KESANDU (Part 1)

                 
      
       Kesandu was seated in his usual spot under the big oak tree drawing inconsistent patterns on the wet soggy ground with a piece of stick he broke off a fallen branch when his mother called.
'Kesandu!...Kesandu come and eat o.'
He reluctantly got up and tucked his shirt in properly. He ran a finger through his tangled uncombed hair,cursing under his breath as he navigated his way through the muddy ground which was now slippery because it had been raining nonstop all morning.
    He scooped water with his cupped hands from the broken paint bucket that stood beside the house  which his mother had used to collect the water from the rain to rinse his feet.
'Who is there...Kesandu is that you?' He heard his mother ask.
He sighed, ' Yes ma.'
'Aren't you coming to eat?'
He hurriedly washed the mud off his feet and hands and splashed some water across his face.
'Are you deaf?!'
'I'm coming ma.'
  He stood in the doorway of the  small dingy room that  strongly reeked of urine because his little sister Kenu had wet the bed the previous night and the mattress couldn't be taken outside because of the humid weather.
'Move you are blocking the light Kesandu!' His mother commanded,turning from her needlework to look at him for the first time since he arrived.
He moved away from the door and stood near the window where his three siblings were crouched over a bowl of porridge. The way they ate ravenously and with filthy hands made him want to throw up so he looked away.
'Aren't you eating?' His mother asked,studying him.
He slowly shook his head.
'No,I'm not hungry.'
She eyed him suspiciously.
'Let me guess,you ate in Tunde's house again today...right? Beggar!'
She seemed to spit the word at him.
'I didn't go to Tunde's house.'
'If you didn't go to Tunde's house Kesandu why are you not hungry. You were the one lamenting that you were so hungry you could eat a horse before you went out and now you are suddenly not hungry?'
  He looked from her to his siblings who were now all staring at him seemingly waiting for a fight to break out between his mother and him and turned towards the door.
'I'm going out.'
His mother scoffed.
'You are not stepping a foot outside that door until you tell me whose food you ate,beggar.'
He knew his mother didn't mean it that he was a beggar,she was just fishing for answers as was her style,but it didn't stop the word from stinging so bad.
' I said I didn't eat ma,why won't you believe me!'
'Are you yelling at mom?' A little voice smirked.
He turned to face the little girl that spoke. She was staring wildly at him,her lips puckered in mock anger. Trust Kenu to add embers to burning fire.
'Mind your business miss loose bladder before I jab your face in that bowl of porridge.'
'Let him be,the disrespectful thing. His own children will yell at him too,then he will know how it feels.'
Kenu sneered and turned away from him,a satisfied look plastered on her face. Kesandu shook his head in disbelief. How was it possible that his mother fell for Kenu's tricks over again when it was common knowledge she was the queen of scheming.
  He turned towards his mother.
'I'm sorry ma,I wasn't trying to be disrespectful.'
'You sure weren't trying...' His mother muttered.
'May I go out now?'
She looked up from the cloth she was mending and seemed to stare him down. 
'Can you not stay in your father's house? We make you uncomfortable? Is that it? Other children are happy to spend time with their families but not my son,He must always look for where to go to avoid helping out. Do you want people thinking you are homeless?'
  Kesandu shifted his weight uncomfortably about,refusing to meet her angry eyes.
'No one thinks I'm homeless.'
'How would you know what they are thinking eh?'
'I wonder o.' Kenu  remarked,beaming with joy that he was in trouble.
  Kesandu felt his fists clench. One more word out of her little mouth and she wouldn't know what hit her.
'I'm just going out to help Ma Ireti,It's stopped raining now.' He said,scouting for his slippers in the  somewhat dark room.
'Is that why you are wearing your church clothes? Do you know how expensive those are?...'
'I'm sure it's not that expensive,it doesn't even look expensive.' He muttered to himself checking out the cloth on his bodice.
'What was that you said?'
'Ma she doesn't let me touch her stuff unless I'm properly washed and dressed and she always complains that my clothes are dirty,so-'
'That should teach you to wash your clothes better,don't you think?'
'I know how to wash ma,it's just...some stains won't go off,no matter how hard I scrub because they are old,I need new clothes ma.'
  Kesandu felt his heart race,why did he just say that? He looked up to find his mother still staring at him,expressionless.
  'You want new clothes?' She let out a muffled laugh.
'Well,I'm sure you know life doesn't always hand you what you want. If you want new clothes,make some money and buy yourself new clothes stupid boy.Now change that shirt and get out of my sight before I change my mind and lock you in.'
   Kesandu moved  quickly,way before his mind could process if he was still in trouble or not. The thought of being locked in was far from appealing. He hurriedly removed the shirt he was wearing and picked up his second best option. He flung the new shirt over his shoulder and headed towards the door,groping with his feet for his slippers.

