Chapter two
As I walk towards Lena's home, I cannot help but think about what happened around that river. There is something that mum does not want me to know.
I mean not just that I feel like she is hiding way too many secrets according to her reaction.
Again, who was that mysterious young man? Was he spying or stalking me? How on earth did he just disappear like that? Didn't he want my friends to see him?
Well, it is a bit crazy how I think but I am a human being who has to think at some point. God knows how much I want to believe that I am still safe and sane. After mum's reaction though, I do not think I am safe, I feel like I am in some sort of menace.
I have never had mum caution me against the river. I have not gone there often, but mum saying that the river is evil sounds … funny. We have always looked for firewood in that mound.
I bump into a hard body and yes, the I almost die of a heart bout then I realize this village is safe to live in. it is calm and serene. I lift my face slowly and I meet Mrs. Amanda, Lena's mum.
''Hey, are you okay?'' She asks worriedly. ''I have never seen you so deep in thoughts. Anything the matter?'' she asks calmly, steadily looking into my eyes and I swiftly pull them away from her gaze.
''Um, actually, I wasn't deep in thoughts,'' I lie nervously. I do not look at her in the eyes. I maintain looking away. ''Is Lena home?'' I ask in a bid to rub off her thoughts.
''Yes, she is, she has been waiting for the two of you so, she is just seated under the tree.'' I do not wait for her to speak more. I hear her speaking to herself. ''These young kids, how come she did not seem okay to me? That is so strange, in fact, I have never seen her like this. She is always calm and jovial. Something is awry….'' I do not hear the rest of the words as I walk away in speed.
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Lena is outside her mum's house, I guess her dad must have had gone hunting the bush animals. They are always super delicious, life in the village is super cheap. I remember my teacher in high school telling us how in the city everything is bought. Us here in the village get vegetables from the garden, firewood for free, milk either for free or just affordably cheap. We get water from the river and yeah, we do not have to buy much. While those in the city buy everything including toilets, and everything else. I hear the most expensive of them being rent.
''Hey, is someone keeping secrets from us?'' she startles me, and I look at her surprised. ''She isn't telling us things now.''
''Who? You mean … I mean … what are you talking about?'' I ask almost urgently. She smiles when I look at her and maybe at my faltering way of speaking
''Calm down, little sister I …'' I cut her off
''I am not little! What do you mean calling me little?'' I ask after rolling my eyes dramatically. ''You and I know that you were born after me,'' I say them smile when I see the expression on her face.
''Hey, why are people being born after others? We are sisters and it doesn't matter who was born when, we will always act together, walk together, be in shit together and if it's just one of us, then the rest of us have to get there too to help each other. Copy?'' Mabel asks and I nod when she looks at me.
I move closer to Lena and hug her. She hugs me right back, tightly and I know my sweet sister in crime did not have any ill motives. We are joined by Mabel in the hug and yeah, a complete circle of friends. So sweet.
I ask both of them if they had breakfast and they say they did. I am in a grey oversized dress, Mabel is in a black, almost fitting while Lena who is the most beautiful amongst us is in a flowery dress which is curving her hips nicely. She does have a very beautiful body.
''We need to get going. The old people must be waiting for us.'' Mabel says and we both nod in unison. We have been doing this community work ever since we finished our studies. We used to do it during the holidays, but we concentrated more after school and just made it a daily routine.
It doesn't pay us, and we don't mind because one, we don't pay any bills like those guys in the city and that's according to what our teacher told us and two, it is said that 'Tenda wema nenda zako' (do your best and go your way) or 'Atakaye tenda wema atapata malipo bora kuliko huo wema alio utenda.' (He who does well shall be rewarded with something better.) that is our drive at the moment.
We break the hug and start walking towards Mzee Meza's house. He is one of the people who have benefited from our little work. Sometimes we mobilize the few youths in this community, and we go to the shambas to dig.
The community is so united that I wonder if there would be something to separate us one day. I love the peace here. I have heard about those communities that do not sleep at night because of being raided by cattle rustlers or enemies.
I thank the God of peace for blessing our village like this. ''You seem really far, are you okay?'' Mabel asks calmly and I smile at her. Lena just looks without a word from her lips.
''I am, I was just thinking about the love and peace that we have around here. I feel surrounded by people who matter and people who truly love me. I do not know what I'd do if I lost you two.''
''When exactly are you losing us?'' I do not respond to her when she asks that jokingly. We all burst into a burst of hearty laughter.
