The Legend of Obama

This was written for a contest on another writing site, but thought I should post it on here too.

The Legend of Obama


It was deep in a remote village in the African outback. Where the elders gathered around each night by the fire for story-telling time.

Once again the wide-eyed children sat around in the circle. They began to listen as one by one the elders spoke. Telling some of the stories told to them when they were young and told to pass on. Then it was Jama'ahs turn, and as he sat he looked at each one of the young children to see their eager faces. He then began speaking:

“I, Juma'ah being the oldest of the old, have a tale to tell. Not one of the past, like my brothers have told. No...... this one is from a future time! A time when the world will be in chaos, people will be living in fear, and nor one of peace.”

This was so unimaginable for the young children who were sitting around listening. For the only violence that they had ever known was the killing of an animal. And this was done for the daily meal for the tribe, a necessary kill to sustain there lives.

Juma'ah continued “ This one despite the way the world is, will bring hope. A hope of better times, and one of peace. He will try to unite the people to one way of thinking. It will be a long hard road, but this man will do his best despite much opposition. There will be many who will object to his way of doing things too. Yet he will not let them sway him from his agenda, that is to bring peace to his nation.
He will appoint men, and yes, even women to his group of people. Much like we allow the women in this tribe to have, so they also feel like they are contributing to keep us going. See just because you don't think you are strong like a man, you to are strong at heart, where it counts.”

While grinning at the young girls that were sitting next to him, he said, “ Yes, my young ones you to have a place of great importance in our tribe. Just think of the things you'll see and even do in the future!

Some of the girls began to smile, while others began to ponder over the future.

“But children, make no mistake I want you to realize something first. You must keep your ears open, listen and learn all that you can. For all of you will have a part in the future of this tribe, and maybe this 'great man' may come out of one of our descendants. For it is not know who, where or when he will come. Yet I do know what he will be called, as it came to me in a dream. His name will put fear in some, while others will revere him. Not in just the nation he resides and rules, but in every corner of the world!”

A young boy with wide eyes of wonder asked “ What is this name that he will be called, wise Grandfather? Please tell us so we can tell our children, and in turn they can tell theirs.”

Juma'ah spoke quietly at first as he looked intently at his grandson “ Well young lad, one name he will have is Hussein. But that is not what he will go by, no in my dream he will be known as the great hope. And his full name will become- Barack Hussein Obama!”


The children gasped, and repeated the name spoken by the elder as each looked at one another. Juma'ah smiled and was finally at peace inside himself. He had been wanting to tell this story for so many years, but felt it just wasn't the right time until now.

Juma'ah held up his hand, and all became quiet. As he looked at each one of the children, it was apparent that they would have wondrous dreams that night.

He finally spoke saying, “ Now my young children go to bed, and dream your dreams of this great leader and what he will do for the world.”


Slowly each of the children rose and said “ goodnight” to all the elders. Then went over to their respective mothers, gave them a hug before going to bed. The elders sat there and watched as the fire continued burning until the last ember went out.




One night after the ritual of storytelling was over, one by one all had gone to bed. It was soon the last days of the oldest of the elders life. Soon he would not be around to tell the young children about his dreams of the future. He sat staring at the fire, until one moment he felt someone behind him. He slowly turned to see a young boy, he was quietly standing behind him.

The old elder looked at the young boy, and said “ Come sit down with me by the fire, young one and stay warm.”

The boy sat down next to the Elder man. They sat quietly for about ten minutes staring at the fire burning. The Elder man knew something was troubling the young man, but he would wait patiently for the young boy to talk.

Finally he solemnly spoke “ Grandfather, you are leaving us soon aren't you?”

“ Yes, my time here on Earth is almost spent. I will go back to the dirt, hence that's where we all came from. We all can't live forever........ someday we may, but this is not the time yet. What is it that you want to know, how can I help your troubled soul?”

“ Well Grandfather, I want to know how you are certain what this great man from the future will be called? How can you trust in your dreams, are they really accurate?” the young boy asked with curiosity.




The old man that everyone called Grandfather began to speak, as he looked at the boy, “ What is your name, young man?”

The young one answered boldly “ My mother told me I was to be called Joni'ah!”

“ Ah, Joni'ah, the young inquisitor of the Kenyan desert” the old man said as he shook his head.

Joni'ah laughed then said “ Yes that is what my mother told me, because I am always asking questions. I just want to know so many things, and so I ask all who have been around longer than I have. Is this wrong to want to know many things?”

“ No” the Grandfather chuckled for a few moments as he looked down at the young boy.

Joni'ah smiled, then asked “ You're not my real grandfather, so why do we call you that?”

“ I am called Grandfather young boy since I am the oldest in the tribe. The others rely on my immense knowledge and wisdom. Sometimes I have dreams of the future, and other times I have gained knowledge during my lifetime, as shall you” the old man stated.

Joni'ah inquisitively asked, “ These dreams you have, are they real? I mean do they all come true?”

“Dreams........ sometimes they are, then sometimes they are just my thoughts visualizing themselves in colorful ways” the old man spoke slowly.

The young boy sat quietly for about ten minutes, thinking about what the elder said. Then with his eyes wide open he looked at the elder intently , then cautiously he asked, “ The dream you shared with us, the one about the great man......... when will it come true?”

The wise elder sat, again began to stare into the fire, and began to speak, “ Many years from now this man will be born, not on our land but out of our tribe. He will be born on a body of land surrounded by water. He will grow and grow much like you are, Joni'ah. But he will not stay on the land he was born on, he will grow up in the New World this will be called America. This great man, Obama will toil, and work hard to get into the place he will come to be.”

Joni'ah asked “ Once he gets to the high place will his job get easier or harder”

“ Oh it will be much harder, for he will not only be running the land that he lives on. But he will fight many wars abroad, and sometimes his friends will turn into enemies. But his ways will prevail over many others, and as I said he will be a Great Man!” the old man continued speaking.

The young boy began to yawn, then said sleepily, “ I sure wish that I could meet this great man.”

“Maybe one day you will, but now its time for you to go dream your own dreams, young Joni'ah” said the wise old man.

As the boy rose he said, “ good night Grandfather.”

Author's Note

This was written way back in 2009!

Reviews

[Mathias Winters]

I can tell that this was written in 2009. Very hopeful story. It's as if the messiah is coming or something. :P I feel like it was a little overboard with the praise, but it had a good intention.