Soul Whipping
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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"Harder, sonny boy harder"-Michael was telling his 6 years old son.
"You cry, silly old man"- Patrick was shouting at Bakari while whipping.

The pink meat under his black skin was bleeding red blood. Every time, the whip landed on his broad muscular back, the tout skin gave up. Still he tolerated.

Bakari did not cry while Michael was whipping him.

When little Patrick started whipping him, tears started rolling down from his eyes-not from the pain of the wounds but from the pains of his soul.

Bakari had worked with Michael's father for more than 3 decades, since even before Michael was born. He helped them when they were poor; he served them when they became rich; he witnessed them killing mercilessly, he watched them snatching wealth and power. Still he tolerated.

He had a special attachment to little Patrick. He blamed himself for taking part in shaping Michael to be a demon. He wanted to remove his guilty feeling by making little Patrick- a saint. He did everything for Patrick.

Patrick was sent to a boarding school since he turned 5 years. He did not like to be away from the father but he was forced. The father planned to send him to Europe or America when he would be 14/15 years old. Bakari would tell him encouraging tales. He would explain to him the importance of education, giving himself as an example.

Little Patrick would comment innocently "So, if you were educated, you would have not love me. You never go to school. O.K?"

Bakari was going to collect Patrick from the boarding school during his holidays, the first home coming. He was much more excited than the child's father, Michael.

The gardener of Patrick's school had an abnormal eye, it was bulging and protruding out of the eye socket. He was not bothered by the noise of the school children shouting near him, he was too sick to listen to them. Bakari felt pity on him.

When Patrick came out, rushing towards him with open arms, he picked him up and danced with joy "Oh my prince! You have grown so much in this short time." Patrick hugged him tight and whispered "I don't like to come back here again".

"We will discuss about it at home. For now, go and give this money to that poor old man. It seems he needs it" and handed Patrick a note of 10,000 shillings. When the gardener looked at Patrick to thank, Patrick was fascinated by his eye. He wanted to touch it, feel it and play with it. He snatched the money back from the old man's hand and demanded to allow him to touch his eye first if he wanted the money. Bakari never anticipated this kind of attitude from his little prince. He disciplined little Patrick by a soft slap on his cheek. That was the spark of the big fire.

Patrick refused to talk to Bakari. Bakari tried to divert his mind by telling him about his father, his mother and other siblings. He snapped back "Shut up".

Bakari was very much saddened. He knew Michael had been donating a lot of money to the school where Patrick was studying, but he did not know that the money was the price of the teachers. They were paid to spoil Patrick by allowing him to do whatever he liked.

Seeing the sour mood of the son, Michael inquired about the cause.

"Bakari slapped me hard on my face"- was the answer. Bakari tried to tell the truth.

"How dare you slap my child for the ugly, old sick man? You work for me and you act as a philanthropist outside. It seems I have to remind you who you are."

Michael ordered to bring the whip; asked Bakari to kneel on the floor; taught Patrick how to whip. Patrick whipped Bakari's soul.

Patrick was enjoying the act.

Bakari realized he would not be able to save the child from the demon.

He thought of many ways to keep Patrick from his father. He counted every second for the school holidays to be over so that the prince went back to the boarding school again.

One day Michael announced that Patrick would stay at home and three different teachers would be coming to teach Patrick at home, at different times.

Within three months, Patrick had changed seven teachers. The miniature demon was learning fast.

Bakari never stopped thinking about ways of saving the prince.

One day they were returning back from shopping. The driver parked the car at the side and was answering to nature's call but left the engine on with AC running so that little Patrick should not feel hot. Bakari, who was seated at the back of the car, whispered to Patrick to slide into the driver's seat and learn how to drive.

Patrick obeyed with excitement. The moment Patrick sat at the driver's seat; Bakari prayed to God for forgiveness and released the clutch to "Drive" position, pushed the accelerator with his walking stick to maximum.

The driver and other people nearby, saw little Patrick steering the wheel at 200km per hour speed flying towards the swollen, angry ocean, waiting to swallow the miniature demon.