Son of The Soil and Other Stories

By Uwem Umana

This collection is a continuation of Uwem’s compilation of his life as a teacher and an expat living in the city of Abu Dhabi. Uwem has brought into his writing, his detailed observation skills which have made him turn ordinary daily occurrences into extraordinary tales. This volume features The Pearl by his daughter Pearl Umana. The story The Pearl was first publicly read to a group of year 5 students at the British School, Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi. It was warmly received and celebrated. This volume documents his experiences as a teacher and expat – in the bare and untamed state.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Uwem Umana
• Release date: Jan 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005939038

Uwem Umana

Uwem is a teacher, leader, poet, business analyst and short story teller. His stories are inspired from the simple occurrences of daily life. His voice is authentic as he expresses his stories in a unique way that always leaves his readers and followers wondering if a part 2 or next part is coming.

Book preview

Son Of The Soil and Other Stories

Copyright 2021 Uwem Mbot Umana

All rights reserved. This eBook or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Edited and formatted by C. M. Okonkwo

Published in the United Kingdom

CONTENTS

A word from the author

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: I Forgive You

Chapter 2: Turning Point

Chapter 3: The Green Snake In The Green Grass

Chapter 4: Mermanie

Chapter 5: Danbuzza

Chapter 6: The Pearl by Pearl Umana

Chapter 7: Advice From A Good Friend

Chapter 8: Son Of The Soil

Chapter 9: The Teacher As A Seer

Chapter 10: I Made His Day

Chapter 11: A Day In Sparks Vocational School

About this Ebook

A Word From The Author

I seek to bring the art of storytelling alive once more from a written perspective. My culture and roots are etched in the great art of storytelling. Great lessons of life are provided from storytelling sessions. Education, art, history, geography, science, anthropology, social studies, medicine, and religion can all be traced back to this ancient art. In traditional African societies and other ancient traditions, this was a great skill that was revered. In king’s palaces and communities, skilled storytellers served as resident literary artists, poets, and/or minstrels. It is through this art that knowledge has been transmitted from generation to generation. Through this art, I seek to reconnect my audience with the experience of learning and enriching the readers’ minds, whilst enjoying the art of narration.

Uwem Mbot Umana

Author & Founder of www.enrichyourmind.co.uk

Acknowledgements

Special thanks go to the EYM team: Zion Thompson – consultant, Pearl Umana – guest literary artist, Itoro Umana – graphic designer, and Sharon and John Umana, who have always been my first audience.

Chapter 1: I Forgive You

The tension was so thick as we stepped into the room that I could literally slice through it with a knife. It was an awkward moment, and the only focus I could zoom into was the white tunic that was worn by Abu Maoum. It presented the only hope there ever was.

Though it was wintertime, the air conditioner was on. The square-shaped room was freezing, and the hum generated by the air conditioner was disturbing. The room wasn’t well decorated, perhaps to depict the serious mood. Two comfortable sofas sat by the sides of the room not too far from a large rectangular desk placed at the centre of the room with two chairs in front of it and a big black one behind it. A huge woman in black sat on the latter. We could only see her face. Black was usually associated with obsequies and elegies, however, in this part of the world, black was associated with ladies and latency. The wall behind the huge woman was decked with bookshelves containing nicely and neatly stacked folders with a thin film of dust clinging on them.

In front of the lady sat an elderly man with a grave look on his face. He wore a pair of spectacles that was thick with black frames. His white tunic was spotless and a sharp contrast to the demeanour in the room. He was Abu Maoum, Maoum’s father.

Sitting on the other chair opposite the woman was a boy of about nineteen years of age. He was slender and wore a pair of dungarees like those worn in penitentiaries. He also looked scruffy and seemed to be shivering. I could spot some perspiration on his face. His legs were visibly shaking, almost knocking together. That was