The following morning saw me and Ike doing some work out, we were still working out when Catherine called our to us from the balcony.
"You said what?", I called back to her straining my ears.
"I said your morning tea is ready", Catherine called back.
"Oh...okay, I've heard you", I replied her.
"Common son, let's go get some tea", i called Ike's attention.
"Okay grandpa, behind you", Ike replied while I took the lead.
"You honestly don't look like a 70 year old man", Catherine complimented my look.
"Please stop teasing me Katty", i blushed.
"Seriously Grandpa, you don't look 70 at all, you look 50", Ike joined Catherine.
"50? That's ridiculous", I laughed out heartedly knowing fully well there's no way they'll be that serious.
"Both on s serious note, Ike is right...you look 50 and not 70", Catherine supported Ike
"Alright, I've heard you both. Please, can I have my tea now?", I tried ending the argument.
I know they had some points though, even though I was 70 then, I felt alive when Walking, running and had the agility of a young man. My strength was still in me, the only thing that reminded me of age was the grey hairs on my head. As for the physical look, I didn't pay close attention to it.
"Grandpa, Impi is here", Ike announced jolting me out of my thoughts.
"Ahh... Impi my daughter how are you?", I smiled on seeing her.
"I am good grandpa", Impi replied while she sat down with Catherine fussing all over her.
"My daughter, hope you don't mind to join our team session. Breakfast will be ready soon", Catherine tries to console Impi.
"What are you having foe breakfast grandma?", Impi asked Catherine as she stood up from her seat and made her way towards the kitchen.
"The usual, your husband to be's favourite", Catherine called after Impi as she trialed.
"Women will always be women,", I shook my head as I noticed Ike's look.
"Funny enough, now we have two women in the kitchen, we'll be having our breakfast late", Ike sigh.
"That is...if the food doesn't get all burnt up", I chuckled.
"Leaving us with nothing to eat all", Ike laughed loud.
"You'll make a very crazy husband son", I teased Ike as we continued laughing.
We were still laughing when Impi who was carrying bows followed by Catherine who carried cooler of foods came into the living room and walked towards us at the dining table.
"Seems like they didn't spend hours", ike murmured while Catherine dropped the coolers on the dining table with Impi arranging the bows.
"And food didn't get burnt one bit", I informed Ike while uncovering a cooler of food.
"Meaning we have what to eat", Ike grinned widely.
"What are you two conspirators talking about?", Catherine cut in.
"I think they were talking about us burning food as a result of talking and forgetting that we put pots containing food on fire", Impi answered Catherine who eyed Ike suspeciously.
"More reasons I call them conspirators, imagine them both gossiping like women", Catherine fired at us while Ike eyed me.
"Ike be keeping innocent face but very troublesome", Impi teased Ike as she sat down near him.
"Bless this meal for us my lord", Catherine eyed me.
"Me?", I asked Catherine to be sure.
"Yes you, who else do I call my lord?", Catherine grinned mischievously.
"Father in heaven, we have sit again for another breakfast. We ask you to bless if for us, provide for those who do not have to eat same way you provided for us, grant and bless us with good health as we eat...this we pray", i concluded my prayer while everyone chorused an 'Amen'.
"Never knew grandpa could pray this well", Impi winked at Catherine who burst into a fit a fit of laughter.
"When praying, he'll look like a very good man. But after praying, his partner in crime and co- conspirator would start terrorizing me", Catherine winked back at Impi, Impi made a funny face and both of them burst out laughing at us sending me and Ike into total silence.
*. *. *.
Three months have passed, my grandson Ike and Impi were now married, Impi was already expecting her baby, Ike had suspended his military ambition further by a year so as to stay with his wife and baby when her time is due. He kept himself busy working as a postman around the country side. A very hard working and generous young man and also industrious. He was the real definition of an African who was proud of his root, an African who is never ashamed of his colour, one who carried his Africa name with pride, one who is ready to serve others, one who is ready to fight for others, one who is ready to go miles for the goodwill Of his Love ones. A trait he shared with my late brother Boris, a trait my father had, both men were born Warriors. Hardened warriors, their character dispict the warrior spirit in them. They were more than daring and brave, Agufia my son seemed to share same rate with me. we both have our reservations towards certain certain things. We normally prospect before embarking on it and of course we don't dare some certain Adventures.
Ike proved himself to be an ideal husband, providing for his family and the frequent communication from him was what I cherish most about him. Time was tickling and Impi was getting ready to be called a mother while Ike a father, the thoughts of being called a great-grandfather made me blush. Catherine was always fussing over Impi like a mother hen would over newly hatched chicks. Shw hardly let me spend time with Impi on the ground that I would stressed her with talks, funny enough-same treatment was dished out to Ike but on a funny ground that Ike might impregnate her again while she's yet to deliver off the baby she was carrying inside her. To add salt to injury, Catherine never allowed Ike and I to have any discussion in the house while Impi was sleeping claiming that he and I were conspirators and would conspired and steal Impi and her great grandchild away from her.
