Sad Feeling - Creative Nonfiction Prompt #31
It was a warm evening, the sun rays were gradually fading as it left the sky with hues. Grandpa was in his barn filled with different kinds of harvested crops. Immediately I heard him wrestling, I ran into the barn and together we began searching for the most hefty yam tuber to round off the day with.
After a long search, we found the one that suits his taste. Even without the fire on, I was already imaginatively getting the scent of a finished roasted yam. Together we walked to the Skewer where he made fire and the yam roasting began. As the yam dried, crackled sound could be heard thus releasing a delicious scent to the air.
My face was filled with joy as I could see even the flames of the fire dancing to the lingering scent of the yam. Suddenly, the village town crier interrupted the moment with a notification bell. Anytime the bell is heard, it's for the elders of the village to gather in the town hall for a meeting.
Grandpa, unsure of what to do with the yam, asked "can I entrust this yam in your care? You have been watching me Everytime I roast yam, your grandma is asleep and missing the meeting is paying a fine."
Suddenly, the kind of confidence I have never felt before came in me. "Grandpa, roasting yam doesn't look like what a 13 year old girl can't do."
"This sounds like she has learnt all the tactics."
"That's part of it and I have also been seeing papa Ekene roast yam whenever I go to Ekene's house. But the truth is yours tastes better."
"Alright then, over to you my little miss. Once you are done, put it in a neat plate and await my arrival," he said and left for the meeting.
"Alright, I will need to add more wood to the fire to make it roast fast. It should be ready before grandpa returns," I said to myself as I left the yam in the hot heating charcoal to fetch wood.
As I was gathering in the woods, I saw Ekene approaching.
"What are you doing with bundles of wood?"
"Yeah, I'm privileged to do the yam roasting today as my grandpa had gone for a meeting."
"You wouldn't believe what happened in school today. You like rushing back home after closure missing all the important gists."
"Not all the time but grandpa told me I should come meet them at the farm after school. That was why." I said.
"So, Ebuka, the trouble shooter in senior class, fought with Mrs Lizzy, the English language teacher 😂😂😂. As the principal came out to...". He was interrupted by my grandma who just woke up from sleep.
"What are you two doing there and what is the smell of that i'm perceiving?" Immediately I remembered the yam I'm roasting and I ran to check only to see the part I left on the heated charcoal without turning burnt.
"And you, will you go back home and do all the chores awaiting you? My grandma chased Ekene as he ran home.
My grandma came and took over the roasting as I watched her in silence because she was already angry because I allowed myself to be carried away with mere discussion.
Just as she brought out the yam from the heat, my grandpa arrived. "The scent I'm getting isn't like mine. Hope is not what I'm thinking?" He let out a laugh.
Grandma finished cleaning up the yam, divided them into different sizes and brought out a well garnished red oil with pepper and onions added to it and went in to call my grandpa. We sat together devouring the roasted yam. I knew my grandma had told grandpa everything and he wasn't the type that let any slight mistake pass.
"Your grandma told me how you allowed Ekene to distract you with his stories . I'm sure he must have spiced it up to sound interesting. But this is what I want to let you know." He drank a cup of water and continued.
"Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well, next time don't pay more attention to unimportant things, neglecting the most important. Such life won't take you far in life," he advised.
"Distraction is something that will teach you nothing but cost you something. You're being distracted by Ekene, an 11 year old boy. Ekene has been roasting yam for his father and he does it perfectly even with friends gathering around him. Who knows how worse it would have been if I had not woken up," my grandma added more salt to the injury.
I felt so bad disappointing my grandparents. All my expectations were to give it my best in order to earn praise from them but I was carried away by Ekene's story. I apologized and promised to never let distraction have the best of me next time. Although it has not been easy, I have been trying to live by my Grandpa's advice from that day on.
THE END
I AM @marynn,
THANKS FOR VISITING MY BLOG AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY WORK.
Ekene was indeed a distraction. You should be able to roast yam at thirteen if you live in the village but city girls cannot though.
It made a nice read.
Well done !
You are right. Growing up in the rural area taught me lots of things and I had fun. Thanks so much for your comment and for taking your time to read my work.
I hope you have learned your lesson! In my country, when that happens, we say it's because of "chisme": food burns, milk overflows, water burns. Apparently, when we cook, we have to be attentive to what we have on the fire, without getting distracted, unless we are like Ekene who can cook perfectly well with people around her. Greetings and thank you for sharing your story.
