The wounded captain: Episode 3 (The Gardener)
Introduction
Welcome to Episode three of the story "the wounded captain. In this episode you will read about the gardener.
The gardener
Akpatta had three servants, two night guards and a day guard. One of his house helps was also a gardener. Abia was fond of playing with his father's gardener. His name was Ndopnda. This name was given to him because it took him three years before he was able to crawl and walk. And when he clocked eighteen, his height and physical features were like those of a twelve-year old child.
Ndopnda had flat buttocks, partially due to many years of crawling and sitting before he was able to walk.
His peers were fond of jabbing him that his mother's sufferings and worry over getting him to walk, had eventually killed her."
Actually, Ndopnda's mother died three weeks after he was able to walk. And she had died of typhoid fever.
Meanwhile, Abia usually walked to the gardener while weeding the estate. Both of them would talk about everything -flowers, birds, houses, animals, furniture, leaves, sports and inventions.
Ndopnda was good at giving a typical analysis of any topic raised. His imaginative description of a subject which he had little or no idea was second to none.
He had spent fourteen out of eighteen years serving different masters and mistresses. He had also traveled from one part of the country to another. He spoke all the major languages in the country. In one of such discussion, Abia learnt that there were glass-houses. Abia wondered how glass houses might look like and its safety to the occupants.
'Look Abia, these my eyes have seen so many things.
Do you know that there is a certain electronic devices installed in some VIP houses that could attend to strangers when nobody is present in the house?
The moment a stranger rings the door bell, a pleasant voice would say who are you and how can I help you?
Then the electronic device would collect all the data and keep for the owner of the house.
Reptiles such as lizards and birds, like vultures which are forbidden here, are eaten somewhere else.
Some leaves like "Ogazi" and cassava leaves that are not used as food in this part of the area, are used as food elsewhere.
And do you know that the first engineers, the first lawyers and the first doctors were not trained," said Ndopnda.
At this point. Abia quickly threw back this question at him.
"How did they become professionals if they were not taught?"
If they had gone to school, who taught them?
Asked Ndopnda. This question on who taught them kept on ringing in his memory.
The knowledge of how scientists went to the moon and the production of weapons were also imparted to him by Ndopnda.
He was told of chemical warheads and scud missiles. He could not comprehend what they meant.
Ndopnda actually knew nothing about scud missiles and chemical warheads but was forced into mentioning them because the words were in his memory when his friend had talked last.
However, Abia didn't like his father's cook and steward. He hated them because they usually connived to deny him more meat in his meal. Both the steward and the cook often ate together.
One day, Abia passed by their plates of food and was shocked by the quantity of meat in their plates. Each time he saw the contents of their plates, he was forced to swallow saliva two or three times.
Both the cook and the steward were big boys. They did all the difficult jobs in the house. They swept the rooms, washed plates, and ironed clothes. They also split firewood, went to the market and cooked food.
The day Akpatta went out on a business trip and the cook and the steward were out to the market. Ndopnda made himself the boss and Abia became his servant.
Get me drinking water Abia,' said Ndopnda relaxing on Akpatta's upholstery. "Yes sir.' answered Abia. Abia came back to the palour with a glass of water in his hand.
'Here is it sir,' said Abia
Look here! How many times have I told you not to bring water to me in a glass?
Should I wait another ten more minutes for more glasses if my
isn't satisfied with one glass? asked Ndopnda.
I'm sorry sir,' said Abia Get out of my sight,' said Ndopnda.
Conclusion
Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you enjoyed episode 3 of this story. I believe you will come around for my stories and interesting articles.