DARKEST DAWN 5

DARKEST DAWN

A story by Oche Jeremiah

EPISODE 5

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I couldn’t bear it again. I had to call home. At least if the world has rejected me, there is an adage that you will always find refuge in the family.

I had to call home. I called my mum and told her I was coming home. After all, there is no place like home. That’s what we’ve been thought.

My mother is a strong Christian who just gave her life to Christ some two years back. Before this time, Mama can insult ehn. Sometimes I wonder where she got her vocabulary and concordance of insults from. She can start from morning and rant all through till night and still will not be tired. That was the case of my mum then before she met Jesus Christ. Till today, my community are still of the opinion that my mother insulted my dad to death. There is no evidence though. It’s just a speculation held among villagers due to the character and behaviour of my mum.

When she's quarrelling, you dare not interfere oooo. Otherwise she will join you in the cluck. I had to call her that fateful day. I was so devastated that I felt all I needed now is the comfort that can only come from home.

I put a call through to her and she said I can come home that she can’t stop me from coming to my root. So I planned travelling over the weekend.

Thank God pastor gave me some money. It will be enough to take me home.

My plan was just to go home and rest. My environment in the town was already affecting me. The stigma is almost becoming choking and unbearable. 

When I got to the village, my pitiable look and emaciated body made mama to break down in tears.

“My son, is this what you have been going through over there? She how lean you have become. O God of mercy please have mercy upon us. This struggle is too much” was her sayings when she saw me.

Mama looked at me and cried. She didn't even bother to ask how my journey was. She just collected my bag and went to give me food to eat.

Remember I said I had siblings right? Yes I do. I had 3 siblings after me who were doing well and all settled. My immediate younger brother, Francis was a broadcaster in the states radio station and got married just a year ago. He was doing really well. I had asked him many times to put in for me if there was any vacancy so at least I could work with the radio house as there were many things I could do with my knowledge in the computer and ICT generally. He promised to try and till today I've not heard anything from him. 

The one after him, Deji was an electrical engineer who worked with the State's Electricity Cooperation. He has even bought a car. He's engaged and will be getting married later in the year. While our last born, a girl just graduated from the University last year and is currently working in an NGO where she serves as one of the admin managers.

The three of them are truly taking good care of Mama, so I wasn't surprise how she got the jaw breaking meal in my front.

I ate like a hungry lion. I've missed good food for sometimes now. So I ate to my fill before I and mama could talk.

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Anthony is my son and one of the instrumental pillars towards my salvation. Of all my children, he is one whose future looked promising as they were growing up.

I lost my husband when he was about to enter into the University. I know I was a bad woman because of my mouth then. I so derived pleasure in insulting people. It was my game and I was never tired of it that even when my husband died mysteriously, people presumed I insulted and cursed my own husband to death. They almost burnt me alive but for the timely intervention of the elders who felt I have children and killing me will not make my dead husband come back to life. That was how God delivered me. I found God shortly after that and a valid transformation began in my life.

Tony as we fondly call him had graduated now for over eight years with no job or anything to show forth. His younger siblings were all graduates and working respectively. I've used my influence as their mother to tell them to find a space and fix their brother. Whether they did or not, nothing has happened. He is still jobless.

Deji, the one after Tony was already married and the other is engaged already and Tony is yet to even settle down not to talk of finding a woman. This has been a painful sore in my heart as a mother. I truly wish my son could find his heart desires.

From childhood, he has being a very principled child. He will do things in a neat and matured way. He always fought and almost beat up his younger ones if they misbehaved and put the house in disarray. I will always insult him because his own is too much. Sometimes after insulting him like that, he'll just cry, walk into his room and lock the door and won't come out till his father was back from work.

He grew to become a fine gentle man. He was sound academically as he graduated as one of the best in his field. Why he can't get a job is just the issue.

When he came from the town, he was so lean, famished and so unkempt. As a mother, I knew he had faced a lot of hard times and hurdles which had left him frustrated. He has told me of how he has been disappointed time and time again and how sorrow has overwhelmed him. I truly feel sorry for him. He is too innocent to be going through all this hardship.

I didn't even know when I started crying.

O my son, indeed, life has not been fair. God please intervene in his life. Please.

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That night I slept so peacefully. Maybe it was because I was at home in the comfort of my mum.

My sleep was so sweet that I woke up later than usual. My mum did not disturb me. She just let me have the rest I purposed to have and I was happy for that. That’s why I said home is the best mansion ever.

I later told Mama everything I was going through. All the disappointments and embarrassments because of job hunt. The hardship, the poverty. The stigma and the pain of not being settled at such an age when my younger siblings are already in their houses and living big.

Mama could not help but cry with me as I recounted everything.

I told her with all frankness and sincerity in my eyes that my sun will shine again and my star will rise again.

That reminded me of a song titled “MY SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN”

I was hopeful and very sure.

That morning, I and mama prayed, studied the word and claimed God's promises. The prayer was intense. I never knew mama could pray so powerfully like this. It debunked my theory about women. Indeed women are not just prayer warriors. They fighting warriors that pray and war on their knees.

After the prayers between Tony and his mum. Did his situation get any better?

Was there an open heaven over his life after this?

You can only find out in the EPISODE 6.

Thank you distinguished viewers for going through the story.

Don’t forget to leave a comment. I will treat it as confidential as usual. Love you.