After Rungi left for the garden, Orisi slowly walked out of the house, washed her face and brushed her teeth with the usual village tree branch called "Omutyozo", the daily ritual, her mother was always strict with her concerning dental health and that was the reason her teeth were white as snow and strong. The sun was scorching hot so she walked under the tree in-front of the house, settling beneath it as she looked in a distance.
"Orisi! Come play! This is the new ball my mother bought me from town!"
A tiny girl with round cheeks, clutching a bright new ball, called out to her. She was surrounded by four other village children, their clothes tattered and their feet bare. Among them, she was the only one with a pair of shoes. In the village, children often liked playing outside in their old clothes so as not to dirty their nice ones and also without shoes as they kept their main shoes for special occasions, some however, didn't have the priviledge of having shoes.
Orisi turned toward the voice. She knew them. The girl with the ball was Gloria, a teacher's daughter. Flanking her were Murungi and Hirwa, and the two boys were Norbert and Ayesiga. They were the children who sometimes followed their mothers to the harvests. Ayesiga and Hirwa were Maru's children, the very ones she was vouching to get into the new government school.
"Okay," Orisi said. She didn't relish playing under the harsh sun, but she didn't dislike her agemates either. Her social philosophy was simple: if invited, she would join; if not, she wouldn't intrude. She simply went with the flow.
The group of children immediately run and joined Orisi under the tree to play under the shed. Murungi and Hirwa stood opposite to each other leaving a wide space between them. The other four children waited to go in the middle and play.
The game was simple, if the ball hit you in the process of throwing it to the person opposite, that is; if Murugi, throwing the ball to Hirwa hit the person in the center, the person would be out of the game. Orisi already had an idea on how to play so she was the first to enter the game.
Almost thirty seconds in, she was hit and stepped out, Gloria then entered and also played but her labored breathing soon betrayed her, and she too was eliminated, collapsing breathlessly beside Orisi. Ayesiga went next.
When, Orisi's hand grazed Gloria's, she immediately paused then her gaze lifted absently to the sky, a frown etching her features.
This world was really unfair, Gloria was such an innocent and good child. Although her family had some money, she never looked down on others. She always secretly gave her friends her expensive candy from town; she was also a beneficiary at one point. Orisi could see her light and pure heart without any need to be close to her.
But who can tell her why Gloria's life stopped at 26? Why did good people have to go so early? Orisi could see the misery and sorrow of Gloria's parents and how they followed her shortly afterwards.
Could this tragedy be stopped earlier on? Gloria's problem, if noticed early might have a positive effect. But how would she explain it to Gloria's parents?She really didn't want any parts in interactions with the dead and also the living. She thought it bothersome but Gloria was innocent, she couldn't just sit and watch these events unfold.
"Orisi!"
She turned from the sun, blinking, to find puzzled faces staring at her.
"Murungi and I are next," Hirwa said. "You and Gloria should throw the ball for us."
"Oh," Orisi said, her voice soft. "Well, let Gloria rest a little more. Ayesiga, come hold the ball with me." She stood up, brushing the leaves and grass from her dress.
The other children seemed to understand Orisi's unspoken kindness. Gloria had, after all, provided the ball; it wouldn't do to burden her with the work of throwing it.
The game continued for another four rounds before Gloria's mother arrived.
"Children, it's so hot! How do you have the energy?" the woman called, her hands on her hips. "Quick, Gloria, come with me back home."
"But I want to play more!" Gloria whined.
"Tomorrow," her mother said firmly. Defeated, Gloria bid her friends goodbye and trudged off. Orisi watched them go silently in thought.
"Bye, Orisi!" the remaining four children chorused before scattering to their own homes.
It was at this time that Orisi noticed her hungry state, she held her empty stomach and walked inside the dilated brick house.
Usually, she would simply wait for the hunger to pass and drink water. But today, there were leftover sweet potatoes from last night, and her grandmother had gifted them some flour. She decided to cook porridge to go with them.
One meal a day was a blessing especially since the drought had left many people at the mercy of the heavens, sometimes she graved different foods - matooke, fish and meat- but those were far out of reach for them. Even at her grandmother's house, they rarely eat these foods except on very special occasions.
After setting the pot of porridge aside from the cooking stone, Orisi carefully covered the fire with ash and poured the thick, warm liquid into a jug. She would save it for her mother, to spare her the chore of cooking when she returned.
Entering the house again, she placed the jug of millet porridge on the table, opened the cup board and picked up one stored potato and a cup. She poured the porridge in the cup and silently eat the sweet potato paired with the porridge.
When she was done, she felt full and refreshed so she once again moved out of the house and lay down under the tree. The light wind and low light peaking through the tree leaves once in a while was very condusive for sleep and therefore Orisi found herself drifting off.
"Is anyone around this place?" An elderly gentle voice woke Orisi up with a start as she looked around for the source.
It was Owoburangi. The elderly man seemed to have noticed something and his face turned towards the tree and then proceeded to walk towards her.
"May I have a seat?" he asked. "My back is not as strong as it used to be."
"You can sit," Orisi said. Then, remembering her manners, she added, "Wait a minute." She rushed inside and returned with a cup of cool water from the clay pot.
"Thank you, " Owoburangi thanked as he received the cup of water and taking a sip.
