1. 1
AMIKI
Joseph and Angeline Khubo have been married for five years. To say, the lack of an
offspring had been pressure, was an understatement. It's just been a plain and
realistically nightmare. To think how grand and pomp the wedding was. Together
with both families, had dug dip into their coffers to produce a lavish ceremony. It was
the talk of the township of Orlando, in Soweto, for two years. Joseph and Angie, as
he called her, had renovated one room of their home into a nursery; with the hope and
great expectation of being parents sooner than later. But the sooner turned into a year,
then another and another.
But amazingly, Joseph and Angie were ever so close, despite this great
disappointment. Anyone close knew how grieved they were about not being parents,
after all the years. The bickering was among the relatives of the two families. The
thing was Joseph was the only son of a family of four other daughters. Therefore, his
father verbalized his expected grandson to be heir of the Khubo family. All these
hopes, dreams and expectations just clouded their marriage into an existence of
unfulfilled expectations. Nature had had the final say. Tests upon tests were done but
the result the same. There was nothing wrong with their birthing capabilities despite
the apparent malfunction. Some friends and relatives did suggest the option of
adoption, after four years. Joseph and Angie said it was out of the question. Also,
being moderate Christians, they couldn't stomach the idea of even consulting
traditionalists, as also suggested by those that cared.
Funny thing was even by the fifth year, the nursery was still as was; clothes and all.
Though it was a painful reminder of their failed expectation; but their marriage was
strongly holding out, unlike other marriages in Orlando and South Africa nationally.
One evening, Angie and Joseph sipped coffee in their bedroom.
"You're quiet tonight-what's up?"
"Nothing. Just tired I guess." Angie toned unable to look at Joseph. He knew her too
well. He took away the cup from her, placed it beside the bed, took her in his arms
and kissed her passionately.
"Now! What's eating you up to silence you this much?"
"So! You think a passionate kiss unwinds me?"
"Works all the time." He said smiling. She giggled.
"During lunch today, making my way back to the office, one of these...eh...you know,
these dirty street bums...said something strange to me."
"Street bums....you mean one of these Nyaope boys?"
"I mean the kind that hasn’t bathed in years and is always carrying a truckload of
whatever."
"Oh! That kind! They're usually harmless. Not worrying anybody."

2. 2.
"It's what he said."
Joseph thought she would go on, she didn't.
"Well?"
"As I was about to pass him, he called out pointing at my stomach...'I see Amiki has
come. The joy-star long waited. The treasure of long practiced intercourse of dreams
and pain.' Then he broke out into this hideous laughter, moving away."
"Amiki? What's an Amiki?"
"Beats me! Though I was so embarrassed Joseph, but I can't get his words out of my
mind."
Joseph said it was just weird words from a crazy mind. Angie shouldn't hassle
herself.
"And what should I hassle myself with, I wonder?"
"This!!" Joseph said, gathering Angie into his arms, with a slight giggle.
Weeks turned into months like clock-work. Only for Angie, one morning at work
before 10 a.m. tea break, to experience a severe bout of nausea. It had her head-
bowed in one of the sinks as convulsions overcame her, streaming out as stinky bile.
30 minutes later, she was rushed to an emergency clinic. Joseph arrived twenty
minutes later. Angie was sooner stabilized and later on, both were with the doctor at
his office.
Joseph asked what was wrong. With a smile on his face, the doctor said nothing was
wrong but every reason to celebrate. Joseph and Angie looked at each other
questioningly, then at the doctor.
"Mr. and Mrs. Khubo; I congratulate you both. You're gonna be parents in 7 months
time."
If the doc expected celebration, there was none. All he got were two blank faces
staring at him as if frozen in some unimpressive picturesque. He did say if the nausea
continued Angie was to come immediately, but he was talking to himself. They were
still frozen in time. They walked out of the clinic like a zombie couple. Heavens
knows how they managed to get home. Neither could it be measured how long they
sat on the sofa besides each other.
Waking up from the switch off mode, Angie quietly knelt down, elbows on the glass
coffee table. She clasped her hands together. Then, slow and heavy tears flowed
down her face. Joseph knelt beside her and put his arm on her waist. She sooner
sobbed with her head on his chest. But like a nutcase, she changed gear and started
giggling slightly. It ended being a huge dose of laughter. He didn't know when he
joined the laughter, but he did…till their sides ached.
"Yeah!!!" Joseph finally exclaimed in joy.
Angie laughed even more. They stopped out of physical exhaustion than control. The
smiles remained, holding each other's hands. Who could blame them?

