25/12/2023
Left home to support home
By CEO Falana.
The clinking sound of Pa Kallay's bicycle is musically pleasing for children. Some often dance to it, while running behind the bicycle. The tinkling sound, which is used to prime people to give way, becomes the crier that notifies others about Pa Kallay's presence. Pa Kallay is well known in Mano and other villages for the ping of his bicycle and the beautiful smile he wears each time he rings it.
Pa Kallay's thinning skin gives him a dropping appearance, regardless of the gown he always wears. Chief Kallay, as he is fondly called, has a plumb, smooth face that shines whenever he smiles. Neither is Pa Kallay the chief of Mano nor is he the town crier, but he is the man of the people.
Mano is a small village with a population of less than five hundred people who are typically very close-knit and know one another. Surrounded by green fields and forest, Mano has winding streets that prevent big vehicles and trucks from visiting the village. The main occupation of people (farming), lack of opportunities, population and size of Mano have forced many youths, including Abu, to relocate to big towns and cities in search of greener pastures.
Abu left Mano at a time when villagers grappled with food shortage as drought hit the village. Unlike the successful years which were characterized by high rainfall and relatively high sunshine that enhanced food production, that year welcomed unfamiliar shortage of rainfall and excess ray of the sun that destroyed crops.
As a result of the unfortunate incident and his unquenchable thirst to support his home, Abu found his way to the city. He had never been to Freetown before. However, he had heard beautiful stories of Freetown from his friend, Johnson, who visits Mano during festive seasons. Johnson, on many occasions, told Abu that Freetown is by far bigger than Mano. In fact, he told him that not only is Freetown bigger than Mano but also is finer than their rustic village. "Freetown has beautiful beaches, towering buildings, modern vehicles and a traffic jam of people on business roads," Johnson told Abu.
Of all the things he heard about Freetown before going there, Abu firmly held to the caution of thieves. He was told that there are many thieves in Freetown. This made him more vigilant than night securities when he alighted at Shell. "Eastern Police! Mountain Cut! Tong! U dae go?" These names were strange to him. They gave him the belief that he had, indeed, reached the much talked about Freetown.
Ibrahim, an average height, dark skinned man, saw Abu from a distance. He had been seating at an eatery for only God knows how long waiting for his friend. At long last, he received Abu at Shell; took him to his "pan-body house" where they lived. Their hustle began from hawking Arata poison to enrolling themselves in university. However, their stories eventually changed after getting degrees from their areas of study.
The northeasterly wind, which is characterized by dry and dust that blows from the Sahara, blew a sense of festive season in the air. The season, which usually spans from November to early January, is set aside for festivals and reconnection with loved ones. It was during that period that Abu set to return home after he had sailed through the big waves of Freetown.
With an unimaginable change in appearance, Abu stepped on the dusty land of Mano. Before he left for Freetown, Abu was lanky with his throat as long as that of a giraffe's. His appearance has changed. Although not fat, he was not skinny. His arrival coaxed the beautiful smile of Jattu, the roadside corn seller; Mamie Yeibu and Pa Kallay, who welcomed him with a waving hand, holding the head of his bicycle with his other hand. The joy of Abu's retuning home is best seen in Pa Kallay's facial expression, for he sees new dawn. Abu returned home to support home.
Photo credit: Beats
