Strange lands
As soon as Katongo’s feet touched the ground, her wings disappeared. Katongo looked around with amazement. Everything was so different from her home in the clouds. She looked behind her and saw an abandoned house. It looked like she had flown to the edge of a town and the house was at the very edge of that.
She walked into the house. It was very dusty. She looked around but no one was awake. All that could be heard were crickets making their high-pitched noises. She stretched her arm and wind began to flow from it. She blew all the dust out of the house and it was clean. She walked into a bedroom, found a closet and opened it. She saw many women’s clothes in it. She found a clean pair of black jeans and a blue shirt that fit her just right. Katongo took her fairy clothes off and put them in her purse. Then she put on the clothes she had found. She closed the door and tied a string to the knob to make sure no stranger could open it. She soon fell fast asleep.
The next morning, she was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. She was very eager to see more of earth. She put on some sneakers lying on the floor, grabbed her purse and walked out of the house. Looking around, she saw many new things. The streets here weren’t made of precious stones, just sand and cobblestone. She saw a boy about her age carrying a funny looking animal on a leash. He was standing beside a girl. The animal was small and fluffy and it wouldn’t stop barking. She decided to start a conversation.
“Hello, I’m looking for a pawn shop. Do you know where I can find one?” she asked.
“Hello there!” he replied excitedly. “My name is Daniel and this is my sister Lucy. You have a strange yet interesting accent. Where are you from and what’s your name?”
“I’m from a faraway land,” she replied, “and my name is Katongo.”
“Katongo, what an unusual name, what does it mean?” asked Lucy.
“My great-grandmother gave it to me. It means ‘the girl who hugs the clouds’.”
“That sounds cute!” Lucy exclaimed.
“Pawn shop…I think there is one just around the corner. Would you like us to take you there?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, please do. That’d be wonderful.”
Soon Katongo, Daniel and Lucy were talking like they’d known each other for years. Katongo pawned one of the diamonds she took from back home because she was low on money. She was given a huge stack of money. It seemed she was going to stay here longer than expected.
Katongo asked Lucy for fashion advice and she began to speak excitedly.
“My dear, you have come to the right place. I fancy myself a fashion expert. I help most of my friends to shop for their clothes. I know a great boutique and it’s not far off. They have the best clothes in town. I can help you find something that is beautiful and will make you stand out.”
“Thank you, Lucy, I think I’ll stick with you for a while,” Katongo replied.
Lucy and Daniel helped Katongo select amazing clothes. When they were done she found six outfits she liked very much and she bought them.
“Lucy, I’m running late for soccer practice. I have to go now. Hold Bruno for me, will you? You two have fun,” Daniel said, as he gave his dog to his sister and ran off.
“What is Bruno?” Katongo asked as she curiously inspected the little dog.
“He is a dog.”
“Dog?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face.
“Yes, a dog. You know what a dog is, don’t you?” asked Lucy, as she raised her brow.
Now sensing that she was blowing her cover, Katongo decided to play it cool. “Yes, of course, it’s just that I’ve never seen one of his kind before. There aren’t many dogs where I’m from.”
“Oh, that explains it. It has been really fun hanging out with you, Katongo, but I have to go. Will you give me your phone number, please?” she asked.
“Phone number?” she asked. There was so much she didn’t know about the world she got caught up in.
“Don’t tell me you don’t have a phone,” replied a shocked Lucy. “Never mind, do you want to buy one?”
“Oh sure!” exclaimed Katongo.
They walked to the nearest phone kiosk and bought one shiny brand-new phone. When all was done they exchanged numbers and went their separate ways. Katongo walked to her new home carrying her new clothes, phone and purse. When she arrived home she read the phone instruction manual and learnt all about it. When she felt she was ready, she switched it on and scrolled through the apps. She even joined social media. She then took a nap. When she woke up she went outside the abandoned house and began to look around. She saw and touched some strange flowers. She played with the soil for a while like a little girl. She dug up some worms and inspected them.
She played all day until it was night-time. She walked back into the house and showered. She hid all of the things she’d bought safely underneath the bed and changed into her fairy clothes. She walked outside and everyone in the town was asleep. She looked left and right to make sure the coast was clear. When she was sure it was safe, she touched her back with her right hand and her wings sprouted. Then she flew up high in the sky until she reached her city’s gates. She quietly flew past the guards, flew home, and entered her bedroom through her window.
Katongo, you are one sneaky fairy, she said to herself. She giggled quietly and fell asleep.
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Tell us: Do you think Katongo will be exposed when she gets home