3. 3.
This was a long dream come true. The 24/7 horror was suddenly gone. It was way
above good news.
"Who do we tell first? Your parents or mine?"
"We tell both at the same time. You know family politics. Send an invite for Saturday
lunch, all will know."
"You see! That's why I married you; a woman of wisdom."
"I thought it was out of love?"
"First love; then strategies. It was a match made in heaven."
Angie laughed and said Joseph was being silly.
The news spread like a Savannah wild fire. Congratulatory messages and calls poured
in. A brand new life had begun, especially for Angie. She wasn't just a woman and a
man's wife. She was a woman carrying a life inside her belly; a mother. This was
eternal stuff. And the nursery became a sanctuary than a shrine of doomed hope.
The birth date approached as life never stands still. In Orlando, it was like a princess
would be born. It was the talk of the township. Some called it a miracle. And others
had other opinions. But the waiting room at the particular ward at Baragwaneth
Hospital, in Soweto, was thronged like a taxi rank at peak hour. But nature was
refusing to give up without a last minute fight. It was a difficult birth. The girl child
was born with the umbilical cord tied around her neck, and she was pale blue. The
swift action by the doctors prevented further damage. The actual first scream of a
child's life wasn't there. Minutes later, as the doctor informed the family members, a
silence that couldn’t be described enveloped the waiting room. The child had
survived but brain damage was clearly apparent.
For days Angie was inconsolable in her disappointment, anguish, hurt and anger. She
rejected the child. She refused to have anything to do with her. With tests upon tests
still being done, the doctors and family had their hands full trying to bond mother and
daughter. The child was still nameless. Joseph said he couldn't name the child
without Angie's consent. Angie was simple not interested in the retarded child.
One evening, still wallowing in her sorrow, someone touched her forehead gently.
She opened her eyes, irritated. For nurses at the ward knew better than to disturb her.
It wasn't a nurse. It was the street bum who spoke to her months back months.
"May I ask what you're doing?"
"What?"
She glanced about the ward for a nurse or orderly.
"He gives you gold and you wallow in darkness. What's wrong with you?"
"Who're you? How did you get in here-it's not even visiting hour?"
"He's not governed by time. He owns time, remember!"
"Who owns time? What gold?"

4. 4.
Something was confusing Angie even further. Though this bum was visibly dirty yet
no foul smell emanated from him. But a sweet aroma that Angie couldn't even
describe.
"The One who gave you Amiki. Go to your child woman and stop being ungrateful."
Angie heard voices...two nurses came into the ward. Angie called to them. They
rushed over. The nurses said she was now hallucinating due to her post-natal
depression. One of them said a doctor would see her in the morning and prescribe
something for her. The street bum was standing right there with a wry smile on his
face.
"Only you can see me. I am sent to you not them. Continue acting like so; they
definitely will pump you full of hallucinogens. Then you will truly see visions."
Angie closed her eyes briefly and opened them. The street bum waved at her.
"Boggles the mind doesn't it? Go and see your child. Amiki is waiting."
The sweet smell from him was irritating Angie to insanity.
"I don't want to see her. She's not my child. Take her with you. I don't care to live. I
wanna die."
The hateful spite in her venomous declaration was unmistakable. It even shocked her.
A solemn face suddenly enveloped the stranger that she had never seen or thought
possible. He stood there by her feet looking at her with those sad eyes.
"It shall be as you have called. But you must know his Final Servant comes when
called; he takes all the friendliness around."
She didn't have a clue what the lunatic was on about. But his words scared and
chilled her to the bones. She couldn't stop thinking about his sadness.
"Tulai du na Tulai"
At his words, like a blanket of great limitations was removed, Angie suddenly
realized who this One in reference was. And what was this street bum. Angie gasped
in shock.
"Not Joseph!! Not him!! He is my life!"
"As He's given you His life and you rejected it. He will take away His previous life
gift."
He walked away without a backward glance. Though her rational was vibrating
denials but her heart received the concrete reality. Twenty minutes later, she was by
the child's side. She looked like a little ragged human doll inside the plastic incubator.
She didn't tell Joseph about the strange man at her bedside. She told him to name the
child, Amiki.
"What does it mean?"
"Truly Given."
And that was the girl's name. And she came from the hospital two weeks later; still
with no sound heard from her. That gave rise to more opinions about Amiki's mental
state. Angie dug deep within to find what she needed to have so as not to lose Joseph.
It was either love Amiki or lose everything. No God, whether big or small was gonna
take Joseph from her. Not if she could help it.

