If you could see this world. The trees and the braches. The bugs and animals. All of the beautiful life here in Africa. The land is filled with water. A lake by our dome. The fish swim across the water like flying birds, going across the sky. My Grandma picked up her bottle, made out of dried dirt and mud, and scooped up some fresh water from our well. Water dropped from the bottle, as she closed then twisted it slowly. The sky was getting dark. It started to get colder. Everyone went inside. It was a thunderstorm. The trees started to blow in a sway. My grandma looked up at the sky and stood there very silent, she did not say a word. She turned her head down and looked at me. She grabbed my hand and walked slowly into our small dome.
What was s e planning to do while the thunderstorm was happening? Make jewelry out of small bay coconuts I suppose. She went into the cabinet and took out 3 lanterns and 2 candles. She took out 5 pieces of cloth and 2 plastic cups. She put the lanterns on the wood oak table. She put one cloth over each lantern. She put the candles in front of her, lit them and put the one plastic cup over each candle, then put a piece of cloth on each candle. Little light spreaded across the room. Then Grandma started making jewelry. I sat there stunned. My grandma always starts a conversation when we are bored out of our minds. But this time she did not say a thing. Today was the first thunderstorm ever in the history of Africa. So this is the time to celebrate. She looked up as a tear went down her cheek.
I looked at her, she looked at me. “what’s the matter grandma?” I asked. She put her hand on mine. It was as cold as Antarctica. I wanted to pull away. “ Today is the first storm ever seen or recorded in Africa Khaki. When I was a Young child my mother and me would take a walk on the sand looking up at the sky and see that there was no clouds. It was different back then. People heard about the storms and were terrified, including me. When we would walk outside and see a big puffy cloud in the sky, we got worried. Now it came true Khaki. I just want it to be the same.” She said sadly. “ Well, Grandma, it will be the same. You just got to wait for it to end. “ I also entered.
“ You do not understand Khaki. Once the storms enter Africa we, Africa will never be the same again. We will be in danger.” She said scared. “How grandma?” I asked.
“ Floods, Many sea creatures from the lake will die, all the animals won’t be able to eat the lake creatures and we eat those animals and then… They will die.” She said.
“But”- grandma cut me off. “ There’s no “But” anymore Khaki. You have to deal with the point that we may have another storm and that the animals may die here- you have make the best of it. Or we can move away. Or we can just wait and see what happens now.” She said again. “ I know Grandma. But I do not want to leave here; I’ll miss my friends and my teacher. Please lets not move away. Lets just see what happens.” I begged.
“Fine Khaki. Just tell me if you change your mind.” She said.
“I will.” I agreed.
Last night was a freighting night. I had never seen my grandma cry in such a way. I am now so careful. I got on my Pet donkey, Tumbler, and rode him to the drinking well. I filled up my bucket and rode home ready to put it in grandmas carton.
“Hello, Grandma. Are you feeling ok?” I asked.
“Yes my dear Khaki.” She replied. “ Well, if you need any help at your job just holler if so. “ I said. “ Actually Khaki I won’t to apologize to you for what I said last night.” She said. “NO! You are right I am never going to question you again. Everyone is talking about it.” I answered. “ I know.” She said back. “Why can’t we just live in peace and forget whatever happens, and just live like we were before?” I asked. “Because we just can’t.” She replied.
I walked out of the Dome and ran to my friend Maggie’s house. She was sewing with her mom. “Hello Mrs. Nequin. “ I said. “Hello, Khaki.” She answered back. “May I please speak with your daughter, Maggie?” I asked again. “Yes, you may, but do not be too long.” She said. “ Yes.” I said back.
I talked to her about what my grandma said. She laughed. “I’m serious.” I said. She believed me and went back inside her dome with her mother to finish her blanket for the winter. I ran back home to grandma. She was making pie and chicken soup for dinner and dessert. “ Grandma?” I asked.
“Yes dear?” She answered.
“Why do we have to worry about all this right now. We will be at least dead by the time something happens to Africa. Its just rain. In other states and countries there as been millions of rain forecasts before. Why should we worry about it?” I asked again.
“Because Khaki, many people in this world wish that their cities, countries and states would not disappear. We are lucky that this won’t happen for a long time. And this place hold precious memories.” She said.
But I knew it would not happen.
I went over to the baboon tree next to Church. I took out water. And poured the water on the tree. The sun glistened with light as a dark clouds passed above the sky. “Khaki!!!! Khaki where are you? Come here right this second a storm is coming!!!” My grandmother yelled. I
whent as fast as I could to pour the water over the baboon tree. I finished and ran as fast as I could over to grandmother’s Dome. She was searching for me in the back yard. “I’m here Grandmother!!” I yelled.
We both ran into the Dome in distress. It started to pour rain. There was no more light to share in Africa.
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