KASAO

14

OZAHI STOOD IN front of the crowd, watching the people as they cheered after he declared the thief free of punishment. He didn't want her free. Not only had she stolen from his farm, she had also littered it. He had agreed to let her go because of his grandmother. He respected her a lot and he knew it would be a blow to her ego if he had gone against her. He also loved his grandmother so much and he couldn't afford to hurt her. That was why he agreed to free the thief.

"This is insane!" The angry elder jumped from his seat and the others stood up with him. As if programmed, they all picked their sticks and stormed out of the circle.

The dispersing crowd murmured happily and Kasao felt bad. She knew they had pitied her because of her false story.
"Poor child. She lost her whole family" An elderly woman sobbed as she passed Kasao.

"She would be well taken care of by Tarahi" Another one spoke as she looked at Kasao.
Kasao's heart sank and she wished she could undo her lie but at that point, she couldn't.

Kasao sighted Tarahi walking to her through the crowds and she also went for the old woman. As they met, she couldn't find enough words to thank the woman so she wrapped the tiny woman in her arms and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you so much Tarahi" Kasao said as the old woman smiled sweetly at her.

"After hearing your story, I would be cruel to let you get punished"

Kasao couldn't look at the tiny woman in front of her. The woman had helped her because of her story which part of it was false. She felt guilty. She thought to confess and plead with the woman. The old woman was nice so she could forgive her and they'll live on. Or she could send her back to the elders.
Kasao took a deep breath and decided to tell Tarahi the truth. If the woman decides to give her back to the elders to get punished, she wouldn't blame her. She just couldn't live with the woman, knowing she had fooled her into pitying her.

"Tarahi..." Kasao began and the woman smiled at her. Kasao took in a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak. But before she could, Ozahi's voice boomed "Mama!". Kasao kept her mouth shut and smiled at the woman instead. If she was going to confess, she wasn't going to do it in front of Ozahi. She wasn't giving him that satisfaction.

Ozahi stormed to where his grandmother and the thief stood, holding each other like they have known each other for ages. He was furious with his grandmother's decision. He was also furious at the effrontery his grandmother had to stand up against the elders. She could have gotten punished. She was a very stubborn woman. As he approached them, he looked down at the thief and she irritated him. She was very dirty and shabbily dressed. She looked back at him and tightened her facial features, trying to look stern. He nearly laughed at her. To think she was a crying mess earlier and now, she was trying to look angry. She had also forgotten he saved her from being cruelly punished. He shook his head and turned to his grandmother. Even if he was angry with her, he still loved her.

"Let's go home mama" he said, trying not to sound angry but failing.
His grandmother looked at him and smiled. She knew he was angry at her and he was trying to hide his anger.

Kasao watched as Ozahi placed his hand on his grandmother's back and gently pulled her along. She couldn't argue the fact that he loved her so much. It was clear that he was angry at her but he also respected her.

"Let us go, Kasao" Tarahi motioned for Kasao to follow them.
Kasao walked behind them as they led her to her new home. She wondered what would become of her. She didn't even know how life would be here.

"Do not do what you did next time mama. You can't stand against the elders. That was unnecessary." Ozahi chided his grandmother.

"It was necessary. The young woman needed help" She countered.

Ozahi looked at Kasao angrily and he hated that she was going to live with them and he had no choice. As she looked at him, something like a small smile played on her lips and his anger grew. At that rate, he could push her down a cliff, not minding if he fell in with her.