5. 5.
By the time Amiki turned one, it was as if Angie had never rejected Amiki. Such was
the love for her daughter. She was also skilled in actual duties necessary for a child of
Amiki's condition. She insisted on throwing a birthday party. Joseph said it wasn’t
necessary since Amiki was deaf, mute and blind. She told him Amiki's spirit was
nothing of the sort. And that the One was watching. Since Amiki's birth, Joseph didn't
understand the way she described God. Like He some mystic creature watching them
with one eye closed for better scrutiny. If the made any silly mistake, some lunatic
servant would pay them a visit. Though her condition was gravely challenging, there
was no undenying the extent of Amiki's eye-catching striking beauty. There was this
presence about the child that even had relatives and neighbours offering to baby sit
while Angie and Joseph went to work.
It was a norm by then to find kids playing in the yard with Amiki secured in her
pram. They refused to take no for an answer in wanting Amiki by their playing
vicinity. Adults said it was plain silly. But the kids didn't give a damn. Like they saw
or heard different. They always hassled to assist change her pampers. Many said if
Amiki's eyes had vision, no one would be able to resist them. But they just stared into
nothing; blinking after a long and sickening while. Hope that she at least would be
able to walk, was lost as no hint of any change had come.
Angie kissed Amiki on the forehead as she placed her on her cot, after the party.
Thereafter sang her the usual lullaby, passed on by Angie's mother. Like clock-work
Angie woke up timeously to turn Amiki to prevent bed sores. Massage her limbs even
whilst she slept. That was one amazing thing about Amiki. She slept like a rock and
had an appetite of a drought stricken African piglet. She sucked gallons of breast
milk, which thankfully, Angie's breasts met the demand.
Another birthday came. This time Amiki used a pink and blue cot, the old one given
away by Angie. Two weeks later, Angie thought she noticed something. But again,
wasn't sure. Routinely, at six am, she went to Amiki's room to turn her. But strangely,
she was on the other side. Angie wasn't sure which side she turned Amiki at 3am. The
blankets too were slightly wrinkled like someone or something disturbed them. She
quickly dismissed it as her imagination. Amiki wasn't mobile. More so, as days went
on, Angie felt Amiki was watching her. Upon checking, found her eyes the usual.
One Saturday morning, Angie was feeding Amiki cornflakes in the nursery. Amiki
could finish the 1kg box if not sanctioned. As Angie scooped a spoonful, Amiki
suddenly sneezed three times in succession. So quick was the sequence that Angie
only got to say 'Bless you' at the end. Seconds later the realization of what had just
happened hit Angie's brain like a bullet train. Her hands froze midway towards
Amiki's mouth.

