by Jon Evans
He glances to the southeast corner of their property.
"Wherever you think is best," she says. "Were you a farmer?"
"When I was young," Rukungu says quietly.
He walks away to the southeast. Veronica watches as he kneels and begins to dig with his hands, crumble the dirt between his fingers, inspect the soil. She still knows very little about Rukungu's past; she hasn't wanted to ask, and he hasn't wanted to tell. Maybe one day.
She enters the ablution block to wash her hands, and catches sight of herself in the mirror above the sink. She sees lines on her face around the corners of her mouth, the beginnings of wrinkles. Well, at least they're smile lines. There are far worse fates. She of all people ought to know.
Veronica walks outside and sees a familiar figure appear on one of the several bushtrails that lead onto their property. He holds a bulging jute sack. She jogs up to him and kisses him.
"You're back already," Lovemore says, smiling. He reaches down, picks her up, continues with Veronica in his arms.
"Did they have everything?" she asks.
He nods to the sack dangling beneath her. "Pineapples, pocho, and Mrs. Katumba's hot sauce. I don't know why you want to serve this to our guests, we can get chicken or beef in Jinja –"
"Oh, they'll get a kick out of it," she reassures him. "Trust me."
As Lovemore carries back towards their home, Veronica looks around at their land, at their school, tries to imagine it through Tom and Judy's eyes, as if she is seeing it for the first time. She is not disappointed.
"I like this," she says thoughtfully. "This is a good place. I like it here. I like who I am here. Do you know what I mean?"
He nods.
"Good. Then let's stay forever."
Lovemore raises his eyebrows. "Forever is a long time."
Veronica smiles. "We'll see," she says. "We'll just see."
From the same author on Feedbooks
Beasts of New York: A children's book for grown-ups (2007)
An urban fantasy about the wildlife of New York City, starring a squirrel protagonist who has to find his way from exile in Staten Island back to his home in Central Park.
http://www.beastsofnewyork.com/
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Food for the mind
Table of Contents
Title
Part 1 - Congo
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Part 2 - Uganda
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Part 3 - Zimbabwe
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Epilogue
From the same author