It Begins

Chinedu sat cross-legged in the dusty semi-circle in the center of the village. He knew the tale Sebastian sang better than the young bard—a good tale at that—but could not keep his mind from wandering from the song, as though it were a chore to listen. He glanced nervously around at the rest of the villagers, hoping he was merely distracted by personal affairs. As he glanced around the circle, he was diverted from his task by the strong gaze of Yavonne, sitting toward the front of the left end of the semi-circle.

Yavonne was holding her two-year-old son: he bore the name of his father, Jule, who had been killed in a quarrel over land just before his first son’s birth. Yavonne was the niece of Nathan, the old man reclining next to her; the village’s first bard—his face reflected the fears Chinedu tried to fight. When he finally broke his gaze from Yavonne, cursing his weakness, he saw Nathan’s discomfort. The old man’s face comforted Chinedu in more ways than one—he was not losing control over his mind—but confirmed his fears at the same time.

When the tale was finished, the townsfolk meandered off towards their homes rather quickly. No one stayed around; no one was moved to stay. Sebastian put away his lyre, nodded toward Chinedu, and left, as well. Chinedu wondered to himself how the young man could appear so calm in the face of such…failure, was the only word that came to Chinedu’s mind. He shuffled off towards his small hut at the south edge of the village, his head hanging low, his lips mumbling the tale Sebastian sang.

“Chinedu!”

He was so startled he nearly fell. When he realized it was Yavonne standing near the door of his hut, he did stumble, but managed to maintain his balance.

“You nearly stepped on Jule.”

The toddler was shuffling around on his untested feet just a foot and a half in front of Chinedu, and Chinedu had not even noticed. Yavonne’s dark hair framed her sun-tanned face in a way that made Chinedu feel 20 years younger. A man of 45 should not feel these things, he told himself.

“You are not a failure, Chinedu,” she said matter-of-factly, yet with clear empathy.

“How can you say that, Yavonne? The whole village hurried away from the telling, tonight. The heart of the tale was missing! When the people gather for a telling, it is not a chore. It is to be a delight, and a renaissance of our communal spirit. We cannot afford to lose our…I mean, the village cannot afford to lose their soul in such uncertain times…” He trailed off, looking lost.

Picking up again, he said, “35 years, I have sojourned among your kinsmen, and still, I cannot connect to their hearts. Sebastian learns all that I teach him; he memorizes every scrap of information with hardly any effort. But, he sings a tale as if he’s recounting a list of herbs. It’s a chore to him. There is none of his heart in the telling. I have failed to reach his heart with the stories of this people.”

“Chinedu, you carry the heart of the Kannah people as deeply as Nathan. And, you have always communicated to my heart. When will you sing me the love songs of your mother’s tongue, again? Jule has been gone for more than two years. My son needs a father, and I want no one but you. I hold you responsible for my widowhood. You backed down once, I beg you not to do so again.”

He was stunned. How dare she speak with no concern for propriety! How dare she accuse him of responsibility for her widowhood!

After a moment, he closed his mouth, and lowered his gaze. “You speak the truth. I was a fool and a coward to not stand for my claim to your hand so many years ago. I will speak to Nathan tomorrow. You should leave now. It is not proper, and I am no suitable company tonight. I must rest. I will redouble my efforts with Sebastian.” And, he turned towards the door flap on his hut with a great sigh.

Yavonne bowed slightly and let him pass. Her eyes beamed with intense energy, yet creased with a tear. She smiled with joy, but her lip quivered in concern. She gathered young Jule in her arms, and turned back toward the center of the village where her stone house stood next to Nathan’s.

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