As night began to fall in the village of Arayewaye, Odeyemi was sitting outside his house receiving fresh air. Then he heard a voice of someone crying it sounded like a baby’s voice but he wasn’t sure so he traced the sound of the noise to where it came from, Alas, he found out that is was a baby. He did not know what a baby could be doing alone at that hour of the day, he kept asking questions but to no one in particular. Should he carry the baby? Should he leave the baby? But no one could answer him he then took the baby to his home.
Later the voice of wailing of the king was heard the baby of his wife that was given birth to about a month ago could not be found but Odeyemi who was with the baby has already slept and the baby too now loved the new attention he was given and fell asleep.
Early in the next morning, before the first crow of the cock, Odeyemi woke up had his bath and took the baby to have his bath too. Afterwards, he dressed up and the baby too. They both set out on a journey to his mother’s distant land, they carried different foods but he specifically bought pap for the baby to eat. After a day’s journey, Odeyemi was tired and the baby was already hungry so he began to cry. Odeyemi laid his mat and put the baby on it then he brought out the pap he bought for the child and fed him. Odeyemi too ate and they both slept.
Back at the village, the king had conducted a thorough search. All the youths in the village combed the bushes, houses were scattered everyone wanted to know who took the baby and where the baby was but all to no avail the baby was not found. The chief priest who happened to have taken the baby for sanctification was terrified. He knew he was guilty but he could not even tell the king because he could be killed negligence. So he lied to the king, but the king was not worried much because he had 22 other children. So that brought about peace to the village and everyone was happy at that.
Odeyemi got to his mother’s house late, the second day his mother gave him a warm welcome and she catered for the baby who later went to sleep. Then he and his mother started talking.
”My son how are you and who owns the baby,has your wife given birth?”his mother said hastingly.
“No mama, I found the baby at the back of the chief priest hut, I felt pity for him and carried him home” Odeyemi answered.
“Have you told anyone about it?” “No mama,i did not tell anyone about because when i found him I went to sleep straight, and the next day came here”, Odeyemi said
“We have to quickly go back to your village because the chief priest wanted to do sanctification for him the time you saw him” his mother said curiously
“But mama,i have developed interest in this child and i am not sure if i can leave him” Odeyemi said frightened.
“But you have to ,my son,you have to return back the baby to the owner” his mother said.
“Mama,that is not the main reason i came here,i came if you can help me keep the child pending when i will be financially capable and have a wife “Odeyemi answered
“ahah my son what you are asking for is too much but don’t worry I will do it if that is what you want” his mother said. All retired to bed and slept that night.
18 YEARS AFTER………………
Odeyemi was going to his mother’s village to check on his son and his mother who wasn’t feeling fine. The baby had grown to a strong and brave hunter, his name was Daniel and he was known for his kindness in that village. The son saw Odeyemi from afar and ran to greet him and told him that his grandma was not feeling too well. Odeyemi greeted him and told him that he knew and it was the main reason he came. So, they both went to see the grandma who was now bleeding profusely from her mouth because she has been calling Daniel but he did not hear as he was not around.
They quickly rushed her to a nearby medical center but she later gave up the ghost. After some days, Odeyemi decided to take Daniel back to his village and to the king, so they set out on the journey the next day. He went to the king place immediately, the king was very sad and the chief priest was punished severely because he lied to the king. The king rewarded Odeyemi and told him that since he was the one who brought up the child,he should take him.Odeyemi was made the highest chief in the village and he and Daniel lived happily ever after.
“IT TRULY PAYS TO BE KIND”
Olatunji Oluwatobilcame G. (Jss-1), Flostev Comprehensive College
