Grass to Grace

By Daniel Eyisi

The book is about a man named Odin, who was an orphan and the only surviving child of his parents. Unlike his peers, he neither received parental care nor an education. He grew up with no proper livelihood, but he was not bothered so long as he had food to eat for the day. He has only one friend, named Ndu.

One day, the water leaking from his tattered roof onto his food made him despair. It was then that he started to think about his life for the first time in twenty-nine years. He asked his only friend, Ndu, to help him change his life. Ndu was very happy about Odins sudden change and promised to assist him in every aspect.

One change led to another, taking Odin beyond his wildest expectations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524637422

Daniel Eyisi

Daniel Eyisi is a doctoral student in education at Queen’s University of Belfast, United Kingdom. After his primary and secondary education, he proceeded to Bendel State University for his degree in physics education. Upon completion of his first degree, he moved to University of Lagos for a master’s degree in education, specializing in curriculum studies. He has almost two decades of teaching experience in both private and public schools. Eyisi was a lecturer at FCT College of Education, Zuba-Abuja, Nigeria, before moving to the United Kingdom for his doctoral program.

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© 2016 Daniel Eyisi. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/11/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-3741-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-3742-2 (e)

Print information available on the last page.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

To God Almighty, from whom all wisdom and knowledge flows

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I DEEPLY APPRECIATE MY loving wife, Roseline Eyisi; and my children, Goodness, Praise, and Faith for their cooperation, understanding, and perseverance all through the years of writing this book. I am indebted to my brothers, Emeka Eyisi, Ifeanyi Eyisi, and Engr John I. Eyisi for all their contributions, making my academic training a reality. I wish to offer a special thanks to my friend Professor Emeka Okafor for going through the manuscript of this book despite many other commitments. My appreciation also goes to Umar Ismaila Egbako for his contribution in typing some of the manuscript.

My profound gratitude also goes to the Graduate School of Queen’s University Belfast for the motivation given to me through their vigorous and continuous training in writing and publishing. It motivated me to resume work on this book, which I had written and then abandoned for some years.

INTRODUCTION

T HE STORY AND names in this book are all fiction, though they might in some ways unintentionally fit someone else’s life. The purpose in writing this book is to develop the imaginative and creative abilities in the readers, especially the young ones, so that they will have confidence in themselves and never lose hope in life. This will also enable them to link their imaginative and creative initiatives to real-life situations as they remain focused.

However, it is also expected that the readers will gain the zeal to increase and expand their reading culture. The simplicity of the language used will encourage busy readers and even the reluctant readers to start reading more.

This book also aims to inspire both youths and adults alike to make use of their God-given talents, wisdom, and good health instead of sitting around waiting for their government to put bread and tea in their mouth. Age is not a barrier to your attaining lofty heights.

CHAPTER 1

O DINAKACHUKWU—ODIN—NDUKAKU WAS THE only surviving child of four children. His father died when he was two and half years old, so he never knew his father’s love. Five years later, his mother was wounded while on a nearby farm. She received treatment from one of the town’s native doctors but passed away after some months due to poor treatment resulting from financial difficulties.

Odin was now an orphan, but he managed to survive. He didn’t care about anything except getting enough food to eat for the day. Odin was quite strong, so he could help people and, in turn, get food for the day. To think of a future was a waste of time to Odin since he was not known for any particular skill or job. One morning as he was taking his breakfast, rain began to fall. The water leaking from his tattered roof filled the plate of cooking oil he was using to eat yams. He got annoyed because there was no other place in the small hut where he could take refuge. He couldn’t eat the yams even after the rain stopped.

It was then that he started thinking about himself and the leaking roof for the first time in his twenty-nine years. He was sitting on the only bench in the hut, thinking, when his friend Ndu came in. He accused Ndu of not being any help to him since he was the only friend he had in their town, Agibi. Ndu, a father of three, stood still and could not understand what was happening.

Have I do you any wrong? he asked.

Odin laid out his problems before Ndu, who was surprised to discover him in such a bad mood. Odin told him how he was always being disturbed by the rain, day and night. He said that there was nothing in his hut except his cooking pots and plates. He did not have any chickens, goats, or sheep like Ndu did. He had neither farm nor barn, which is of great importance in the Igbo society. He asked Ndu if he ever advised him on those things.

