Redemption Road- Chapter 33
The rain of the first week of April brings relief to the tropical heat in Monrovia. The dry leaves turn green immediately. Bendu is surprised that her mother stands by her words as she spends much time with them.
She only feels sad the day she hired someone to clean the family plot and the day she placed an order for floral wreaths from Valrica’s on UN Drive.
The anniversary of Benji’s death is on the 15th of April. They all go to Palm Grove Cemetery. A large wreath is already placed on the headstone, this reveals to them that Calvin has visited the place.
They stand together at the foot of the grave. Bendu and Siatta break down while their mother stands still. She stands between them and holds them.
After the visit to Benji’s grave, Bendu’s house witnessed different activities. Grandma Eva sees to the painting and decoration of the second bedroom for Baby Girl. Carpenters from LIPCO are employed to make a new bed and other furniture.
Bendu, who is pessimistic is worried that her mother is setting up the room for nothing. Agnes then reminds her that fate is powerful and can move mountains.
The day after Baby Girl’s room is set, Gabriel comes to Bendu’s house. He informs her that the ICRC animators in Ghana have identified a possible match with Baby Girl at the Bujumbura Refugee Camp.
Gabriel explains further that the girl found was separated from her aunt and grandmother in 1996 when the girl was about three years old.
He says the family likely intended to flee Monrovia during the April 6 intense fighting and the chaos that followed.
The girl was found on Bulk Challenge, a Nigerian vessel without any guardian. She was only with a large teddy bear and was heard asking for Aunty Oretha and Grandma Musu.
Gabriel says the girl’s people were either killed or got on another ship. And they were unable to trace them in Sierra Leone and Nigeria proved abortive.
Eva says it could be her and Bendu also says quietly that Oretha and Musu are common Liberian names. She whispers to her mother that she may be Hannah’s daughter. She says anything could have happened after she left.
In response to her mother’s question, she replies that maybe Baby Girl died. Eva holds Bendu closely and advises her not to be ridiculous because she’s afraid of disappointment.
Eva smiles and asks Gabriel for the girl’s name. He says it’s May Davies and Bendu holds Gabriel’s hands. She says that May is her grandmother’s name and was taken to Duluma a day after she died. She concludes that they named her after Granny May.
Bendu and her mother are already shedding tears of joy. Bendu says that Davies was the last name of Hannah’s rebel husband hence, they were the ones that kept Baby Girl.
Many questions are directed at Gabriel and he tells them that the answers would come with time.
Eva asks Gabriel when they will get Baby Girl. He explains that Bendu will fill out a request for reunification form. After that, they have to make sure that May is ready to be united with her mother.
Gabriel educates them that the CRC, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child give her the right to decide for herself.
This is because she has spent some years at the camp and already has friends and family. He explains further that if the reunification is approved, they will have to wait until the country is more settled.
In response to further questions, Gabriel says that after the approval for the reunification, there is a need to fill out the application form for the travel documents. This is necessary to get her out of Ghana into Liberia.
He says in the meantime, Bendu and Baby Girl can begin exchanging messages and photos. He then advises Bendu to be patient, as what will happen will happen in God’s time.
Redemption Road- Chapter 34
Bendu gets out of the car and walks as fast as possible across to her office building. She doesn’t want to be soaked by September morning rain. She sees school children hurrying up to their schools.
At Peace in Practice, two new groups are ready to begin the peace education and vocational training program at PIP. Tenneh, who now stays with Agnes is now a full-time Peer Counselor.
Bendu sees Agnes as a saint and a selfless person. She believes that God would provide for her for her increasing household.
Bendu is the first person to arrive at the office. She wants to be prepared very well so that she will start at a solid place with the new participants.
She sits at her desk and brings out a pen and a writing pad. She wants to write to the person who had caused her the most pain during the war. Bendu views this as a negative exercise and then decides to write it and share it with Agnes.
She starts with Benji and Granny May. She tells them that she feels their spirits any moment she needs them most.
She says Jonah opened her eyes and nobody can take his place. He made her what she was because he loved her.
He writes Commander Cobra that he and the civil war changed her life forever. As she didn’t know who she was or who he could become. She didn’t die and is now stronger.
Many things happened in the past months. Calvin returns from Sierra Leone because of a story from Freetown that touched his heart. He has launched The Benjamin Lewis Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program for war-affected youth.
At the end of April, Siatta files a divorce from Terrance. She tells Bendu that it’s far better to be alone than be trapped in a lie.
Bendu is extremely happy when she sets her eyes on Baby Girl. She’s a replica of Granny May. She has dark skin, beautiful eyes and thick wavy hair.
May (Baby Girl) calls Bendu “Mama,” she tells her she doesn’t know why the big girls at the camp put relaxers or caustic soda in their hair. She says it burns their hair and then go and put artificial hair with their food money.
Bendu expresses her love for the way she talks with a slight Ghanaian accent. She is skinnier and shorter than her age 10. She’s happy and not a troublemaker.
Grandma Eva spoils her a lot. Grandpa Ben also shows his love for her when he sees that the girl resembles her mother (Granny May).
Bendu tells Calvin to be her Godfather and he plays the role very well. He drives her to and from the Confirmation Class every Saturday. This gives Bendu the opportunity to see Calvin regularly.
May asks her mother one day if she can remove god from Calvin’s name and just call him father. This question brings tears to Bendu’s face.
There are still fighting in the interior but the State of Emergency is lifted. They have created the International Contact Group in Liberia. The body is to look into ways of bringing the war to an end completely.
The incident at Gardnersville has taught Siatta a lesson, she now understands what people like Bendu experienced.
This reminds Bendu of the day in front of the American Embassy where she was crying alongside some women. Bendu wept for cousin Orlando who was captured and taken away.
She also wept for the abandoned children who starved to death or were forced to serve as child soldiers. She cried for the old people who were left to die alone. She finally cried for her own sins.
The petitions written and various peace marches embarked upon to the international community recorded the admixture of encouragement and condemnation.
They were accused of being pro-government and anti-sanctions. While they are just daughters of Liberia who want peace.
Bendu expresses her feelings about the refusal of the international community to send peacekeepers until more people die or are displaced. She says they would be made responsible for the death of the people.
She wonders what happens to the society if they never get the justice they deserve. She says she’s committed to getting justice, no matter how long.
She cites examples of A Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, the genocide trials in Rwanda and the war-crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone.
She asks what the society will turn to, when known criminals and murderers walk on their streets without bringing them to justice.
What message are they sending to their children when murderers hold the highest political office in the country? Bendu asks.
Bendu stops writing for a minute and looks at the photographs on her table. She rearranges one of the frames and continues writing.
She writes that she has accepted the forgiveness cousin Rebecca offered her. She says that the children are believed to be the future, but they also are the future, as far as they are alive.
Bendu tries to look for cousin Orlando in the course of looking for May, but all to no avail. She writes that she hears that Samson now sings in Danane, Cote d’Ivoire.
He is known there as Liberian Alpha Blondy because of his dreadlocks and the peace song he sings. She says if somebody like Samson could change as being touted, there is hope for everyone.
She concludes the letter thus: “The road to redemption is a long one, with many paths branching off along the way. We may get off anywhere we want, but I’m going to keep on searching for the end of it.
Peace will be my reward.