"Where is Sanaipei?"
She could hear a voice when she woke up. It was Mrs. Thuku, the headmistress of her school. Every year, girls dropped out of school because of the traditions. This year, however, Mrs. Thuku did not want her bright female students out of school. She knew they were the best bunch she had had in years.
As thus, she and two other teachers were walking around trying to convince parents to send their daughters back to school.
She had been met with numerous 'no's and was hoping that Sanaipei's mother would agree. The mother looked troubled before speaking to the headmistress. They spoke in the native maa language.
"Please, let her go back to school," the headmistress begged. "She is a bright girl, top of her class. She even defeats the boys."
Sanaipei's mother listened to the younger woman who spoke with power and conviction. She wished for her daughter to be like this some day-strong and beautiful. Mrs. Thuku was thirty years in age, and she had come to this part of the country in order to make a change. Her life had not been easy, but her mother had been strong, even when her husband refused to send her to school.
"I want Sanaipei to be like you."
Mrs. Thuku stopped her begging and stared at the quiet woman who reminded her of her own mother. She was not sure if she had heard well.
"What did you say?"
"I want Sanaipei to be just like you."
Mrs. Thuku saw her chance and leapt to claim it. "If you give me that chance, she will even be better than me!"
"Promise me!" Sanaipei's mother spoke, her calm facade shattering at the thought of her daughter getting a bright future. Her heart beat got faster at this.
"I promise you, Sanaipei will have a life much better than you and I. I will ensure that personally."
With eyes shining, the grateful mother clasped the headmistress' hand. "Asante," she said quietly.
With a nod, the headmistress accepted her gratefulness, before asking her again to bring Sanaipei to the school as soon as she got better.
As soon as Mrs. Thuku left, the mother came to check on her daughter. She checked her wound and dressed it with fresh herbs and a piece of cotton material that would work as a bandage.
"Mama," Sanaipei began, but her mother stopped her.
"I want you to rest," her mother spoke silently in their local language. "Everything is going to be okay. You will get better and go back to school."
Sanaipei wanted to ask her mother about the marriage, but decided against it. From how her jaw was set, she was pretty sure her mother had already made a decision.
She just hoped it denied her a chance to get married.