I learnt my lesson. Even till now, I always try to avoid being distracted whenever I want to do something important. I prioritize important things first and it been indeed helpful.
Thanks so much dear for your comment @nancybriti1 .
You would have lost the yam to the burning charcoal due to Ekene's distractive story. Your grandpa's advice of not allowing unimportant things to distract you is a good advice for everyone.
Yeah dear @ubani . You know grandparents with gray hair have all the wisdom words on their fingertips. Then I was little, I didn't really understood what they meant but as I advanced, I began to find meaning in their advice. Thanks for stopping by and for your nice words.
This text conveys a valuable lesson about the importance of concentration and responsibility. You learn from your mistake of getting carried away by your friend's stories instead of accomplishing your assigned task. The grandfather's advice highlights the importance of doing things correctly and not letting distractions distract us from our responsibilities.
Overall, the text conveys a positive message about concentration, responsibility and the importance of doing our best at our tasks. It teaches us that distractions can be detrimental and that it is essential to learn to prioritize and focus on what really matters.
Yeah. I'm excited reading through this comment from the beginning till the end. You read and understood exactly the theme of the story. Thanks so very much for the time you took out to read and contribute on a very insightful way in my post. You are a great writer, many of your publications I have read were mind blowing. Keep the fire burning and keep growing.
What matters the most is that you were remorseful for your actions and you also openly took correction. It's actually always a privilege to get advice from grandparents but in good situations.
This was beautiful read dear✨.
Yeah @wongi , I regretted how I allowed Ekend distract me from what was under my care. But at the other hand, my careless attitude opened an avenue for me to learn something new.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
An amazing conclusion.
Have a good day✨
Thanks @wongi . Thank you and same wishes here.
This has to be the saddest most funny story I've read. Disappointing people we love can be painful to us and people like Ekene, them full ground. Your grandparents advice is sooo relatable and something I came to know for myself with time.
.Anytime I remember how the whole thing happened then @deraaa I'm left with nothing but just smiles. But then, I'm grateful to the kind of grandparents I had. They don't correct with "doctor do good" all the time instead they use words. Many of their advices shaped me to be a better person.
This is such a sad story. I know how it feels to disappoint someone important especially after you boasted about having it under control. Ekene sha looks like someone that enjoys dishing out gist a lot. Your story is funny and heartfelt at the same time.🌺
I'm so excited you understood my story @jhymi . I mean, I have been disturbing my grandpa in several occasions to let me handle the roasting for him and just like he knew, he would insist.
He was left with no choice that fateful day and with the convincing way I have been asking him to pass over the task to me, he felt it's something I can truly handle. But I disappointed him and that made me never let off the memory off my brain.
Next time no allow Ekene engage you in gist that you can hear anytime. 😂It was a pleasure reading your story @marynn. Have a most wonderful day.✨
I learnt my lesson in a very hard way. Thanks so much for reading dear @jhymi . Thanks, I'm wishing you a wonderful day today too. Huggies.
Nice article! I am most of the time getting easily distracted, and it's not helpful for whatever I am doing. But I will try my best to being focus always! Thank you for sharing @marynn God bless!🙏
Thanks so much @czandet for your heartwarming comment dear. Yeah, distraction is a time killer and can cause all efforts to waste. Staying focus is the only way to overcoming distraction.
Great advice! Thank you @marynn God bless you!🙏
I think half the battle in cooking is to pay attention. Great slice of life
That's very right. With divided attention, things will go south. Thanks dear @diebitch for your comment and the time invested in reading through my work.
Your story reminded me that I too have burned my food because of carelessness. It was a very good lesson from your grandparents and I understand that you felt bad, but the important thing is the experience that remains and the memory of their teachings.
Beautiful story @marynn
Thanks dear @popurri for your amazing comment and time. I'm super grateful for your support. My grandparents pieces of advice were what helped and shaped me to be more attentive to important things. Even when I want to get distracted, I just remember those words then I will remain focused.
Hmmm you distracted bye ekene. When grandpa had trusted you with an important task. Well tha k Gid they didn't get too angry
I mean. You understand them so well. When they get angry eeh, but I was lucky enough they were in their good mood and wanted to advice me.
That's good too. So you never get distracted when you have a task to do