It was a Saturday morning in the northern part of Sosa region of Uguru. It was a little sunny. Linda and Robin were taking a walk in their new environment. Their love affairs had come back to life again. They walked hand in hand, hearts melted in one. Obviously, they were drunk with love and their past seemed not to have a meaning to them anymore. Their new home was second to none in the neighbourhoood. It was purchased by Robin who had become a millionaire. He commanded respect home and abroad because of his impeccably designed artworks. Their troubled ocean of love had received calmness. They not so friendly atmosphere of their relationship had disappeared to the thin air. There was a new lease of life, though there were occasional challenges which they both worked to overcome.
They walked past a garden and afterwards saw two kids weeping. Wondering what was happening, Linda stopped, calling Robin’s attention to the two poor kids. So, both decided to approach them and a conversation ensued between them:
“Hello, kids! Hope everything is fine,” said Robin.
“No,” said one of the kids named Richard.
“Would you mind letting us know what the matter is, kids?” asked Linda.
“We are horrified by the documentary we watched not quite long on this phone,” said Jennifer, Richard’s sister.
“How?” asked Robin, a little worried.
Still sobbing, Richard replied.
“In the documentary, we saw a pack of wolves chasing a lamb. I guess the lamb wondered away from its fold and found itself in danger zone dominated by hungry wolves. The wolves had searched everywhere in vain for food that day. They were famished. Sighting the lamb, they formed a ring round it. It stood still for awhile, probably to strategize on what to do in order to escape death – impending death to which most of its kind had been subjected. Are you listening, sir and ma’am?”
“Yes, we are all ears! Go on!”
“To cut the long story short, the lamb ran for dear life but unfortunately it was overtaken by the wolves which descended on her. The lamb cried and cried in vain for help.”
I could see her blood in the mouths of the wolves. I couldn’t imagine how some animals would kill other animals in such a merciless manner,” concluded Richard, weeping. He held her sister by the hand and both would have left the couple standing.
“Cry no more, kids!” pacified Linda.
“Yes, wipe your tears. It is a natural thing for a predator to go after its prey. Actually, I understand your feelings. You will soon understand when you become grownups. That is the arrangement of the world. Some animals are predators while some are preys. Those animals who feed on flesh are called carnivorous animals. I believe you must have been taught in school,” said Robin.
The kids stared at him. It was obvious that all that he said was all Greek to them.
“Carnivorous animals?” asked Jennifer obviously confused. That was the first time she and her brother would hear that kind of word. They were not attending any school. In fact, they had never had any formal education. The language they understood was Blatilian spoken throughout Uguru, which was also understood by Robin and Linda. Though they were given English names, they could not speak English language. They were natives of Sosa region. Their parents lived from hand to mouth. It was very obvious that they were from a humble background. Their clothes were threadbare. They were domestic servants in a rich man’s house. It was the rich man’s son that gave them the phone to use for awhile. He was able to do this because his parents went out and would return in the evening.
“Yes, carnivorous animals are the animals that feed on the flesh of other animals. Examples are tigers, lions, hyenas and wolves which you saw in the documentary,” explained Robin.
“Okay,” said Jennifer.
“Thank you, sir!” added Richard.
“I have a question for you, ma’am,” said Jennifer.
“Go ahead! I am all ears.”
“Okay! Thanks! Your husband said it is a natural thing for a predator to go after its prey.” stated Jennifer.
“Yes! He is right. It is natural!” replied Linda, supporting Robin.
“Is it also natural for a human to prey on his/her fellow human?” asked Jennifer.
“No! It is not good. It is barbaric. We are the wisest of all animals. That’s why humans are called higher animals. We can reason unlike those animals. We were created differently in terms of the structure and composition of our brains. We have rules guiding our behavior. We are the most enlightened of all animals,” claimed Linda.
“Do you prey on your husband?” asked Richard.
“Do you prey on your wife?” asked Jennifer.
“Em…em…Actually I… I… love my husband and he loves me so much. We love each other. So, why should I prey on my husband?”
“Are you sure?” asked Richard.
“I am sure,” lied Linda.
“You haven’t answered my question, sir,” reminded Jennifer.
“Oh, I don’t prey on my wife. I love her very dearly. By the way, what are your names?” asked Robin changing the topic.
“I am Richard!” replied Richard.
“I am Jennifer!” said his sister.
“Wonderful kids! I love you! You are very wise and smart!” Richard said.
“Thank you very much for the compliments, sir! You are amazing people,” acknowledged Jennifer.
“Yes, you are wonderful people. It is obvious that you are made of money. Yet you don’t find it embarrassing to stand here and discuss with us. Many people have looked down on us. They see us as disgusting creatures,” said Richard., weeping again. Her sister followed suit.
Whenever Jennifer wept, Richard too was bound to weep and vice versa. They were like Twins. But they were never twins. They were just siblings. Richard was a year older than Jennifer.
“I wish we could be as rich as you people are,” said Jennifer, weeping profusely now.
“Poverty has taken its toll on us. Oh, goodness, send us help from the nooks and cranny of this earth. Send us a bridge upon which we can cross to the land of comfort,” prayed Richard as he held his sister’s hand, obviously about leaving Linda and Robin.
