Chasing The Wind

sl

l be going to the market to buy and sell some much needed goods. I sleep i

y parents' departing footsteps. The Torrid Season is cha

and falls at intervals and the way she breaths out through slightly parted lips, she looks so frail and vulnerab

t is wasting. I shake her bony sh

sing-song voice," i

g me her back. Grinning sinisterly, I turn the other

o that. I pinch her nose in between my thumb and index f

he exclaims ami

eet, leaving her on the mat. She mutter

re slept half of the

second before me," she retort

the whole morning, just did

king grin," I believe you.

f us wear sackcloth or homemade animal hide. The nobles and royals wear the finest silks, satin and velvet. I'

•

sted maize cobs and a bowl of goat milk mothe

y form, I knew just the perfect name for her; Small which translates as Valri in Kintilese. Mother had immediat

during the day looking for food and once it's evening, they loyal animals return home to the bac

h our breakfast before the twinkle of an eye. And we head out to the river to have our bath carrying only a jar of th

e common path to the stream,"

se and I stifle a wince. We only stepped out of the house a few minutes ago and my

I try to distract myself with the sounds of crowing cocks, mooing cattle I can sight amongst the tall grasses. The pungent stench of dun

uns down my forehead in rivulets. My calico dress is damp from perspiration and some of my hair sticks to my forehead. I wipe salt

vli

of her name. I narrow my eyes at the running figure as it

lean male catches up with us and ben

" He greets m

nd are bleached copper by the sun. My gaze rests on his lips, they are cracked and dry as I'll guess mine to be but they are really plump, as plump as a woman's. Tear

all out to you-" he says as he wipes sweat

th us?" Mavli smiles at hi

y to the stream. I'm starting to stink, I can't wait to be immersed in the co

r and Cirok. I'm not patient enough to wait for

a crowd of people and then I remember; It's a market day a

dden by the human-length grasses and weeds. Unfortunately

oap and new change of dresses by the bank before wadding my way in.

I feel renew, revitalized almost immediately. I scoop some into my dry mouth and swish it around before spitting it out do

ir making it lather. I scrub my hair fast and vigorously, not wanting anyone —

My wild, shoulder-length tresses shrinks and darkens, it forms a mop of ringlets and c

eet on the ground be