Mzee Meza is seated outside his house together with his wife. I swear if I ever get married someday, I want to grow old with my husband like him and his wife. This is so encouraging.
''My children. You are here.'' He says tiredly and we nod at him. The wife smiles at us and tells us that there is food in the pot.
We however decline the offer politely because all we need right now is to get to work. Lena does not like carrying water, so we offer to do that with Mabel. We understand her.
She takes the broom and starts sweeping as Mabel and I head to the river between us and the next village.
The same river where mum said I should not go to. Do not get me wrong, curiosity killed a cat, I know but right now, I can't help but get back to the same river and know about the alien I saw yesterday. I guess he will appear again.
''Is that even good? You are smiling so sweetly that if I did not know you better, I'd say you are in love.'' Mabel says leaving me thinking.
''In love, Mabel? How do people even fall in love?'' I ask jokingly.
''No idea. But why are you all smiley?'' she asks with a sweet smile etching her lips.
''Are you saying that I am normally not smiley?''
''Not exactly but share what is making you so happy because I need to talk to you about something.'' She says seriously.
''Ladies first, so, you go first.'' She rolls her eyes at me. Well, Mabel and I share a lot more than we share with Lena. One, Mabel is mature, and she keeps things more to herself. And two, because Lena does not like going for outdoor chores.
Lena is so close to her mum that by the time we realized how our secrets got to our mum's it was too late. So, there are a number of times that she has felt third wheeled but that's not it. We love each other equally.
''Mum again,'' she says, and I notice her eyes shining with unshed tears. ''She is pushing me again, towards marrying the guy I told you about.''
''Really, I thought she stopped that. She has been doing that for so long and why? Do you know why she wants you to marry that guy so bad?''
''Nope. But she mentioned something like the guy might notice you or Lena first.'' She says tiredly and I feel her sorrow.
''Have you met the guy?'' I ask calmly
''Yes, I told you I met the guy last month.'' I facepalm. My bad, she had told me about it. ''Anyway, mum says that the guy will be back here this week and he will want to spend some time with me.'' She says sadly.
''Why don't you want to get married to him?''
''Are you even asking me that? First of all, I don't want to get married. Second, I do not want to be married off. If I will ever get married then it has to be to someone I love, I meet them all alone and fall for them.''
''But you know the tradition here, right? If the boy from the adjacent village saw you and he loved you, then you should not make his work hard.''
''Says the idiot who does not want to hear about men. By the way, what did men ever do to you? Is this all about Henry?''
I roll my eyes she keeps bringing that up and it is boring. ''Listen, the sole reason why I don't want to see men right now, is because the three of us have a dream to make our community the best place to live in. we will turn this village into a city and we will make this place a tourist site. You know what? The river with its Kristal clear water could also bring money to the community, right?''
''Are you asking me to get married so that you have no one to help you with all these? You know what? I will never do that shit! You need me and I need you too.''
''Great, thank you.''
''Welcome, now, can you tell me why you were smiling sheepishly, then why we are going to that river instead of the usual place where we normally get water?'' we are closer to the river and I look both ways when she asks that. I do not want anyone eves-dropping to our conversation.
''I wanted us to come to this river because it soothes me. I like the tranquility that comes with it, and I saw someone here yesterday who looks like an alien.'' The surprise on her face when I say that is enough to show me that I need to research my soul and think again if what I just said is meaningful.
''Are you even listening to your own words? Where did you decide to mess up your mind like this?'' she asks seriously after a peal of hearty laughter.
''What do you mean?'' I ask feigning confusion.
''Whoever told you that aliens exist? I mean, aren't there very many young men around the world who could be handsome?''
''I have no idea what you are saying. But I am sure that if you saw the guy, I am talking about, you would also agree with me that he is an alien.'' She shrugs lazily.
''Okay, introduce me to the alien, I will really be happy to see him as well. You know what? I do not mind seeing him so, let's get going, I will be pleased to see your alien.''
I roll my eyes when she says that. She is being melodramatic, and I do not think it's good for us. I trail closely after her as she heads to the entrance of the river.
''Hey,'' she stops and turns to look at me. ''Kindly fetch some water for me, I will catch up with you in a few minutes.''
''Don't tell me you are going to look for him without me.'' I hit her shoulder jokingly.
''Be patient, I will let you know if and when I see him, okay?'' she nods eagerly then turns on her heels to walk away.
I stand still as she goes a few steps ahead of me, I swear to the gods of this land that what I hear with my own ears is something untold. Then an appearance of the same alien that I saw yesterday.
He is standing right across the river and I feel like I want to faint.