    Kesandu strolled down the not so familiar route to Ma Ireti's house wondering if he had miss the turn again like he always did, regardless of the fact that he visited the area frequently.
  He took a right turn from the main road hoping he was on the right track. Directly ahead,he saw the Catholic Church that served as his landmark,indicating that indeed he was on the right street and close to his destination. He smiled to himself and quickened his pace,silently wondering what the time was. 
   Endless stream of houses  in their uniques colours and pattern rose on either side of the road and before him,adding class and serenity to the polished area. He looked on with envy somewhat as he stopped in front of Ma Ireti's compound. Why couldn't his parents afford to live in such a place? He bet these people didn't know what food their neighbours cooked or what feud was just settled in their neighbour's home because they were busy being well adjusted and enjoying their privacy to care,which in his opinion was the way it should be anyway. 
      He knocked on the gate,softly at first then he began to rapt rhythmically, making music with his knuckles. 
He stopped when he heard the bolt give way from inside,then creaked open to reveal a not so pleased Adamu  frowning at him.
'Do you want to pull down the gate with all that knocking?!'
Kesandu swallowed and tried to smile.
'Sorry.'
Adamu moved aside to let him in,then bolted the gate once more before addressing him.
'You are late o,Madame has been asking if you were not coming in today.'
Kesandu didn't know how to reply,neither did he know if he should be elated  that his absence was felt or worried that he might get fired just after his first week. So he remained quiet and continued to gawk at Adamu.
'Well?'
'Oh,umm...it was raining. My mother didn't want me to leave in the rain...didn't it rain here?'
Adamu paused and made a face,as if considering what the little boy had said.
'I guess it did,I wouldn't know,I was sleeping.'
Kesandu nodded,more at Adamu's stupidity than in agreement because the puddles of water on the ground everywhere were clear indications that it did rain.
'Well go on in,she's waiting for you.'
'Right,sorry about the gate.'
Kesandu didn't wait for him to reply because he knew that would surely trigger a long conversation,so he turned away and ran towards the house.
He was already half way to the house when he heard Adamu's reply. He didn't have to answer.
    Kesandu heard Ma Ireti humming softly from the kitchen as he entered the house. The tone was very familiar and he soon caught himself miming the words. He stood in the doorway of the kitchen and greeted.
'Good afternoon Ma.'
She turned from the pot and faced him,slightly startled.
'Hello Kesandu,how are you?'
'I'm fine ma.'
'Your family?'
'Fine ma.'
'Okay,I love your shirt,it's clean today for starters.'
Kesandu chuckled,'Thanks ma.'
She turned back to her pot of chicken stew,still humming. Kesandu stood still feeling very awkward,wondering how to say what he wanted to say. A few moments passed and she seemed to be completely oblivious of his presence,which bothered him.
'Ma,what can I do for you today?' He drew in a deep breath to calm himself.
She walked over to a cabinet to retrieve a jar of curry powder.
'Umm...' She stopped to study him for a moment.
'You can't mow the field today Kesandu,it just rained. That also means that you can't trim the hedges of the flowers outside.'
Kesandu seemed distraught, the thought of going back home without any money weighed heavily down on him.
'Oh,okay. What can I do then?'
She smiled at him and shook her head.
'Let's see. I need help lifting boxes and loading them up in the van today.'
He nodded,feeling enthusiastic.
'They are heavy boxes Kesandu.'
He nodded again,wondering why she was emphasizing on the weight.
'You can't lift them by yourself Kesandu.'
'Oh.'
'Yeah,sorry.'
He thought for a moment.
'What if Adamu helps me? I'm sure we'd both be able to lift the boxes if we do it together.'
She paused and stared at the little person in front of her,smiling.
'Are you sure you are that strong?'
He nodded vigorously. She shrugged as she turned to put off the cooker.
'In that case I don't see why not. You are free to take breaks when you are tired by the way.'
'Yes ma.'
'The boxes are in the study,go get Adamu.'
 

