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Open Your Eyes<br />
Su’eddie Agema<br />
Are you asleep?<br />
Listen to the drumming. It is the rain, marching to the hands <strong>of</strong> Baver the drummer. Do you<br />
remember his tale? Baver, the keeper <strong>of</strong> the heavenly drums. When the tears <strong>of</strong> the Almighty<br />
fall in torrents, he directs them in unison like a marching band. Tap tap tap tap… and many<br />
more taps… The sounds are like stones being thrown. With each succeeding tap that misses<br />
the ro<strong>of</strong> and hits the ground, there’s a hole created and fresh breath to a dusty earth; a smell<br />
that should leave you smiling in the hope <strong>of</strong> a good night’s rest.<br />
You remember the words <strong>of</strong> your father that whenever Baver sets out to beat his drum, there<br />
will be trouble. You do not need to see the red dots that peek from the place that should be<br />
the top <strong>of</strong> your wardrobe to be certain <strong>of</strong> this, but you see two menacing eyes accompanied<br />
by strange squeaks.<br />
Even as your legs start to dance a step that would have had Michael Jackson envious, you<br />
become the child once more who ran into the arms <strong>of</strong> his father. The memory <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> those<br />
nights comes to your mind. You had run and dived into his bed screaming: Daddy!<br />
“What is it? Is it the rain?” he had asked.<br />
“It is the dark!”<br />
“Ah… The dark. But I thought you were a strong boy?”<br />
“Yes, Daddy. I am a big boy.”<br />
At that time, you flexed your muscle, forgetting the fear. In the presence <strong>of</strong> your father you<br />
always found the ability to be a superhero. Your father had roared:<br />
“Hoohooohooo! My big boy. Now, let me tell you a story. It is about the skies. Whenever you<br />
60<br />
Tales from the Other Side
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