Baskadia

I didn't believe in the existence of ghosts until that eventful Thursday.  Ghosts are materialized dead people . The belief in the  invoked or forced appearance of a  dead person is rife in the traditions of African peoples . It is called necromancy . Other times these ghosts appear on their own volition either for noble or evil purposes . Samuel was a childhood and bossom friend of mine . So close were we that each of us would never be found without the other . We went to our town school , river and other places together .  It was therefore not an exaggeration to say I died when Sam suddenly and unexpectedly went limb on his tenth birthday!  Penultimate day , we had gone to the forest along with other friends to pick wild fruits after returning from school. I recall that Sam who had an incredible and  rare gift of smelling ripened fruits from afar picked more fruits than the rest of us . In his characteristic generosity , he shared most of his fruits to us , especially  Kelechi who had picked just very little . Sam never complained of any illness or pains in any part of his body untill we dispersed to our various houses . The heart rending screams and lamentation of Samuel 's mum gives me bumps untill date !  His body was wrapped in that familiar wrapper of his and taken to a nearby bush for burial . My mum stayed with me through out that agonizing period . I experienced untold fear and trepidation  The night was terrible as everyone kept vigil because  I had series of convulsions.  Although I managed to see a bit of them because Those who took his tiny body to be buried passed through our compound to the bush where my friend would be staying lonely and abandoned in the rain , sun  and dark for the rest of time  . In my little age I had wondered if he wasn't going to be afraid staying alone .It could have been  about six  years or a little above . The only time I felt any remembrance of Sam was if I had to pass through the path leading to where his body was buried. At that point I would either close my eyes or look the opposite direction until I was at a safe distance . It didn't matter if I was alone or in company of others .It was a Christmas period and the village bubbled with various activities . The road was dusty as would be expected with so many commuters either conveying holiday makers from the cities or going about other businesses . A foot ball match was going to be played in our play ground later in the day . The mood was absolutely gay . I suddenly remembered my mum had asked me to escort my kid sister to  go and bring  a few bundles of firewood from the farm . The hitherto busy  bush path was very lonely on this particular afternoon .  It used to be swarm  with people  either going to, or returning from their various farms . I followed behind blessing who pushed the  wheeled barrow . My mind was occupied with the football game. I was sure we would defeat our opponents from the other village . We had passed the point that led to where Sam , my  friend was buried although that part of the bush had been cultivated , Sam nonetheless laid there !  I helped my sister arrange the bundles she would push home as fast as possible and had what was left tied into a bundle which I lifted to my head . We were on our way home and in good time too ! A little distance to the Orji tree , I tripped and fell down with my bundle of firewood ! My left toe was bruised , and I felt a sharp pain on  my right hip . I was still reeling in pains when Blessing who did not keep pace with me , came to the spot . " Brother , what happened ? Did you step on a piece of wood ? Are you injured ? "  She bombarded me with questions . I had not the faintest idea as to why I tripped . The path up to where I had fallen down  was free of any kind of obstacles .  My toe had begun to bleed . My hip ached like mad . I did not have any strength to get up . I simply stared into the space . But I saw what looked like a human figure emerging from the bush . It seemed to be coming closer but it was not very clear . Although it was stepping on dry grasses and twigs but I could not hear any accompanying sound. It seemed to float ! Soon the figure became clear. A boy of about ten or twelve years . He wore the town school uniform . My gaze was fastened to this strange school boy . He was clearly out of the bush an into the open . Blessing followed my gaze . But she seemed not to see anything because she kept looking back at me with naked fright ! But there is something curiously familiar about the school boy . I opened my mouth to shout at him or even to ask him what he was looking for alone in the bush no words came out of my mouth . We stood face to face with each other . Blessing kept screaming at me to get up so we could start going home . Poor her !  This story continues.