  Kesandu wiped his  sweaty face with the back of his hand as he stood beside Ma Ireti in the yard several hours later to admire his hard work. Thirty boxes of books properly loaded and ready to move. No doubt it had taken a lot of cajoling to get Adamu to help him out but it had paid off in the end.
Ma Ireti smiled down at him.
'Nice job.'
He returned her smile, 'Thank you ma.'
She reached into her pocket and brought out a thick wad of notes. She counted out some bills and gave to him. He quickly accepted it and thanked her.
'Want me to drop you off?'
He looked stunned. 'Huh?'
'I said do you want me to drop you off?'
'Umm...'
'Get into the car.'
  With a weary sigh,he shuffled his way  into the passenger's seat,racking his brain as to why she wanted to drop him off.
She got in soon after and smiled at him.
'Put on your seatbelt.'
He nodded and did as he was told,still wondering what she was up to.
  After giving instructions to Adamu she put the car in motion and drove off. Kesandu tried to relax but he couldn't. He kept stealing side glances at her as if her  intentions were written on her forehead.
   Eventually he looked away from her long enough to actually start enjoying being in a car. He wondered what his mother would say if she could see him now. He bet Kenu would be stunned. He pictured her little face,What would it look like if she saw him in such a beautiful car? It would be green with jealousy no doubt. He caught himself smiling and had to stop  when he felt her eyes on him.
'Having fun?'
He nodded.
'How old are you? Where do you go to school?'
Kesandu shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
'I'm Ten.'
She gasped,'Ten? Really? I never would have guessed it,you look pretty grown and strong too for a Ten year old.'
Despite himself he grinned,genuinely happy to be complimented.
'Where do you go to school? '
She glanced at him and saw that he seemed to be struggling with the answer.
'You don't go to school?'
He nodded and attempted to smile. She reached out and patted his arm,
'It's okay,it's nothing to be ashamed of.'
'Should I take the next turn?'
He looked up to study his environment.
'Yes.'
'Okay. So, why don't you go to school?'
He shrugged noncommittally and looked away.
'Would you like to go to school though?'
He shook his head,a distant look in his eyes,'I can't.'
'Why not? Are you not smart?'
'It's not that.'
'You think school is boring?'
'No.'
'What is the matter then? Your parents can't afford it?'
He shrugged again. She smiled at him reassuringly.
'It's okay Kesandu,my parents also couldn't afford to send me to school.'
He looked at her puzzled.
'So you didn't go to school?'
She chuckled,'I did.'
'Huh...how?'
'That's story for another day Kesandu,I  do want you to know however that I didn't give up on my dreams,that's why I was able to go to school even when it was virtually impossible. What's your dream? '
'Planes. I want to be a pilot and fly around the world.'
She stole a glance at him and saw how content and genuinely happy he looked just thinking and talking about his dreams.
'That is a beautiful dream Kesandu, I think you will make a fine pilot.'
'Thank you.'
    Little was said afterwards until she pulled up where he told her to which happened to be an  abandoned park with dilapidated wooden buildings erected on every side. She looked around nervously.
'This is it Kesandu?'
He nodded as he unbuckled his seat belt. She smiled at him,wondering what to say. 
'Thank you ma.'
'You are welcome.' He turned to climb down.
'See you tomorrow.'
'Tomorrow?'
She chuckled,'Yes,tomorrow. Bring your mother along too,let's talk about putting you in school,those planes aren't going to fly themselves you know.'

To be continued.


Story by: Sophia Chukwunda