Short Story
BY JOSEPH SOBOKA
In a certain country side when the time was not as hectic as today, when the norms of the society were strictly observed, there was a farmer who had a daughter named Yewibdar. The girl grew up herding sheep with her brother and assisting her mother in the household chores as a daughter usually does. She was a girl of rare beauty and high moral value that singled her out as the owner of multiple attributes that any girl of substance aspires for.
Her mother, at times, gazing at her says to herself, ‘I thank you Lord for making me a mother of such a creature of admiration. How would I feel if she were not my daughter but somebody else’s?’
One day she said, “Yewibdar, do you know how lucky I am to be your mother?”
Looking down on the ground, without turning to her she asked, “What makes you say that, Mom?”
“Well, you are the prettiest and the most charming girl I have ever seen.”
“How, Mom? Am I as such different from any other girl around? How about the daughters of the land lord in our neighbor? They are well attired and do not herd sheep and do not assist their mother; their skins are not roughened by hot and cold weather. They are always comfortably inside and I believe they are better fed.”
“No doubt about your matchless beauty daughter, you are far more beautiful than any of them. You are endowed with special gift of nature. Feel rest assured about that. That’s why we named you Yewibdar,” confirmed her mother proudly.
Yewibdar’s father Ato Kumilachew, was sitting in the corner doing something while the mother and the daughter were engaged in interesting discussion. He overheard what the two of them were saying. He was of the same opinion about his daughter’s physical and moral qualities that his wife was describing. Yet, he never openly mentioned about them as his wife did. He was such an intrinsic person that he kept everything to himself. He was known for his behavior that nobody dared mess up with him about anything. He was rather respected and consulted about the dire issues concerning the society.
“Chaltu,” he called his wife, “I am glad you have clearly noticed our daughter’s physical and moral qualities.”
Ade Chaltu felt some warmth of good feelings invading her whole being. She had never heard her husband making such a positive remark about her in front of their daughter or rather anybody else. This situation, for sure, would earn her the confidence of her daughter. She believed Yewibdar would take for granted whatever she tells her.
In furtherance of their discussion, Ato Kumilachew said, “Do you know that women have no caste or class, their beauty, grace and charm serve them for birth and family.”
“How exciting!” said Ade Chaltu. “I never thought the beauty of an ordinary girl would highly be valued in the society.”
To bring the situation to a full understanding of his wife, he said, “This is not the end of the narration. Girls, their natural delicacy (even though our daughter does not seem to discernit), their instinctive elegance, nimbleness of wit, are their only mark of rank and put the slum girl on a level with the highest lady in the land.”
“Now I have a good grip of what you are trying to tell me. You have clearly shown me that beauty and other psychological attributes have a crucial role in the life of a woman,” said Ade Chaltu with broad smile on her face.
In response, he assured her that, “A woman of this stature should have a feeling that she is born for every delicacy and luxury. She deserves it because she has broken the barrier with the power of her beauty.”
While her parents were engaged in the discussion, the topic that concerned her, she was rather fidgety; she was constantly moving her body unaware of what she was doing. This, her mother had noticed it.
To relieve of her of the stress, her mother motioned her to the kitchen as the day was getting dark before dinner was prepared.
“Make fire while I knead the dough for flat bread; we do not have sufficient injera for supper. The good thing is your father likes flat bread.”
Yewibdar was soon busy making fire as her mother had commanded her. Yewibdar enjoys pleasing her mother by obeying her and her mother, too, appreciates that part of her daughter’s character. After dinner was ready, Ade Chaltu called her husband as supper was about to be served.
In the nick of time, their son Tolasa arrived with the herd of sheep. “Good evening,” he greeted the family and joined them for meal. Evenings are the time of family reunion after a busy and tiresome day.
Ato Kumilachew and the family gathered around the table upon which he said grace, “What a tasty supper you have prepared. God bless you both,” said Ato Kumilachew. He understands that Ade Chaltu is very happy when the food she prepares is appreciated, especially by him.
From her parents’ daily relationship with each other, Yewibdar learned a lot how spouses should relate to each for a good and happy married life. Their kindness had inculcated the same behavior in her personality.
Many young people in the neighborhood vied for her attention. Yet, nobody dared to reveal his interest in her. It was not because of her pride but her imposing personality created fear in the young people. She was not like any girl who flirts with anyone who approached her. She was well aware of the norms of the society and unreservedly complied with the moral instructions.
Friends and relatives, one way or the other, had her in their minds: some were out of envy and jealousy while others take her as their role model and always aspired to hang about her as though they had nothing else to do and bragged for being able to be around her. Some girls labored to imitating her in their speech and actions to become as respected and sought for as her.
Being human, she had her own desire to achieve her hidden objectives. The fact of moving with time is one of the prime variables in her objectives – the fact to which her parents paid little attention; she knew that unless a girl makes use of her prime age, she might pay a bitter price of fruitlessness. Since she was very smart, she did not want to suffer from heart-broken regret due to her negligence to proactively act before it is too late.
‘Now it is time for me to settle. I am in a position to identify the right person who can best suit me. If I keep on like this, my beauty and elegance will be wasted and I will become worthless in due course,’ she seriously said to herself.
Once, her father confided in her that he had been approached by a young man of her age to give him her hand.
“Who could that be, Dad?” she asked.
“He is the son of a highly placed gentleman in our village. I favorably considered this young man not because he is the son of a well-reputed person but because he himself is a young man of good reputation.”
“What do you mean and what’s his name?”
“He distinguished from young people of his age by not drinking, smoking and moving with girls aimlessly. He is so gentle that his friends respect him; there is a lot to say about him; for your information his name is Melkamu,” said her father.
There was broad smile on her face and straight looking into her father’s eyes, “Oh my God! I, too, was approached by the same guy.”
“What a coincidence! How did you find him?” asked her father emphatically.
“I found him no different from you. I have seriously been following him without responding to his marriage proposal. I believe that it is God’s doing that we are both of the same opinion about him. I have even confided it in Mom; she seemed very pleased. We were to bring the issue to you. Yet, you have already done your homework.”
Ato Kumilachew, smiling about her last remark, soon summoned Ade Chaltu and they both agreed on the issue. Yewibdar was soon betrothed. Her beauty and well-mentored culture were proven worthwhile. What a well-earned bliss!
The Ethiopian Herald April 16/2021
