Obedience breeds success

By GEORGE OLWALO

Back in the 80’s when trains were the most popular means of transport in East Africa, there happened an incident whose significance ensured it withstood the test of time by being passed on from generation to generation.

The incident had a lesson on why the young people should obey the elderly. The tale tells of a peasant farmer who went to work at his shamba next to a railroad each morning. One day, he was accompanied Manuel, his five-year old son.

As was custom, the boy for several hours, played close to his dad, but as time went by the father got so engrossed in weeding that he momentarily forgot to keep his eye on the juvenile. By the time he looked up, the boy had strayed onto the railroad. There, little Manuel was busy rolling about the rails playing with the crushed stones known as track ballast unaware of the looming danger.

 As if on cue, the parent heard the thunderous road of a train from the distance. Cold shivers ran down his back for he knew his boy would not survive being crushed to a pulp by the fast approaching train. Desperately, all he could do, the father shouted to the boy to slip within the rail rods and lie low until he asked him to rise up. Without questioning, the young boy did as his dad had asked and as he did, the train trundled past along the rails engulfing him in darkness. At some point as the train moved along, Manuel thought of rising, but an inner voice told him to wait and rise only when his dad asked him to. The loneliness and darkness went for about some time until eventually the tail of the train went past and sunshine re-appeared again. Still, the boy did not dare rise until his dad spoke up.  All through, mouth agape; the peasant father prayed that his son had heeded his instruction. Slowly, afraid of what he would set his eyes on, he walked to where Manuel was and when he saw him alive, he told him to rise up and dust himself. In great, pride, he then carried the boy shoulder higher and praised him for being an obedient boy.

“Oh Manuela my sweet boy, I am overjoyed by your obedience. Had you been foolish to disobey my orders, something terrible would have happened to you,” remarked the father.

The two then went home and father narrated the train story to his village who were so impressed that they prepared a fitting feast for the obedient boy.