It's been months now and the year ending was inching closer, Ike was peacefully sited on a seat listening to the evening broadcast, the broadcast was about the war that was going on. The Germans were giving the French and British tough time, the Russians who backed the serbians were also involved in the war, the Austria-Hungary were the ones that championed the war. I only listen along while Ike sat like an old man, Ike was still listening to the broadcast when Catherine walked in.
"So you are still there listening to those who broadcast of yours Catherine announced her presence with a question.
"Welcome back grandma", Ike greeted Catherine who sat down on a nearby chair.
"I saw Impi while coming home, she asked me to deliver this to you", Catherine handed a parcel containing some items to Ike who collected.
"At least your fiancee is caring", Catherine teased as she observed Ike from position.
"Grandma, there's a note here", Ike handed the note to Catherine.
"What's is?", I announced my presence with a question as I walked into the living room.
"Impi said she's pregnant", Catherine said as she closed the letter and exchanged glances with me.
"She must be joking", Ike reacted snatching the letter from Catherine's hand.
After going through it for a moment, Ike hug Catherine who clung him tight.
""So grandma, it's true that I'll be a father", Ike held until Catherine.
"Yes son, you'll be a father... congratulations", Catherine smiled at Ike.
"Katty, I think it's time we see Impi's parents and conclude everything formally... inclusive of the marriage rite", I chirp I'm while Catherine giggled.
"That's right...", Came Catherine's response, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Ike... please check the door", i instructed while Ike move over to the door to get it. There were some silence that followed after Ike exchanged greetings with whosoever was at the door, Ike returned back with two envelopes.
"What are those?", Catherine asked Ike who nodded towards my direction.
"A letter for you and grandpa and another one for me Ike answered as he handed me an envelope before returning back to his seat.
"My lord, take it and read it for us", Catherine handed me the letter she retrieved from developed.
"Okay", I answered as I collected the letter, skimmed the address and date, after which I moved to the body if the letter.
"Dear father and mother, I know I have not been the good son you both dreamed or wanted", I took a pause as I stole a look at Catherine who held my shoulder and nodded her head to prob me on. "... I know you find it disturbing not to have me around you the pain of loosing an Only son to the sea is what I can ever imagine. But I suppose you know this decision on this path of life I took was created for me right from time I've always been in love with the sea. Remember how are used to sneak out of the house to go sailing back then in Miami whenever we visit my cousins, how at times I used to spend 48 hours on the sea sailing and fishing with Mr Fernandez and my cousin. My love for the sea have been with me but I only explore it when Evelyn died. Remember how devastated I was after her dead for two years, I tried to pick up the broken piece of my heart and life but I couldn't, the pain was more than I could bear... So I followed the sea to see how my life would be after that. The sea offered me the solace and peace I really needed to escape the truama and pains I was going through. I never wanted to leave my son, but I realise that not healing my mind would make me hate my son for the death of my wife.
I Believe by now, you understand the reason for my actions. I am doing well here and the war in Europe is getting tougher by the day, I won't want Ike to be part of it but since it is his dream to join the military, I can't stop him from joining. But he should bear in mind that he would will be posted to the front for that's where the blacks are mostly sent... to the hottest part of the battlefield.
I look forward to writing to you again.
your son,
Capt. Agufia".
"He did the right thing, if I was the I'll probably do the same ", Catherine muttered while I held her hand.
"Ike's sobbing drew our attention to him, Catherine walked over to him while I sat still looking at them.
"Why are you crying son?", I asked Ike.
"I now understand why dad left, I felt very terrible for not understanding him. All those while I was angry and hating him, I didn't know he was going through alot", Ike started.
"It's okay son, now you know and what's you should do now is to make it up to him. Be the good boy he'll want you to be, he now agreed that you can join the military if you still want to but cautioned that you should remember that you'll be posted to the hotter most parts of the battlefield", I informed Ike.
"I understand and I am aware grandpa", Ike acknowledged while he turned to Catherine.
"Grandma, remember you Promised to tell me the story tonight", i smiled at him.
"I remember very well son, Catherine looked at me while j nodded.
