A FAMILY GATHERING

GENERATED BY META AI

It was cool evening, and we had just arrived at our family's house in the village where Grandma lived. Several cars were already packed outside. I suppose the owners were my other distant relatives I never knew of. I was just a boy but I could tell we weren't on good terms with one another. I took a good look at my surroundings as my mum held me in one hand and my father in the other.

“Mummy, why are we visiting Grandma by this time, it's not yet chritmans? I asked.

“Well grandma wished to see everybody " she answered me.

As we stepped into the house. It was already filled up. I saw strange faces I had never seen before. But I could still recognize my Uncle Adam’s face and his family. It had been a long while since I last spoke to them. Not after the incident that happened during Thanksgiving last three years.

Uncle Adam and my dad had been on each other's throats for a long while and during the Thanksgiving that happened three years ago. Things escalated out of proportion. My dad had angrily punched him in the face, for something he said. Ever since then, Uncle Adam had carried his family far away. His only som James who used to be my playmate was taken away. Now as I stood in this small room, it seemed like the whole family had gathered. Both distant cousins and relatives
I almost couldn't recognize James. He had changed a lot but so had I. We stood opposite one another with our parents but like strangers to one another.

From what I had gathered, this family feud had started long ago, before we were even born. It started after the death of my dad's eldest brother, Uncle George. He was more of a peacemaker, the one who brought everyone together. But after his death. The whole family turned upside down. The whole siblings grieved their own way, some fought after his property others after his land.

I couldn't remember the details but the family feud had been there for a while.

I looked at Grandma who coughed so sickly. She was in her wheel chair, looking so devoid of life. Her four remaining children, my dad, uncle George and aunty Sofia and aunty amaka gathered around her, while we the others stayed behind and watched the scene unfold.

Even though she was old, she still had the strength of a youth when she spoke.

"I've gathered you all here to reconcile," she said, coughing deeply.

My mom had told me grandma was deeply sick and could die any moment from now based on what the native healer had told us. But still she pushed through the illness and continued her speech.

"My time has come for me to join my ancestors. But before I do that I need my children to settle their differences now.

"I want us all to be at peace again. This is what George would've wanted and this is my final wish" she said taking her last breath.

I stood there as a kid, confused and afraid as Aunty Amaka and Aunty Sofia began to wail and cry. Everybody had this sorrowful look on their faces. The women cried and shouted. While the man stood solemnly, some refused to cry.

"Mom what happened to grandma, is she asleep?" I had asked.

"Your grandma has gone to heaven," my mum had answered me, wiping a small tear from her eyes.

Five months after, the death and burial of my grandmother. A family meeting was called by my Dad as the immediate head after Uncle George. He invited everyone to Thanksgiving. I remember helping my mom cook a lot of food that day.

When the meeting started, the children were asked to go play outside while the adults discussed. I remember running around the compound with James. We played until we got tired and then being the curious little cats that we were, we decided to eavesdrop on them.

“I have gathered you all here today not to fight, but to make peace. For the sake of our mother who just passed let us forgive one another” I heard my dad say.

I and James watched, together with everyone, as my dad approached uncle Adam and knelt down before him, apologizing.

There was silence everywhere. Everyone was too stunned to speak. We eagerly watched the scene, waiting for what uncle Adam would do next. After some seconds had passed, uncle Adam stood up, carrying my dad up with him, and then they hugged each other. The whole family cheered and applauded. Then everyone also began hugging each other, each person making amends to the people they had wronged or hurt during the family feud. I and James watched as the scene unfolded before our eyes.

Then I looked up at James, and he stared at me also,

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking ?” We both asked at the same time playfully.

And then we hugged each other too.

“To family” my father shouted as they made a toast

“To family” everyone replied as they all drank their glass of wine.