Short Stories

I overheard the farmer, Tunde talk to my father about something that seemed somewhat serious. This sent shock waves down my spine, because I knew was I exposed regarding my involvement in a thievery in Tunde`s farm, with my collegues in the neighbourhood.

Afterwards, my father called me. I felt my heart jump as I heard him call: Max! Max!! “Dad,” I responded and walk with a snail pace, wishing I never got to him.

"Baba Tunde claims you, with a couple of other guys, was involved in a thievery in his farm", he complained.

"Let this be the last time I hear of such a misbehaviour from you", he concluded emphatically.

"Yes Dad", I responded.

On the fateful afternoon, my colleagues, swat, sly and slim called on me. They qestioned me about my failure to turn up for the 'operation' of late. I explained that my father knew about it, so I have decided to quit their so-called 'opereation'. They burst out with laughter.

'You weren`t smart, you`ve never been smart", Slim accused me. "What is his evidence? A thief is someone who have been caught stealing. Baba is just speculating. His argument makes no sense. Come on, don`t be a girl", he elaborated on. I seemed convinced, in fact I was convinced. I decided to join the 'opereation' once more, this time in his bee farm.

In line with our tradition, we disguised ourselves in wretched clothes that and proceeded night straight to the bee farm. Since I was smallish I collected the honey into a container I was holding.

All of a sudden the bees descended on us.

Unfortunately as I was I received the lion`s share of the bee stings, since I was puzzled and stood there trying to drive the bees off, while my friends had taken to their heels and vanished into thin air.

I laid in bed for almost a week after the ordeal. My father never scolded me nor said anything about the issue to me. He knew I had learnt my lesson, and in fact I had learnt it thoroughly.

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It happened long ago in Kwoi, Nigeria. Madaki was chief elder of the church and also of the most prosperous farm. One Sunday, this announcement was made: "Madaki wants all the village women to father at his house the following Wednesday morning. Pass the word around."

On the appointed morning 104 women and girls gathered at Madaki's house. Madaki asked the woman to walk about 3 an 1/2 miles to his farm and bring his corn crop home. So they gathered baskets of various sizes and went to the farm. Some brought back a big load. Others brought small loads and some only brought a few ears. One actually got such a big load that her strength failed before she get home. When all the loads had been brought in, Madaki asked all the women together and told them that each may keep what she had brought in.

There were shouts of joy and thanksgiving but also deep signs of regret. "If only I had known, I would have taken a bigger basket," was the complaint of some. There were those who refused to go saying," I have enough work of my own." These women went to Madaki the next morning (their own work seemed less important now) and begged him quietly for the opportunity to do the same, to which Madaki replied, "the time has passed, the corn was brought in yesterday."

Through this kind deed, Madaki also preached quiet a sermon. "That is just the way it is with Jesus." Today is the day of opportunity. The poorest of souls is waiting to be brought in. How big is your basket? (The surest way to miss success is to miss opportunity)

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