I hated it all; to be a newcomer somewhere. I liked it least. My father was working with Malawi Post Corporation (MPC) and transfers were often. We came here at Mponela two years ago, November of 2002.

I was in standard two then, at Kabuthu Full Primary School, Nsaru in Lilongwe. My brothers, sisters, and i had just sat for our third term exams, probably final exams of 2002 academic year. We were waiting for our results though I had remained with one paper to write the following Monday as Friday would be closing day for 2002 academic year. Unfortunately the transfer news came in; i did not mind it at all. I was anxious of my results, how would I know I had made it to standard three, I was not ready to repeat standard two.

On Saturday, that weekend before the week of closing day of our school, MPC transfer van pulled in at home. My father had said, were going to Mponela in Does district, it sounded as emergency transfer. It was raining cats and dogs that we could not start parking right away our furniture into the van. We had to wait for a moment until there was only showers.’

We arrived at Mponela a bit late in the afternoon. It seemed more of a township than its district. Lights, big shops and a large police unit, and a tar mark road.

It was a December holiday I don’t know whether it was by chance or coincidence. The two daughters of Kasonjola family were going to their home village, Ntchisi. Mponela was a way through to Ntchisi from Nsaru. They could not go to Ntchisi without passing by Mponela in Does in any way. Pilirani was ahead of me by a class and her elder sister Malifa was at Secondary school by then. Their young brother Mabvuto was my close friend, though we were in different classes, at home we were always peers.

I guess, they saw the post office after they had got off at Mponela bus depot, or they searched it being dropped off at the other depot on Ntchisi turnoff road. They knew my father worked there, for they had knowledge of our family’s transfer. Mponela Post Office was just opposite the bus depot and next to Mponela Police Station. Post office staff houses were behind the post office not very far. They probably went in and asked him about his residence. They arrived at our home it was a thrill to see them. I knew my fears would be resolved then. I did not hesitate or let them take a deep breath. I pressed them about my final exams result right away. I made it, it was worth celebrating. I was going into standard three.

I started my school at Mponela II Full Primary School. A newcomer again, what a worst experience. I hated to be alone without friends. I was not quick in making them. It took me time to know friends’ behaviour; sometimes joining a bad company was not an option rather a coincident.