Dulai would walk to and fro school with his friends in the bush path picking fruits and kicking bottles , while reflecting on the things he learnt in school and also from his dad. As it was he was papa's favorite being the first son before little Ali. His papa would tell him stories and fantasies from his childhood both the sad and happy ones, telling him the mistakes he made which he should be careful not to make. He enjoyed these moments with him especially on Saturdays while working on the farm with him. He would always tell him that he was a "man" and so he should be strong in any situation he finds himself.
One bright Saturday morning,as he was walking with papa briskly with hoes on their shoulders to the farm, they met a young man and woman who was likely in their early twenties. The young man was carrying a bundle of firewood which supposedly was the girl's, while the girl held a machete as they chatted along. Dulai noticed that papa smiled heartily while watching them. He wondered how he was smiling about . As the couple walked past them papa turned and said
"Ah! I could remember those days " , he gestured with his index finger at the back smiling.
"What days?". Dulai asked
" son, those days with your mum before we got married ", he said placing a hand on his shoulder. Dulai smiled at the mention of that.
" you helped mama with firewood?" , he asked lifting his head to stare at him and still found him smiling.
"Ah! A lot son , not just with firewood's including house chores whenever her parents were not around "
" you love mama very much, don't you?"
" A lot son. I love your mama . And I tell you, you should marry because of love and nothing else. You follow?" Papa asked in his usual phrase Which made Dulai smile.
" yes papa " Dulai answered reflecting on what he told him. That was the first time he taught him something about love.
" marry a woman because you love her and always remember to follow your heart and use your head too okay?"
" yes papa ". Dulai answered wishing he could continue the bit about love but, papa already seemed resolved as he tugged his head playfully.
" hahaha" , dulai laughed as he chased him to the farms route.
Dulai was a little boy but he never forgot the teachings of his father, especially the bit about love which papa must have forgotten he told him but it never escaped his little and sharp mind. He would often watch how his papa and mama interacted and how mama would always laugh heartily at papa's funny jokes. He always wished that when he grows up he would find a beautiful woman just like his mama and love and marry her, and they would live happily with their kids . "Even though marriage is not without it's own challenges". So he heard his papa say.
His sisters were sometimes jealous of him. He learnt a lot just because he was close to papa and moreover he went to school and acquired more knowledge. Sometimes they would try to eavesdrop on them but mama wouldn't let them. She would call on them to come and help her with the chores.
" Eli! Sarah!", she would often call. " leave dulai and his father they're men . You are both growing into women. You ought to stay close to me your mother, in this kitchen not with your papa!". She would scold them . Dulai would smile at hearing this and would feel proud of being called a "man" as they said.