The season is hot. It is that time of the summer - hottest - that ushers in winter. Everywhere within the house is radiating heat like a black body. Even the domestic animals are not left out, they hang around under the shades of shrubs. Just like the weather, water in the containers are also warm and one could drink tens of litres of water without getting over the heat.
It's some minutes past noon and Mr Joe is done with his work and getting set to go home. He is fulfilled that he has made judicious use of the last 6 hours - due to the season, farmers wake up early and get to farm before 6 am. The earlier the better because of the scorching nature of the sun. He called his neighbour, Ben, who was still busy on his own farm to inform him that it's time to go home.
"I think I will join you, working into the afternoon is not encouraged now. The sun is hot." Ben responded while he makes way to where he dropped his clothes that he would change to before going home.
They both left the farm and start the 30 minutes walk back home.
Joe's shirt was on his shoulder. He was on a pair of pants. Ben folded his own shirt too and put it on his head. The hotness nature of the season is glaring. Their discussions as they walk home is the expectation of rain. All farmers are expecting rain to get busy with the new planting season.
The gathering is getting set under the Iroko tree. During this kind of period, the shade of the tree is a resting place for most men of the village.
There are some numbers of such trees serving this purpose across the village.
"Only God knows when we are going to be blessed with rain this year. I am really not in the mood of going to farm because one can't do any serious work without rain" Nnam was lamenting as he was finding a free seat on the bench to sit down - in his hand was a cola nut which was intermittently bringing some cracking sounds from his mouth as he bite it to chew.
"Can I get part?" Amoto requested.
Nnam cut a part of the cola for him and he took his seat.
"Has mainunu passed?" He asked
Nnam responded "no"
Mainunu is a young Fulani woman that sells locally processed cow milk. This milk helps them to relax on a usual hot afternoon like this.
"I will defeat you today" Nnam boasted to Amoto.
"Let's get started. You know me that I don't talk too much. I talk on the game" Nnam responded.
They brought out mancala (a board game of two players played with 4 seeds in 12 holes, each having six to his side) and started exploring their skills while others watch.
Joe has now gotten home and met his wife prepared his favourite Apapa, a local meal prepared from beans. He ate quickly and made his way, after taking his bath, to under the Iroko tree where others are gathering under the massive shade as usual.
The men are concentrated on the game and didn't even notice the presence of Joe on time.
"I greet the winner, I greet the loser" Joe greeted the gathering in the dialect as he took his seat.
Their discussions afterwards centred on the scarcity of rain.
"We need to organise a prayer session to the gods to give us rain." Nnam suggested as he was studying the game in his front to know where to attack his opponent.
"Let's keep hoping on the gods, I believe rain will fall soon" Amoto responded.
He continued; "Thank God that your father planted this tree which is serving as a relaxation spot for us today. If not for his foresight, maybe this heat would have send one away from this town"
In his response, Joe explained what convinced his father to plant the tree.
"It was an experience from drought that made my father planted this tree. According to my father, there was scarcity of rain in that year - more severe than this. It wasn't easy scaling through that particular season. He felt that having a tree around would have helped cushion the effects of the hot sun.
"He then planted this tree to serve as relaxation spot for people in future - and the future is today. The way my father preach about planting of trees was phenomenal. Thank God he did."
"That's really nice of your father. Apart from providing a shadow under which we find solace during the bitting weather, planting a tree like like this prevents wind erosion and also serve a vital role in containing climate change.
"Let's strive to set such legacy so that tomorrow, another generation will sit under the protective shadows of our trees and reflect on the memory of our existence for good" Nnam responded.