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“Take this money. Now run along and get some tomatoes.” The combination of Mama's sweet serenading voice and the aroma from her cooking pot came wafting together through the cracks of our kitchen door, to the dining room where we sat playing cards. Cards and board games were our favorite pastimes. “Take your sister with you,” she added
Those were the days. When I was nine years old without any care in the world. We only saw beautiful hearts and faces. No color or race. We'd laugh out loud and play in the rain. We'd crack jokes, eat as much as we wanted, and go to bed happy. We looked forward to each day. Oh, how I've missed those days.
“Zan riga ki( I'll beat you to it), “ my brother said as he took the money from Mama and dashed away. I followed behind immediately with my stomach turning from excitement. I loved a good daytime race. My brother would always beat me but I loved how the sun would shine on our faces, our hearts would swell and we would be out of breath in no time.
As soon as we bought the tomatoes from the closest store to our home, we decided to walk back home. This time, we passed through the backyard. The thing about the backyard is that we seldom played there except for when the mango trees were in season. Then we would climb the trees, harvest mangoes, and eat to our heart's content. We avoided the neighborhood backyard mostly because it was the place where dog owners chained their pets.
That day, the backyard was quiet as usual. Freshly washed clothes hung on the ropes that lined the cloth poles. The leaves on the tree swayed from the mild breeze blowing. We were walking and chatting when we came to where Kwas was caged. Now Kwas was the most ferocious of them all among the dogs. No one ever dared to walk past him without him unleashing his terror.
I'm not sure what came over me at that moment but I said to my brother, “Watch me! I'm bold enough and I'm going to pass right through the front of Kwas’ cage.” In my head, I was going to do the impossible. Something no kid in the neighborhood had ever done. Then I would have something to brag about.
And so with a false sense of bravery, while my heart thumped, I started to take bold steps toward the cage. When I was halfway there, the point of no return, my eyes fell on the dog’s legs. Oh lord, they were unchained that day. My eyes went from the chain lying on the ground to Kwas’ vicious eyes. Right there, I knew that little adventure was a mistake.
My legs betrayed me. They began to shake and my heart thumped even faster. As I watched Kwas’ body language, I knew that if I didn't take a flight that minute, I would be gone to pieces. Instantly, my legs steadied and I began to run with all my might. As I ran, I looked behind me. You guessed right. Kwas was chasing after me aggressively. I kept yelling “Mama” as I ran. In my heart, that day would be the end of me. I halted when I came to a very wide ditch because I could not make the jump. Kwas must have sensed that I feared the hole in the ditch more than I feared him because like a quick command. He stopped chasing me and returned to his cage.
My mother and the entire neighborhood were alarmed that day. All that time my, brother just stood there laughing his guts out. He had a really good laugh that day. I still chuckle a great deal when I think about it. Also, I'm still very much terrified of dogs.