06/06/2024
Chapter 8
In the rural village, Ronald's parents were beside themselves with worry. Their son had been missing for days, and the search party had found no trace of him. The villagers gathered at the church, praying for his safe return.
The pastor spoke of Ronald's troubled past, of his rejection of their warnings, and wished God would hear their prayers and bring him home safely. Prayer vigils were held, and search parties combed the countryside for any sign that may lead to finding Ronald whether dead or alive.
“Tomorrow we will go to Ndabambi mountains to search in those sacred hills,” declared Munya, Ronald’s best friend.
Ronald's parents wept, knowing their son's fate was a result of his own choices. They prayed for his redemption, hoping he would find his way back to the path of righteousness. His mother prayed as if she was seeing and talking to a human God. “Please God, spare my son and I promise to make him an example to all the youth, please just give him one more chance at life,” she prayed with tears mixed with saliva and mucus, streaming down her ashen white cheeks which had not been washed since the day Ronald disappeared.
Meanwhile, Ronald was placed in a cavern just to rest from the torment he was facing. The pain subsided a bit and he was dreading being taken to the torture chamber again. He wished for a drop of water just to cool his tongue; his lips were dry and cracked from the heat in the torture place. A giant gourd of what looked like his favorite homemade beer was suddenly thrust in his face. He gulped the liquid with a gratitude he had never felt before.
“But how do they know my favorite beer?” he wondered. He wanted to grasp for air but the giant hand wouldn’t let him rest. He wanted to say, "please, I am now okay with this beer," but a force controlled his neck and he couldn’t twist it to avoid the gourd of beer. When he tried to grit his teeth, the giant whip connected with his bare back and he winced in pain. “Drink up, Ronald, this is your favorite brew.” A giant cigarette suddenly appeared and was thrust between his lips. He just pulled on it because the giant whip had been raised. “This is going to be routine for the rest of your stay here in your new home,” said the shapeless animal.
He was then taken to another cave where they seemed to leave him for a few minutes. He started regretting his past life and actions. "Is this what they call hell?" He realized the error of his ways, regretting his ridicule of the church, his parents, and the advice of others. He understood now that they had tried to save him from this very torment.
As he lay there, a faint light appeared in the distance. It grew brighter, illuminating the dark cavern. The creatures cowered, covering their eyes. Ronald shielded his own eyes, wondering if this was his chance to escape...
Chapter 9
Christ died for us all and we get a second and third chance if only we ask for forgiveness.
The Light of Redemption
Ronald's eyes, once blinded by arrogance, now beheld the light with a newfound humility. He prayed with a sincerity he never knew he possessed, "Oh God, I was blind, but now I see. I ridiculed your messengers, ignored your warnings, and rejected your love. Forgive me, please. Give me one last chance to make amends, to live a life worthy of your mercy."
Tears streamed down his face as he begged for redemption, "I promise to use my life to help others, to spread love and kindness, to be a beacon of hope. I will honor my parents, respect the church, and cherish the wisdom of those who tried to guide me. Please, God, don't let my story end here. Give me another chance."
The light enveloped him, and Ronald felt a warmth he had never known before. It was as if God's embrace had enveloped him, comforting him, and reassuring him that his prayer had been heard.
At that moment, Ronald knew he had been given a second chance. He vowed to make the most of it, to live a life that would bring joy to others and honor to God. The creatures, sensing his transformation, slunk away, their darkness dispelled by the light of Ronald's newfound faith.
As the creatures seemed to be blinded by the light, Ronald gathered all his strength and bolted out through an opening in the cave. He ran as if a horde of evil spirits was chasing him. Tears and sweat blurred his vision, but he kept on running. He didn’t care where he was going as long as he was away from those hideous creatures. A soft voice sang, "Lord, I'm coming home." It seemed as if he was in the bowels of the earth because he could only see caves and crevices. Birds flew in his path, and these were more normal than the ones he had experienced a few moments back. He started seeing a light from where he was going and ran toward the source. Water was dripping from the roof of the cave, but he was afraid of stopping to taste the water and get caught. He kept on running. The opening led him out of the cave into a wooded area and a river close by. Suddenly he realized this was the Ngondoma River. He kept on running, seeing more familiar landscapes. He caught up with Madyira, an old man from the Munyati area, who was explaining to Muvha that he was coming from the funeral of Ronald Ndlovu. Ronald stopped and tried to greet Madyira, but it seemed he was invisible. He felt frustrated and hurt and resumed running. As he got closer to his homestead, he saw many who had gathered outside his mother’s kitchen hut. He went straight to his mother and tried talking to her, but she seemed not to see him.
Chapter 10: The Return
Two days ago, the search party had gone to Ndabambi forest and failed to find his body. He was only discovered by a herdsman in the Mabura caves where his body had been trapped. They had brought him home, and now they were doing the body viewing before taking it to the grave. People were singing, and dancing, and some were wailing uncontrollably.
They mourned his passing, remembering the troubled young man who had rejected their warnings and advice. His parents wept, their hearts heavy with grief, yet also with a sense of regret for not being able to reach their son before it was too late.
The villagers prepared his body for burial, dressing him in his finest clothes and placing him in a simple wooden coffin.
Meanwhile, Ronald's spirit went to the open wooden coffin to see whose body was in it. He noticed that it was himself. With anger, he shook the coffin, and it fell to the ground. All the people suddenly stopped talking and singing. The body rolled, and slowly people moved away.
The villagers paused, confused, as Ronald's spirit began to reenter his physical body. His eyes flickered open, and he took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with newfound life.
Chapter 11: New Beginnings
It was mayhem as everyone ran in all directions. Limbs were broken as people tried to outrun the next person. This was a ghost for real, and nobody wanted to be close to the coffin. The pastor was the fastest of them all; no one wanted to die. Ronald’s mother was not sure whether she wanted her son back or this ghost. The father was the first to gather the courage to come closer to the coffin. Ronald tried to stand and leaned on the nearby wooden bench for support. He tried to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper, "Forgive... me..."
His mother and other elderly people came back slowly, holding each other for support. Death is not easy to come to terms with, and a dead person belongs to the grave. Ronald’s mother had mixed emotions: joy, fear, and trepidation. "Ronald, our son, you're back!" They embraced him, holding him tight as if they'd never let him go again.
The pastor finally approached with a warm smile on his face. "Welcome back, Ronald. You've been given a second chance. Use it well."
Ronald looked around at the villagers, who were now gathered around to see this ghost speaking, many of whom he had wronged in the past. "I'm... sorry. I was blind, but now I see. Please, forgive me."
The villagers, seeing the genuine remorse in his eyes, began to nod, their faces softening. "We forgive you, Ronald. Welcome back to the community." Mai Pumu stood up and began singing her favorite song, “Huvepo Hwa Mwari huripano” and the villagers joined her, dancing and hugging each other as if it was them that had faced death. Soja, the short guy, blew the hwamanda as if his life depended on it. Madenga beat the drum, and celebrations began. Ronald tried to join the dancing, but his body felt stiff. He sat down, watching his fellow villagers dancing and ululating, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
As they helped him to sit comfortably, Ronald knew his journey was far from over. He had a long road ahead, making amends and rebuilding trust. But with his newfound faith and determination, he was ready to face the challenge.
