The Slave

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 31

Six months gone since Ukeh joined the household of master Graham. He had learnt to keep to himself. The only time he spoke with people was when he went to church with some of the slaves and some whites

Just like little Tom, master Graham’s son was also a Christian. But he was not as friendly as little Tom. He kept to himself too.

Rumour had it that he hated his father for selling off his African wife. He begged his father to allow him buy her freedom but he had refused, And for that reason he had joined some Africans and some white who are fighting for the abolishment of slave trade.

Ukeh bad crossed paths with him severally but they didn’t speak to each other.

One faithful day, Ukeh had come outside to relax in the dark night and he heard the sound of someone sobbing. Ukeh searched around and saw it was Kelvin, Master Graham son. He walked close to him and spoke calmly.

“I’m sorry to bother you master Kelvin, but I heard you sobbing and I just want to know if you are okay”

“Please don’t call me Master, I am just a man like you and you can call me Kelvin, and yes I am fine, thank you for asking.”

Ukeh looked carefully and saw he was holding a picture. Ukeh has heard the rumour of how his father had sold his wife and he suspected that the picture must be that of the lady. He turned to leave but he needed to say one last word.

“Sir Kelvin, I know you are a Christian and would understand this that All things worketh together for good to them that love God. Whatever your problem is, I want you to know that it will work out for good for you”

He turns and begins to walk away, but Kelvin stopped him.

“What is your name? He asked.

“My name is Ukeh, but in this part, they call my Bush.

“Ukeh, what is the meaning of Ukeh? Kelvin asked..

“It means a small but powerful seed that crumble mountains when they come in contact”

“Wow” Kelvin in exclaimed. “Such a powerful name with powerful meaning. Do you know that names are a reflection of who we are? (Ukeh was silent) Your name is your identity, you must never forget that.

“Ukeh how long have you been in America?”

“It’s been four and a half year sir”

“Please don’t call me sir. Kelvin is fine by me please.”

“Okay sir” sorry ok” Ukeh answered

“don’t worry, you will get used to it, and thank you for your words to me tonight. God bless you”

Ukeh smiled and turned to leave but he stopped him again..

The resistance is getting stronger. I believe that one day, all of you will be free. And that day is close, I feel it very strong in my spirit, and something tells me that you will be part of that freedom.

“Amen” Ukeh answers and walked away.

The next morning it was Kelvin that first greeted him and asked to walk with him to the church where they normally pray.

And gradually they became close friends. Ukeh was beginning to loosen up to Kelvin who seemed to be very happy too. They would sit and chat for hours, they pray together and even preach together. Ukeh soon discoverer that Kelvin was a very young lively person.

One afternoon he invited Ukeh for lunch in his room. And to Ukeh’s surprise he made Afang soup and he did it so well.

“Wow, this is my native soup from my village. It tastes so good. How did you manage to prepare this?”

Kelvin smiled and answered.

“My wife taught me, she was a very good cook, and she was very beautiful too”

“If you don’t mind my asking, why did your father sell off your wife?”

His countenance changed into a sad look.

“Father thinks I will jus sleep with her and let her go. But Sheila was an Angel, and I am a christian, I cannot do that. She was very young and beautiful and I loved her from the first day I saw her. She was hardworking too. If I didn’t pick interest in her my father would have turned her into his sex toy like one of the other girls, but I told him she belonged to me. He was happy and thought I would ravish and dispose of her like they normally do. But not me, that is not me. I couldn’t do that to her. When I asked her to marry me she didn’t hesitate to say yes because we loved each other, she made me laugh with stories from Africa, she would cook for me, she would always care for me. And so we got married secretly in church without my father’s knowing.”

“So how did he find out you were married to her” Ukeh asked

“Sheila became pregnant, and she was always sick due to her pregnancy. I had to call a nurse to tend to her that was when father found out that she was pregnant. He wanted to discard her like he does to the girls he impregnates..But I told him no that she was my wife, that was how he knew.

“What does he do to them?”

“He gives them to an old matron who cares for them until the babies are born and then he sells the babies to be slaves for huge amount of money”

“He sells his own children?” Ukeh asks surprised

Kelvin smiled

“Father died not consider them his children, he calls them white blood slaves”

“But they are not Africans, thier mother’s might be but it’s definitely American blood that flows in them”

“I told him that Sheila is my wife and my baby cannot be sold as a slave, he kept on shouting that the baby would be black, the baby would be black, Black is dirty, black is filthy, black is nuisance, but I insisted that my baby won’t be, my baby would be BLACK AMERICAN.

And he agreed, he said okay,and I was happy, I was the happiest man alive, I thought he was going to change for my sake and accept buy he lied. I never knew he lied. It was out of excitement that he had spared Sheila and my baby that I embarked on the three days journey he sent me to. I never knew he sent me out so that he can have enough time to sell her off. He sold off my baby, he sold Sheila.

“I am so sorry Kelvin. I really am” Ukeh consoles him. But Kelvin was crying so much.

“I will get you a glass of water to calm down” And Ukeh stood up to get him water , as he was returning from the kitchen, his eyes met the picture on the wall and the glass fell from his hand and shattered to pieces.

The man on the picture was no doubt Kelvin and the lady with him was NTI