Not all of Africa is wild animals and days too hot to do your work you know. We have the rains too, and those days in-between where the situations are just right for the greatest beauty to come out on display. Days when conditions allow for minor miracles nobody may get to see, or appreciate. Today in Africa my friends, is just such a day.
Today the sun is not burning in the sky like it's a blowtorch in the hands of a sadistic welder. It isn't trying to scorch you, or burn the clothes off your back. It won't cause the men to sweat and the ladies to perspire. Though in truth sweat is sweat, and nobody likes to feel uncomfortable, so today was a good day for all Africans in her tiny village. This morning was going to be a good day for all full stop. She had a feeling about it, and when Leia Agabuse had that sense then she listened to it. She had been rightbefore, many times. She knew when to listen to it, and it seemed the animals did too as even they were enjoying the day. She smiled and put a large African daisy in her hair. She had on her best yellow floral dress and she was ready. Ready for her beautiful day. Ready for love.
Leia Agabuse had never been in love before. Sure, she'd seen guys she liked, maybe even guys she thought she loved. Once there was even another girl she kind of had a crush on. But how could she know? She'd witnessed all degrees of love in her family, neighbours and friends. It seemed love was varied. Made you do silly things, good things, even bad things in some. People blamed love for their worst and best traits. She'd witnessed jealousy, love rages and people doing silly things. She'd been to church and seen love in devotion and worshipful prayer and song. Some showed or wore their love like a badge of honour, proud and maybe too flashy. Others were more discrete, and giving in the way they loved. Leia found it confusing. She'd read about it a lot in literature and seen it in art, in dance and even in acts of kindness towards her. But she never really felt it for others. Sure her parents and siblings, but not in that way. Not in the way she longed to feel it. Until he came along.
Yes indeed. Today was the day they were going to go on their first date and Leia Agabuse had faith. It was going to be a good day. A fine day. A day for love. She was smiling so much she thought she must look foolish. She felt it inside. She didn't really know what to expect from her first date. She felt funny, excited, nervous. She'd have liked to have asked her ma or her eldest sister about it, but she was shy. A few of the girls she knew at school had had boyfriends, but they were prone to over exaggeration and changing moods. She knew that first hand. They never seemed to treat her with the warmth she'd shown them. Leia missed having good friends. She'd once known a girl in her village and they'd formed a close bond. They called each other sister, and told each other Everything She left with her family two years ago when her dad took a job in the city. She writes still and Leia loves those letters. In a way, that closeness, that sisterly love, that's as she imagines love will be for her. Only more intense, more intimate perhaps. She hopes. She dreams. And Leia Agabuse has always had high hopes and big dreams. Despite what those girls at school had said, she deserved them. And now she was making her dreams happen. She would meet him here and get her first taste of real love.
The warm sun was pleasant and there was a cooling breeze. Her little sister had braided her hair and she'd sneaked out in the dress reserved for festival days at her church. Her pa would skin her alive if he saw her wearing it in this field. It made her look older, more mature she thought. It made her pretty and she was filled with confidence. Leia had never had much confidence in her looks before. At school she'd been the gangly, plain and late-to- develop child others mocked or didn't see. She wasn't like that. She knows how it felt to be picked on, bullied, talked about. She was a good girl, but sometimes it seemed they suffered more. She didn't like that and never encouraged such ways in herself or others she preferred to hang around. Sadly that meant she was more of a loner than she'd have liked. But Leia had a feeling all that was about to change.
To be continued.