One Morning in October, a heavy downpour of rainfall showered
the plains of Gbarwu, flooding Janka's family compound and the
Konobo marketplaces.
It has been raining for the past two weeks, and the entire compound
is flooded and the schools are closed due to the flooding. Thoughts ran
through Janka's head about a way to solve the situation. As she quietly sat
on her bed, staring at the flooded compound through her window.
Her father Arthur Gbowee has gone go out to work at a nearby
home. And her Mother Ma Yaa, has left early in the morning to sell
grains and food stuff at the marketplace.
Janka being the only child to both parents was left alone at the house
during rainy days. She would stay inside and keep the home safe as whenever her parents went out. The neighborhoods were not so safe during
the rainy seasons.
Diverse criminal activities emerged in Gbarwu during
the rainy season, it was literally because of the heavy flooding. As the Villagers leave their homes unlocked, thieves would break into their houses, because of the heavy rainfall, the residents could not hear any sound
when a thief breaks into their compound.
And that was why her parents had left her at the house, so that
she would alert the neighbors if a thief breaks into their compound.
She felt sleepy and dose off to bed after an hour.
Meanwhile, She had fallen asleep while watching the flooding compound, and the tiny droplets of water flow from the window sill.
When the heavy rainfall came to a pause. A loud bang on the door woke her from her sleep. she tiredly stretched out from her mattress, rubbing her eyes and
tried to unlock the door, her face was still pressed from sleeping.
It was Ma Yaa, Janka's Mother who came in soaking wet with a mixture of tiredness and frustration on her face. "How was market today,
Ma?
Janka asked. Ma Yaa ignored for a moment and replied, "Not good
today for our small town.'
Janka responded, "How?!'
"Can't you see there is water everywhere?!"
Janka's Mother angrily blasted! And she opened the bathroom door
and fetch a bucket of water from the barrel , and went to the bathroom.
Janka was still worried about the compound and how long it would
take for the water to dry.
But just a moment later, Janka's Mother came with a tub full of
clothes. They looked like the ones she wore to the market. They were wet
and silky.
"Hang those clothes in the varanda for me".
She handed a tub full of wet clothes to Janka.
The viranda was attached to the corridor before reaching Janka's
room, and Janka was scared of sitting around the varanda alone.
She remember mythical stories about ghosts who roamed around the varanda
during rainy days. The ghosts are said to be very terrifying.
But Janka had not choice but to do what her mother has instructed
her.
When Janka came back in to the sitting room from the varanda, her
Mother met her at the doorway, with a forceful smile on her face. She
called Janka into her room. " I have something important to tell you, do
you know my brother Forley, who lives in Monrovia?"
He is the last born of our mother, your grandmother Ma Yartu. She
added.
Last market day I asked Ma. Kortu to send him a message by telephone.
You know that I cannot read and write, so I asked her to please tell
him to come to Gbarwu and see our compound's conditions, our roof is
almost gone. "you can see that the water is carrying our village?'
Janka erupted into a brief laughter, though Janka herself has never
been to school, but she knew it was impossible for water to carry an entire village.
Your uncle Forley said the only thing he can do is to help with your
studies in Monrovia. There is no future for you in this town". She added.
When Ma Yaa concluded, Janka with a childish gesture upon her
face became more focused after hearing these words.
She knew that there was no good school in their village, there was
no road or electricity. Overall, she knew that going to Monrovia will be a
dream come true for her.
There are good schools and good friends in Monrovia, Ma Yaa said,
and Uncle Forley has many friends.
And a strange celestial smile arose from Janka's pretty countenance
as she very excited about the good things about Monrovia.