6. 6.
Angie realized too, that Amiki was not only looking at her but smiling too. Who
knows how long her hand was midway frozen. Finally, the time freeze melted away,
and Angie's brain and body came to life.
Joseph got notified through a call. He quickly drove back home. By mid afternoon, it
was like it was a birthday party. Even 'Thomases' popped in to see for themselves.
And Amiki did not disappoint. It's said a record cellphone pictures were as recorded
through the day and night. The photos flooded the social networks like diarrhoea. By
Sunday afternoon, people even from neighbouring zones were queuing up.
On Monday morning, Amiki was front page news for several of Joburg’s newspapers.
6pm that evening; her story with a brief interview of the doctors, then the parents,
made the evening prime time news on etv. By the end of two weeks, Amiki could
step along with her mother to the shops. Two months later, she was as mobile like
any almost three year old. People called it all sorts of things; from God's miracle to
ancestral intervention. Others said doctors had tried a new and unlicensed drug. That
had the hospital receiving dozens of interested people groups and patients calls. The
hospital had to issue a public statement denying any such drug. After doing relevant
examination on Amiki, then would the hospital be in a position to speak. Some said
her parents' muthi had expired, that's why Amiki was no longer a human cabbage.
The drawback that she couldn't speak yet was not an issue anymore.
Angie at least joined other mothers, complaining about their toddlers' naughtiness or
hyper-activity. How she made dirty her clothes like a boy. Together with Joseph
started discussing schooling opportunities for Amiki. Though, it would mean a
special school to cater for her speaking inability. Both families had agreed to
contribute to a bursary account. At the hospital, tests proved all other functions of her
mind and body were found to be 100% functioning. Like there had been nothing
wrong at all. The medical personnel were at wits-end to explain it. They settled for a
medical phenomenon. Nature had erased the retardation except for the muteness. The
other puzzling thing was Amiki's sudden fixation with peanut butter. Which, she
could find no matter how hidden it was. Joseph refused to be involved in the debacle,
saying it was a female thing.
One night towards Amiki's 3rd birthday, Angie awoke; a small hand was gently
shaking her. Dazed, the bright light hurting her eyes she looked towards the hand.
Amiki was smiling at her, motioning for Angie to follow. The kitchen clock showed
2:40am. Rather annoyed, Angie pointed at the clock, showing her disgust. Amiki
glanced at it and smiled. She picked up her scribbling board; she had mastered
through the year and wrote. That was another amazing thing; how quickly Amiki had
mastered spellings and writing in general. There was nothing in the house or actors,
singers, soccer players and politicians, she couldn't spell by witting.

7. 7.
Add on the picked habit of doing naughty things like putting salt in people's teas and
unplugging appliances from the wall sockets.
"You're very funny." She wrote. Angie said that may be so, but it was almost three
am. No time for jokes or playing.
"You're going back to bed."
"I'm 3 years soon, not 6 months."
"That may be so, but back to bed young lady. I'm going to work later on."
Amiki quickly scribbled and showed it to her mother as Angie was gently urging her
to bed. She dead stopped soon after reading. The note said; I can talk.
"Don't play games Amiki. Such a game is harsh on everyone." Angie sternly advised,
picked up Amiki, to tuck her in.
Later, Angie related the ordeal to Joseph. Who said it was funny.
"I don't see the humour Joseph? Wakes me up at almost 3am and says I can talk."
"Said or wrote down-"
"You know what I mean. I don't like such kind of games. God knows what I would
give for her to say just one word."
They were having breakfast before departing to their work places.
"She's just being a kid Angie. Up to her stunts, though they can be crazy at times."
He reminded her when Amiki put some thorns in his shoe and had him limping for
days. Angie laughed.
"Now who's finding a painful story very funny?"
They laughed together some more.
"I was thinking of going with her to work!"
"What! She's likely to set your workplace on fire Joseph-"
"Come on! You make her sound like she's Denise the Menace," Joseph cut in, "I'm
sure she will behave."
"It's your funeral if you want to turn your workplace into some freak zoo. Likely get
yourself fired."
True to his hope Amiki behaved well and was an instant hit at the work place, since
many had read and seen her on TV news. Joseph laughed at Angie who called every
hour to check on them. At lunch, Joseph took Amiki to a nearby KFC outlet and
treated her to her favourite wings and ice-cream. Amiki glowed with delight and
naturally, some customers at the shop requested to take selfies with her. He got back
to the office, with Amiki already fast asleep on his shoulder.
Later on, he felt he was being watched, unable to ignore it any further, he looked up.
It was Amiki and she was smiling brightly. Smiling back, he rose and moved to her,
touched that his genes produced such a beautiful human specimen.
"Sleeping beauty is awake I see. What did Snow white dream of? The seven dwarfs?"
He kissed her cheek. Amiki scribbled on her pad.
"Can I tell you something?"

