The Great Surprise

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A week later, Mr. Aloysius asked to see Lady Osisiego to tell her of something unusual that had happened. Being called to the lady's room, he began, "Lady Osisiego, something has happened that I never expected." With many more words, Mr. Aloysius reported that Somayina had suddenly learned to read with the utmost correctness, uncommon with beginners.

"I believe miracles do happen in this world," Lady Osisiego remarked, while they went to the study to witness Somayina's new achievement. Somayina sat close to Gozie, reading him a story. He seemed amazed at the strange, new world that had opened up before him.

At supper, the little boy found the large book with the beautiful pictures on his plate, and looking doubtfully at Lady Osisiego, he saw her nod. "Now it belongs to you, Somayina," she said.
"Forever?"

"Of course! Certainly, forever!" the gracious old lady assured him, "tomorrow we shall begin to read it."

"When I am going home?" Somayina inquired again, confused with joy.

"Somayina, you must not go home without me. If you have to go, I will follow you," Gozie exclaimed. "Please, when grandma goes away, you must stay with us."

Somayina looked at his book before going to bed that night. The book became his dearest treasure. He looked at the beautiful pictures and read all the stories aloud to himself. He would read, and Lady Osisiego would quietly listen and explain some things here and there, making it more beautiful than before. Somayina loved the pictures with the shepherd so much. Once he learned to read and possessed the book, he eventually read the story of the picture of the shepherd in the book. It was the story of the prodigal son. He so much loved the story and would read and re-read it till he nearly knew it all by heart. The days seemed to fly by now that Somayina knew how to read.

Lady Osisiego sent for Somayina every day after dinner. While Gozie was resting and Uncle Spike had disappeared into his room, she coached him on reading and writing and on living life. She took delight in working with Somayina, just like every teacher likes to teach brilliant students. Within two weeks, Somayina learnt how to write words, phrases, and sentences. She also taught him basic courtesy and social etiquette: when to say "sorry, " "please," and "thank you." Unconsciously, Somayina learnt all these. Often, he would read the prodigal son story to his lady because, like she taught him, the more often he read a story, the dearer it would become to him. He felt as though he lived everything through with the characters in the stories and was always happy to be with them again and again. Nevertheless, the little boy never looked really cheerful; his eyes never sparkled merrily like before.

In the last week of Lady Osisiego's stay, she called him to her room. He entered with his beloved book under his arm. Lady Osisiego drew him close, and laying the book aside, she said, "Come my child, tell me why you are so sad. Do you still have the same sorrow?"

"Yes," Somayina replied.

"Did you confide in God?"

"Yes."

"Do you pray to Him every day that He may make you happy again and take your affliction away?"

"Oh no, I don't pray anymore."

"What do I hear, Somayina? Why don't you pray anymore?"

"It does not help, for God has not listened." He added, "I am not surprised. If all the people in the world pray every night, God can not hear them all. I am sure He has not heard me."

"Really? Why are you so sure?"

"Because I have prayed for the same thing many, many times, and He has not done it."

"That is not the way, Somayina. You see, God knows what we need better than we do. When something we ask for is not very good for us, He gives us something much better if we confide in Him and do not lose confidence in His love. I am sure what you asked for is not very good for you at the moment. But he has heard you, for He can hear the prayers of all the people in the world at the same time.

"How is that possible, as the people would be so loud, all praying at the same time?" Somayina asked, looking a bit confused.

"Of course!" exclaimed Lady Osisiego, "He is God and not a mortal like us. He heard your prayers and said to Himself, "Yes, Somayina shall get what he is praying for in due time."' Now, while God was looking down on you to hear your prayers, you lost confidence and went away from Him. If God does not hear your prayers anymore, He will forget you also and let you go. Don't you want to go back to Him, Somayina, and ask His forgiveness? Pray to Him every day, and hope in Him that He may bring cheer and happiness to you."

Somayina had listened attentively; he had unbounded confidence in the old lady, whose words always made a deep impression on him.

"But how many gods do we have? Lamido told me the story of Allah, and my grandma told me the story of God and his only begotten son Jesus."

"Oh yes, my son, there is only one true God, but people worship Him in different ways and in different places. He created all of us and loves us equally. Lamido's is Muslim because his parents were Muslim; I am sure you are Christian because your family is."

"I shall go at once and ask God our Father to pardon me. I shall never forget Him again!" Somayina said.

"That's right, Somayina; I am sure He will help you in time if you only trust in Him."

Somayina went to his room immediately and prayed earnestly to God that He would forgive him and fulfil his wish.

The day after Lady Osisiego's departure, Somayina came to Gozie and asked, "Should I read a story for you?"

"Yes!" Gozie agreed, and Somayina began. He did not get very far, for the story he was reading told of a grandmother's death. Suddenly, he cried aloud, "Oh no, my grandmother is dead!" He wept in the most pitiful fashion. Whatever Somayina read always seemed real to him, so he thought it was his own grandmother that had died. Louder and louder he sobbed, "Now poor grandmother is dead, and I can never see her again; she never got a single loaf of soft, white bread from me!"

Gozie attempted to explain to him that the story was not real, but Somayina was too upset to listen. He was scared that his dear old grandfather would die next. How quiet, empty, and lonely he would be in that hut!

Uncle Spike had overheard the scene. Approaching the sobbing child, he said impatiently, "Somayina, now you have screamed enough. If I hear you again giving way to yourself in such a noisy fashion, I shall take your book away forever!"

Somayina was terrified, for the book was his greatest treasure. Quickly drying his tears, he choked down his sobs.

After that incident, Somayina never cried again. He often repressed his sobs, obliged to make the strangest faces to keep himself from crying out. Gozie often looked at him, full of surprise. Uncle Spike, of course, noticed nothing and found no occasion to carry out his threat.

The poor child got more cheerless every day and looked so thin and pale that Saraki became worried. He tried to encourage him to take all the good dishes at dinner, but listlessly, Somayina would let them pass and hardly touch them. In the evening, he would cry quietly, his heart bursting with longing to go home.

Thus, time passed by Somayina never knew if it was harmattan, for the walls opposite never changed. They seldom drove out because Gozie was only able to go a short distance. They never saw anything other than streets, houses, and busy people; no grass, no wild pine trees, and no mountains. Somayina struggled constantly against his sorrow, but in vain.

Because the boy had lost touch with the seasons, he wondered whether the rainy season had passed and whether the time had come for Lamido to go up the hills with his goats. He wondered in his little heart when next he would be at the place where the flowers were glistening in the sunshine and the mountains were all afire. He would sit down in a corner of his room and put both hands before his eyes so as not to see the glaring sunshine on the opposite wall. There he remained, eating his heart away, till Gozie Osisiego would send for him. He was a bit worried that the city had made him lose count of the seasons. Though children of Somayina's age tend to adapt easily to new environments and situations, forgetting their past circumstances easily, Somayina was quite different. His love for Udokamma seemed to be indelibly stamped in his soul. He was most worried that he had not heard from Ginika since he came to Port Harcourt.

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