​THE WRITER

03

Fathering A Father

It was one tiring day; I picked up a public transport from Kumasi to Obuasi. It was quite late; sunset was long gone and my eyes yearned for a closure. I rested my head on the seat in front, and took a little stroll to Dreamland. Somehow, the bumpy road couldn’t kick me out of this paradise; guess that’s the measure of how much I needed a rest. Yet somewhere half the way, something knocked me back to reality. It was a voice.

A voice more of an order; fascinating because it sounded like a child. There he was; a boy of about seven years, telling a man, I figured was his father, what to do. He really sounded like a boss and won the stare of almost everybody on the bus.
The bus had stopped, and as late as it was, people were rushing for the vacated spot. First he blocked everyone from entering the car before himself with his tiny muscles but huge talk and allowed his dad inside first, then he ordered his dad to sit at a preferred spot he chose which was right next to me and finally stood in front of his dad squeezing himself in that little space but his dad came to his rescue and told him to sit on his lap. All this while, I was staring at this little boss beating myself hard not to judge him; for my lifestyle gives me so much experience that taught me a lesson, never to judge people if you don’t really know them. Well, we are not here for me, so let’s get back to the story.

Everybody in the bus was quiet for a moment, as I wore a smile and went back where my head lay, not to Dreamland this time, but debating with my thoughts. About five minutes on it seemed the passengers had been waiting for one last word from this kid to get to their final threshold to burst their hearts out. Well he finally gave them more than a word, so the massacre began. I described the “moral lessons” they gave this kid a massacre because it was harsh with insults but the most surprising thing was against my expectations; this so called disrespectful kid never uttered a word back at them. He instead dozed off. I could feel his tiredness was genuine as he tried to stay awake and fell helpless on my shoulder a bunch of times.

Where they were heading seemed to be known only to the boy, for the dad made it obvious as he kept disturbing the boy to be extra cautious so they don’t bypass a particular junction. The kid in return assured his dad he knows his way; a sound that didn’t go well with his critics, it drove them back to their insanity.
His voice echoed through the bus one last time as he woke suddenly to find the junction he sought. He shouted at the bus attendant who expressed his feeling about the kid and his sudden shout in one sentence but a very uncomfortable insult.

Silence finally took over the bus, a dead silence that ruled throughout the remainder of the journey right after the kid and his dad alighted. Now wondering what happened? The kid got down first and gave his final order to his dad, he told him there is a big gutter where the bus parked so he should step close to the bus and pull out his stick. The dad obeyed and finally the kid held his hand and helped him cross the gutter. Now I couldn’t hide my smile, I finally won the debate against my own judgment; i found a reason to his bossy nature with a simple question. How can you lead a blind man if you are not going to tell him what to do all the time? His dad was blind, and that is the destiny that chose this little boy. No matter how we felt about him, to life he had the perfect character that qualified him to be the eye and father of a blind father.

Sometimes we are all quick to judge, me inclusive, and I’m guessing its human nature; but maybe it’s time to listen, watch and learn from people than judge them with our words. This kid taught me a lesson I’ll never forget, and I’m sure every passenger shared this view with me throughout their final silence. Nature made each one of us, a perfect fit for the very purpose we are chosen for in life. We are not made to suite the expectations of the world. So find your purpose, before you decide to change the precious creation you are in order to fit into life. Let’s learn to think positive by putting ourselves in others shoes, before we judge them and let’s learn to see good before we see evil in people for no one knows what the future holds in her hands.