CWRC Anthology

THE UNEXPECTED

© 2022 by God'sgift Isaiah.

Brought to you by Christian Writers and Readers Club.

----

"Mama! Mama!' I said rushing into the compound and grinning.
'Newham, what again?' she answered with a sad look while focusing on the beans she was picking.
'Mama, don't tell me that you are still angry with me,' I said.
'Nonso, don't mind your mother. You know women like to get worried over little things,' my father interrupted.
'Nay, I am not surprised you speak like this. Our son is going to a place we nothing about and you are here celebrating,' she complained
My father ignored her and continued talking, 'Hehn my boy, how was your discussion with Teacher Eze'
'Papa, it was fine. He said that we are leaving for the city tomorrow,' I answered.

'Tomorrow? Is that not too near?' she asked.
'Haba Ifeoma, you should be happy for our dear boy and not worried,' my father said.
'I don't like this at all,' she grumbled and went in.

I was worried about my mother's attitude to my traveling to the city. I did not understand why she was against my plans from the beginning.

'Don't mind your mother, she is just being a mother. Amadioha! Thank you for I would finally be a father to a city boy,' my father said in joy and I smiled.
He continued speaking, 'Chinonso! Chinonso!! Chinonso!!! How many times did I call you?'

'Three times Papa,' I replied.
'These ears are for listening so listen to me. My son, do not forget the son of who you are, and do not abandon the gods of our land. Most of the villagers have become hypocrites, they abandon the gods of our fathers chasing after that strange god. Never forget my words my son, I have heard that the big city is filled with many followers of that strange god so be very careful,' he said.

'Papa, I make this promise that I will never leave the way you have taught me,' 

'I trust you because you are the son of a lion and no matter how clever a tortoise is, he can never become the king of the jungle. You can go in now,'
'Okay Sir,' I said and went in.

The next day crept in faster than I had expected. I would finally be leaving the village to study in the city. I went through my already packed bags for the umpteenth time, breezed through my house chores, and had my bath. It wasn't long before Teacher Eze came to pick me we would leave early so as not to miss the bus. As we took our leave, my mother began to cry but was pacified by my father.

While we walked to the park, Teacher Eze decided to break the engulfing silence with his words of advice.
'Chinonso, Lagos is a very big place and it is a place fit for only two sets of people, the first are those that can survive, and the second are those who are very smart. You will enjoy your stay with me but you have to be very sharp,'
'Okay Sir,' I replied.

When we got to the park, the city bus hadn't gotten to the park so we had to wait. While waiting, Teacher Eze went to get something for himself from the market nearby. As I waited, my heart started to beat in an unusual place when a strange man called my name.
'Chinonso, how are you?' he said.

I looked at his unfamiliar face trying to remember when I had met him but I couldn't figure it out.
'Excuse me Sir, do I know you?' I asked.

'You don't know me but I have known you even before you were given birth to,' he said.
'Please Sir, I don't want any issues but I don't know you so please leave,' I said trying not to sound rude.

'Chinonso, I know you don't know me yet and your father doesn't believe in me but that would not make me allow him to lose you after losing all his other children to my enemy. So Chinonso go home,'

'Who are you to tell me to go home?'
'Go home Chinonso before it is too late
'Ah go home? This man, do even you know what you are...'
'Chinonso! Chinonso!! What is it?' Teacher Eze called interrupting me.
'I was talking to this man and he was telling me...' I looked back to show the strange man to the teacher but he was no longer where I saw him.
'Which man? There is no man here I don't know what you are saying. Well, the bus is here and we need to get going,'

'But I saw him and...'
'Chinonso don't get me started let's go or don't you want to the city anymore?'

I  didn't answer him but kept mute and began following him to the bus but the words of the man kept on ringing in my head.

'Teacher Eze!' I called.
'What again Nonso?'
'I don’t want to go again,' I said.
'What did you say?'
'I am sorry, teacher but I don't want to go again,'

'Are you okay? What is all this nonsense? I should have known better when you started talking about a man, I knew something was wrong. You can go back home for all I care. I just can't believe I was going to the city with a chickenhearted boy. Well, I am leaving!' he said in an angry tone and went into the bus.

Immediately I saw him enter the bus, I ran back home as fast as I could only to be received by the tongue lashing and whippings of my father. My father was very angry with me, I had just shattered his hopes and dreams.
'Was I stupid? Why did I listen to that strange man?' I said hating myself for my stupidity.

The next day, the village received a piece of shocking news that made my eyes widen. When I came back from the stream with my friends, I was told that the bus to the big city was involved in a fatal accident not one person survived and that would have also been my lot.

----

Follow Gift to see more of her works.

God'sgift Isaiah.
Facebook: God'sgift Isaiah
Wattpad: Gift_OfGod