"Right behind you!" The voice echoed.
Dad's baritone voice made my heart skip as his response was spontaneous.
Despite the jolt in my heart, I was glad he finally returned.
"Food's ready!" I skipped to the steel pot on top of three heavy stones with burning woods within.
The steam that emitted from the pot made me cough slightly.
"Careful Prissy." Dad gave a warning with care.
"Yes dad" I said, as I scooped five full spoons of stew into his plate and served.
Dad sat down lightly on a stone and devoured. He didn't even have the time to wash his hands!
These men were really famished.
I waited till dad finished his food. George had already gone inside to wash himself.
"How was the journey?" I asked as I packed out the plates to a corner and brought a stool beside him.
Our culture can be called "local" but we enjoyed it.
"Oh, it was wonderful..." Dad went on explaining how he's reached out to the poor and fed them 'kisaw', my village's delicious but not so popular dish.
How he's given them the 'Book of Light' and preached about Love and Empathy.
He talked well on how he'd seen the town's waterfall and bathed in it. How the towns people are lovin' and welcoming. How he's sat outside under the moonlight and written in his torn journal of his experiences with the people.
His stories made my heart flare.
"Dad! When will I join you and George in these journies? I find all these fascinating, you know?" I had to ask.
"I know you really want to join us Priscilla. But with all the glam and adventure comes it's beastly consequences." Dad replied.
I found his statement a bit judgy. What did he mean by what he said?
That I'm female and that makes me a lot weaker that George. How is it that he's trusted George in joining in these timeless adventures without me in it?
How?!
"So George's your favorite child then? He's two years older than I, and he's already accompanying you."
"No dear, it's..."
"Or perhaps, he's male and he's the presumed strong gender."
"Priscilla honey, I..."
"Oh well! I should have known I'm only just but a weakling!" I said, standing from my stool with drama and sarcasm.
"My life's going to start and end with a spoon and a pot! Or maybe with grooming hens and milking cows!"
"Alright, that's enough Priscilla!" Dad finally spoke.
"Do you even know the kind of consequences I talk about Prissy?! Three times, I've had to escape sudden death. Some of my troop members had died of cold, 'The flu', and martyrdom. I already lost your mother, I don't want to lose you too."
I left the side of the pot I stood beside, and went to him.
Placing my hands gently on his lap, I said "Allow me to join you dad, I'm not a weakling."
Three years later.
It was a New Dawn for me.
I felt like I had crawled into new skin, and left the old one behind. Just like a snake shedding it's skin away. I felt so alive!
Eighteen years old was my year of freedom and new beginnings.
I had grown my hair longer and I've improved in structure. I was ready.
It was my first time following dad and George with the troops to a new town, 'Burgsary'.
Burgsary was once a village as explained by my father that elevated to a town and would soon become a city!
My heart raised in excitement as the butterflies in my tummy sprouted it's wings out!
"I'm so happy!" I proclaimed to my brother.
He simply nodded.
"I couldn't sleep last night!" I said again with an ample tone.
George nodded again
"I could fly!" I said out loud.
"Sheesh! Priscilla, we get it! Now hand me over that stack of books." He pointed.
I rolled my eyes at him. Easy for him to say the word 'Sheesh'. He's being having all the fun for five years now. Bet he's already used to all the adventures. Not his beans!
But for me? I was on top of the world.
"I know you're excited Prissy. Is everyone ready?"
"Yes, dad" I beamed.
"Including the fruits and vegetables?"
"Yes!"
The journey was for 6 hours, and I loved it! I loved travelling. And it was a breath of fresh air to leave my village after a long, long time.
The last time I traveled was when I was still a foetus! My mum was pregnant for me and followed my philanthropic dad for his missionary duty.
This time, I could see, breathe, feel, live and relive the moment.
"Don't get carried away by the fields Prissy. Remember we've got work to do." George, the spoiler of the moment intruded.
His voice was finally broken, a perfect resemblance of dad's baritone.
His bum fluff has fully grown out to a moustache! George had become a man. Well, physically... I'd say.
I gave no reply to George, busy letting all the waves of fresh air penetrate my brown skin.
YOU ARE READING
THE MISSIONARY
Aventura"Have you heard that blood is thicker than water? Well, in this story, water is thicker than blood."
