Across the Forest

That next day, Gamu prepared a red vegetable dish. She called it ngayi-ngayi. She prepared it with yam and a large piece of chicken, chicken I watched her behead. 

All on her own. Nevermind how horrific it was to watch, Gamu was strong and didn’t flinch once as the blood splashed around. 

I jumped away. 

Clearly Gamu had done it a thousand times before.

Furah, the chief and I sat around a wooden table with our plates before us. Gamu stood aside and awaited any orders. After we all washed our hands, the chief gave permission for us to start eating. I decided to start with the ngayi-ngayi.

I didn't like the taste – it was so sour. I continued chewing anyway. I shut my eyes hard and swallowed. I tried a second time, and before the veggies were halfway down my throat it all came back up and I threw up on the floor.

The chief banged his palms on the table, upset. He started to complain and shout. 

Furah didn’t respond, just kept her eyes on the food on her plate. I didn't know why the food kept coming back up. I hadn't eaten anything in three days. I didn't even feel hungry anymore.

Gamu brought a cloth and was about to bend down beside me to clean up the mess, but I stopped her. I took the cloth from her, but she grabbed it back nervously and shook her head. 

Looking at the fear in her eyes, she would get into trouble if I helped her.

But this was my mess.

I kneeled after her. “Let me do it.” I extended my hand for the cloth.

She shook her head quickly and began cleaning.

I got back up and sat on my chair feeling helpless. 

Furah pushed her food away from her, got up and went to her chamber. After a while of still complaining the chief took his complaints to the chamber after her.

Gamu and I exchanged looks.

"I'm so sorry." I said putting my palms together.

She didn't say anything, just finished cleaning the mess and started to remove the plates from the table. I helped her with some, and she allowed me to. We took them outside and put them in the basin.

The sun had already set, and it was a little dark. The village looked quiet compared to how busy it usually was during the day.

There were a few villagers sitting in a circle on the ground and an old woman was speaking to the assembly. She had long white hair and was not dressed like the young girls. She had a plain white loose dress on. It was very long and covered her feet as she was sitting down.

Gamu sat down in front of the hut and began washing the plates.

“Let me do it.” I offered but she refused with a quick shake of the head.

I sighed.

“Why can't I help you?” I tried.

“Vanda.” She motioned for me to sit down next to her.

I sat down next to her, feeling better that she’d allow me to help her out.

I asked for the cloth she was using to wash the plates and she finally handed it over. But not before checking behind the curtain for the chief and chieftess.

As I washed the pots I scanned the area. I could see Yoké's hut from here. I wondered what he was up to at this time. Did his servant also cook such bitter food?

Gamu took over the dishes again. She finished the rest quickly.

Afterwards, she took me to the assembly, and we joined them. As soon as the old lady saw me, she stopped talking and looked at me for a while.

"Rena." The old lady acknowledged me.

“Yes.” I smiled, amazed that she knew my name.

The old lady looked towards our hut and nodded. She gestured for us to take a seat. When we sat down, she continued to talk to the rest of the assembly. The assembly was a mixture of children, young people and older people. Both male and female. They were all quiet and concentrated on what the woman was saying. They looked so interested. Since I couldn't understand what this meeting was about, I started to count the people in my head. There were a total of 17 people.

When I looked towards our hut, I saw Furah standing in front of our curtain looking at us from a distance. She had her arms crossed over her chest and looked depressed.

I felt sorry for Furah at that instant. I did not know what the chief's problem was but deep down I knew somehow, I was part of that problem.

***

When it was night time Furah asked Gamu to take me outside again. I noticed the assembly had already left. There were now young ladies playing with a rope. One held one end of the rope and the other the other end while the others took turns to jump over the rope. After everyone jumped, they'd then lift the rope much higher than it was before.

Gamu joined their game as soon as we reached them. I stood to watch them play. They were screaming and laughing as they took turns to jump. At one point the game almost ended because they began arguing with one girl who refused to believe that her foot touched the rope. I asked to play after the girl stormed away angrily. They looked to Gamu for approval. Gamu nodded her head. The other girls drew me closer by my hand and gave me the rope to hold.

They made me stand on the correct spot and one of them quickly explained what it was I had to do. I did not hear a word she said but I watched the game long enough to know how to play it. After they all jumped, I would offer one of them the rope to hold so that I could also jump but they'd just shake their head and return me to my post. Even when one person would lose after another, they'd still not let me jump. Instead, the loser would exchange places with the other girl that was holding with me. 

I accepted that playing would mean holding the rope for them the whole game.

Opposite me, at the far end, I saw a figure appear out of the forest. Although it was dark, I recognised his silhouette.

Broad shoulders, that unmistakable fro…

He stepped forward and I could see him clearer.

Yoké.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling. 

He smiled back.

I was ready to run towards him.

As if he had read my mind, his smile quickly faded and he shook his head.

One of the girls saw me smiling and turned to see what I was looking at but Yoke quickly ducked backwards into the forest. 

She gasped and shouted something. The others looked too, then screamed and scattered, leaving me standing there with the rope still in my hands.

I stared at the trees for another moment, hoping he'd step out again.

He didn't.

Gamu rolled her eyes at the girls before hooking her arm in mine, leading me back to the hut.

“They must have thought I was smiling at a ghost or something.” I laughed.