Monday, July 20, 2009

Abionyach my threeness

The sun was already determined to get up high on the sky, the clouds hurriedly paving way for another clear sky, below the birds sang merrily as though they knew what was about to happen or rather what was already happening.
The waves thrashed the shores of L. Victoria gloriously tossing the anchored boats back and forth like some kid on a seesaw. Then there was the unmistakable sound of a new born showing disgust at the new environment.
It had been long tiresome nine months for the mother who was now holding the baby with joyful relief. On the other hand for the new born it had been the best nine months judging by the seemingly uncontrollable yell- yes, the baby yelled not cry.

Abiud he was named after the mother convinced the father that it was a prophetic name-something he later became very proud of in his life. So Abiud left the gates or what looked like the gate of Lumumba Hospital curled up on the mother’s arms as the father fumbled in his pocket for the car keys. In the next fifteen minutes or so Abiud who is also called Onyango was introduced to his other siblings.

It had been awhile since the attempted coup. Now three small joyful faces were staring down at him. It wasn’t long before they would get fed up. Onyango as it turned out was not only robust but savage. His age mates feared his anger. He would never hesitate to jab when necessary.

The mother had frequented his school more than was necessary. One moment he had broken a friend’s hand, the other he had disfigured a pupil’s dental formula. She had come to know all the teachers teaching Onyango just as good as the palm of her own hand.

“What on earth did I give birth to!” at one point she wondered, after another report this time from a neighbor who’s son had felt the wrath of Onyango’s anger. At such times his mother would opt to tie him under a large mahogany table that was about one foot tall.

His father often caned him but he was somewhat proud of his robust nature-maybe that’s one thing he might have borrowed from him. Nevertheless Onyango who is also called Onyach was quite popular with the older members of the society, particularly the aged people…TO BE CONTINUED…

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