The Fire Within

Chapter Two

21 Chapter Two laces were still dark. The wind raged outside and heavy raindrops played a lullaby on the tin roof. Mabel struggled out of bed. As she swung open the room door, the bright lights from the passage into the kitchen forced her to shade her eyes with her left hand. She was sure Mungeu’ had forgotten to turn the lights off, but then she caught the smell of meat frying. Mungeu’ had not heard Mabel leave her room and went on with her cooking without knowing that Mabel was standing at the door of the kitchen. Mabel coughed and Mungeu’ spun round squawking. “Hey, you’ve frightened me.” “Just by coughing?” asked Mabel laughing, knowing full well that had been her intention. “Of course, I thought I was the only one awake and I was even backing the door, just to hear someone cough right behind me. If you were in my place, you would have screamed, you who is frightened even by a mouse.” “When did you get up, and why so early?” “Well, since you said you had to go to market I thought you would need an early breakfast and some food to take along since with these bad roads during the rains, one can hardly tell what can happen. You were very tired when you went to bed so I didn’t think you would be able to leave your bed early enough to do these things.” “Thanks for everything Munny.” “There’s hot water in that pot there; you can cool it to your preferred temperature. By the time you are through bathing, breakfast will be ready. You said they are picking you up at 5:30 am, right?” “Yes,” answered Mabel as she poured the hot water into a bucket to take it into the bathroom. In less than twenty minutes, Mabel had bathed, dressed, and was at the table taking her breakfast. Although it was still too early to eat, they grew up learning from their father that they should never leave their homes for any journey or business without at least a little food in their stomachs. Meanwhile, Mungeu’ was in the kitchen parcelling Mabel’s lunch, should anything go wrong and cause her to need food while on the way. P 22 Batemba to Bansei is supposed to be done in twenty-five to thirty minutes, but because of the state of the roads it could take about two hours and anything could happen to the tired, haggard, and overloaded transport vehicles that ply the road. Just then, they heard the sound of a vehicle stopping in front of their apartment. “Br-r-r-r-r-ing” went the doorbell. Mungeu’ hurried to the door, pulled back the bolts and held the door open. “Good morning,” said a young woman on the veranda, who looked slightly older than Mabel. “Good morning,” answered Mungeu’. “Come in.” “Is your sister up yet?” asked the woman just as Mabel was shouting “Hey come in,” from the table. “Yes she is,” answered Mungeu’ moving aside for the woman to step in. “Morning Munna,” greeted Mabel as she struggled to stand up pushing back her chair with a grating sound. “Morning! Are we ready?” asked Munna. “Yes we can go,” Mabel suggested as she went back for her basket that had spent the night under the dining table. “This is my sister, Munny,” said Mabel. “I knew as soon as I saw her. Who can fail to see the resemblance after all the time you spend talking about her.” “Munny, I have also talked to you about Munna. She is my colleague, and her husband also works with us.” “You are welcome Sister,” said Mungeu’. “Thank you,” answered Munna. “We are not going with her?” She questioned, addressing Mabel. “No we’re not. We can’t just leave the house like that,” answered Mabel. “That’s true,” confirmed Munna as she stepped out of the house. “Okay Munny, it’s time for us to go. As soon as I am back then we will go to Pa hm? Don’t worry too much okay! They will scold you, but that is as far as they can go, what else? Moreover, we are together.” “Is there any problem?” asked Munna. “No, just some point to straighten out with our parents” answered Mabel as she and Munna walked out of the house into 23...