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How many tears can a man's eyes hold?

DANIEL KUMBON

Paki Pupukai
The late Paki Pupukai


WABAG - A day ago, I cried heart to heart with Paki Pupukai on his sick bed. I knew this was the last time I would hold his warm hands.

I cleared his tears with tissue paper from my pocket. Paki was my brother and lean-to man in the Kondo Nauk hausman of our Aimbarep Pumbuti tribe in Kandep.

Not long ago I mourned the untimely death of my son, late Jeffery Nathan. I mourned for two full weeks.

Jeffery was the pride of our village and tribe. He held a senior position in the National Works and Highways Department.

Now I find I have no more tears after Paki just died. Maybe I will cry later when the tank behind my eyes fills up again.

What is shocking is that Paki died just as we had completed Jeffery's final resting place and were discussing the traditional funeral feast.

Maybe it was decreed that Jeffery and Paki should die within a fortnight. And that we would hold one funeral feast for both.

It seems so and that's what we the relatives must do. Prepare one feast for both.

Farewell Paki my brother and farewell Jeffery my son.

Rest in Eternal Peace.

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