"It all started when u was very young, a little girl then", Catherine began.
"Yes...", Ike chirped in with anxiety.
"I was born to a royal family, I had a sister who was far older than I and the eldest of my father's children. You know how polygamy and the unnecessary competition that comes in such family. Well, the competition heightened with the death of our brother , leaving my sister and I. I was my father's favorite and this made my elder sister feel insecure, the end result? She tricked and sold me away as a slave. I was 8years old when I arrived in Virginia and began working as a slave on the plantation. 10years later, your grandpa and his people were brought. Doris, Black Duke, your grandpa's late brother and others were all bought by our slave master back then. Mr. Clifford was his name", Catherine paused looking at me.
"Poor old bastard was killed by his own son", I cut in as Ike sat up straight.
"Why?", Ike threw the question I was expecting.
"The reason to date isn't known or cleared, but his son was a menace, brute and at the same time clumsy and selfish. I guess he killed him to take over his father's estate", i answered Ike who only shook his head and looked at Catherine to continue her story.
"The first day I set my eyes on your grandpa, I fell in love with him",. Catherine took a pause and eyed me while Ike felt kind of flattered.
"Good for you both" Ike grinned.
"But he was an idiot from the beginning", Catherine continued.
"But he said he fought in the war", Ike cut in.
"Yes he did, but before then...he was an idiot...a big fat idiot", Catherine laughed as I eyed her wickedly.
"Heehee, that hurt grandpa a bit", Ike joined her.
"I bet... anyway, I fell in love with the idiot and our love story grew. With time, he was becoming my hero. He led the rebellion alongside his brother. The day the rebellion broke out totally was the day we left Virginia and fled down south, before the, other slaves have been hiding and running away. The battle fought, men lost and properties destroyed were too much. We escaped to Miami and the women and children were shipped across the water to Havana while your Grandpa and the rest of the men stood and fought the southern forces. His elder brother died, same with Black Duke and Mr. Smith. The Union's intervention turned the battle in our favour as they joined the union later and fought the southern fired who were defeated finally in 1885, 4years after all the tussle and grumple. Since then, your grandpa had grown into my hero. He is the reason I am alive and free", Catherine concluded as she stood up from where she was and walked over to where I was seated .
"I so much love, adore and respect you my hero", Catherine gave me a bear hug while I grinned.
"That's so cool grandma", Ike cut in.
"But that doesn't still change the fact that you're still an idiot", Catherine burst into laughter while k joined her this time around.
"So grandpa, what is your own story? How did you end up as a slaved in another man's land?", Ike called my attention while I looked at him for some time without saying a word.
"I hope you're not angry for my question grandpa?", Ike came closer.
"No, not at all", I answered him as he came more closer
"Just that our sad tales often drag us back memory lane", Catherine cut in.
"And some of those memories are very hurtful", I intoned while smiling at Catherine who nodded her head in understanding.
"Have you heard form your nephew?", Catherine threw me a question.
"You mean Courage?", I asked Catherine.
""Yes", Catherine answered.
"Well, like Agufia... Courage is a man, the difference is that he serves with the Navy...so he hardly spend time on land", i answered Catherine.
"How about his sister?", Ike cuts in
"She's in Cuba with her husband. You know how those Cubans are", I shrugged my shoulder.
"Atleast, your late brother's legacy lives on" Catherine smiled.
"Yes grandpa... please can you tell me your story?", Ike requested eagerly with curiosity in his voice.
"My boy, my story is a sad one, my story is not for the faint in heart. My story have been a sad one right from time. My story, is that if a warrior who was betrayed by his fellow warrior, not just any warrior...but his blood warrior. One who should have protected and defended him, but turned out to be the very one who betrayed him.", I began while Ike took a nearby seat, Catherine also sat down next to Ike as she paid attention to my story. I've told her that it's the day a grandchild of mine would ask of it that this part of my story would be told.
"So what do you want to know son, ask and I shall answer you", I faced Ike.
"Tell me...what was your childhood like?", Ike fired his first question.
