Story- Ikemba and the cripple....Chapter/Part 4

                              

The entire atmosphere in the compound of Ojinta was poised with laughter, Joy, both individual and collective celebrations, because to the Head (Ojinta), he now has a Son. To the other wives, they now have a male in the family, a sign of more blessings to come and to the daughters of Ojinta, it meant that they had a brother and their friends would stop the unnecessary insults drowned on them each day.

Funny enough, the domesticated animals in the compound could feel the obvious difference in the atmosphere around them, no wonder the dogs barked joyfully at the presence of any strange or familiar face, and the cocks crowed like they were eager to mate, did I mention that the He-goat kept making his "sneezing" sound, which excites the female goats, hereby igniting the need the mate. However the excitement was portrayed, one thing was sure, his entire household was so gay about the new born baby.

Ojinta lifted up his son facing the smiling son and whispered some words, maybe prayers or incantations, but he was so serious in getting the right words out, after a while he shouted, IKEMBA, welcome to the family of greatness. With that the whole household knew it was the boy's name, and each person said the name out, rather unconsciously, but the echo came out louder than they would have expected. At the mention of his name, the young baby chuckled louder; it was like he loved the name. Usually, babies cry a lot, but for Ikemba, he smiled most of the name, unless when he is hungry and needs the attention of his mother's two well-shaped apples that he breaks a silent atmosphere with his thunderous cry.

A lot of people visited the household of Ojinta, with little gifts to felicitate with them. The King alongside his wife and two sons were the first to visit the Ojintas, their concern for their daughter had made them a frequent guest in the home of Ojinta.

 Greetings said Ojinta, as he bowed in respect to the royalties, the King responded very cheerfully, as Ojinta led them to see Princess Abuoma, the Princess of Lorji community.

After the visit of the King, two guards were stationed by the King to add more security measures, since a lot of people were billed to visit the new baby, he further warned that Ojinta should not allow any visitor to touch or even lift the baby, Ikemba, so as to guard the child's well-being and his bright future.

Ojinta smiled, accepting the King's advises and gifts, he further saw the King off, as they discussed on other issues relating to the village, since he was now the King's right hand man.

Ojinta stood at the entrance of his home, he looked at his daughters, as some were playing the skipping rope game, and four others had gone to the stream to fetch some water, while the rest were tidying the house, in preparation for incoming visitors. He smiled, shook his head and entered into his hut, reminiscing on how life has been very fruitful for him these past few months.

Everyone treated little Ikemba well, even the mother enjoyed more, because for the first time in a while, the wives of Ojinta joined hands to take care of the mother and child. Soon, Ikemba could walk, he could even call his mother's name and the name of all his sisters at the age of 2years, and he was very smart.

At age four, Ikemba did the unbelievable, quiet early in the morning, his father had gone to hunt, while his mother was at the kitchen preparing breakfast; two of his sisters were sweeping the compound. Then, a loud scream was heard, it was Ikemba's mother, shouting, she had just seen a snake crawling around the kitchen, quickly Ikemba ran to meet her alongside his two step sisters who were sweeping initially.

Sighting the snakes, the four year old boy dashed into the kitchen and hit the snake with two strikes from his catapult; he struck the snake twice on its head, paralyzing it. Then he picked up the snake with his bare hands and chopped off its head with the cutlass lying by the edge of his father's hut, while his shocked mother and step-sisters looked speechless.

On return from his hunting escapade, Ojinta was duly informed about all that had happened in the morning when he left for work, the proud father lifted up his son and said, Ikemba, I think it’s time to enroll you into the school of hunting. On that same day, Ikemba joined his father's profession, as a Hunter, he became the youngest student in the history of Hunters in the entire community and beyond.

P.s- The story is just beginning, dont miss out..Check the blog daily for the rest parts of the story, Ikemba and the Cripple..