8. 8.
"Sure you can." He said after reading. She quickly scribbled. Her face was lighted up.
"I CAN TALK."
Joseph was about to gently rebuke her but remembered Angie's narration. He chose
just to play along.
"I believe you." Was all Joseph said, gathering Amiki into his arms. It was a gentle
whisper to his ear, but enough to be heard.
"Daddy."
He couldn't help but shed tears. The soft voice was the most beautiful music he had
ever heard. Their embrace was eternal.
Amiki wiped the tears off her father's face with her small hands...then smiled. Then
giggled...ended up laughing. Joseph joined in the laughter.
"I told your wife yesterday, she didn't believe me."
The sweetness in her voice was unmistakable. It was such a melody to his long thirsty
ears. More tears flowed. Amiki said he must stop crying, for she'll end up crying too.
Wait a minute!
"Why are you not calling her mother?"
"Not when she's a doubting Thomas. Wives doubt. Mothers believe."
It's said when it comes from the mouth of babes. There's no greater wisdom.
"Ok!! I want to tell her the news-can I call her?"
"Go ahead! Embarrass yourself."
Thomas took his Cell on his desk and dialled.
"I told you Joseph but you didn't listen...what did she do?" Those were Angie's
immediate greeting words. Joseph laughed and said Angie could ask Amiki herself.
He handed the Cell to her.
"Angeline!!" Amiki toned.
Angeline refused to be toyed painfully like so. How dare Joseph do such a thing?
She ordered the girl child to return the phone to the man who gave it to her. The
command immediately wiped the smile and brightness off Amiki's face.
"Whatever game you playing-it's not funny Joseph! It's not funny. How can you
abuse someone's child in such a manner to play such a cruel joke on me? Just plain
cruel!" Such was the speed and intensity of the tongue-lash; he didn't get to say
anything before Angie cut the call. Joseph looked at the phone as if it was the one
that had insulted him.
"Eeish!!"
"Your wife needs prayers daddy!!"
Her statement made light the situation that Joseph saw the humour in it. Angie
intended to resume the lashing the moment she got home. She threw her handbag on
the sofa and sat opposite her husband with her arms across her bosom. Joseph knew
the stance all too well.
"Before you scream the house down...I suggest you go to her room...then you can
come back and say whatever you want."

9. 9.
Angie knew the tone of voice to try and counter-argue. But it took her two full
minutes to swallow her pride and calm her rage. She opened the door softly. Amiki
was seated on her bed, with her arms across her bosom. The face was of a very
menacing little princess about to redress a wayward servant. Angie vowed never to be
so disrespectful to her husband with such a pose. She walked and sat next to her.
Suddenly like another switch had been flicked, Amiki immediately smiled, unfolding
her arms...scribbled on her pad.
"You're full of doubt and embarrassed your husband so."
Sweet heavens! What could Angie say to such a statement? But wait a minute! If she
could talk, why was she still scribbling? Then it dawned on her. She didn't deserve
the honour for she'd doubted her child. Didn't she realize the gravity behind Amiki's
desire to talk too? But was only thinking about her own feelings. Why would this
intelligent child unable to speak play such a cruel game? Unless...unless...it was no
game.
"I am so sorry Amiki. I thought evil of my husband and you. I didn't believe. Please
forgive me. From now on I will believe. I... I will never doubt."
Amiki stared at her mother, and moved towards her, they embraced.
"I love you Angeline!" Amiki whispered. It was enough for Angie. All was forgiven
and the past, a life lesson. God was truly on their side, she thought as emotions
overwhelmed her.
.......END........

10. 9.
Angie knew the tone of voice to try and counter-argue. But it took her two full
minutes to swallow her pride and calm her rage. She opened the door softly. Amiki
was seated on her bed, with her arms across her bosom. The face was of a very
menacing little princess about to redress a wayward servant. Angie vowed never to be
so disrespectful to her husband with such a pose. She walked and sat next to her.
Suddenly like another switch had been flicked, Amiki immediately smiled, unfolding
her arms...scribbled on her pad.
"You're full of doubt and embarrassed your husband so."
Sweet heavens! What could Angie say to such a statement? But wait a minute! If she
could talk, why was she still scribbling? Then it dawned on her. She didn't deserve
the honour for she'd doubted her child. Didn't she realize the gravity behind Amiki's
desire to talk too? But was only thinking about her own feelings. Why would this
intelligent child unable to speak play such a cruel game? Unless...unless...it was no
game.
"I am so sorry Amiki. I thought evil of my husband and you. I didn't believe. Please
forgive me. From now on I will believe. I... I will never doubt."
Amiki stared at her mother, and moved towards her, they embraced.
"I love you Angeline!" Amiki whispered. It was enough for Angie. All was forgiven
and the past, a life lesson. God was truly on their side, she thought as emotions
overwhelmed her.
.......END........