The morning commotion caused by the Weru's deaths was still lingering in the air. As Rungi and Yingi served porridge to the gathered women, hushed, fervent conversations buzzed around the compound.
"I heard that after their son drowned, Weru and his wife went to a native doctor in the north," Maru commented, her voice low and conspiratorial. "They begged him for a magical seal to trap the boy's soul-to stop it from rising and interfering with their lives."
"What native doctor?" another woman cut in, her tone scornful. "I heard Owoburangi himself confirmed it was a practitioner of dark magic! A monster who drains the living and devours the spirits of the dead. Just thinking about it curdles my blood."
"You're right," a third added, shuddering as she sipped her porridge. "Who seals away their own child's spirit? It's too cruel. I hope that evil is caught, or our village is doomed. I'm scared to walk alone, knowing he's still out there somewhere."
Orisi turned slightly, her gaze finding her grandmother's worried face. She sighed inwardly. She would never understand why some people chose to disturb the dead rather than let them rest in peace. Now, she was certain the so-called native doctor her grandmother had secretly consulted was the very person being discussed. He was no healer, but a fraud who fed on the weakness of others.
"Drink your porridge. Why are you staring at your grandmother?" Rungi's voice gently interrupted Orisi's thoughts. She turned back and lifted the cup to her lips.
"Today, I am going to talk to your grandmother about your education, be well behaved," Rungi whispered, leaning close to Orisi's ear.
"No need," Orisi replied softly.
"What do you mean no need? Be silent and let me handle the rest, believe in your mother," Rungi said.
"Alright," Orisi acquiesced. She just didn't want her mother to be dejected after being rejected. It was painfully obvious her grandmother had no interest in her schooling and dismissed anyone who argued otherwise. Orisi wondered if her grandfather would have cared if he were to be still alive.
The women's speculations continued throughout the, it was safe to say that even the neighboring villages heard about what happened in Isingiro village.
At Dusk, Songu thanked the women for their hard work and handed them some millet flour and little money. The women refused the payment but Songu insisted on that compensation.
"Take it, take it, you all have been helpful during this harvest season. Tomorrow, the last the millet will be harvested. When it came to my son, you also helped at the funeral, accept this money on my son's behalf," Songu said.
Isingiro was a communal type of place, helping other villagers harvest was a custom and most people participated in the activity, helping people with their work without any expectation of pay or compensation other than food to be consumed during the entire harvest. Today, it was Songu's household benefiting; tomorrow, it would be another's, and the Songu family would reciprocate in turn.
The women ended up taking the flour and money, bid farewell to Songu and the others as they happily departed to their homes. Yingi felt her heart bled a little, although the money wasn't a lot, it was what her husband had worked hard for in the town ahead, farming on different farms, he was already worn out for spending a lot of time under the sun the whole day; on top of that, Songu was the one in charge of all that money made outside! They didn't even consider her input as the wife of Michael. That money should belong to her two children!
"Go and help your cousins wash the utensils," Rungi told Orisi. "I will go talk to your grandmother."
Orisi watched her mother walk toward Songu before turning to join Kwezi and Bwengo at the washing station.
"Mother-in-law, I wanted to have a word with you," Rungi said after she had approached Songu.
"What is the matter?" Songu inquired.
"It's in relation to with Orisi's education. She has stalled enough, my late husband had promised that she would surely return to school this fall as she is a good performer, the school had also offered her half a scholarship," Rungi explained.
Songu just picked up some piece of firewood before entering the kitchen without saying a word, at the same time, Yingi also followed behind her after emerging from the corner of the house, she had been eavesdropping on their conversation. She just couldn't allow Rungi to have her way-the treatment of going to the best school in Isingiro was supposed to fall to her children! No one could snatch that away.
"Mother-in-law..." Rungi said as she followed Songu in the kitchen.
"What are you fussing about? I heard you the first time," Songu snapped, shoving logs into the hearth to prepare the evening meal. "Kinta is a very expensive school. Even with this so-called scholarship, it doesn't cover everything. How can we afford to send both Bwengo and Orisi at the same time? Orisi is a girl. Her life won't be ruined if she doesn't attend Kinta Junior unlike Bwengo. Let it be. There's a new government school that has opened; we shall see about sending her there."
"Mother-in-law, Orisi is bright," Rungi pleaded, her voice tight. "My husband wanted this for her. Please, give her a chance."
"Hi, Rungi, why are you giving Mother-in-law a tough time? You lost a husband but she lost her own flesh and blood, she has promised to look into the government school, why are you still not content, hasn't mother-in-law treated you sincerely all these years?" Yingi inserted.
"Enough, if you all have nothing to do around here just leave my sight this instant," Songu voiced in a stern voice.
Rungi was greatly disappointed at Songu's attitude, she cursed her incompetence for letting her brilliant daughter's future be cut short in this remote village as she exited the kitchen angrily.
Orisi had just finished drying the last cup when she spotted her mother in the distance. Her slumped shoulders and downcast eyes told the entire story.
"Let's go home, Orisi," Rungi said, her voice hollow as she took her daughter's arm.
"Bye, Aunt Rungi!" Kwezi called out with a naive wave. Bwengo, however, remained silent, pulling his sister toward the house. He could read the room; his usually quiet aunt was shrouded in a cloud of defeat.
No word was said all the way home. Rungi immediately went to the kitchen, lit up the fire and boiled some water to make millet porridge, she them cooked three big potatoes, for their supper.
