Jujuù

Part one: Lost and found

"Come out, you stupid boy! Come out and fight!"

The taunting voices echoed outside, seeping through the cracks of Ehru's old house. The sound of stones hitting the roof made her flinch with every thud. She stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding not knowing what was happening. She could hear the anger, the bitterness in their words.

Stones clattered down the roof like heavy rain, and the noise was relentless. Ehru set down what she'd been working on, wiped her hands, and hurried outside. As she stepped onto the entrance, she was met with a sight-a group of teenagers, faces twisted in anger, holding stones and hurling insults. She recognized them immediately as they were all from the neighborhood.

Her heart sank. She knew exactly what-or rather, who-they had come for.

"Please, stop this!" she called out, her voice calm but firm. She raised her hands, gesturing for them to stop. "What is the matter with you?"

One boy, taller than the rest and seemingly the leader, hesitated but didn't lower his arm. The stone he held hovered for a moment before he threw it to the ground with a frustrated grunt. The others followed his lead, their voices lowering, though their eyes still burned with anger.

"Where is your son?" the tall boy demanded, his fists clenched at his sides.

Ehru looked him in the eye, her expression soft but unyielding. "Feji is inside," she said, covering up for him. "But whatever has happened, you can't keep coming here like this. He is just a boy. And you are older-you should know better."

There was a tense silence. The boys shifted uncomfortably. Although their anger was still visible, something in Ehru's presence calmed them. Perhaps it was her age, the respect for someone older in the community, or maybe it was the softness in her voice. Gradually, their postures relaxed. They glanced at each other, then at the tall boy, waiting for his decision.

He gave Ehru a hard look, but after a moment, he sighed and nodded. "Let's go," he muttered, turning away. The others, still grumbling under their breath, followed him down the path, leaving the house still muttering.

Ehru stood there for a moment, watching them disappear around the corner before letting out a long breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She turned and went straight to the kitchen, already knowing where she would find her son.

Sure enough, there was Feji, crouched behind the kitchen door, his small frame pressed against the wall, his body trembling with fear. He looked up as the door creaked open, his face streaked with sweat.

"Feji," Ehru said softly, but her voice carried the weight of both worry and frustration. "Come out."

Feji didn't move at first. He looked at her, then at the floor, then finally got to his feet. She grabbed him by the ear-not hard, just enough to let him know he was in trouble-and pulled him into the main compound.

"What happened this time?" she asked, folding her arms as she looked at him.

Feji rubbed the back of his neck, still panting a little from the chase. "They started it, Mama," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wasn't doing anything!"

Ehru raised an eyebrow. "Feji, you know they wouldn't just come here for no reason."

"They did! They always do!" he burst out, his frustration boiling over. "They're always trying to pick a fight with me! I was just minding my business, and they came after me!"

Ehru sighed, her heart heavy with both the burden of motherhood and the sadness of seeing her son at odds with the world.

"Why can't you just be friends with them?" she asked, her voice gentler now, almost pleading. She had seen enough conflict in her life, and all she wanted was for her son to have peace.