Ndu allowed him to talk himself out and then sighed with relief. It’s time we have a talk, he said. He thanked Odin for being reflective for the first time. Ndu asked Odin if he’d ever seen a healthy person going to hospital. He reminded Odin of the common saying that heaven helps those who help themselves. Then he said that the doctor does not cure an unseen sickness. Ndu added, Now that you have described your problems, I will know where to start from and what to do.

At this point, Ndu’s friend, who was going to market with a basket of yam seedlings (ukpa-ji), called on Ndu so they could go to the market together. Instead of following his friend to the market, Ndu bought the yam seedlings from his friend and gave them to Odin to keep for him until he needed the seedlings.

Odin later followed them to the market, where they discussed a lot of issues. Odin, who had never been to the market before, was exposed to the market life. Ndu was able to buy a hoe, which he also gave to Odin to keep until needed. Odin followed Ndu to and fro through the market. Since people had started paying Odin in cash for any work he did for them, instead of in kind, he could at least buy a bit of snuff, which he had never done before.

On the next market day, Ndu called on him, and they went to the market together again. When they got there, Ndu took him round the market and showed him different items. They were able to buy some roofing materials to repair Odin’s leaking roof.

When they got home, Ndu helped Odin repair his leaking roof and told Odin to use the old materials they’d removed from the roof to cover the place where he kept the yam seedlings. Odin’s barn had taken shape, and before he knew it, Ndu’s wife brought him another two baskets of yam seedlings.

At this time, Odin’s life started to change for the better. He could now reason and think about tomorrow. He bought other household items by himself. Every market day, he bought some items until there was no space in his small hut. Now he needed a bigger house and, if possible, a separate kitchen with storage.

One evening, he paid a visit to Ndu. Evening visits were not unusual, but this one was different. Odin was very happy, not only because he could bring his bottle of snuff in his pocket, but also because he wanted to reveal his plan to build a new house to Ndu.

As he was discussing his plans with Ndu in his obi (the main house in the compound meant for the man and his male children), Ndu’s wife came in with a bowl of pounded cassava and bitter-leaf soup. They ate together and drank palm wine.

When they finished eating and drinking, Ndu’s daughter, Adanma, came in and cleared the floor. Ndu brought out his bottle of snuff and beat it with his thumb. Odin immediately told him to save his snuff because he came with his own to share. They talked and laughed as they took Odin’s snuff. They talked about the happenings in their town and imagined how the year’s planting season would be.

After a while, Odin cleared his throat, and Ndu paused. In Igbo culture, for a man to clear his throat during a discussion means he is about to say something very important. It’s said that both the dead and the living will be attentive to what the person says. Odin told Ndu about his plan to build a house, obi, and hut (nkpuke).

Ndu was very pleased with his friend’s intention and promised him assistance from that moment till the completion of the house. Odin rose to his feet and thanked Ndu for his brotherly assistance. Ndu followed him halfway to his house, and they parted ways.

Odin got home very late and found his way to his mat. There he lay alone, thinking and battling with the heat in the house and the pain in his stomach due to overeating. Suddenly, he remembered that he had not taken his bath that night, so he got up. He took the bowl, went to the well, and drew water. He removed his knickers and wrapper and hung them on the stick so that he could take his bath. Odin had never realized the importance of clean water because he had used pond water all his life. But now that visiting people was of great importance to him, he was acquainted with clean water. He looked at the water in the bowl in the moonlight and felt dejected by its brownish colour. Since he needed a bath that night, he took the bowl of water to the shed in front of the house where he could not see its colour. The nature of the water was forgotten, and he had his normal bath.

CHAPTER 2

L YING FLAT ON his mat, Odin could hear the shrilling of insects and other nocturnal animals. He could not sleep because his brain was actively engaged. Going back and forth between thinking about the ends and means, he kept asking himself how and when . He finally picked out a consoling expression: A friend in need is a friend indeed. And after a short while, he slept. Odin fell into a strange nightmare. He watched Ndu’s son, Adirika, setting his house on fire. He shouted and called Ndu to come and see what his son was doing, but Ndu appeared to approve. Odin was enraged and lifted Adirika with the intent of smashing him on the ground. He awoke to find he was alone and had only been dreaming.

This is terrible! How can this be? Could this happen to me? Impossible, Odin; you are a dreamer. But my dream has always been the