WANGARI

Chapter 1 ( Hello)

Wangari let out an excruciating scream as the mid wife kept urging her to push.

she was almost there and yet all she hoped for was that at the end of all this she would walk out to her husband.

" push Wangari push. you are almost there."
said Wanjiku the mid wife.

she pushed with all her might and a cry was hard.

Wangari let out a prayer of thanks to the lord tired and yet eager to hold her baby.

" congratulations , its a baby boy."

the mid wife said and five ululations were heard outside .

she thanked God it was a boy though it would have been okay whether it was a boy or a girl.

Custom required her to go into hiding for some days after the birth of a baby .

she called the midwife and asked her to call one of the hunters .

" any news on Kahuria?"

she asked him hoping for a positive response even though she had a feeling it wouldn't be.

" the men sent to the north have not found anything yet but we still have no response from the men sent to the east."
he said.

" thank you."

she said.

she couldn't help but worry over what would happen to her if her husband did not return.

she lay her baby down and took her pot to heat up some porridge.

Kamau would be waiting for her at the end of the fourteen days ready to kick her out and she hoped Njuguna would be back by then.

Kahuria had gone hunting when she was eight months pregnant promising her he would be back with something delicious meat for her and the baby. the hunt would normally go for two weeks or at most three but when they came back he did not come back with them.

the hunters had not caught much and said Kahuria had insisted on finding something for his pregnant wife and had gone far into the woods.

He wasn't supposed to go hunting being the chiefs brother but he loved going with other men and the joy of finding something for his family.

he was young.

Wangari wept as she recalled the day she had met him.

she was by the river washing her clothes when she noticed some one hiding behind a tree staring at her.

she was furious and went to give him a piece of her mind when she found out who he was.

" Kahuria being the chiefs son gives you no right to spy on me . you know the rules ."
she said furiously.

Kahuria laughed instead.

" what is so funny ?"
she had asked him.

" I like my women fierce and beautiful."
he said and left.

she was left confused and still angry and had vowed to give him an earful the next time she met him.

she let out a muffled sob.

her son started crying as well.

she picked him up and embraced him.

" it is my fault that your father is gone. forgive me."

fourteen days ended faster than she hoped.

she could feel chaos rise up at the crack of dawn.

she heard a knock at the door.

" ni~ o?"( who is it?)

she said in kikuyu.

" wanjiru."

she opened the door for her.

" welcome .my dear friend."
she said to her.

" congratulations on your new baby. he is going to be just like his dad."

Wanjiru said as she took the baby into her arms.

" what have you named him."

she asked?

" Kahuria, just like his father."

she said.

" what a good name. may he be blessed and bring joy and prosperity to this land."

wanjiru said.

" I hope his father were here to bless him."
she said.

" he will come back. have faith."
wanjiru reassured her.

" okay."

" lets go to the river and give him a bath."

wanjiru said.

outside she was greeted with a lot of congratulations and reassurances.

she liked being out again.

she undressed and got into the river with her son.

she never knew much being a first time mother but she knew that she would love her child and protect him no matter what.

she dipped him in the water and said," blessed are you child. you shall know only love and loyalty and everything good in life."

she went back to her hut.

She could see the chief approach from so far as she looked through her tiny window.

she went running out to meet him and his counsel.

" Wangari. I can see you have recovered from the birth. where is my nephew?"

he asked.

" he is sleeping ."

she replied.

" it is not good for a child to be without his father but you have made sure he does not have one.

you sent him hunting knowing he shouldn't go and now look he is missing. I told him not to marry you."

he said.

" he will come back."
she said trying not to lash out at him.

" Wangari? it has been more than 30 days since he went missing and the men have not yet found him but I understand if you want to remain hopeful . but have I not been lenient? have I not let you live in this house for far too long?

even let you have your child here?

it is time for you to go and let Kariukis wife take this house.

it is time to go."
he said.

Wangari was afraid he would say this.

" please you cannot do this. you cannot kick my son and I out with no where to go.

it is true my husband is missing but it is no fault of mine.Have I not been a good wife to him?

have I not brought this land so much prosperity by my hard work.

what have I done to deserve this.

what about your nephew?

he is too young . he cannot survive being out in the cold?

will you kick him out too?

she said.

his counsel looked at the chief in such judgement that he had no choice .

" I give you 30 more days but if he is not back by then, you have to leave."

Wangari thanked the chief and the heavens , now all she had to do was find her husband.