Orisi went to the house to pick up some things to be used for preparing their supper as was always the daily routine and soon entered the kitchen with millet flour and a handmade wooden stirring stick used to mix the flour with the boiled water. She set them aside and the watched silently watched her mother busy herself with the fire.
"Mother, government schools are good. Do you know Makerere University? I heard the teachers talk about that university back when I was studying at Kinta Junior School. It is said to be the best University in Uganda and among the top five in the whole of East Africa and it's a government school," Orisi explained.
Rungi paused, her hands stilling as she listened.
"Orisi," she whispered, turning to face her daughter. "You truly wouldn't mind a government school?"
"I wouldn't mind," Orisi replied, her gaze steady.
"Alright, mother will shop for necessities just be ready to attend school this fall," Rungi said.
"Mum, do you remember dad's friend who used to carry me when I was still little?" Orisi inquired.
"Your farther had many friends, I can't remember all of them," Rungi said as she picked up the flour which was in the jug with the stirring stick, mixed some water and then poured the boiled water in the jug as she stirred. A thick, fragrant porridge began to form.
"He had a bald head and usually appeared when I was little, I remember he came on my birthday," Orisi added.
"You mean Tumwebaze Abel? He used to carry you a lot in your childhood and also bought you some toys, he is a busy man, usually going abroad at times and that's why you no longer get to see him, why do you suddenly ask about him?" Rungi asked as they waited on the sweet potatoes to get ready.
Abel had been a true friend to her husband. Orisi had only celebrated one birthday in her life-her sixth. Fearing the other children would demand the same, Songu had banned all future celebrations as an unnecessary expense. All the gifts Abel had brought for Orisi that day were divided among her cousins, with most eventually claimed by Kwezi. Rungi had been furious, but Orisi, who never much cared for toys, had simply let it go. Yet, she had never forgotten Abel's kindness.
"I just wonder if he was told of Dad's passing," Orisi said. "He was a good friend. It seems wrong that he wouldn't know."
"You're right," Rungi conceded, poking the sweet potatoes. "I will find a way to inform him."
She had arrived at the Mani family with a phone, a last tie to a home that had since disowned her. But Songu had confiscated it, declaring a housewife had no need for such things. Rungi had relented, because for once, her mother-in-law was right; she had no one left to call. Her husband had promised to buy her a new one, but she had told him not to-she didn't want the temptation to reopen a past that was closed to her.
Thinking of this, she wondered why her daughter suddenly asked about Mr. Abel, she hadn't seen him in a long time and almost forgot about him. Her daughter's memory was really sharp, but then again, she has been bright since childhood with her quick thinking. Although she usually spaced out most of the time and had no interest in playing around like most children, she was well behaved and didn't give her and her late husband a tough time like most children. Sometimes, she wished her daughter was a bit mischievous that way, she would look like regular children.
Soon, the sweet potatoes were ready. They moved inside the main room, where a green kerosene hurricane lamp sat on the cap board. Rungi struck a match, to light it up and placed it on the table in the center of the room. The mother and daughter then proceeded to have their dinner in a quiet but light atmosphere. Afterward, they cleared away the dishes and headed to bed.
"A simple little girl like you dared to interfere in my person of interest? See if I don't scatter your soul today," A loud as thunder male voice screamed as he released two dogs with bared teeth and droll from their mouth, obviously, these were angry and tough dogs that could tear one to pieces.
Orisi suddenly rose in the air and looked down at the man but couldn't see his features as he was covered in dark mist.
"Impossible! Who are you? How could you break through my barrier?" The man frantically screamed as he rushed towards Orisi now also in the air planning to strangle her but Orisi moved further away from him at a speed of lightening, widening the distance.
"Stay Put! I am warning you, you destroyed a quarter of my energy and you are going to pay for it! This whole village will pay for it," The man screamed more.
"You must be the practitioner of dark magic who led to the family of Mweru to their death," Orisi commented.
"Impossible, how are you able to know that in this state? You aren't supposed to know that in here!" The man emphasized.
Orisi didn't want to waste time with him so she immediately rushed towards the man and peeled off his dark hoodie surrounded with dark Coat that was surrounded by dark mist. The man suddenly screamed as he tried to hide his face away from Orisi.
"You…you are already dead?" Orisi said in puzzlement.
"Stay away from me! Everyone in this village will pay! Every one!" The man's voice echoed as he disappeared into nothingness.
"Orisi! Wake up!"
Rungi's voice was an anchor, pulling her back. Orisi's eyes flew open, meeting her mother's worried gaze. The bright sun streamed through the open window, painting the dirt floor with gold. She let out a slow, shaky breath of relief.
"Why are you always in a daze?" Rungi chided gently, a worried smile on her face as she stood. "You will be scolded by your grandmother if you carry on like this. It's almost 8:00 am, I let you sleep in because you were sleeping so well and didn't want to disturb you. You stay home today, I will go to the garden alone. Since it's the last day of the harvest, it won't be long before I return," She stepped outside, leaving Orisi to collect herself.
Orisi sat up and looked out the open wooden window, her mind returning to the spectral warning in her dream. Just as she had feared, a shadow was falling over Isingiro, she always had a feeling that a dark cloud would soon evolve this place. She had to speed up the process of quickly leaving the village together with her mother. It was very Ironic that although she grew up here, she felt no attachment to it.