“Don’t go, kids! I think I will be that bridge that will make you get to the Promised Land. I love you! By the way, do you live here? Where are your parents?” asked Robin.
“We don’t live here. We are domestic servants here. Our parents bring us here every morning to work for our master while they go and work as porters in Sosa market or any where work is available,” informed Jennifer.
“What! You mean you two don’t go to school?”
“We don’t go to school,” revealed Richard.
“Oh, my goodness!” exclaimed Robin.
“Why did you shout, sir?” asked Richard.
“You don’t worry,” assured Robin.
“Where do you live? When can we meet you and your parents at home?” asked Linda.
“That’s on Sunday!” answered Jennifer.
“Thank you!” said Linda.
“You are welcome, ma’am!” answered the two kids.
“But you have not told us where you live,” reminded Robin.
“We live at 2, Kenga Street, Sosa!” answered Jennifer.
“Okay,” replied Robin.
He brought out some money and handed it to Richard and Jennifer.
“Thank you, sir and ma’am! May God bless you!” prayed elated Richard.
“You are angels!” exclaimed Jennifer.
Robin travelled to his past. He was in the shoes of the kids sometime ago. His father had just died and his mother was thrown out of the house built by his father. He and his mother became porters in the same Sosa market in order to keep body and soul together. The mother begged her husband’s family in vain for help but none of them was willing to help. They called her names which were never given to her by her parents. Richard would have loved to go to the prestige University of Uguru but he couldn’t because he struggled to finish his secondary education with little support from his mother. He was in his penultimate year in the senior secondary school when his mother fell ill. Medical report said that she had fifty percent chances of survival. Her family members came around her, prayed for her and did all they knew they could do. In fact, they exhausted all they had on her to no avail. Some of them had even lost hope of her recovery. They took her home from the hospital. She was taken care of by Robin who also had financial challenges in school. He couldn’t buy the prescribed textbooks, school uniform and sandals. He used to walk barefoot to school and in torn uniform. Other students used to laugh him to scorn. He would bawl his eyes out. Sometimes, he wished he could take his own life. Thank goodness he didn’t do it. Perhaps, he would have been missed a great deal by the world.
One fateful day, a day no one had foreseen, his mother recovered from her illness in a quite dramatic manner. Some people described her as incredibly resilient. Some family members didn’t believe. They sent for a doctor to check if she was actually healed. The doctor came around, checked her and declared her hale and hearty after some days. Her blood and urine samples had already been taken and tested before the declaration. Everything was like a miracle. Family members and well wishers started donating food items to her and some money for her upkeep.
After this period of nightmare in his family, Robin finished his secondary school education and started going to Sosa market to carry people’s luggage. During leisure at home, he honed his skills in drawing and other artworks.
He was far removed from the present. He became conscious when Linda tapped him.
“My love, what are you thinking?”
“Oh, it’s nothing!” lied Robin.
“Hope all is well, sir,” said Richard.
“All is well,” replied Robin as tears coursed down his eyes.
“Go, kids. All is well. I will get in touch with you and your family not very far from now. I love you two,” said Robin.
“We love you, too,” chorused the kids.
“If you know anyone preying on their spouse, tell them to stop. It is devilish,” said Jennifer as she and her brother bade the couple goodbye!
Linda and Robin were stuck for words as they waved their hands at the kids who should be eight and seven years respectively.
Linda knelt down to apologize to Robin for how she had treated him earlier.
“Babe, stand! Stop embarrassing me. We are outside. Please!
I have forgiven you. Let bygones be bygones. At least, we are now a happy couple. I forgave you a long time ago,” assured Robin.
“Thank you very much, my love. The words of the kids pierced my heart and took me back to my past deeds. I became guilty as my horrible enterprise in your life became so fresh again like the break of new dawn,” said Linda.
“Let’s go, dear,” holding each other. Later, they were on their way home still thinking about the words of the kids, especially Linda whose past continued to haunt her.
A driver of vehicle honked at the couple. They stopped to see who it was, probably one of their friends. The man turned out to be a stranger and a conversation ensued.
“I saw you people with the kids. I was wondering what you were discussing with them. Are you aware that they are my domestic servants?” queried the man.
“I am Robin, sir. Beside me is my wife, Linda. What is your name?” asked Robin in a polite manner.
“Will you stop that nonsense? Of what use is my name to you? I have just put a question to you. Answer my question, young man, what were you two discussing with them?” asked the man again.
“Nothing special! Do you have any problem with that?” asked Robin, a little annoyed now.
“I hope it is not what I am thinking,” said the man.
“What are you thinking, sir?” enquired Linda.
“Hope you are not trying to snatch them away from me under the guise of helping them out of their situation. Look, lovebirds, they have been with me for a long time. They are very useful to me and my entire household. Any attempt to take them away from me will just be a futile effort,” revealed the man in a very rude manner.
“I see!” said Linda while Robin stared at the man who later zoomed off.
Robin and Linda had gotten the message. They would fast tract anything they wanted to do to help the kids fulfill their dreams. They walked home quietly.