Then I look through and see Akunta running towards me briskly. Clearly, she did not find anything today. I am holding her as she tells me a second time story of how she is sure the lion spared her for an antelope.“You know it’s in my place to fend for the family”, I tell her, terrified at how close I get again to lose my love.
“Did you find anything from the supplies, Batanta?”She is praying I say yes.
“Maize government brought today was more than yesterday’s. I also helped Mekanta get a few vegetable leaves from the government driver so we will eat tonight”. I know her smile means she knows that it was solely Mekanta’s stunt .She uses the cloth around her waist to wipe sweat from her face as she goes in.
Forget our smiles; the state of affairs here is beyond words. The famine has hit us as hard as it does every year but children have to eat.We look for wild food when government supply is late and at other times not enough. The pride of lions has satisfied its hunger with some of us. But God! She will not listen. Her and her friends Manta and Samali are always running for wild food when government food is late for five minutes.
The joy of a father when his children sleep stomach full is divine. Oh yes children! But the radio people will not understand. How do they explain that it is wrong to have many children?Kalima, Mobanda, Pateto, Bakunta, Baselimo, Kweto, Masanda, Badenda, Mokunta, Kenta and Kipenta.I know each one of them by name. The radio people cannot understand; they never have children.
The famine will be over next moon to give way to rains from hell. The area chief and councillor will drive the Member of Parliament to see the floods then government will send word to vacate our homes until after the floods.Who will say no when crocodiles from the Delta visit us right to our door steps?
“Akunta!”
“My husband”. She replies as she comes forward to kneel before me.
“Listen to me”. I take a deep breath and then tell her. “How would you like to go to school?”
She looks at me. Is she annoyed or confused? She loses her consciousness to the ground.
