Copyright 2012 K.OmodeleThis fog-filled Sunday morning, just one hour after the cock did crow, a mother snatches some dung-smeared eggs right from under a fowl and runs some stand pipe water over them. She storms through a back door clutching three warm eggs, tracking mud on the hand-polished, hardwood floor with her Bata slippers.
She sits the eggs inna old enamel bowl and turns to her son and squares off, hand akimbo. Brows dig furrows while her eyes fling daggers at her eleven-year old boy.
He lowers his eyes.
She wrinkles her mouth around a word but then press her lips taut as a goat-skin drum.
“Un-GOD-ly? So they say.”
She jabs a finger in his chest with every thumping syllable.
“I more spiritual than whole heap ah hypocrite wha’ you see go to church every week, whether ‘pon Sat’day or two time ‘pon Sunday. Ah sure I more righteous than thiefin’ Parson Brown with them t’ree pickney and t’ree different babymother outta di same damn congregation.”
Her son’s back is pressed against the rough, board wall.
“Mek ah tell yuh dis, mih Son! See here, going to church don’t mek nobody Godly or righteous. Nuff ah them in church ‘pon Sunday, dirty and bad mind. I don’t have to go to nobody church to pray; live and treat people good. Yuh have One single Almighty but plenty ways fi express yuh love for Him. Every church want say their way is the one an’ only way. That is wha’ yuh call religion an’ doctrine. I don’t deal with religion; I deal with culture. Seven culture have seven different ways of expressin’ love for The Mos’ High. But, Son, when yuh want talk to God, if yuh really want talk to HIM and feel HIM, don’t bother look around out deh for HIM.”
She grips his sagging shoulder firm with one hand, but caresses his chest gently with the next.
“Yuh muss find Jah within yuh heart, mih Son. A church will only give you belief an’ faith.The pastor or di priest can tell you bout rituals and rites. How after the cow jump over di moon, she drop dead and mek horse fat. But yuh want find spirituality? Know yourself and yuh will find divinity within.”
The boy pick up his chin off his chest, hoists it up high.
The boy pick up his chin off his chest, hoists it up high.
Copyright 2012 K.Omodele
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