CHAPTER THREE
Since Jad left, there was peace in the family, especially for Jr. He was now looking for an opportunity to chat with his mother, about the recurring vision and her genealogy.
The following morning was a Saturday. He slept a bit late and woke up when the sun had risen and was above. He took a quick shower and found mom and Ninny already at the dining table having their breakfast.
He joined them. He sat on his usual chair, and the chair Jad used to seat on was still at the dining table. In Jad’s presence, his mother was not herself, she had so much discomfort and some kind of fear of the unknown.
Jr knew that to get the actual truth from his mom, he had to sow some seed of peace and happiness in her heart. He stood, collected the plates and cups to the sink to wash them, and perhaps find favour from her mother. Ninny then decided to help him. Jr knew in part that there is a lot about his family and a lot about his father's demise.
He packed the plates on their drawers and let the kitchen so neat. He took Ninny for a leisure walk to the stream, as it was their weekends’ norm. Surprisingly her sister for the first time declined. She cited she got a lot of house chores and a garden to help mom with.
As he walked towards the gate, he felt their pricking eyes penetrating him from behind straight into his heart. He carried on with his journey.
Jr knew his mother and sister had no idea about his spirituality and how often the gods speak to him about the past, present, and future. They didn’t know how often he visits the realm of the disembodied spirits. In that realm, he only finds himself interacting with the old people, especially the dead ones, those who seem to be carrying a lot of wisdom and who know much. But Jr’s perception showed him that Ninny possessed a very powerful gift, which is not normal for a girlchild.
As usual, Jr went to his favourite place, at the stream. Just next to the tree, there was a tiny spring that oozed water. The grass around it was greener and emitted a caressing breeze. His legs rested on the rock. He lifted his eyes to the distant sky, without blinking, his thoughts travelled a thousand miles, fetching memories of the distant past, reminiscing and meditating upon this and that. He then had a mighty visitation, different from the previously recurring one. Now it was his father, somewhere in the vast. Somewhere beyond the sea banks. He seemed lost and anxious about going home. Jr wondered about the home his daddy wanted to go to. He tried waving his hand to him. He tried to call him. He wanted to ask him where he was. He also wanted to ask him what happened to him. But there seemed to be a veil between them.
Jr communicated with lots of people he never met before. And more often, the old man that claimed to be his grandfather. ‘Is he alive?’ He asked himself.
While in his delirious tour of visions, he found himself in a convoy of the old men he once saw. He wondered why he was back among them. He began to search for some people among them, for the familiar faces he had seen in his lifetime. Still, he couldn’t spot any familiar face. He looked for his grandfather but to no avail. He was confused. He wanted to ask these old men, but they all seemed not interested in talking to him. He ignored them. In a fleeting moment, his father appeared and immediately vanished.
A frog splashed the water. He was startled. It was almost noon. He made his way home; he had a trip to prepare for.