D.H. : Beginnings

A moth dances round a flickering flame, seduced by the warmth and the light. 
 Its gentle fluttering becomes a frenzied dance. 
 It dances too close and its wings catch fire. 
A dance of awe and wonder ends as quickly as it started. 

Wake up!

With a mild groan I flip onto my side to see my mother part the curtains in my room.

"Young man it's almost midday and you are still asleep? Come on, come on get up and go pick up the goat from Aunty Charlotte's place. What meat are we going to serve our at your party eh?"

I stand up and let out a mild yawn saying... "I don't know why it has to be a live goat Ma, can't we just get some meat from the mall"

Not waiting to hear her response as I try to slip past her into my bathroom, she catches me with a playful tap on my bum saying

"You don't know what is nice, why would you choose a week old frozen piece of meat when you can have fresh meat."

A quick brush and an even quicker shower and I'm out the door. I soon find myself weaving through Accra's afternoon traffic. It's a good thing Aunt Charlotte doesn't live far away. I arrive at her house in good time and with quick hellos and cheerful smiles I bundle what is to be my "party meat" into the boot of my car and head back.

Pulling up the driveway of my house I notice that there are no chairs or tents set up. The usual party seats and tables are nowhere to be seen. I take the somewhat frightened goat out and leave it tied to the mango tree in the side garden.
With a slight sense of urgency I head into the house, hoping to find my mother and answers as to why nothing has been set up. What I meet in the main hall of my house leaves me confused.

There seated, are members of my extended family as well as a few family friends. Even Aunt Charlotte was there. I mean how?...and when did she get here?

"Has something happened?" I ask

"No" my mother replies. "Please step forward"

I take small cautious steps till I'm standing in the middle of the living room.

"Have you been having any dreams of late" my mother asks.

"Ah Ma, what do you mean by dreams? I always dream" I reply, getting more confused by the events that are unfolding.

 "Dreams about moths I mean" she adds.

Shocked about the fact she knew about the moth dream I reply

"Yea, it's been a recurring one"

"He's ready" she says.

I feel hands grab me from behind. I'm forced down to my knees and my Aunt Charlotte steps forward. My mother gives her a nod and she opens a book she has in her hands. As she starts reading from the book in a language that sounds like a mixture of Ga and Ewe her eyes have a glow, like that of a cat. Confusion, sadness and anger fill me as I struggle with my captors.

"Be still my son, it will be over soon" my mother says.

I notice that Aunt Charlotte's incantations are now in English. She's now repeating what seems to be a mantra of some sort.

The fading crest of slumber 
The alluring vessel of madness 
Deny the seething urge 
The eternally self-destructing thirst 
Disrupt the sleep 
Unite! Awake! 
Fill the earth, claim your birthright 

Almost in slow motion, my aunt drops the book and reaches out. Snaps my neck.

The force she does it with is so strong that I find my self looking up at the ceiling, knowing very well my head is in the wrong place. My vision quickly fades and in the dying embers of my life, I see a moth flutter by.

The room is silent. For several minutes everyone just sits there watching the boy's body. It suddenly convulses. A slow grinding and crack can be heard as the head turns back into place. The young boy sits up, then stands.

His mother smiling, she asks "How do you feel"

"Thirsty" he replies

"Now you see why I asked you to get the live goat." she says

 I smile as she takes my hand, leads me to a seat and says. "Welcome, my eternal prince"