I was still sitting when a boy came in with a letter addressed to Ike, Ike wasn't around so I dropped it on the table pending on the time he'll arrive home from work. The letter was sent by my son Agufia, I tried as much as possible I could to hold my curiosity, for I was dying of knowing what the contents of the letter were. I was still contemplating when Ike knocked on the door and stepped in, announcing he was back from work.
"Hello, son", I greeted him before he noticed I was there.
"Hi Grandpa...how's everyone doing?", Ike asked as he dropped his bag and took a seat.
"Everyone is fine...you have a letter waiting for you son", i announced.
"From who?", Ike asked curiously.
"From your father", i replied him at same time handing him the letter.
"What does it say?", Ike asked as he collected the letter from me.
"I'm yet to read it, was waiting for you to come back from work, so you read it yourself", I answered Ike who was already holding the letter After opening it.
"Dear son,
I know you might be wondering why I have been silent for a long time now, it's not that I intentionally did but circumstances beyond my power did.
Months back while shipping military logistics and personnel to the other side of the world, we were attacked by Germans and had to defend ourselves. Many Men lost their lives on both sides, I was hit in action but managed to fight off the attackers and coptained my vessel to safety. That was the last thing I remembered for I woke up a week later at the military hospital and was told I was in a coma for a week, but managed to pull through.
There's no need for alarm son, I am absolutely fine now son and recovering speedily. Would be up and ready to resume my seamanship in the next one month. How is grandpa and Grandma? Hope you are taking good care of them son? And before I forget, congratulations to your marriage to Impi and i also wish her safe delivery. You have grown into the Son your mum and I would be proud of. About your proposed military career, I hope you are getting ready for it? Please remember that is not easy and remember that those at the forefront of the war are Blacks.
I look forward to getting a response from you, I hope and I pray for the best for you son.
With love,
Dad".
I stare at the letter while Ike sat down quitely for sometime without saying any words. I was only observing him to see his reaction but didn't see any so I spoke up.
"What do you think son?", Ike started at me before giving an answer.
"Nothing, I understand him better than before", Ike narrowed his eyes to the envelope suspeciously.
"What's it?", I asked Ike after noticing where he was focused.
"Seems like something is inside", Ike answered as he picked up the envelope.
"Check it out let's see what it is", I encouraged Ike as he opened the envelope wider and retrieved some jewelries with a short note attached to it.
"The necklace and earrings for my daughter in-law and the seconds necklace for my grandchild", Ike read out the note while he showed me the jewelries.
"I recognize that", I pointes at the pair of earrings and necklace given to Impi.
"I don't get you old man...", Ike asked me confused.
"That was the neckless and earrings I gifted Evelyn your mother after her marriage to your father. I thought he threw it away or so...I never saw it again after Evelyn was buried, I never knew he still had it with him", I explained to Ike.
"This explains it", Ike muttered.
"Explain what?", I enquired.
Explained how hurt he was after the death of my mother's death, explained how he managed, cop and strived to be happy again after loosing the woman he so much loved to the cold hands of death. I now understand why he refused to remarry and why he chooses life at sea", Ike replied sobberly.
"Any loving husband would do such, it's not easy at all. If I were in his shoes, I'll probably do same and much more", I chirped in while Ike nodded understandingly.
"Do you miss your brother?", Ike threw me a question that hit me like a tsunami.
"Yes, I do miss him. There's no day that elapse by without me thinking about him. He was a perfect definition of a caring big brother, a brave man who died for his people", I answered Ike who nodded.
"Well, I guess I don't know how it feels to have a sibling, I wasn't giving any chance to. My mother died while giving birth to me and my dad refused to remarry, so I am alone in this big lonely world. No sibling, no mother and my father? Spends years at sea to heal his broken heart", Ike murmur while I held close consoling him.
"It's okay son, most times...what happened in our lives happened for a reason. Our lives aren't ours but God", I assures Ike who stood up and paced to and fro for some time before uttering a word.
"Dad says the blacks are at the forefront of the war, I am beginning to get a bit confused", Ike began.
"Confused? About what?", I asked Ike.
"About everything, I thought the war was caused and started by the whites from Europe?", Ike queried.
""Yes", I answered him.
"Then why did they send the blacks into the thick of it?", Ike queried further.
"That I don't know, but what I know I that...blacks are more daring, they grew up believing that dying in battle was an honour than dying cowardly", I mumbled.
"Oh I see...they start the war and then we the blacks do the dying for them? How impressive!", Ike responded sarcastically.
"Quite funny", i joined Ike.
"It's well, one day...the black man will grow sense, but if he doesn't then he will continue to pay dearly for his foolishness", Ike concluded as he sat down.
"Today that your grandma and Impi aren't home, we were able to discuss", I eyed Ike who laughed.
Just then, Catherine and Impi came in through the door, Ike and I went shut to avoid being kicked out of the house for disturbance.