Shititi

"Take her to the clinic. You know it's open." Said Saplenya finally getting to where we were, apparently he saw what happened and commented it to Andoni.

The girl was still wailing at the top of her voice, she was loud. Heads were now turning, I knew I had to do something, so I lowered my right knee to the ground and touched her face, then, just like something that only happens in movies, imagine a storm of red hot ash, blowing over the village, then stands still like a mist, choking hot ash.

Yeah! That was happening, in my mouth, all the way down, dried up, I could feel my lips crack the hell out. Yet I had not thought of what to say. If it were Njombo, I would have said "nindio basatsa" (that's being a man), what do you tell an injured girl? What do you tell a girl you injured? What expression should you have on? Stop smiling Bola, stop smiling.

She raised her face, and looked into the villains face. Just like that, she stopped crying. Until today we pretend it never happened.

I looked into her eyes and saw a strong girl, big brown eyes on a dark clean complexion, natures own pride, such beauty. With a busted nose.

"I'm really sorry, come with me."

I raised her to her feet, held her by the waist,broke the potato into two, gave her one and started munching on the other while leading her towards the clinic.

"What did you do again Bola?"Said the pharmacist.

"What? You just assumed I did something."

"Yes. You always know how to get yourself in trouble. Shititi shichaka Khulila nunu.(Shititi starts crying today)"

"I was running, then collided into her."

"Yeah! See what I mean?"

I turned to Ingosi, told her that I was leaving her in safer hands, then helped her sit down.

"Bye dad."

"Stay out of trouble, at least for me."

I walked out of the clinic, into the market, it was quiet, the iconic malimili tree, standing at the centre of the market, it's branches covering almost half the diameter of the fine circular shaped market. No one was within the market, only a few in the outskirts, buying or selling milk.

I walked to Lorendi's shop, he was just opening, he took the can and went with it to the back, a few moments later he appeared, with the can almost full, I thanked him and walked away.

I used the Iyenga route, through vikunga village, across Imisa river into Irenji.

"That was fast, it has not even been 30 minutes." Said Mr. Mulako.

I just smiled and handed him the can, he was taking tea with a potato, he offered but I declined, I excused myself and started walking home, he called after me and told me he would be leaving after the tea, I nodded, and proceeded to walk home. Call someone else dude.

At home everyone was around the table, except dad, Toto holding a big red plastic cup, in one hand, and a huge piece of chapati, torn from the main chapati in the other.

I sat beside her, the potato I gave her, half eaten on the table, I smiled, she looked at me and asked why I was smiling, just as mom noticed my presence.

"Go take a cup, before the tea gets cold."

I walked to the Shitalatsi, took a white cup, mom shouted from the house, "That is the milk cup."

I changed and took a green cup.

I rolled a chapati with a steaming hot tea.

"What have you been up to Bola?" Asked mom.

"Nothing much, I've been with Dad, took a patient to him."

"A patient? Where did you get a patient?"

I took a bite on the chapati, blew the edge of the cup attempting to cool the tea, then took a quick sip.

"Dad will tell you."

"No. You tell me."

"I ran her over."

"What? Who is her?"

"Ingosi."

"Ingosi Shi?" (Which Ingosi)

"Wi Ivono."(from Ivono)

"Inzu yu Muhenzi?" (Muhenzi's house?)

"Yes."

"Wah! Asalili ari?" (How injured was she?)

"Broke her nose."

"Shititi shilila nunu." (Shititi cries today.) She said.

"Manyi."( I know)

"What are you doing today?"

"The house, everyone will be there. I'll go with Toto."

"Why did you run her over?" Asked Toto.

"It was not intentional." I said turning to her.

"Mom. What is Shititi?" Asked Toto.

"You will know when you hear it, just look at Bola, when it's rhythm beats fear will show all over his face. It only cries during the 8th month."