'Grandma please tell us a story' the children in the compound chorused in unison, eight or nine faces were looking expectantly at grandma Mia with pleading eyes. 'Alright my dears, once you are done with your meals I will tell you a story' grandma replied smiling.
Grandma Mia often told stories to the children in the compound under the gaze of the moonlight, moonlight stories the children always called it. "We are going to Grandma Mia's backyard to listen to stories" they frequently told their parents on evenings when you could see the bats flying around, and the hunter could spot his game over a hundred metres away.
You see, I was one of those children. And today I will re-tell you one of those stories we listened to, perched on wooden stools and overturned buckets and logs of wood. On one of such days when the whole compound was flooded in moonlight and the shadow of the mango tree beside the landlord's house would scare us from unirating In the bushes near the Landlord's house.
The little girl of Abedi village
'Story story' grandma started, 'story' we chorused. 'Once upon a time' she continued, 'time time' we screamed in excitement.
Many years ago in a little sun drenched village called Abedi, where the villagers rise with the sun and retire home when it sets, in this village lived a little girl, let's call her Binta. She had large curious eyes that seemed to take in every detail around her
Binta was nine years old, her inquisitive nature set her apart from other children, as she sought to know everything that caught her attention. She knew a lot of things that other children her age had no knowledge of, as she could always be seen consulting adults, and asking questions.
So when missionaries from the city to start a school in the village, and the elders granted them an old house to start with ,it was not a surprise that Binta was the first child to show up on Monday morning. Eager and curious as to what new things they'll teach her.
She became the teacher's favourite from her first day in school, displaying intelligence deemed beyond her years. In class she answered questions correctly without hesitation, and oozed the same gusto while asking hers. The missionaries were always happy to have the little knowledge seeking girl in their classes, and even though they tried not to show preference for one child over another, it was obvious that she was their favourite student.
When the opportunity came for the students to represent the village in a competition in the city, she was selected. She performed excellently and was greatly rewarded; she got a scholarship to study in a secondary school in town and to further her studies in a university offering her favourite course: Engineering. And after twelve years she returned as an engineer.
She was the village's pride, the cynosure of all eyes. She loved her people and her people loved her, she ensured that a lot of infrastructures were built in the village. She influenced the building of schools and hospitals in the village and helped the village become a town. Engineer Binta had come to the village's rescue.
'And that is the end of tonight's story' Grandma said, 'what have you learnt?' she asked. A couple of kids raised a hand and rose up to tell some morals. And finally I rose and said, 'I learnt; 1. The value of hard work. 2. To never be tired of seeking knowledge. And 3. To never shy away from an opportunity.'
And today I urge you to realize this lessons and apply them to yourself. From every moonlight tale grandma shared with us there are always lessons to be learnt.