"My childhood wasn't like that of a regular kid you know. I was born during the times of kingdoms, when military powers were one of the necessity for a kingdom to display it's glory aside riches. My clan was the war house of our kingdom then, the strength and might of our kingdom", I took a proper look at Ike and Catherine's faces before I resumed.
"I was born when our kingdom was at the heights of its power, a kingdom that had survived for centuries and seen different kinds sit in her throne. A close relative of was the commander of our kingdom warriors, this was because only the bravest and most daring of warriors were always appointed to be the commanders of the kingdom warriors. My relative was the war lord of our kingdom then, and boys start training to be warriors from the age of 8 and are fully initiated into warrior society at the age of 15. I was still training and my older brother almost at the age of when it all started. Firstly, was the death of my father who rumor hat I that his older brother killed him so as to inherit his properties but my oldest brother took over my father's rope and repel our uncle who tried converting our fathers land. Few weeks after the incident, my olde brother went missing never to be found again. That was when strange men started landing in our shores, abducting people and our king declared war on them, which lasted for a very long period of time. I never stayed long to see the outcome of it, if our kingdom was Victorious or conquered at the end", I paused to take a look at my audience.
"You are free now, why don't you go back home?", Ike asked me.
"Back in Africa where fighting each other and betrayal is now dominant, how do you expect me to settle in?", I asked Ike who sat quitely for some time before speaking.
"You have family and relatives back home", Ike eyed me.
"Home?", I asked him bewilded.
"Yes, Africa is your home. Here is not your home, you are a stranger here, Africa is where your root is...you had an African name before they changed it for you", Ike gestured violently with his hand to drive home his point.
"Family? My mother should be dead by now, and my sister? Married off...that is, if she escaped slavery", I interjected Ike who sat down and shook his head in pity.
"So you mean, you'll like to die here in this foreign land and also be buried here?", Came Ike's voice.
"Do I have a choice?", I responded to him.
"It does not make sense", Ike countered.
"Well, that's for you", i concluded surrendering my hands.
"That's by the way old man, continue with your story", Ike responded casually while Catherine sat looking at the both of us without uttering a word
"It happened after all the struggle between the slave lord and our kingdom, one night we were attacked by the slave traders alongside their armed men. My elder brother Boris and I lost contact our family members, our Uncle tricked and sold is into slavery alongside Doris and Black Duke. Till date, I am yet to forgive myself for the death of Black Duke", I exhaled.
"Why?", Ike interrupted.
"If we didn't let them follow us, they won't have been sold and he won't have been here to participate in the war that claimed his life", I answered Ike who only shook his head.
"Continue with your story old man, I'm following", Ike finally muttered.
"Mr. Smith was our saviour at the dock while they were selling us, he saw us and walked over indicating if we were related. A big thanks to Boris who understood a bit of their languages, he have Mr. Smith the needed answer and Mr. Smith convinced Mr. Clifford to buy the four of us. When asked by the merchant why he was buying the four us us, if he wasn't aware we were related? Mr. Clifford simply told them them that he didn't want to scatter the family. Although, he paid double for his decision, but I'm sure Mr. Smith also chip in some money for the purchase. The four of us ere taken to Virginia where we began life as slaves. All those while, I was still traumatized by what I experienced and witnessed while at sea. More reasons I have phobia for high seas", I took a pause to clear my throat.
"Tell me more of what Happ while you were at sea, what happened?", Ike fired me his question.
"While we were kept bound like animals in a dark room deprived of sun light except when we want to make use of the toilet. Sweats were were our bathing water, our rags called clothes were our sponge and towel, we were fed two ears of corns daily and the females among us were abused. Many of the females were already pregnant with child before we arrived our destination, some of us were beaten to death and thrown into the sea for sea creatures go feast on. At times, we shared the dark poorly lighted room room with corps for two days before they were removed and thrown into the sea. It was that ugly son, a sad history I'm afraid those who led and spear headed such act would never want it to be told to the future generations because of the way they thought the history they created would haunt them and their reputation for ever. I will continue my story later son, for now, an old man needs some rest", i concluded as we all stood up and headed to our respective rooms with Catherine holding me.