It was a full moon tonight as Trade and his friends ran to the shed just before the mango tree. They were all excited as they would he hearing another story from Pa Bayo.
Pa Bayo was one of the oldest men in the village and although he wasn't poor, the whole village took it upon themselves as a collective role to take care of him because of his numerous good deeds when he was a young man. So almost every night the parents would gather some food and send their children to deliver it to his house.
In turn Pa Bayo would assemble the children at the shed in front of his house to tell them stories. Although the children always enjoyed his stories, Tade was old enough to know that they were mostly fiction, but tonight he would be making a special request.
He got to the shed carrying along some bananas and quietly arranged it alongside other fruits that were brought by his friends and some other children, already there were about fifteen of them present.
Ekaale(greetings) Papa they chorused prostrating in greetings as Pa Bayo joined them under the shed
How are you all my children? Pa Bayo asked
We're all fine, thank you sir they replied
Pa Bayo waited for about ten minutes for other children to arrive and settle down. Just as he was about to begin Tade spoke up while raising up his hand
Errrm Papa could you please tell us a different kind of story tonight he asked
Pa Bayo was not surprised as Tade was a very inquisitive boy.
What kind of story would you like the old man asked him
A true story Papa Tade replied
After thinking for about a minute, Pa Bayo spoke up again
** Alright children tonight you will be listening to a true story that actually happened and I want you to listen attentively because it is a unique kind of story**
Pa Bayo Began
Once upon a Time in a village not far from here, there lived a man named Mr Yomi.
Yomi was a very hard-working young man and he was loved by many. He was very ambitious and as a result while others were contented with the village simple life, he wanted to see what the world offered.
So he discussed the situation with his wife and they both agreed it was a good idea. Yomi left his wife and two children who were just four and two years old respectively and went to the city to find a job.
At first it wasn't easy but at the end he finally got a job and was earning a stable income. He was very hard-working at his job and soon caught the eye of his boss who quickly promoted him and because of his dedication and friendly nature he was also loved by his co-workers.
From time to time, he would visit his family in the village with promises of moving them down to the city.
His wife would always complain that both she and the children were missing him. To this Yomi would reply that they should give him time, he wanted to make a lot of money so they would never have to work again.
Time and time again they would argue over this decision till she got fed up and stopped asking him.
Yomi was a good man and very hard-working but the more money he made the more he wanted. He was already quite comfortable at his job to move his family over, but then he would think again Afterall I'm working for them and we can still spend time together when I'm rich enough.
Many years passed and things were still the same, Unfortunately Yomi was involved in an accident and the doctor advised him to take some time off his work to fully recover.
His family moved him back to the village for proper attention. Now living with them once again he realized how grown his children were and how he hardly knew them anymore.
He had missed all the years when they were growing up and had never truely been present in their lives except to provide for their monetary needs.
He realized then that making money and working hard was quite important but he would never get back the time he missed when he wasn't present with his family. Yomi made a resolve to make his family his priority from that day onwards.
Children and that is the end of my story. We can see that there are many important things in life but we should never forget the essence of family bond. Pa Bayo ended his story.
The children all thanked him as they dispersed for their various houses. Tade was on his way home when a thought crossed his mind.
The name YOMI could be a shortened form of the name ABAYOMI and it could also be Pa Bayos full name. Indeed the old man had told them his own true story.
THE END