ALPHAN THE PRESIDENT

CHAPTER 6

"Aunt sari"

"yes my son"

"I have always wished to be somebody important in this world"

She was keenly listening as he told her dream in life, he knew his aunt would do anything for him to join the secondary school, he knew she could even whatever bi so had left for him to join secondary school immediately the results were out.

"my son I will see what I will do for you to always be busy and have something to do to give you some income"

Since the demise of the chief sarisa was never financially stable. Non of her children had ever gone to school. He knew his life would have meaning if he continues to go to school and eventually be somebody important in this world. He always wished to be a president and would sometimes see himself making public speeches, campaigning in his country and even celebrating his success leading over 30 million people of Tanzania.

It is unexplainable how the urge of being a president came into existent as days went since he admired being a president. Maybe it was because he admired being a president or because he had heard they are always rich.

One-day aunt sari came home happier than usual. She sat in front of her homestead and sent one of her daughters to call alphan. She had good news and it was now evident that the good news belonged to alphan. Her daughter was a tall, black, slim and long necked. She was almost of the same height as alphan but younger.

He came back chatting with his cousin, they have always lived as brother and sister, the smile on aunt sari face showed she had good news, he never knew what the good news were but he sat down to listen to his aunt.

"I have talked to makengeza and he has a place for you, and you will be joining him at his place tomorrow."

Makengeza was a village mechanic he had two sons. He came to tanga few years ago with a son. He married another tanga girl who had dropped out from school due to pregnancy she died when giving birth and thus she had two sons with different mothers. Nobody knew anything about him and nobody would dare ask him about himself since he was generally rude whenever it came to his identity.

He was unlearned but it was unexplainable how he became a mechanic. No single day his work had ever bore no fruits, maybe if a machine was beyond repair but still he gave everything his best shot.

Alphans dreams were now shuttered, he assures aunt sari that he will go to makengeza the next day and he will work with all his efforts, she gave a wide smile and went on to keep herself busy.

He didn't sleep that night, he packed all his belongings and went back to bi sos hut. He couldn't imagine living all his life as a mechanic. He knew now he had to live alone and not depend on aunt sari any more henceforth, life had to take another direction he left a note for his aunt

"aunt am sorry I couldn't tell you this before, I cannot be a mechanic anytime in my life, I believe iam meant to be a president, if it is learning our country has many unlearned politians and they are successful. Goodbye, see you soon

Derrick"

She never bothered herself anymore though she had mixed feelings, she never knew what to feel, should she be happy since alphan had reduced the burden of being fed or sad since makengeza will tell everyone how she let him down and how disorganized she was and how she lied to him on how she would give him labour but she never did.

She was worried how her name would be tarnished acrossed the village due to alphans actions but all in all he was nowhere to be seen again.

Life was now harder to him, he didn't know where to start or what to do he never knew how to get food for himself but he was happy on the other hand that he was not a mechanic. Bi sos hut was dusty since nobody had lived in the hut for long time he had to clean in first and for the first day he was doing all that. Life around bi sos place had changed, there was a new homestead near the place.

He couldn't go on without food, two days now were over and he was very hungry, he then decided that maybe if he paid a visit to the new neighbors and introduce himself he would have something to eat or even maybe if he ask for some tasks to do and in exchange to get food he would do it, he slowly crept to the new homestead just for the sake of his stomach.

Before he reached the entrance he heard somebody singing a popular song. It was a popular song in the whole country sang by a popular musician. He never bothered since everybody sings the song. He was just determined to get something for his stomach. The boy singing the song was just sited at the entrance with a wandindi.

The singing immediately stopped and the man comes towards alphan. Musa wakitonga was his name.

"hi! Man whats up am wakitonga"

"hey too am derrick"

"are you new to this place"

"no this is my home"

"oooh oook me too but came to this place last month from daarsalam with my parents and this is my home"

After the formal introduction the became friends, he never told him his intentions though he was very hungry, he invited him to the tree where he was singing from for them to relax, thank heavens it was under a mango tree and it had unripe fruits, he didn't bother but he ate them unripe as they were.

Wakitonga had dropped from school and claimed he wanted to be a musician. His parents wanted to disown him but his mother had to plead with his no nonsense father to let him live with them since he was the only son. His father would aceepts but on condition that he would feed himself. To him education was nothing but music was everything. His dream was to one day become a great musician.

Being under the same conditions alphan and waki as he used to call himself had to find a way of getting food. Making bricks was the only opportunity available for them at disposal. Desperate as they were they made bricks to sell since there was no other option. Day in day out they made bricks. Alphan used to save all what he got after getting full and some small expenses. Not a single day had he ever slept with empty stomach since at the same time leah would sneak and bring him something to eat. She knew he was around.