(Short Story)
“Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death!”
As custom bids, an invitee, I had to attend a luncheon thrown to commemorate the 40th-day death memorial of a gentleman in the neighborhood. Earlier in the morning a tombstone inauguration was held. According to orthodox religious belief, such a day is seen as the day of retribution for the deceased. Therefore, the bereaved throw a luncheon or a breakfast ceremony on this special day and invite the destitute as well as people they know to the boon so that they soothe the bereaved with “May God forgive the soul of the deceased!”
A white tent was pitched near the main house to accommodate invitees. When I got inside the tent after I got my hand washed by a youngster standing by the door with a jug full of water extracted from a pail, I saw a picture of the deceased in a frame placed on a table. He was a spectacled middle-aged man with gray head. Beholders could discern serenity as innocence was stamped on his face.
A fat and tall candle bearing tears was lit in front of the photo symbolizing the brevity of our existence as we approach our destruction by every flitting second. It reminded me what the philosophers assert ‘Given a guy say Mr. A it is possible to claim, ‘A is A and A is not A’ as it simultaneously draws closer to its end with every flitting second.’
Dressed in full black making a sharp color contrast with the tent, relatives and family members of the deceased were sat, side by side, on a long chair.
Heading to a table bearing an array of dishes and picking my preferences I headed to the back row of chairs laid out for people called to attend the occasion.
Among the bereaved an angelic lady who displayed symmetry in facial arrangement and physical appearance was silently weeping time and again wiping her tears with a handkerchief. Though those who sat by her right and left were goading as well as prevailing on her to stop shedding many tears, she proved inconsolable. Those who had had their feel of the feast were bowing out wishing for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Some were trying to pat the lady to contain her emotion in vain.
Raising from his chair, clearing his throat and scanning the tent, a priest with a turban, of course, the confessing father of the bereaved said “As we believe in life after death we must not lament when someone parts us to go to our heavenly father for judgment especially when he is a pious person like the deceased. Of course, it is natural to weep when the soul of a person parts from his body, when his body leaves his home and when he is committed to the ground. We could weep remembering his kindness and the good time we spent together. Nothing more or nothing less! We better mend our missteps after repentance. Such days must serve an alarm call to do introspection and gravitate towards God,” then heading to the lady he somewhat hushed her down and returned back to his seat.
By chance it was beside an ill-filled-sack-looking virago living next door to me I sat. When a lad with a glass approached me to pour out Tella (a home-made beer) from a big white kittle the virago commented “It is alcoholic. You will like it. It dispels melancholy. I drank three glasses yet I’m thirsty,” she extended her glass to the chap to add more.
With my chin pointing to the inconsolable lady, obviously the wife of the deceased, and looking at the photo of the deceased I asked the virago “How long did they stay in marriage? You see I‘m a new settler in the village.”
“Over 20 years.”
“She is cute. She must have been smitten by a harrowing grief. What a pitiful lady,” I tried to mirror the lady’s grief with my face.
“People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at heart,” the virago smirked quoting Samuel 16:7.
I posed “What do you mean by the outward appearance? Is she lacking in character?”
“Their marriage was a picture-perfect one. It is not based on the untruth of the saying ‘In love the opposite attracts’. He was a faithful and responsible man who gave number one priority to his family .But she was a bit liberal.”
“I winced aghast at her slackness in faith. Is it from conscience prink she has become inconsolable?”
“What else could it be then? He did forgive her once finding her red-handed in consensual intimacy in his bed with his close friend. You see her husband suddenly returned back home from a field tour following a car accident that claimed the life of the driver. He too did suffer a minor injury on his arm.”
“It was a double-edged blow on him because it was a double betrayal,” I projected a horror-stamped face.
“When we were expecting he would divorce her he forgave her believing the lame reason it was simply a hormone activity,” he put her right arm on her head and smirked.
“It could not be so as it was planned. How could the untrustworthy friend paid a visit, while his best friend was away?” I looked at virago seeking an affirmative answer. She winked at me and laughed sarcastically by way of saying “how smart you are?”
“But due to her dalliance she lost her reputation and strength because people began looking down on her ‘the unfaithful.’ You see when she endeared herself to him she was an errand girl in the organization where he was a deputy executive. After affiancing her he helped her to pursue education from high school up to university level in extension programs. I cannot tell you the grand graduation ceremony he threw when she graduated. All and sundry were invited. He was never remiss in helping out the needy in the village.”
“I presume he cut a cherished corner in the hearts of the villagers,” I looked at the multitude of invitees packed in the tent.
“Have you not seen the flood of people that attended his funeral procession?”
“I was abroad for training,”
“I see, you didn’t hear about the cause of his death,” she craned her neck to funnel a secret.
“More often than not spending a quality time in night clubs along with boozing circles the subject of our discussion used to come late at night to knock the door a bit tipsy. Topsy-turvy the deceased used to get home late in the afternoon,” she once more smirked.
“How selfish and irresponsible she was?”
“She was facing a reckless endangerment. Though her husband and confessing father tried to make her to see to reason she turned a deaf ear. One cursed night, tugs in the village got embroiled in a clash while dividing the money they stole. You see thieves quarrel while they divide the wealth they acquired in a filthy way but not when they steal it.”
“What happened?”
“While they were hurling stones at one another split into two groups and when stones were smashing corrugated sheets the deceased ran out of home thinking his wife was in danger caught in the crossfire of stones.”
“Did he meet his end?”
“Yes, a stone banged the back of his neck. Though he was taken to hospital he proved brief. Unconscious he was uttering his wife’s name.”
“Oh my gush! Did she arrive on time?”
“No, she was tardy in coming as her mobile was switched off. Those who know where she hung out got her in person and informed her about the tragedy. She fainted but woke up soon.”
“A river of tears could not wipe out the pile of sins committed on this innocent man. The biblical excerpt Isaiah57:2 put on the invitation card is meticulously selected to portray the deceased,” I pulled out the card and showed it to the virago.
“Having shallow emotions I can assure you she will forget him soon. It is crocodile tears she is shedding,” the virago said gulping down the glassful of Tella.
“Yes, there is a saying ‘your attitude shows your altitude’, behaviorally the spouses were diametrically opposite,” when I got up to leave the tent she followed suit. When we bowed out, heading to the lady in point, the virago tapped her back “Bear it up we will let you back in shape.”
Outside the compound “as the priest indicated we have to engage in introspection and try to walk upright. Repentance without the conviction to change is futile,” I shook her hands goodbye.
“Yes, if you drag a just washed dress on the mud, it will rather gather more dirt,” smirking and laughing till her sides splat the virago went her way.
BY ALEM HAILU G/KRISTOS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2024
