The Heart That Ate Fear

Gobble was not a usual man. He was tall, was he bonkers, and had a voice strong enough to rattle the very earth. He lived in a small village called Okeja, surrounded by green hills and rivers that sang their own songs. But everyone in Okeja feared Gobble. When he walked through the village, people stayed away. Mothers called their children to come in and even the most powerful men lowered their eyes and refused to look at him.

Gobble did not talk much, and nobody knew his real name. People started to refer to him "Gobble" due to the way he ate. He would take big bites and eat so quickly that food seemed to disappear before anyone could blink. Sometimes, the village kids would gather secretly to watch him eat. They laughed quietly, but none of them dared to get too close.

Gobble’s life was lonely. He did not have any family, no wife, no children. He lived in a little hut at the discretion of the village. Some villagers said that he once had a family but that they left him because of his temper. Others believed he was cursed. Gobble did not argue with anyone about their stories; he just went on with his life, working hard in his farm, growing yams, cassava, and vegetables. Every day, he woke up before the sun, worked on his farm, and came back home to eat alone.

One day, a new family moved into the village. They were from the city and had come to Okeja to start a new life. The family had a little girl named Ada. She was a small and bold girl with inquisitive eyes. Unlike everyone else, she was not afraid of Gobble. Ada would go past his hut and wave, even though other children would take her away, telling her, "Don't talk to the 'big scary man'.

On a bright afternoon, Gobble was resting under a mango tree in front of his hut after working hard in the farm all day. Ada noticed him, and, to say no more, just approaches him. She held a mango in her little hand, her grin as sunny as the sun. “Hello, Gobble!” she said with excitement. Gobble looked at her, surprised. No one had ever been spoken to like that, certainly not by a small child.

What are you and why are you not scared," Gobble said, his voice as deep and as gritty as gravel.

“I’m Ada, and I am not afraid of you. Everyone says you are scary, but I don’t think so, she replied confidently, her smile never fading. Gobble could not help but smile a little. It had been years since anyone made him feel noticed, like he mattered.

From that day, Ada became a regular visitor to Gobble’s hut. She would bring him small gifts a sweet mango, fresh palm wine, or sometimes just her laughter and stories. Gobble found himself looking forward to her visits. He did not mind if people whispered and stared when they saw Ada by his side. For the first time in years, Gobble felt happy.

One day, Ada asked him, “Gobble, why don’t you have friends or family? The question made Gobble’s heart ache. He did not have an answer, not one that would make sense to a little girl. He inhaled deeply, and spoke, "There are many (people) worried that they do not know things. They talk, and eventually, those talks are reality, even if they are false.

Ada still did not quite grasp, but she gave his big, rough hand a firm squeeze between her tiny hand, and smiled. “You are my friend, Gobble. Don’t worry.”

Over time, the villagers started to observe the transformed Gobble. He smiled more often, greeted people, and even helped the women fetch water from the river. Quietly at first, they started to realize he wasn't a monster. It was Ada's innocence and sweetness that crumbled the ice around Gobble's heart and restored his village to his life.

But life can be cruel sometimes. One rainy season, a sickness spread through the village, and many people, including Ada, fell ill. Gobble was heartbroken to see his little friend lying weak and pale. He prayed every night, asking God to save her life. He remained at her side, cradling her hand and gathering herbs from the forest in an effort to get her better.

Days passed, and Ada slowly began to recover. The whole village knew that Gobble had done everything to save her. They saw how much he cared, how he had risked his own health to help her. People started seeing Gobble in a new light. There was no longer the strange guy who lived at the fringe of the village; he was now one of them.

When Ada finally got well, the villagers held a small feast to celebrate. They invited Gobble, and for the first time in ages, he sat out with them, eating, laughing, and telling stories. The fear was gone, replaced by respect and friendship.

From that day, Gobble was no longer just "the man who ate fast.". He was Ada’s friend, a nice man who had a heart big enough to want to love and be good to someone. He had come to feel at home in the village, not as a monster acting outside of it, but as a cherished member of it.

And Ada? She never forgot Gobble. She grew up knowing that kindness could change even the hardest heart, and Gobble remained her dear friend until the end of his days. In Okeja, one could always "hear" the tale of Gobble and Ada, a tale of friendship that forever altered a man and his community.

image source