The end is near. The camp is deserted. The housing has collapsed and the big rabbit in Ijesa North is now an orphan looking for cheap sympathy everywhere. The rabbit even visited the house of cats to sing their praises because he wants protection. Luckily for him, these cats are not interested in rotten rabbit. They can not eat it but they still don’t want to throw it away. They surely know that every thing no matter how useless it is, has a nuisance value.
Who smoked the rabbit? Brave hunters. They chased the rabbit into the hole. When they discover that it has no where to go, they smoked it out. They caught the rabbit while struggling to escape fire. They tied the rabbit’s legs and suspended its body into the air. As it swung, it became sad. The hunters who had once protected the rabbit from killing are the ones roasting him.
While in deep thought, the rabbit did not know when he started lamenting. He looked everywhere and wondered how he ended like this. In his eye-search, the rabbit saw a small boy who was a tenant when he was a landlord in 2003 and the rabbit is aggrieved that the boy has become a landlord too.
The rabbit also looked around and he saw a group of hunters who admired him. The rabbit remembered their warnings that it is better to leave when the ovation is loud. But I was planning to leave now, he pondered. But you did not leave, a brave hunter queried. I wanted to say goodbye but you did not allow me, he responded. But you can say goodbye without going into the food reserve again, the hunter further queried. How can the bye be good if I do not leave with more foods? He sadly asked.
The rabbit has been hanged. In his down moment, he’s having a terrible recollection of events. Yes, he’s remembering how great he was. He’s remembering how fearful he was. He’s remembering how his house was formerly a MECCA now deserted. To survive depression and frustration, the rabbit consulted a new hunter who has not experienced his wrath to buy him a new rope.
As the rabbit sinks deeper in thoughts, remembering how great he was and consoling himself in regrets about the jubilation of trusted friends and loyalists that the end of Alaseju is over, he’s consoling himself with the rope. Yes, the rabbit is playing the game of sympathy.
He’s crying profusely on the new rope. He is climbing the rope like never before. As he climbs the rope, he remembers how great he was and cried out. The rabbit is looking for new house. The rabbit is looking for new accommodation. It is looking for new friends. It has not learned how to live without the food reserve. The rabbit is crying. The reserve is depleting. Protectors of the reserve have changed the padlock.
Wicked hunters. You smoked the rabbit. YoSodiqu hanged it. Yet you don’t want the rabbit to cry. Please allow the rabbit of Ijesa North to cry
Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo
