It was a large circle out there, a burnfire at the center, and just the manager of the charity house standing by the burnfire while the rest were seated with their butts on the earth.
He was telling them something, all of them, and they had their ears on his lips. That's the nice kind of control out in the cold of the night and the warm of the burnfire.
I stopped at the circle and sat down, but not long, because he turned to me with a smile and spilled the kind of words he was overtly good at.
"Please welcome, the big guest of the house, and a big-time sponsor of the outreach, Sita Kouassi." He announced, but his announcement wasn't what mattered most at this moment, it was the other guy, the white man, he was the first to turn as soon as my name was mentioned.
For heaven's sake, he still remembers my name vividly, if not, he wouldn't turn with such surprise. I watched his lips curl into a warm smile, and his hands come together as he clapped just like the rest.
I smiled and waved my hands at all of them. there was no point standing up to do that because everyone could see me from the corner where I was nestled.
"Come on, Sita, you can't just sit there and wave that pretty hand at us. You can do better. Far better than sitting and waving at all of us." He said with a smile I could see with the yellow light of the burnfire on his face.
I obeyed. Stood up and walked to him with a warm smile on my face, but with my eyes on the man I had been looking out for.
Gosh, his sweet Italian eyes were also on me. He seemed to feel the same connection I feel already, and the good thing is, he wasn't far from the front row of the circle.
"Please, say something to us." The manager said. "We might not have gathered for this outreach mission if not for the money and dedication you shoved into it."
I cleared my voice. Talking to people isn't a big deal, so, talking to a few hundred persons isn't head swelling for me, I'm just not the one who would shy out of the little stage.
"Okay, he already said it all." I started, while still stealing glances of the white man. He was donning a white shirt and a funny pair of shorts with boots. Maybe he thought his people were coming the second time to toss us into the mess of colonialism.
That could be the reason he made his way to the circle, dressed like his forefathers who came down to the circle with the notorious outfit of the white because there are no longer here. here to clot.
"I'm glad to be here in your midst." I hollered, still with a warm smile. "Um, let me start by thanking you all for honoring the invitation to be here in this town with us at this very moment."
I took a deep breath, and once again, my eyes met Alessandro's eyes. He was looking at me with content like he would leap up from where he was and consume me like a flame of lust and infatuation.
His smile alone brought back memories of that night, how we drank shots of strong alcohol, how we danced like wild teenagers in the dance hall, how we kissed, and how we ended up at the wall, exploring our below-the-belt the best we could in a short time.
I wanted that night back, the first night I felt just like a woman, but I wanted it to come with the both of us sober. I want it to come with the lights on, with the both of us naked, so we can explore each other's body and make love the way it should be.
"Ma'am." The manager's words shook me back to consciousness.
"Oh, sorry." I smiled. "Helping the poor and the needy who cannot afford most of the basic things in life is a big-time African dream. I'm not saying that Africans are all poor and we have jungles here and there as America puts it in their movies and documentaries, but for sure, some people need help, and we should be of help the best we can."
They clapped. I hadn't finished but they clapped, and that was enough time to resume my bidding of stealing glances at him. Maybe I had not seen the better version of him before, because tonight, he looked like a river husband.
Yeah, many people out in the streets of Abidjan are diagnosed with spiritual or river-husband issues by some silly-looking local spiritualists and some Christian pastors.
Such people claim they see such men come to them in their dreams while they sleep to make love to them, and when they wake, they see the effect of it, they feel touched and aroused, and that's a problem for them because each touch of their river man scare away potential suitors for single ladies and causes barrenness and miscarriage for married ladies.
But all those things they have to complain about were never the things that caught my interest, what's so funny about it is when they speak of such river husbands, they call them handsome, tall, and charming.
Alessandro is all that. Handsome, tall, and charming, and he is a doctor. If only I had him as my river husband, I wouldn't mind spending whatever life offers me with him.
"Ma'am?" the manager came again, "Tell them we will share a lot of things, ranging from sanitary pads to a lot more other thing."
"They already know all that, let's discuss where you wish to pitch the tent tomorrow," I whispered.
"It's been decided." He whispered back. "The thick lady who showed you to your room will lead us to the community school where we will pitch our tent. I asked her to look as decent as possible while she does that."