Sumeira removes her sandals, places her foot on a piece of paper, and draws its outline for a
Her mom comes up behind her and picks up the discarded sandals.
“You need a new pair of sandals, these are worn out. They look like the outline of the Aberdare ranges creased as a drying hide.
Sumeira laughs at this description, she had learned in her social studies class that this was the translation of the word Nyandarua, the county she lived in.
“There are many stories about Nyandarua. Not all are happy ones, though.” Her mother says, sighing.
“Which ones are the sad ones?” Sumeira asked.
So you know Kenya was once colonised by the British, yes? They were not kind to Africans so Nyandarua has a place called Happy Valley but nothing about it was happy for Africans because it was legal to shoot an African on sight here.” Her mother says looking at a shocked Sumeira.
“If I lived back then, I would have run so fast to save the Africans from being shot,” Sumeira says giving her mother the drawings of her feet.
“I am happy you see your running talent as a way to help others,” her mother says smiling as she folds the drawings and puts them in her bag.
A strong wind blows signaling rain, Sumeira runs around the house closing the windows so that they do not bang while her mother goes out to unhang the clothes.
“Mum, why don’t we go to Lake Ol’Bolossat this Christmas? The two of us can go listen to the birds sing around the lake. And even get to see hippos.” Sumeira suggested.
“We could go but you know I am trying to save money for your Junior Secondary School.” Sumeira’s mother dropped her face as she disappointedly answered her daughter.
“Mum, we don’t need to try anything fancy. We have plenty of cabbages, potatoes, and maize from the farm. I will get creative with recipe ideas then we can have nice lunch boxes. Yours is to just pay for transport.” Sumeira tried her best to coax her mother into buying the idea.
“Alright, Sumeira. To convince me, tell me why you really want us to go there for Christmas.” Sumeira’s mother challenged as she smiled at her daughter’s effort to make the trip work.
“Firstly mum, we won’t just go to picnic by the lake alone. We will get to see the beauty all around us. From all the ranges around us and then we will see the vastness of the Kinangop plateau. Might even hear a river or two. And that calms you a lot, mum.” Sumeira started ranting but stopped when she found her mum laughing at how much breath she was losing while trying to make a point.
“Alright, Sumeeeira. We will go picnic by the lake on Christmas.”
“Yaaaaaay!” Sumeira celebrated as she patted her mother’s hands.
“I see you have learned how to negotiate from all the times you have stayed with me at the grocery stall.” Sumeira’s mum complimented Sumeira on how well she articulated her reasons.
“Yes.” A smiling Sumeira accepted as she squeezed her cheeks between her hands. “I will warm the tea in the kettle.” She said as she rose to the kitchen.
“It is impossible to stay without tea in this cold Nyandarua of ours.” Sumeira’s mother whispered to herself as she closed her eyes to the pitter patter of rain on their roof.