The Burial

Episode 12

He rose with a back-hand slap that covered the pot-bellied man’s face. My second uncle rushed towards Mr. Taye and lifted him off the floor with a kick that looks as if he were playing soccer(football).

They gave both men the beating of their lives, till they were drench inside the gutter, they started begging for mercy, even the passersby could not interfere because they knew who my uncles were. You interfere, then it turns into yours and you might as well get beaten.

I saw the way my uncles were satisfied with the way they treated both men, as if to pass a message, ‘that should teach you the lessons of your life’. Never to push my father again or try any rubbish just because of property.

It took months before everything was resolved. They requested Papa put a gate that would link the compounds together but Grandpa didn’t give in. He said his eyes had seen enough and putting a gate would mean he was requesting future trouble from them.

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After remembering all that caused the hatred at our side of the Adelakun’s, as the preparation was going, all I had in mind was that, for now, let’s just enjoy the love the death of this wonderful woman had brought, at least ‘na cause of party we come together’.

Do you think I really want us to reconcile and be one happy family again?. Lai Lai!!!. After all that happened, ranging from Grandpa being disrespected, my uncle losing blood, me receiving slap I didn’t deserve and many more I cannot think of. They were a great deal of mischief they did and I cannot find a way to forgive ‘talk-less’ of forgetting it.

It took my mind to my Catechism class(sunday school as u will have it) where we were taught that, unless you be at peace with your neighbour, or as long as your neighbour offends you and you can’t find a place in your heart to forgive and forget, you shouldn’t say that particular sentence/s of the prayer “OUR FATHER.”

The part reads “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us.” What relevance does it make when God forgives you and you find it hard to forgive your neighbour?. May be the lord shouldn’t forgive you then but God doesn’t reason like humans, he is a merciful God who doesn’t Want the death of a sinner but his repentance/reconciliation(righteousness).

The best part of it all is that, you can’t say “The Lord’s prayer(Our Father).” Without saying that part, you just can’t skip it.

I tried saying it may be it was possible to skip but it had already become an anthem or a chorus to me. I started saying it as if I were singing, that I never knew when I actually said “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us.”

To Be Continued…