- Bright the Chicken

- A Blessed Compound 

- Epilogue

  

BRIGHT THE CHICKEN

Sometime in 2001, Benedict, Amaka and I went to a Client's factory. Amaka was to make some purchases from them and needed our assistance in that regard. Having completed our transaction, we were going towards the car when Benedict's eyes fell on the small poultry at the side of the factory and requested our host to give him a Chicken. He obliged and placed the Chicken in the Car.

For me, who Knew nothing about breeding Chickens, I could not fathom what on earth got over Benedict to make such a request. I therefore told him it was too small to eat and of no use to us.

He paid no attention to me but just smiled as we drove home. When we got home, he said he would keep it. I had no idea what would develop in the months ahead.

Bright Chicken as I called her,

stayed, came of age and a Cock came calling. How on earth he knew of her presence in our compound, I will never know. She was quite a contented Chicken vive stayed within the confines of the house.

Soon she began laying eggs and Benedict wanted her to hatch them, which she did. Out of five chicks hatched three survived.

One of the female Chicken had lost an eye. The male and the female always took advantage of that to fight her. She ended up always having to wait for the remnant of the food.

So I named her Rosemary and would give her food separately usually at a higher level; on top of the water tank or the top of a big black wooden box.

It was quite clear her brother and sister were suspicious of our relationship. They were always more interested in what we were doing than in the food I had given them. If I left before Rosemary had finished eating, you could be sure they would fly there to eat her food and she would then run desperately looking for me. She would go straight for my foot and peck it.

Bright Chicken had a second batch of six chicks, five survived and then a third batch of five. The total number of Chickens hatched by her survived were thirteen. In the mean time, Rosemary tried making Bright Chicken a grand ma by having three chicks but unfortunately they all died probably they were hatched prematurely.

Rosemary's sister did not like having chicks and so she would suck her eggs or come to lay them by my Kitchen door. Thank you very much I would say. She like her freedom very much. Many a time you could see her walking on top of the roof of the office. She got there by negotiating her way through a big Shaddock tree whose leaves had spread onto the roof. Then she would fly down to the ground. Their brother, the big cock, was the landlord. He had ways of surveying his domain. He would go up the the tallest tree. At times he would climb the burgonvilla plant which had spread all over the fence and take a good look at people passing by. I often wondered what his thoughts were at such times.

Interestingly, he would always go to the next compound that had the waterworks. What interest had he there? I was soon to know- a wife and chicks too! Well I reasoned that we could not claim them, though a patrilineal society, it would be stealing.

One other thing about him, he never liked to run, he preferred to walk no matter the urgency. He did look beautiful, I believe he knew. His neck was adorned with rich gold feathers which cascaded down his rather long neck while his body had a good crop of Black and red feathers and quite big in size and weight.

When all the chickens would run towards me thinking I had food or something for them, he would take slow steps. Getting near, he would stand on one leg surveying the scenario. If it looked good, he would step in and others would flee except Bright Chicken who never wasted time giving him a fight if he exceeded his boundary.

A BLESSED COMPOUND

So was the abode of Bright and her brood, when a friend and a client, Akobundu came to the house, speaking with me, he observed that the premises was really blessed as the chickens were multiplying in numbers with minimal death and he made references to the Bible to support his view. He was one to quote extensively from the scriptures.

On hearing him, I muttered a little smile unknown to him, that statement hit me so hard. I thought to myself, what about me? Why would God bless Bright and not bless me? If this place was so blessed, I live here, why would I not get my own blessings. That night I went into the guest room and stayed all by myself. I decided to write a letter to Jesus.

Dear Lord, 

At this time am 45 years and married for 22 years. To say it has been hard, and a difficult path to walk is an under statement. True I neither look nor behave my age but the fact is I am just that.

For one who had prayed relentlessly for the fruit of the womb, it was extremely difficult to understand why Bright would step on the same soil, eat food given to her and be fertile while I who had been living permanently here do not receive the blessing of the fruit of the womb. We were both God's creation, one an animal, the other a human being; with the very essence of God in her.

We were both females of different stocks, created to reproduce and replenish the earth. At times I wonder what Bright would say to me. If she could speak, would she mock me or feel sorry for me?

12:40 a.m, Saturday 21st November, 2001, God spoke to me and said prepare this write up as a tract and it on your baby's dedication. I arose knowing I would surely ba a mother. How much longer, I did not know. Lord, I prayed, continue to bless Bright and her female chicks, for surely I know you will bless me too.

It was a morning in March 2002, having known for weeks that I was pregnant, I lay on the bed, and told the God I was going to the hospital, knowing only too well the workings of the devil, I asked God to speak and He gave me Psalm 83:18.

My husband Benedict and I were informed of the good news in October 2002 a beautiful baby boy was born.

We never ate any of the Chickens. A month later Bright was crushed by a car as she went outside our gate. Within a period of days all the Chickens left. I missed her for she taught me so much.

EPILOGUE

In whatever situation you are going through, know this one thing, God always has a plan. He used Bright and her brood to teach me so many principles of life. God showed me that He cared for the little things in life.

Mostly season happen in African . Ladies be wish, consider some things before going into a relationship. And you will not regret your decision.