LISA lay pale and limp on her mother’s bed. The 10-year-old had been sick for two weeks. She was taken to see the doctor then a specialist but neither could find out what was ailing the lass. She lived with her mother and father in a quaint wooden cottage at the end of the main road in the village of Discovery. Due to her illness, some of her aunts and cousins had come to lend support to her parents.

The sick child was unaware of their presence because she had been ravaged by a burning fever that had persisted for the last two days. Medication from the doctor was of no help. The family had exhausted their meager financial savings on her visits to the hospital and so could not afford to take her back there. She lay in bed covered in perspiration and literally wasting away.

Annabelle and Christopher were sick with worry. They had both stayed home from work to attend to their only child. Tears and prayers flowed freely as they kept vigil at her bedside.
Little Lisa drifted into a coma-like trance. In this dream world, she saw two men walking toward her on a field covered with all kinds of beautiful flowers. They were tall, handsome and royal. Both wore crowns of gold and precious stones. Each held a stout, beautifully covered stick and were bedecked with gold. They were African Kings and both were smiling at her. She immediately felt at peace.

They each took one of her hands and led her toward a wide river that lay smooth and glimmering in the bold sunlight. At the bank of the river, a boat waited. She was lifted aboard and they crossed the river with hardly a ripple.
When they arrived on the other side, they disembarked. She saw a red clay road with fields of flowers on each side. Along this long and winding road were beautiful houses all painted in white. It was the most beautiful place she had ever seen. She felt happy and content
“This is the most beautiful place in the world!” her voice rang out across the landscape although she did not speak loudly.

“Do you know where you are?” this question came from the beaming king who had very long locks.
“No, But I think I am beginning to understand,” she replied.
“That is good. You are a smart girl and we don’t need to tell you anymore,” The second king said shaking his silver, afro head.
“I love it! I want to live here with you!” she was very excited.
The two royal men looked at each other then back at her. There was gentle love shining in their eyes.

“You are not ready for this place. This is not your time.”
They said this in unison. She looked from one to the other and tears began to fall down her cheeks. She knew that they loved her; she felt it. She did not understand why they would not allow her to stay in their wonderful country.
Once again they took her hands and led her back to the river. They got into the beautifully decorated boat and sailed smoothly back to the other side. She got out of the boat and turned to say goodbye. The boat and her two kings had vanished.

Lisa wept softly. Then a gentle breeze seemed to rouse her. She looked up at the sky and saw a handsome African face looking down at her. It was the face of a man. He was kind, loving and seemed to know her. He smiled and she felt sad no longer. He was dressed in white with a black flowing beard. He reached down and touched her. She immediately felt she was healed. Only one name came into her little mind: Jesus.
The child sat up in bed and looked enquiringly around her. Her relatives and parents were in full mourning mode. Screams and howls were ringing out through the neighbourhood. Two of her aunts were tossing around with grief on the floor.

“Mommy! Daddy!”
There was shocked silence. They all stood there staring at her as though they were seeing her for the first time. Then they changed their mode to rejoicing. Shouts, screams and howls rang out once more. When everyone had finished squeezing, kissing and wiping her down they settled down and explained what had taken place.
One hour earlier the doctor had examined her and pronounced her dead. They had wailed, prayed and bawled ever since.
“Child we had fo put yo cousin downstairs. Sara praying pon she!”

“Who mummy?”
“Denise. She was here when you died and sudden so de child shout out, she aint dead. Look two kings by de bed. Well we almost faint wid fright. We were sure she seeing Jumbie,” her mother said.
“Wait, mommy, call she!” Lisa demanded.
“Denise! Come here!”
The seven-year-old entered the room looking apprehensively at the adults. She kept quiet because she did not want to get whipped. When she saw Lisa beaming at her she forgot them and jumped onto the bed. The two hugged each other, tears flowing down their faces. From the window facing them a soft gentle breeze seemed to sweep through the room, then a glow, brighter than those entering from the other windows filled the room. All eyes were on the glow. Both girls were looking at the two kings and smiling. The men waved goodbye and the glow withdrew.