Once upon a time by Sivol Hamra

This is a story that I am guided to warn readers about modern prejudice. For many a time, when this phrase, Once upon a time, is used, many readers situate the narration in the modern light, and contrast it with as told in the past, and judge the trustworthiness of the narration with today's probability. But we cannot judge the believability of a past story because it can't happen today, for what we take for granted was once a subject of intense debate. Who will hold in contention today that hand washing has some health benefit? But once upon a time, it was unknown and became a subject of serious enquiry.

In earlier times as narrated above, existed a priest in a village, where their major foods were mostly bush hunts and tubers, which existed then in abundance. It was not the case that other alternatives such as fruits were not in their locality but one could not tell which ones will wrought serious wounds in the gums, so in this sense, they proceeded to introduce new foods only as sanctioned by this priest.

One day, this said man, in his search for herbs, chanced on watermelon in the forest, and being thirsty and hungry performed some purification acts and pronounced the fruit edible. Having consumed enough and finding it delicious brought some to the village.

He cut the fruit, scooped out the seeds, and gave the reddish water filled mass to his neighbors. They enjoyed it and so it became a newly introduced food but then the fruits availability became their next headache. A search through the area of finds in the forest didn't change their lot.

With time however, the seeds scoped by the priest began to germinate in and around his hut to the bewildered villagers. Aaah, at last, this is their searched watermelon. They took notice that the fruit grew only in and around the priest's hut. Some explained with superstition why the fruits grew around only the priest's hut. It was the work of poured libations.

The priest shared the fruits as many as came with all. Some prepared drinks fr

Water melon

om it whilst others steamed their bush meat with the squeezed sweet reddish water that came from it.

 They all tried to reproduce but the short of it is that no one in the village succeeded. However, the priest produced enough watermelons and gave out. With time, all lost confidence in their ability to grow their own watermelon and reserved that for the priest who equally shrouded the whole process in superstition.

And so, the situation, regarding the growth of watermelon, remained, for the said village, until one day, a young lad was sent by his family to barter bush meat for some watermelons. On his way home, he happened to playfully crush one of the two watermelons at a favorite playground close to their hut. With time, word went around that this lad had acquired the power to grow their favorite fruits. Hearing about it, the priest invited the parents of this lad, and told them how through his libations, the gods had asked for one person to be blessed with this gift and he had voluntarily chosen the lad from personal fondness and the gift was to remain with him to the extent that the child keeps everything in secret. Why the priest suddenly love this lad wasn't asked.

 The child having been told of this arrangement, whether out of sincerity or from some childish joy couldn't keep it secret . He trumpeted the way of planting watermelon to all. But the villagers strangely rejected his path.

Not soon, the lad happens to fall seriously sick, which all, associated with his mysterious watermelon growth. All, including the parents, pressured the lad to confess and so as to be restored. This he promised to do under only one condition:that there will be a gathering of all dwellers in the village. When all was gathered, the sick lad asked to be served watermelon from the priest, "if it is true that," the lad started, with weak feverish voice, "there is only but one creator of all lands, but have gifted only the priest's land with the ability to grow sweet watermelon then may this watermelon grant me instant healing," the lad paused, all eager to know what will happen afterwards. The lad took the fruit and to rule all doubts waited till the next day, but his situation got worse, and all lost hope.

Then the lad asked for the watermelon from his playground, and once brought said, "if it is true that," the lad started, this time with hopeful voice, "there is only but one creator of all lands, and have gifted all lands equally with the power to give forth sweet watermelon then may this watermelon grant me instant healing," as if by some mysterious touch, the child was instantly restored, immediately , and began to do what hitherto couldn't be done.

How come none could reproduce from the watermelon was the question everyone asked.

"The method employed by your preparations harmed the seeds and rendered it impotent," the lad answered.

It dawned on all gathered that the priest had played a fast one on them. The priest confessed and was forgiven.

The villagers asked that the hitherto privilege be given to the lad, but the lad said, "all lands are lands and all humans are humans and all are endowed equally, and just as watermelon seeds if correctly processed will germinate on every soil, so are there great deposit within every soul and if obedience is made to the rules of nature will all flourish with grace," and rejected their favors.

All left the grounds never again to be confused to seek goodness here or there, for "the kingdom of goodness and greatness is within every one."