them so much for that because they feel sorry for him as the only brother with them presently as the right man of the father. Pa Lebbie always said to Musa “I am making you to be like a man, so work like a man”, your brother Osman is not here you are in charge until he comes. Pa Lebbie is also proud of Musa for his endurance and courage as a small boy at his age when he is not around, he can take good care of everything just as he was instructed. He always talked about Musa at the hearing of men in the Barry but his mother was also afraid as she advises her husband Pa Musa to stop doing that for a jealous mind or the trickster not to tamper his son or turn his heart from what he is doing. Pa Musa listens to his wife so much especially when he sees wisdom in it. Women always want to protect what they love Pa Musa always said this to his friend when they are eating. His friend said yes by that time they might be sucking the bone of a deer which was caught by Pa Musa trap. I have seen that and noticed several times, he concluded that one of the signs that a woman does not love is when she is exploiting your wealth and what you have suffered and gather. When a woman loves you so much, he gives you good advice in order for lives to be secure. Yes, Pa Musa agreed like mine wife, his friend said hmm... Not only have yours...my dear all of us experienced that. Musa...You know., I only knew about mine not yours; I knew about mine also that while I am saying that. They all burst in to a big laugh …. ahh! aaaaa! People would start saying wow! Mama Lombeh is the only one that can cause Pa Musa to laugh big one like that.

Morning was the best time for the farmers to work that why Pa Musa never joke with the morning hour work at the farm although the dew would be a challenge but they have to persevere. In the morning I have extra strength said pa musa…I enjoy working at that particular moment but when it is a day time the sun would weaken my strength and zeal, I can’t withstand it much. The best time for Pa Musa to be overcharged it is morning hour and when the sun wants to goes down. He said the morning sun is very sweet when he penetrates on him.

However, for Musa he does not have any specific hour that he has ever said it is the best time for him when working. He said there is no work that is easy or you can enjoy in doing it, this man is exaggerating things for me to fill that work is simple. Musa..even to eat is not easy I can’t talk about working in a whole day on the farm. As far as I am concern it is just courage that I have in doing the work. He has also used to it and for me I have to do it because that is what I meet him and I am a child, I have no choice on my own.

Sometimes while working they would be talking about the schooling of their brother and sister. How would they survive in that big town? They said school is doing something that is very bad taking away your friends and relatives, from your parent and live into a town where you can’t see your brother and sister all the time.

They start to talk about Osman measurement of cassava he consumes always with his hand while eating with his brother Musa. They said Musa might be happy also because him alone eat not like us we eat together. Musa …overheard the conversation that her sisters were having, you people cannot discuss a better thing you would always involve the topic about food. Hawa. Would say who in this world that does not like food everyone in this world is working for this one stomach, the stomach is small but carries a lot of things. You don’t know many people have passed away because of this stomach. Many men are trap because of this stomach when they are not able to sustain self-discipline over their stomach. Hawa...Continues to say, you look at this farm our father has spread like a stadium it is for what? For this stomach alone that we carry. Musa...It is true but anything that is excess it is not good for anyone and God does like that kind of person. Even excess wealth is not good because it can’t cause you to forget about God who created you and begin to treat people like you are the most superior person over them. I don’t like excess wealth...Marie said hmm have little one first of us before determine to have more.

When their discussion has reach to certain peak, Pa Musa would notice because they would not do anything better it is like the discussion has taking away their attention and that slow the work. He would decide to share out the work to them into different portion so that they would engage in their work fully. Pa Musa…if you are true with this you would now go and talk unnecessary but when we are here, we are mainly there for work. It would make them more serious and determine because each one may want to finish before his or her colleagues. So, it will be like race among them that what most parent does to their kids when they want them to do something for them to be done quick as possible. Children love competition although some lazy one would still not try to do it but sometimes it awakens their speed. If it is brushing the cassava farm or removing the unwanted plant from the cassava garden. Musa would be the first person to finish when he is done with his each of them would request for his assistance…please come and help me brother. If they all are calling on him, he would decide to rest and not to help anyone or decide to help anyone that has still more portions among them.