The Boy With The Ring
In Ketu's village, Guba, a 14-year-old boy from a very humble family, his parents are extremely poor· The mother left the family when Guba was 5 and his brother 2 years old· She left because she couldn't cope with the struggles of bringing up the family· This affected the boys, not having a mother at such a young age· Since then, the family has been living on debts and the little farming the father could handle·
On this particular day, Guba was sleeping in the room when he started hearing some loud voices, shouts, and rants outside their house· He was disturbed by the thought, "Who could be shouting this early morning? It's just 6 am·" He never opened his eyes on the mat he slept with his brother, who was sleeping undisturbed· Then the noise became very persistent, and he started hearing insults· He jumped up from the mat and discovered his father was not there· He sat down with a troubled face on the mat and said, "Obadu," which means "trouble" in his dialect· It was one of the men his father owed; the man had come to insult his father, as usual, for the overdue debts· Then he said to himself, "I will do whatever it takes to get us out of this life·" After 25 minutes, the noise went down, and the father returned to the room, looking disheartened and down· He saw the look on Guba's face and sat down on his mat; he almost had nothing to say· Guba turned to him and said, "Father, everything is going to be alright someday·" His father forced a smile and responded, "I know·"
A few hours later, Guba was sent to get some food from the farm· It's normal for a child of age 10 to be able to go to the farm on his own· Guba, being 14, is more than enough· On his way to the farm, suddenly, he slipped and rolled on the ground for 10 seconds, then he found himself beside a tree· As he stood up, he saw a ring on a short tree branch, as if the ring was calling him· He turned back to find his way, which he did, ignoring the ring· As he was about to leave, he had a second thought and suddenly made a u-turn and went straight to the ring· He put it on, and he felt a surge in his body immediately· He touched the tree, and he saw some flashes; it seemed like a memory· He quickly removed his hand and went his way·
When Guba returned from the farm, he decided to confirm what actually happened when he touched the tree the other time· Probably it was a coincidence; this was his thought· "I want to know for sure," he said as he closed his eyes and said, "Show me what you can do?" Nothing happened· He sat down and said, "I knew it wasn't the ring·" Then he rested his hands on the wall, and the whole drama that happened in the morning came to his mind· Suddenly, he began to witness the whole thing again, like a déjà vu· So he removed the ring, and everything stopped· He put the ring back on and said, "I want to see my dad·" He rested on the wall, and he could see his father walking through the street· He removed the ring and said, "I can see the past and the present with this ring· What if it can see the future too?" He tapped his lips· "I'm going to practice how to use this ring and master it," he said·
Three months later, it was the annual yam festival in Ketu's village· All the villagers were assembled in the village square, each man with at least 2 of their biggest yams· This year was a challenge; whoever brings the biggest yam will be blessed by the king and shall enjoy the King's wealth· Guba was there with his father as well, and with all the yams placed there, Guba's father's yam seemed to be the biggest· As they were about to announce the winner, suddenly, there were gunshots, and everyone scattered to save their lives; it was the bandits from the other village· The King was not at the festive ground; he was represented by a Eunuch· In a matter of minutes, they carted all the yams away, and that was the end of the festival· It was something that had never happened before, so no one expected it· Where Guba was, he became troubled and completely down; he had hoped the festival would turn their life around· Then a thought occurred to him· "I can solve this," he said as he rushed to the palace, leaving his father behind· The Eunuch was already back in the palace and had already narrated all that happened to the King· Guba, getting to the palace, wanted to enter but was stopped by guards· Then he shouted, "Your Majesty, I know where the bandits are· Allow me to speak with you, and I will prove it·" Guba was brought before the King; he knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I can see things that have happened, the present, and the future· So I know where the thieves are right now· Dispatch 20 guards now, sir· Go to Igrima camp near the border between Ketu and Lanku village; they are there as we speak, disarmed· I swear on my life I'll be here with you and prove that I'm right until they return·" "Do as the boy says," the King told his Eunuch· After an hour, Guba faced the king and said, "Your majesty, they've apprehended the bandits, and they are on their way here·" The king didn't believe; after a while, the guards arrived outside the palace, and one of them came into the palace and knelt· "Your majesty, we've apprehended them, and we are back· We came back with the stolen items as well·" The king became happy and turned to the boy· "What is your name?" Softly Guba replied, "Guba, your majesty·" "You have saved our village today· Tell me, what do you want me to do for you?" Before Guba could reply, a guard entered and said, "Your majesty, a man is outside; he said his son is missing·" Guba just cuts in, "That's my father·" The king told the guard, "Bring him in·" As he entered, he hugged his son· "Your son has saved us," he looked surprised (Guba's father)· "From today, you are now a chief, and Guba will be the King's eyes to his last days·" This was how Guba's story changed· They were given a new house, they became wealthy, and paid off their debts·
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Image by melvin Ankrah