I STOLE MY MEAT
I had a very weird and funny grandma. The combo is funny right? I already know. You don’t need to tell me.
She had these specials gifts of being so kind in the morning and switching to a mean old lady in the evening. She would tell stories and make us laugh in one minute, then she’d punish us and make us regret hearing the stories if we couldn’t tell what lessons we learnt from her stories.
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Above all, I loved her ability to Outmaneuver us and get the truth she was looking for.
She played her tricks on me one day and caught me.
Saturdays were my worst days in my village. My father had insisted we travelled to our village and spent some time with our cousins who saw school as a disaster and swore to curse anyone who would dare say a word to them about leaving the farms and heading to town for the purpose of school. They hated school with passion.
Since we arrived the village, we only woke up, ate some food, went to the farm, came back and ate some food, listened to grandma’s stories at night, then headed for sleep in order to wake up the following day and continue the usual boring day.
While we spent 4- 6 hours in the farms on other days, 7 hours were spent on Saturdays. I so much hated their advent.
We had had a very hectic day this particular Saturday and to say I was both tired and hungry is to say the least. Since Dooshima was ill, Stella who had gone to the farm with us needed to prepare supper for the family. It was going to be a hunger filled day.
I was first to leave the farm and first to reach home. While dropping the cutlass in the kitchen, I noticed that the pot used for peppering soup the previous day was unwashed and well covered. This meant one thing; some soup was still left in it. I quickly opened it and behold, two pieces of meat were staring at me. On a very good day. I’d have avoided them, but not today; I was very hungry. I quickly took them out and pushed them into my mouth in a hurry.
Mama didn’t come out early to tell us stories that night. She delayed. She was discussing with my Uncle who had returned from a journey. When she finally came out, I noticed she wasn’t too happy. I wanted to ask her why but guilt wouldn’t let me.
My conscience was seriously pricking me. I couldn’t concentrate throughout the story telling session. I’m sure mama noticed it.
‘Aondofa, I kept some meat for you in the kitchen’ Mama said when she was done with her story.
There was silence.
'Did you see it?’ She added.
‘Yes mama.’ I retorted.
‘I’ve eaten it already.’ I added foolishly.
That’s how I was caught. Mama had played her tricks on me and caught me. The meat was not meant for me. She only suspected me and played with my intelligence. The beatings I received that day made me promise never to steal again.
Indeed, I stole my meat.
417.406 SRY