Wale and the Little Moonlight

CHAPTER FOUR

It was good enough that Ogunta had accepted Wale, and it was quite amazing that people would come to Kehinde’s house with their substances like yam, cassava, plantain, banana, cocoyam, and all kinds of crops and fruits, just to honour his little boy. The people started calling him ‘The Night Rain Bringer’. Even after five years, the people had not stopped this gesture. Little Wale had even started receiving kind treatment almost like the Oba in terms of the amount of items he received from the people of Ogunta. And Baba Ogun was one of the most frequent and faithful discipline of little Wale. From the night he was born till this period, Baba Ogun had known by instinct and wisdom that little Wale was not just a baby, but something like a sign or messenger or a special gift. His love and admiration for Wale soon grew into veneration.

He had gone to Kehinde’s house one evening to give a bunch of plantain to Kehinde’s wife to be used to make delicious dodo for Wale.

“Use it and prepare delicious dodo for our good son Wale”. He offered.

“Esie e gon”, Folusho almost prostrated as she received the offer.

“Bring us the bench, iyawo mi”. Kehinde requested

“Oh, oko mi”. Folusho resonded as she moved swiftly into the hut through the entrance door.

Baba Ogun and Kehinded spent a good time talking about a lot of things which ranged from farming to harvesting in the village, from rainy season to dry season, from development and positive changes in the village to the blessings from the gods, and the whole meeting landed on Wale as the last subject of discussion.

“My brother Kehinde, I want to talk about your son, Wale”, Baba Ogun initiated.

“Ko si wahala”, Kehinded replied with a little twinge of surprise on his face. But he had always known that Baba Ogun had a genuine love for his son, so he conceded and worried about nothing. At least it was only a talk that he wanted to talk about him, nothing more. And he would really love to hear what he had in mind to say.

“I have watched your son grow, and you and I know the events that preceded his birth. I want to say he looks like the fastest growing baby in this village. His mates that were born before him, some of them still look small and staunched in growth, while he is growing like waterleaf fed with manure”. Baba Ogun extolled.

The two men laughed simultaneously as if they had just been tickled by the invisible hands of the gods at the same time. Apart from being a highly respected elder in the village, Baba Ogun also had people drawn to him, and full with admiration for him because of his ability to make them laugh any time he was in their midst.

“Like I was saying”, he continued as both of them were concluding their laughter. “Wale is a special child and must be treated with care. He should not be denied the permission to do or exercise his ability even at this tender age, because such denial may hinder his growth and wisdom”.

“I see”. Kehinde concurred.

“I can see no sharp object has ever touched his hair. The gods are wise to reveal that to you. And it must remain so”.

“I see”.

Kehinde was at this point more on the receiving side. He did not have so much to say, but was out to give all his attention to Baba Ogun’s sayings.

“One more thing, please do don’t force him to sleep, even at night. If he doesn’t fall asleep, don’t get worried or tired of him. The gods are wise that they had to delay Folusho from conceiving, and at the right time as they deemed, they gave Wale to both of you”. Baba Ogun continued. “As you can see he is not just growing in body; he is also growing in spirit. His wisdom is so deep”.

Kehinde started linking events as Baba Ogun kept on engaging him with all the revealing talks about Wale. He suddenly thought of the many nights Wale had stayed awake and busy with play, climbing chairs and table even at the heart of midnight. He recalled those nights the boy would be singing what he perceived ‘childish’ and unknown songs at the odd hours of the night. He had often wondered why his boy had become so nocturnal, and worried about the little periods he slept. Now Baba Ogun was talking sense to him; everything was beginning to make more sense.

Baba Ogun was beginning to talk as though he was the chief priest of the village. Even the chief priest had never said anything like this about Wale to Folusho and Kehinde. But here was Baba Ogun saying deep things about their son to him. Deep within him, Kehinde knew and felt that what this elder was saying was never far from the truth. And that he was not just saying the sayings of an idle man neither was he vomiting gibberish like Apata the drunk did most of the time. He had always had deep respect for Baba Ogun, and this evening his respect for him had only doubled.

As they were still talking, Folusho came out with a small stool and placed it in front of them. The two men knew that their stomachs were going to be entertained. Then shortly afterwards, she came out with wooden tray with two small earthen plates and dropped it on the stool.

“My husbands, it is amala and ewedu”, he said as she bowed with a beautiful smile on her face.

“May the gods bless you, even more, iyawo!” Baba Ogun blessed her.

The meal was good and sumptuous. The men did good justice to it also. Nothing excited Baba Ogun more than to be served with amara and ewedu as a guest, especially the kind that still emitted heat. Hot amala and ewedu for him was not just a mere meal; they were the food of the spirit as he believed that it was the only food that the goods ate and decided to share with men. So, he would forget about time and his worries and finish all the portion served him. And also for Kehinde, nothing made him smile all night than hot plates of amala and ewedu that Folusho served him in the evening to spice up and heat up the cool of the evening for him. He believed that only hot amala and ewedu could give him the right heat he needed to be a good husband to Folusha against the coldness of the night. So he would eat enough to store more energy and heat for the night adventure. So, both men had something in common, and their appétit were quite uncommon.

  Folusho was at the backyard having a good time with her lively Wale also. They shared the same plates of the meal just as the two men outside. Wale could eat by himself but Folusho would not just allow him take the lump and soup by himself. She so much enjoyed feeding him. She would always want to treat him like a baby, but Wale would always want to remind her that he was growing, and five years was enough for him to eat all by himself. So he would often reject some of the lumps she rolled and dipped in the soup for him by nodding his head sideward with his mouth firmly shut, though with a smile as his cheeks dimpled. It had always been a good mother-and-son moment for both of them.