RUTH

Why was the garage light on? Hadn’t she just switched it off, Ruth wondered.

She was staying alone in a massive bungalow which in actuality was quite deserted. Her neighbour, an old man who lived alone was approximately two kms away. She could hear jackals prowling in the bushes nearby and their yelps from time to time. The sounds rather than bothering her was a source of comfort in the stillness of the dark. They even came to her porch in search of water and whatever they could eat. Ruth was never bothered by their nocturnal visits and they in turn never bothered her.

She went out and put the lights off. She wasn’t scared or unduly worried living alone in this deserted place. She was mentally strong and preferred the isolation. She probably had gotten used to it, since her husband passed ten years ago. Even her children left to go elsewhere in search of greener pastures.

Her bungalow had a large sparse of land in front and a huge vegetable garden in her backyard. Every morning her trusted workforce comprising of a male, his wife and two strong boys would come and tend to the large flower garden and the vegetable bed. They kept it well trimmed and watered The front yard had a richness of colours with flowers and roses. Bright chrysanthemums, large sized roses, lush lilies and full bloom sunflowers. All these lovely flowers were being

readied for the market. The patch of flocks was very impressive. The archway and the fences were covered with bougainvillea of different colours.

The lady help maintained the backyard where bright purple brinjals, green ladies finger, lush red tomatoes and pink pumpkins grew. Ruth’s house ran on the income she received from the sale of her property's produce. The family who tended to the gardens came very early in the morning and left before sunset.

Ruth's life revolved round the garden. She had a fixed routine everyday, except for sundays, her day of lazying around doing nothing. She lived life as a loner but never felt lonely and enjoyed being surrounded by nature where she felt God's presence in her beautiful garden.

That particular Sunday Ruth felt a bit gloomy and depressed deep inside. Was it a premonition or an irritation or was it the bad dream she had last night? She couldn't really recall the dream, but it was about her son that much she remembered. Not being a very worrisome person she brushed it aside with a sigh. She left her bed and carried her pot of coffee to the front garden, pulled out a reclining chair and settled down to bask in the morning sun. Seated on her favourite chair she began her process of thinking. A little while later, she must have dozed off she was woken up with the sounds of a car hurtling down her driveway. She peered her eyes to try and make out who it was but couldn't. Steadily the car approached her property and when it was near the gateway, a man she couldn't recognise alighted opened her

front gate and came inside. Ruth did not move and waited for him to approach her.

"Good morning Ma'am, you must be Ruth" the man began. "I've come from the city and bring news of your son" said the man.

Startled, Ruth jumped off her comfortable chair and stood tensed up to hear what the man has to say. "What is it about my son? She enquired.

"Ma'am why don't you sit down, said the man.

Ruth sat down again and waited to hear what the man had to say.

"My name is Cliff Sam's friend and colleague. We worked together.

"What happened to my son" asked Ruth rather angrily. "Ma'am there's been an accident and Sam is no more" Ruth ran into the house weeping and screaming her sons

name. She went straight to the cabinet where she kept her children pictures took it on her arms, held it close to her chest tears streaming down her cheeks. She sat there all be herself for a long time weeping. She suddenly realised that Cliff was outside waiting. She came out to the porch and enquired more about what had happened. Sam and his friends were travelling together after work when their car was hit by a bus. Sam who was driving bore the entire brunt of the hit and collapsed immediately. He was rushed to the hospital where he breathed his last not before calling out for his mother. On hearing this Ruth asked is Cliff would take her to the hospital. Cliffinformed her that Sam always dreamt of returning home one

day and that his friends were escorting his body back here. "I came in advance to inform you Ma'am," he said.

She immediately took Cliff to the family who worked her garden to inform them and request them to come over to the house. She had lot to do to get the house readied to receive her sons body. The help arrived and Ruth got busy working. Cliff also helped in the tidying up alongside Ruth and the help. A huge grave was dug in the front yard beside the rose garden to bury Sam. This was because Sam loved roses and it was he who tended to the rose patch when he said at the bungalow.

It was only towards 3pm that they could see the hearse and a few cars approaching from afar. Ruth dressed in white with a scarf and white bonnet was standing alongside Cliff who had a hand round her shoulder. The hearse stopped in front of the bungalow while all Sam's friends alighted and came to stand round Ruth. Each of them embraced and wished her condoling her for her loss. They all helped in removing the body from the hearse and brought to to the main hall where they laid it on a bed. After farewells and prayers were recited the entire entourage proceeded to the burial site to lay Sam in his final resting place. Ruth was hurting very badly and nearly fainted, but she was soon revived and taken back to the house.

Years have passed and Ruth still sits in her rocking chair with her eyes fixed on Sam's grave. The roses growing from his grave are never sold in the market, but they are cut every morning and taken to adorn the main hall and his room which is left intact even today.