By the time it approached mid day, the sun was up and bright-scorching hot. Orisi stood up from the ground under the tree shed and headed towards her mother, handing her the small Jerrycan of water that they had brought with them in the morning. Rungi thanked her and told her to go back in the shed, she couldn't stand her weak daughter standing under the heat.
Sensing her mother's care, Orisi's heart swelled with tender feelings. Her mother worked hard for her family and although her grandmother wasn't appreciative, she didn't take it to heart. She recalled her father always trying to stop her from doing any work that required manual labor but she was adamant, her father was always left helpless by her.
Although she didn't know what her future held, Orisi wanted to shoulder some of her mother's burdens, she fantasized about the day she grew old and provided her with everything nice.
"Mom. You should rest, it's almost lunch time," Orisi said as she sat back under the shed.
"Don't worry about me, my skin is thick and strong, the sun isn't that destructive. Are you hungry? Lunch might arrive in about an hour, be patient," Rungi replied as she put down the small jerrycan of water before picking up her knife and resuming her former activity.
"It's already here though," Orisi replied.
No sooner had she finished speaking than a voice penetrated the air "Orisi! We bought food! come and eat,"
Orisi turned to her left and spotted her cousin Kwezi, who was 9 years old call. She had brown radiant skin that glowed under the sun, her body a healthy weight in her well fitted African print dress.
Rungi was surprised at the coincidental arrival of Kwezi but shrugged it off, Orisi might have spotted her cousin from a far.
"Greetings Aunt Rungi," Kwezi greeted.
"Good-afternoon Kwezi, you arrived early today," Rungi replied, putting her knife down and placing the millet in the basket.
"Dad told us to bring the food early, since uncle..." Kwezi's words were cut short by her elder brother's loud call.
"What are you talking about? Hurry up and come help me distribute plates to others," Bwengo said as he walked towards them.
"Good afternoon aunt Rungi, Orisi, here," Bwengo added as he handed Rungi and Orisi plates.
"Thank you Bwengo, " Rungi said.
Being the eldest son of Michael and the only grandson in the family, Bwengo took on different responsibilities from childhood. He was fourteen years old but his actions were a bit more mature for his age.
Since he was the only boy child born in the entire family, he learnt to associate with others earlier on. Although he was spoilt by Songu and her husband, he never lost his spirit or became unbearable. It was quite the opposite. On Orisi's father's funeral, he was in charge of fetching water, chopping firewood to cook, and doing other activities around that needed immediate attention.
Orisi sighed in pity at the major setback he would face ahead. However, when it passed, Bwengo would be successful and no one would stop him from prospering. This would fall on his ability to push on or give up. If he gave up, then his life would take a different course.
Bwengo sensed Orisi's gaze on him and slightly smiled, heading towards her and scotting down on her level. Although she was several months older than his sister, it really didn't show from her body and he knew why. Bwengo guiltily looked at this cousin of his before picking out some black berries from his pant pockets, giving them to her.
"I had gone with Fizal to Mutyo's farm to graze cattle. He gave each one of us some berries to bring back, have some," Bwengo explained.
Orisi nodded in understanding, receiving the berries. Mutyo was a renowned rich man in the village with a lot of land, Cattle and farms. Children in the village usually went to him to work for some small pay, Bwengo had started doing so at the age of nine.
"Give me some too!" Kwezi's sharp voice cut through the air.
"I already gave you some, follow me, let's go and distribute food," Bwengo said before pulling Kwezi who was now dragging her feet on the ground with protest.
Seeing them dissaper in a distance, Rungi turned her gaze to Orisi who had finished washing the berries with the remaining water in the Jerrycan before putting one in her mouth, from her facial expression, it was clear she enjoyed the taste.
Bwengo was a really good boy, if he wasn't born in such a complicated family, his life would be very smooth, Rungi thought.
"Here, have a taste, these berries are big and juicy," Rungi's thoughts were interrupted by Orisi's words. A berry was placed in her hand so she held it.
"You love sweet things, I don't, just eat the rest, let's go and join the others for lunch," Rungi said as she placed the berry in her mouth heading in the direction Kwezi and her brother went.
"Look at this, the child has very good appetite," Songu's voice greeted them on arrival, she put some "akalo" made from millet floor on a plate,she then poured some bean stew to take with it.
Kwezi happily dug in. " She had already eaten before coming here," Bwengo remarked.
"What do you know? If she wants to eat, let her eat, afterall, food is available," Songu said.
The women who had come to harvest had already put food on their plates and so did Yingi. Looking at the remaining food, it was clearly only one plate left. Bwengo was helplessness, this food was properly budgeted for the group of people on this farm, Kwezi eating here dusrupted the balance.
Rungi put the remaining "akalo" on the plate then divided it into two, placing some on her daughter's plate before serving with bean sauce. The mother and daughter then sat under a tree besides the women who had come to harvest. Lunch was always eaten with the rest.
Bwengo also sat on a stone besides his mother. He had to wait on the plates and take them back with him.
"Did you hear about that small child of the Mangeli family? " One woman besides Rungi suddenly asked as she swallowed her food.
"The child went missing months back, I wonder how that happened, we rarely lose children in this community," Songu replied as she kneaded the food and dipping it into the sauce then putting it into her mouth.
