Her Boys [Oneshots]

Mandazi

"Mwizi!" An auntie shouted when João took off with a handful of Mandazi. He shoved the hot fried dough in his bag as he tried to find his father. With his pale skin, he wasn't too hard to find.

"Papa! Papa!!" Jamie picked his son up before the teenage girls could grab him.

"What's going on?"

"He. . . .Take." One of the girls said, not really knowing how to say that João stole in english. 

"No I didn't!" João snapped, gaining his mother's attention. 

Jamie and João watched Amina converse with the girls in her native tongue.

One of them pointed to João's bag and Amina took the bag off of João, looking inside.

"Did you buy this? And don't lie to mama" João nodded.

"Come." Jamie put him down and he took his mother's free hand.

"I'll finish buying babe" Jamie offered and Amina nodded telling him not to let them overcharge him, as they did with foreigners. While he did that she followed the girls to the food stand. She asked if João bought the Mandazi to which the woman shook her head. She told Amina that he grabbed them and took off.

She apologized, handing the woman twenty thousand Kenyan shilling which came up to about one hundred and twenty five U.S dollars. The woman refused and they went back and forth for a while before she accepted it and thanked her.

"Apologize, João"

"Im sorry, Auntie"

"She doesn't speak English"

"Samahani, shangazi" He apologized to his elder with his head bowed.

"Ni sawa" She said something else that João didn't understand. He looked at his mother to translate.

"She said next time if you want something to ask for it." João nodded and the old woman smiled, packing a few of the sweet puffs for him. She held it out for him but Amina took them and said her goodbyes walking off.

"Ooooo, I know they're hot and yummy. Can I have one please mommy?"

"No"

"Why not?" Amina grew embarrassed as people turned to look at them.

I said no, don't ask me again" João frowned at his mother's stern tone.

Once closer to Jamie he ran to his father. His mom was being mean.

"What's wrong, Bambino?" He picked him up and they began walking home, as it wasn't a long walk.

"Mama yelled at me"

"Mama is sorry João.  But you cannot take things without permission. That Auntie wakes up very early to prepare and make food. Not only does she feed the working men and women but also the foreigners. She uses the money she makes to feed her family. If you take it without paying for it she won't make money and then her children and husband will be hungry. Do you understand?"

"Oh no. We have to go back." João began struggling in Jamie's arms wanting to be put down.

"What's wrong Mimmo?"

"I have to give these back or her babies will be hungry"

"It's okay. Mama paid for it" Amina kissed his cheek seeing his eyes tear up.

"But she gave me extra and now she has no money and the babies will be hungry" he began to cry taking the pastries out of his bag. He held them out to Amina.

"Baby, stop crying. She can feed her babies. Put them away, we can have some when we get home okay?"

"I'm sorry"