THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

A week flew by while Zachary enjoyed the homely atmosphere at his grandma's place. He grew to appreciate the saying 'East or West, home is best' with every passing day.

He felt so loved and relished every moment he spent there. His mind totally relaxed from its usual tense state as he took on a free-spirited mood like a bird soaring in the skies.

His grandma was as perfect a host as he remembered. She treated him like the most cherished of guests, spoiling him with her delightful cooking, which could rival that of the most famous chefs in Lubumbashi. Be it dishes like fried goat's meat and steamed bananas, or delicious sauce like mushroom soup, Zachary feasted on it all in the first few days of his stay there.

During meal times, Zachary would tell her about his experiences in Europe. By the eighth day, he'd already narrated almost everything to her, starting from his academy days and ending with his latest Tippeligaen fixture performance.

Her reactions to some of his stories often left him at a loss for words. She would regularly interpose and say: 'Stop deceiving me' or 'How come I haven't seen you on TV?' On such occasions, Zachary found it hard to continue the story. He would then often head off to his room to rest without another word.

On the ninth day, at the dinner table, Zachary finally mustered the courage to ask his grandma about some issues that'd been bugging him since his arrival. Since the young kids had already gone to their rooms to rest for the night, he reckoned it was the perfect opportunity to make his queries.

"Grandma," he began, looking at her from across the table covered with mouth-watering African dishes.

"Yes, Zachary," she replied, raising a brow. "Why do you seem so nervous? Just go ahead and ask whatever you have to ask? Don't act like a young girl."

"Well, grandma," he said, smiling wryly. "I was wondering about the cousins of mine staying here. Who are they exactly?" He asked, tone cautious.

"Well, they're your cousins, of course," she replied matter-of-factly. "Two of the kids, Joel and Joshua, belong to your aunt, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates for work. The young girl, Lily, is the child of the cousin of the husband of that same aunt of yours. She also accompanied your aunt to UAE. The remaining two, Trésor and Yannick, belong to another aunt of yours."

"Oh," Zachary said, surprised and worried. He was afraid that taking care of all the kids would tire out his grandma. There was a chance it would affect her health and well-being if she wasn't careful. But since his grandma had always been a kind person by nature, who'd raised him single-handedly, he decided not to mention the issue.

"Why do you seem displeased?" His grandma probed, closely watching him from across the table. She'd apparently noticed his slight shift in mood.

"Zachary, do you not want me taking care of the kids?" She continued in a somber tone after not getting a response. "Would you prefer that I send the kids away from here to the streets?"

"I didn't say anything, grandma," Zachary was quick to reply while raising his hand in a pacifying gesture. "Those are your own speculations."

"Then, why did you raise your left eyebrow?" She demanded, seemingly amused. "You only do that when you're frustrated or angry. So, don't lie to me."

"I was only thinking about other stuff, not the kids," Zachary replied, sounding defensive.

"Then tell me," she said, fixing her gaze onto his face. "What has been on your mind over the past few days? I've noticed that you've been looking for an opportunity to ask me something. But then, you always stop at the last minute. So, go ahead and spit it out."

Zachary sighed on hearing his grandma's very accurate assumptions. She was as sharp as ever.

"I've always wanted to ask you about my parents," he said, voice lowering. "Where are they right now? How come you've never said anything about them before?"

"Oh my, Zachary," she said, sighing. "Is that what has been bugging you over the past few days? Why didn't you ask me sooner instead of continuing to worry about the issue? I would have disclosed everything since you're now old enough to hear the entire truth."

"So, where are my parents right now?" Zachary probed once again, trying his best to keep his voice stable.

He didn't want her to get sidetracked since the unsolved question of his identity had been one of the greatest regrets of his previous life. He'd met his end without ever knowing the people that had brought him into this world and left him with his grandma. But in his present life, he was determined to get some answers in order to get some closure.

"Just give me a moment, Zachary," she said, looking at him kindly. "I need to pick a few things from my room, and then we can have this talk. Understood?"

"Yes, grandma," Zachary replied. "I'll be waiting here."

"Good," she said, standing up from her seat. She then left the dining room without another word.

Zachary did his best to keep his emotions in check by focusing on his food as he waited. But, he quickly found out he'd somehow lost his appetite. He pushed his plate to the side and continued waiting for his grandma's return in silence.

Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long.

His grandma walked back into the room after a few minutes. She was carrying a small wooden chest in her hands. Without a word, she placed it on the table beside the dishes and settled back into her seat.

"What's that?" Zachary asked, looking at the chest lying on the table.

"This, Zachary, contains your father's possessions," she said, patting the chest and looking at him fondly. "At least, it includes all the possessions that I'm aware of."