Family (a short fiction story)

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Maxi Eze could be seen under the giant mango tree, it was obvious he had come there to relax and enjoy the breeze coming from the tree. One thing the people of Azulu village were known for is the large number of trees in their land. Almost every house had it's own tree and those trees are always used as shelters for times like this when the sun is shining heavily.

Maxi was trying to get some sleep when the noise coming from his house got his attention. As usual his two teenage son's Uche and Obi were at each other's head again. He watched them for a while as they both throw words at each other before making his presence known. The boys kept quiet and tried to move back into the house the moment they noticed their fathers presence but it's was too late.

Maxi knew if he allowed them to continue like this then there won't be that love and peace a family is known to share. So he called both his son's together and asked them to sit beside him.

"I have a story to tell you two and you must listen attentively. This story I'm about to tell you kid's has been passed from generation to generation until it got to me and now I'm about passing it to you guys." Maxi said to his son's who seemed focused.

A long time ago in this village, there was a young man known as Emeka whose father had sent to the farm to go fetch some fire woods. On his way to the farm, he saw a man who was bleeding on the floor struggling for his life. The man had been stabbed with a machete and the perpetrator of the crime had fled the scene.

When Emeka came across the dying man he didn't know what to do. Was he to ignore the man and continue his journey or try to help the man. His father had always told him that it was good to do good and that those who help others always get favoured by the gods. So Emeka dropped his own machete beside him and bent down to lift the bleeding man.

The man was soaked everywhere with blood, he was practically drowning in his own blood. As Emeka bent down to lift up the man, he heard two young men scream behind him. The scream startled him that he nearly ran away.

"Thank the gods you guys are here please help me let's take him to the village native doctor" Emeka pleaded but was surprised with the response he got.

"Oh we should come and help you after you've killed him right? " one of the men asked ..

And before Emeka knew it, the village youth had gathered around him threatening to burn him alive for committing murder.

Maxi paused and looked at his sons to make sure they were paying attention before he continued...

All plead from Emeka fell on deaf ears, the evidence in front of him was incriminating. They believed the machete that was with him was what he had used in committing the crime.

Luckily for Emeka the elders got to the scene in time before the youths could carry out their jungle justice. The elders asked that the young man be taken to the king first to hear his judgement before any action were to be carried out.

At the King's palace, Emeka's parent and siblings all came to plead with the king to let their son and brother go. They believed that their son didn't commit such offence. But the king ignored their plead, instead he banished Emeka from the kingdom never to return.

But something happened right after he passed his judgement, he noticed that the family stick together. They refused to let one of them go instead they said they would all leave the village with Emeka. This single act moved the king. He saw the love and bond this family shared and so he decided to investigate properly into the matter before enforcing his judgement.

Three days later the truth was revealed. It turned out the bleeding man was a thief who had gone to steal from the neighboring village and had sustained some serious injury there before fleeing for his life. Unfortunately he didn't make it to the village native doctor before taking his last breath.

Maxi ended his story...

My son's the reason why I'm telling you kids this story is so that you will see the importance of family, if Emeka's family hadn't threatened to go with their son, the king would have banished him and their family named would have be soiled. So my son's I give you this wisdom today, learn to care for yourself and never forget, family comes first.