ONA DANIELS
Joseph is my little nephew. He is only six years old.
And so, we all traveled for the Christmas celebrations. It is a tradition in my family that everybody returns home. The little lad was thrilled to see his uncles, aunties and cousins.
While we prepared for the journey, he came cleverly, reminding me to pack his new pair of shoes and clothes
“Mummy,” he said, “I passed my tests in school.”
With a look of surprise, I retorted, “Joseph, is it test or examination? Didn’t you write the examination?”
“Mummy, I wrote now. I also wrote the tests and I passed my tests. Hmmm, mummy, do you know that Nkencho does not know how to write? He is always the last person to finish writing in our class. And he is bigger than everybody?”
“Who is Nkencho?” I asked rather absentmindedly
“Ahhhh, mummy, you don’t know him. The other day, before we started exams, he came late and our auntie in the class asked him why he came late; he started crying. And he started crying. Mummy, do you know that one day, even, one boy too, his name is Marvelous Acho. He brought eba and banga soup to the class. He is always looking for my trouble ooo. But I beat him now and auntie flogged me.”
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“Joseph, but I thought I told you and your sisters never to fight anywhere. Not even the school?”
“Is fighting good?” I asked
“No, I didn’t fight him.”
“No, you are lying now and what did I tell you about those who tell lies?”
Shivering now and afraid of the repercussion that awaits those who tell lies, he muttered some inaudible things.
“What?” I screamed at him
“You said people who tell lies would go to hell and Jesus will no longer be their friend.”
“Do you want to go to hell?”
“No,” he replied
“Are you still a friend of Jesus?”
“Yes, Jesus is my friend. Mummy, I saw Jesus. He gave me sweets, biscuits, Indomie and Happy Hour”
“Really?”
“Mummyyy? You don’t know Jesus? He came to our house now. His house is big. His house is white. He has big fridge and two beds.”
“Jesus?”
“Yes now and he said I should not tell lies. I saw angel when I slept. I dreamt that the angel gave us tea and cakes. He gave me money too.”
“Mummy, remember that you are owing meooo? That my money that that uncle gave to me and Kim.”
“When did you give me the money? I thought I had bought some biscuits for you with it?” I gushed.
“Mummy,” he called out in a subtle blackmail. “You don’t know that uncle. No, it was not yesterday. It was that far far yesterday. That yesterday that has gone far far, mummy. It was not this yesterday that just past. Yes, you said you were going to keep it in our safe for us so that we can buy something for Christmas with it,” he continued.
His emphasis on yesterday was to indicate that it’s been long I took the money from them. But he doesn’t exactly know how to put it, hence he said that far far yesterday.
“Oh, ok dear.”
“This is Christmas and we will go to see grandpa and grandma. Mummy, are we going to see big uncle too?”
“Yes, he would come with Makwua and Fumnanya,” I noted.
Makwua and Fumnanya are my uncle’s twin children who live in Asaba. They are very fond of Joseph.
And so, we were home for Christmas. Everyone was in a festive mood. Joseph and his crew have had fun. As time went by towards the evening, my dear little boy, Joseph, recoiled and withdrew from the crowd. I couldn’t think of his sudden change in behaviour. From all indications, he had enjoyed himself. So, what is wrong with Joseph?
He came close, held my head down and tried to whisper something to me.
“Leave me, if you can’t speak up. You have no reason to sulk but you don’t seem to be happy now. What it is? You have started this prank of whispering into my ear whenever you are up to some mischief,” I cautioned him.
Finally, he opened up. To my amazement, he said, “No, mummy, I want to tell you something. I am serious. I don’t like this thing ooo,” he was insisting on talking.
“Ok, then, tell me. What is it?” I patted him on the shoulders, bringing him closer.
He then began in a rather soft but almost tearful voice “Mummy, today is Christmas. We are doing Christmas now but they will soon kill Jesus.”
My six-year-old Joseph shocked everyone with his observation.
“Who will kill him?” I inquired
“Those bad people now will kill him. They will soon start flogging him and he will die.”
He meant every word. He was serious but calm in disposition as he spoke. It seemed that the joy of the season had evaporated instantly for anyone who stopped to ponder over his proclamation.
“Yes, today is Christmas, we are all making merriment. Sadly, in the next three/four months, it will be Easter period and they would have killed the same Jesus again.”
This is a big burden to my dear little boy. He can’t exactly fathom this whole idea of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ today and death of the same man, some months after.
Would you blame the little boy?