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OJJABA, THE GIRL BEYOND MY DREAM

The night was too long with an unsettling stillness. The cock delayed to crow, and the wooing owl's gentle hoot was eerily silent. I lay awake, my mind racing with questions. Why couldn’t I sleep, despite the cool breeze whispering through the night air? And then, I saw her – Ojjaba, rolling restlessly on her bed, her hands tracing every corner as if searching for something to warm her chest. Her soft coos filled the air, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was as if I were dreaming, but the scene felt intensely real. Ojjaba had come to meet me in my bed that night, but I was not there. 

Suddenly, the sound of knuckles on the door pierced the still night. I moved cautiously, my heart pounding in my chest. "Son, we need to go digging; it's already dawn," my mother’s gentle voice called out. I murmured in reply, but instead of getting up, I slipped back into bed. The morning light crept in slowly, and my mother returned, her voice shrouded with worry. "Bosco, are you okay? Why are you still in bed at this time? Get out!" I jumped out of bed, took a deep breath, and began my day. 

As I worked in the fields, planting maize under the scorching sun, my mind wandered back to the strange events of the night. Was it a prophetic dream? I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. The sun beat down relentlessly, but I worked on, my hands moving in rhythm with the earth. 

Later that evening, I met my uncle and asked to borrow his bicycle to travel to Nimule. "Do you know Nimule?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. I hesitated, unsure of the place, but I had planned to travel with Taban. My uncle did not deny me; instead, he said we would travel together on a specific day. His assuring words filled me with hope and determination. 


Then, the day of our journey arrived, and we set off on two bicycles – I rode a sports bike, and my uncle rode a Roadmaster. The journey was long and arduous, but I was hopeful with anticipation. At 5:00 pm, we arrived in Olikwi, where my uncle lived. The villagers admired my bike, and we joined them for night vigils, dancing to the infectious rhythms of local disco music. It was there, under the starry night sky, that I met her again – Ojjaba, the girl from my dream. My nephew Sombe introduced us, and as she held my hand calmly, smiling in the dark, I felt an instant connection. The world around me melted away, leaving only the two of us, suspended in a moment of pure magic.

Since I had an arduous trip, I did not say anything because my calluses were mingling with night drips. I retreated to the lounge where I would later meet Ojjaba and her friends in person for a chat. Wow, what a miracle! I suspended my thoughts as I retired joyfully to bed. I will meet her again. 


What happens next is coming, share this story if it is interesting. 

Ayella John Bosco. Writer, Critic, and Teacher


ANCESTRAL INTELLIGENT PRODUCTION, NOT MY WORK. 

Here's a play based on the passage:

OJJABA, THE GIRL BEYOND MY DREAM

Characters:

- Bosco (the protagonist)

- Mother

- Uncle

- Ojjaba

- Sombe (Bosco's nephew)

Act 1: The Dream

(The stage is dark, with a single spotlight on Bosco, who is lying on a bed, looking troubled.)

Bosco: (to himself) Why can’t I sleep? The night is too long...

(Suddenly, Ojjaba appears on stage, rolling restlessly on her bed, her hands tracing every corner.)

Bosco: (startled) Ojjaba! What are you doing here?

(Ojjaba doesn’t respond, and Bosco realizes it’s just a dream. The lights fade.)

Act 2: The Morning

(The stage is set with a simple bedroom. Bosco’s mother enters, knocking on the door.)

Mother: Son, we need to go digging; it’s already dawn.

Bosco: (murmuring) Okay, Mum...

Mother: Bosco, are you okay? Why are you still in bed at this time? Get out!

(Bosco jumps out of bed, and the lights fade.)

Act 3: The Journey

(The stage is set with a field. Bosco is working, planting maize under the scorching sun.)

Bosco: (to himself) Was it a prophetic dream?

(Bosco meets his uncle later that evening.)

Uncle: Do you know Nimule?

Bosco: (hesitating) No...

Uncle: We’ll travel together on a specific day.

(Bosco and his uncle set off on bicycles. The stage is set with a scenic backdrop of a long journey.)

Act 4: The Meeting

(The stage is set with a village scene. Bosco and his uncle arrive, and the villagers admire Bosco’s bike.)

Sombe: Uncle Bosco, come meet my friends!

(Bosco meets Ojjaba, and they share a magical moment.)

Bosco: (to himself) It’s her... Ojjaba...

(The lights fade, and the play ends with Bosco and Ojjaba meeting again in person.)

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