"You are right, that child. In the early morning hours, I saw some strange men with big black bags and big cars entering into their compound. When I asked around, I discovered that the child had fallen into a man made dam! His parents were also aware of such an incident but we're too scared to report that matter, it was only when the smell was too much that the neighbors reported. Turns out those people came to pick up the body," The woman elaborated, getting everyone's attention.
"Why were they scared to report, it's not like they were responsible for his death," Yingi inquired.
"That, I also don't know," The woman replied as she put food into her mouth.
"I don't know why people are careless not to cover their dams, " Songu said.
Orisi silently eat her food slowly, lost in thought. If the child was able to pick up her doll and go with it, that wasn't a joking matter. Ghosts generally wouldn't pick up things from the land of the living according to her observation, unless, their attachment to the land of the living was so strong.
"Will the parents get in trouble?" Another woman in the group inquired.
" I really don't know, if they didn't kill the child, I think they won't get in trouble," The woman replied.
"What a pity, dying at such a young age," The woman said with a sigh.
"Death is a must, whether you die young or old, it's all the same, we shall meet one day with our loved ones when it's our turn, let's put that behind our backs," Yingi looked at Songu who stopped eating at the mention of death and quickly intervened. They were just from burying her son yesterday, talks of death and what not shouldn't progress.
"You are right, " The woman read the room and the conversation came to an end.
After lunch, Bwengo orderly arranged the plates in the basket and picked it up, leaving the farm. The women also resumed their duties. By the time it approached evening, everyone was tired and drained but seeing the plentiful harvest, the group's energy slightly improved.
"Alright everybody, today has come to an end, Let's all go back home, refresh and meet again tomorrow," Songu said to everyone in the farm who had gathered around.
The group nodded in understanding, some village boys quickly came around and picked up the packed sacks of millet and headed to Songu's compound as they usually did.
The women said their goodbyes to Songu, Rungi, Yingi and Orisi before departing. They then also turned around and headed to the village.
"Aha! " Suddenly, Songu's voice penetrated the air, she had fallen to the ground-holding her left arm. Looking at her facial expression, it was clear she was in tremendous pain.
"Mother-in-law! What's wrong?" Yingi asked as she kneeled besides Songu. Rungi also worriedly approached.
"It's my arm, It hurts a lot, but I think it's because of the harvest, " Songu said as sweat dropped from her forehead.
"Let's go home first, you need to rest," Yingi said as she attempted to carry Songu up by her upper arm. However, Songu loudly screamed in pain, she felt as though thousands of needles were inserted into her arm.
"Stop! " Songu ordered.
Orisi slowly approached Songu and Scotted besides her. She noticed that the black mist she had seen in the morning had now spread to her entire arm and it was more dark and cloudy. She slowly touched it and surprisingly noticed that she could easy separate it from Songu's arm so she touched her arm and slowly guided the mist away. When it came in contact with the air, it slowly dissapered.
From Songu, Yingi and Rungi's point of view, they only saw Orisi touching Songu's sleeves as though massaging her arm but not exactly.
"What nonsense are you trying to do to your grandmother!" Yingi immediately shouted in warning.
"It's Okay, I feel better now. Orisi, what did you do?" Songu said as she held Orisi's hand in question.
"Nothing, When my legs get slightly paralyzed, I just slowly stretch and massage them, that's what I did," Orisi replied. She had no desire of elaborating what she couldn't understand herself.
"Really?" Songu pressed, her sharp eyes analyzing Orisi's words. Seeing as she didn't dodge her eyes, it seemed she was telling the truth.
"Mother-in-law, are you really Okay?" Rungi asked.
"I am fine, help me up," Songu replied.
Rungi and Yingi steadily helped her up. They then slowly walked to the village in silence. Once in a while, Songu would turn to look at Orisi but the child was just holding her mother's hand as she followed behind her, the incident from before as though meaningless to her.
"Bwengo will bring you some millet floor and some beans," Songu said when they arrived Infront of Rungi's house.
Rungi was slightly surprised, Songu rarely took the initiative to hand out food if it was not the stipulated days to do so. What had changed?
"Thank you mother-in-law," Rungi immediately thanked her generosity.
"Let's go," Songu said to Yingi who was giving the mother and daughter an envious stare. She was staying with Songu in the same house and only she knew how hard it was! Although they had a house girl to help with the chores, the constant demands from Songu were unbearable.
Although, the house Rungi and her daughter stayed in was old, it was still better than staying with Songu. She envied Rungi's freedom. Seeing them struggle with essentials sort of gave her some sense of superiority over them, she wasn't happy with Songu's generosity just now. However, she could do nothing about it, Yingi followed behind Songu as the headed to the main house.
Rungi walked into the compound and headed into the house. Harvesting millet wasn't simple, the sun, insects and weeds that would attach themselves on clothes didn't make the activity appealing, she had to bathe and refresh.
Orisi also slowly followed behind but stopped a few feet away from the house before turning to her left side.
"Why did you take my doll?" Orisi questioned in a strict tone, her eyes sharp.
A small, grey child holding a banana fiber doll slowly stood up from the ground, his eyes were blood red and he now smelled like a dead and decayed animal. He tried to smile at Orisi as he held out the doll towards her but his face twisted in an un even angle.