"Young girl, Is your name Orisi Mani? Mani's only child?" Owoburangi asked.
"Yes that's me," I replied
"So that's how it is," Owoburangi said more to himself as he looked in a distance "I came here to ask you to be my student,"
"Does it involve talking to the dead?" Orisi asked her gaze steady on the frail old man.
"That's part of it but not mainly," Owoburangi answered with a small chuckle. "Are you afraid of ghosts?"
"Not really, ghosts don't scare me, I just find them bothersome and generally don't want to interact with them," Orisi answered "Sorry but, I don't want anything to do with the dead, also, if everything goes well, I will not be staying in this village,"
"Why do you want to leave this village?" Owoburangi inquired.
"Something bad will soon happen here, I see grey and dark clouds," Orisi answered.
"So that's how it is," Owoburangi marveled, stroking his thick white beard in thought.
"Then take a look. See if I am capable of fighting that evil." He stretched his thin, bony hand toward her.
Orisi watched that borny hand for a brief second before touching it. She wasn't surprised that a man like Owoburangi somehow knew about her power to see beyond, after all, he was a prominent cultural leader who sometimes handled unexplainable cases like the one at Weru's home.
After taking a look at the events that Owoburangi experienced throughout his life and what awaited him. Orisi couldn't help but feel a powerful mix of marvel, admiration, and profound sympathy.
"What is it?" Owoburangi inquired as he tilted his head-looking at the little girl who now bore a complicated gaze.
"Can one's future be changed?" Orisi contoured.
"Why? Do you want to change someone's fate and destiny?" Owoburangi inquired.
"If it is possible," Orisi said.
"In some cases but in most, one's fate is usually set in stone," Owoburangi answered.
"What are the exceptions?" Orisi asked.
"It is like this," he began, holding up two fingers. "If you see two paths in one's future. For instance, one path leads him past a ditch where he will break his leg but the other shows that if that path is avoided, his leg remains whole. But," he emphasized, holding up a finger, "if you only see one path—the one where his leg is broken—then his future is set. Even if he avoids that specific ditch, his leg will be hurt one way or another."
Orisi seemed to have understood something as she nodded in understanding, then sighed with resignation.
Owoburangi watched her face and smiled a sad, knowing smile. He stood, preparing to leave.
Orisi also stood up and followed behind him silently. When Owoburangi reached the exit of the compound marked by hedge of sisal plants, he turned back and looked at Orisi without asking any other questions.
"You would have been the best student of mine," Owoburangi said softly.
"Grand elder Owoburangi!" Orisi called out as he made to move away. "Why don't you leave the village, too?"
He stopped in his tracks.
"If you don't leave..." Orisi's words faltered as she saw the look on his face.
"Just as you saw, that is my destiny. Whether I leave this village or not, nothing will change." He gave her a slight, weary smile before waving a hand. "Goodbye, little seer. If it is meant to be, we shall meet again."
As Owoburangi's shadow disappeared in a distance, Orisi sighed at his future.
Although he would fight and over come something in this village, he will also meet his end.
Turning to enter the compound, Orisi once again lay down under the tree and feel into a deep sleep.
When the days harvest was done, Rungi bid goodbye to the other women and rashed home. She had left sweet potatoes for her daughter, she hoped she had eaten.
Rungi wasn't like other parents who worried that their children would wander around, her daughter rarely left home, once she was left home, she would stay put for an entire day. At first, Rungi had been proud of this sensible daughter of hers but as she grew older, she begun to be worried of her lifestyle, she wanted her to be lively and playful like all the other children in the village.
Just like she had imagined, her daughter was peacefully sleeping under the mahogany tree without a care in the world when she arrived at home. Rungi didn't want to wake her up so she took her basket in the house and carried out a basin and a jerrycan of water which she poured in the basin. She then took a bath and planned to cook some dinner.
However, when she went to check in the cupboard, she found two sweet potatoes and a jug of porridge. She immediately knew that her daugter was the one who prepared the porridge and was touched. Although she lost her husband, atleast she still had her daugter as family, she would make sure to raise her well and never to let her down.
Rungi moved out of the house and walked towards the mahogany tree, slowly sitting down besides her daugter as she looked at the sun which was sinking in a distance.
Seconds later, Orisi stirred in her sleep then woke up, seeing her mother besides her and the change of the atosphere, she was surprised at having slept that long.
"Mother, why didn't you wake me up," Orisi questioned
"You were sleeping like a well-fed pig, how could I dare wake you?" Rungi said causing Orisi to chuckle softly.
"Tell me, how was your day?" Rungi inquired.
" I played with Gloria and the others today," Orisi answered."Also..."
"Hm? Also?" Rungi probed gently.
"Well, Gloria's mother bought her a new ball from town," Orisi added.
"Do you also want a ball?" Rungi inquired.
"Not really, Any way, it was a great day toady," Orisi said.
She didn't want to lie to her mother but she feared that if she told her about Owoburangi then, she might also inquire about what he talked about and she didn't want her to know any thing more about the matter, also, she had refused Owoburangi's offer to be his student so they might likely never meet again hence no need to further widen the matter.
"It seems you had fun today," Rungi said, wrapping an arm around her daughter.
Together, mother and daughter sat in comfortable silence, watching the last sliver of sun disappear, marking the end of another day in the village.