“better I will be jealous of you for going to America or Hawaii but Jonny , never ” she exclaimed locking her door .” I will to Hawaii one day not SA , it’s like going to Malawi mxm ”
Maka was lost with words , she didn’t know what to say . Amina was very rough and rude , she didn’t care about what comes out of her mouth .
Why couldn’t she just believe in her , instead of bringing all that unnecessary information , if she doesn’t like SA why can’t she keep her negative thoughts and aspects to get herself. SA is not such a bad country , and it’s not everyone who is bad and if it was her grandmother an older lady with experience would have told her to go elsewhere but Gogo was happy and support about her decision.
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Makanaka is on her way to the river , a lady with a red long dress and black veil appears infront of her . It looks like the same lady she saw at the plantation throwing a black plastic bag away into the bushes. Her heart is about to jump out of her chest , she feels this lady is coming for her. She turns around and wants to run for her life but there is another lady holding a baby in her hand dressed the same as the other . Slowing walking to her , Maka is Frozen , she tries to shout but her voice won’t come out . She panics not knowing where to run , both ends are blocked if she runs north , she will drown in the river , If she goes south she will still be stuck because there is a fence stoping her from going to the other side .
” No ” she says to herself and runs towards the river. Running into the river a big snake appears infront of her and stops her from entering the river . She wants to Run to the other side but too pity the snake bites her leg , she screams out loud in agony .
Sweating profusely and trembling with fear . Makanaka sits up straight in bed , this was one of the most terrible dreams she ever had , snakes ohh that’s bad . Gogo would say that if you dream of a snake biting you , just know that the devil has won the battle .
Trying not to shake with fear , makanaka kept saying ” God be with me , God be with me ” until she was calm .
************
Sitting infront of the fire , she is thinking about her dream that she had early morning .
She haven’t told Gogo about it yet and she does not plan to . She will just pray about it and hopefully God will guide her .
She pours the boiled water into the bucket and calls for Gogo .
Walking to the kitchen set inside the hut . She takes out two porcelain cups and rinses them out . She spreads out the green cloth on floor and places the cups down . Walking to the other side of the kitchen, she takes out the sugar .
Now to the other fire , she check if the bread has turned golden brown .
” Thank you my child ” Gogo said taking the bucket .
” Oky Gogo “
” Is the bread almost ready ? ”
” Yes just a little more time maybe 10 minutes ”
” Oky then let me go wash ”
Heading in the direction of the toilet , Mai Terance stoped Gogo .
” Mira mbuya Maka , Mira ( wait ,Gogo ka Maka , wait ) mamuka cei ( how did you sleep / good morning) ”
” I am good and yourself Mai Terrence ”
” I am not good , don’t tell me you didn’t hear the news this morning ”
” Which news it is still morning wani ”
Mai Terrence is the lady who has nothing to do in her life who loves to gossip. She travels from north to east , from West to South talking about Peoples business like it gives her money . Sometimes gogo pretends not to be home ,just to avoid her .
” Yesterday a baby was found dead in the bushes , near Baba Andrews plantation ”
” Huh ” exclaimed Gogo , shocked.
Makanaka could not believe her ears , did she just hear correctly .
” Whoose baby ?”
” I do not know , the baby was found with no head ”
” Huh , what are you saying ?”
” Let’s sit down and drink tea I will tell you everything” she said shepherding Gogo to the kitchen .
” Maka take my water , put it inside and close it to keep it warm ” Gogo said over her shoulders .
********
” I can not believe my ears Amina ”
” Do you think I can ”
” Who would do something like that to an innocent baby ”
” Hameno ( I don’t know ) I just hope the police will find the evil person who did it ”
Maka is suspecting that strange lady she saw throwing a black plastic bag into the bushes when she was busy watering the vegetables in baba Andrews farm .
” You know Amina , I think that lady I saw yesterday is the one who dumped that baby there ”
” Why would you think so , did you see her dump that baby there ”
” I saw her dump a black plastic bag ”
” And not a baby ”
” No ”
” So why you suspecting her ? ”
” Because … Why shouldn’t I ” she questioned Amina with a puzzled face.
” Because that baby was found dead this morning not the time you left this plantation ”
Maka was lost of words ,not knowing how to answer Amina . Why was Amina being so bitter towards her , she was never like that . The Amina she knows would have sided with her . Now she can’t even tell Amina about her dream that she had early morning because maybe she would say ” they are just dreams ”
” Why are you like this ? ”
” Like what? ” she asked putting the guavas into the basket .
” Being so bitter ”
” I am not being bitter ,but I am just stating the facts ”
Maka said nothing , shook her head and continued watering the spinach .
*****
At the police station .
Constable Chiware sat at his table trying to understand how a mother could have cut of her own baby’s head and throw him in the bushes . It doesn’t make sense and if it does to anyone else then that person has to definitely be a physco .
Holding his chin , he turned to look at officer Manyika who was also thinking about the baby and shaking his head in despair. Officer Manyika feels so heartbroken , it hurts his heart that a woman who carried a baby for 9 months and gave birth , and giving birth is not easy . Can just kill her own child like that . His wife Grace and him have been trying for almost 6 years for a baby and still no luck . Grace keeps on having miscarriages . If only that woman knew how many people are crying for babies .
” What do you say about this” asked Constable Chiware
” I don’t know what to say about this ”
” Neither can I “
” how will we get Justic for that baby , if nobody knows who the mother is “
” Nevermind that we could find her but unfortunately nobody saw her ”
Constable Chiware sighs ” hameno , Ini hangu ( I don’t know but I ) I am still in shock about this , this has never happened here ”
” Better if she left the baby alive mxm ”
” I blame you men ! ” Nancy Madeyi said joining the conversation .
” What do you mean ” asked Officer Maynika , side eying her .
” Maybe that lady was left by her man for her to raise that baby on her own ”
” Does that justify her actions ” asked Constable .
” Yes it does because , life here in Zimbabwe is not easy , how can we woman be doing everything for you men , we raise that baby on our own then tomorrow when that baby grows up and becomes a doctor ,you want to come back and claim that it’s your son / daughter ”
” Nancy ! ” called Officer
” Yes I am right , you men are dogs , you are the ones that makes us become evil ”
” do you have common sense ” asked Officer Mynika .
” She doesn’t have ”
” If you woman just use your mind to think maybe you wouldn’t be poor and running after men for money ”
” Ehe , why you woman do not upgrade yourself , get yourself good education and a good job then get yourself a man , instead you are coming from a poor family and your boyfriend is even poor then you open that your legs for him , he enters inside then runs away when you get pregnant ” Constable interjected .
” Then you want to blame men for your poor choices , it’s better if a man leaves when you have your own money to raise your child , look now that one killed her child and lord knows where she put the head ”
” And then you want to use men to say what she did was right”
” Unopenga iwe , mxm ( you are Crazy you ) do you know how many woman are crying to have children “
” Is it my fault that they can’t have kids , Ahh mxm plus you men never admit that you at fault , I don’t care what you say but it’s your fault as men ” she replied walking away ..
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