1: TheDr eam andt heBushBaby Ear l yoneni ghtaf t erKombowentt osl eep, hehadabaddr eam.Hehadhar dl ycl osedhi sey es whensuddenl yhef oundhi msel fi nast r angewor l d.Hesawawi depl ai nofar i dl andwi t h pat chesofbr owni ngshr ubs.I twasdayt i meandt hesunwasbr i ght ert hannor mal .Dr essedi n school uni f or m, hewaswi t hNi na, hi ssi st er .Abov et hem, undert hebl uesky , t heysawa st r anget hi ng—asmal l hutwi t hi t sf r ontandbacky ar dsuspendedi nt heai r .Hi s gr andpar ent swer eout si det hehut .Bi bi wasseat edonast ool wi t har oundedt opwi t h Babust andi ngbehi ndher .Theyst ar t edspeaki ngi nast r angewayt hatmadet hei rv oi ces echo. BABU: Badt hi ngsshal l happen, hav ecour ageandt r ustourway !Weshal l i nspi r eNi naatt he st r angedaywi t hani ghti ni t snoonday .Wor dsachi l dcannoteasi l ysay , t ot heni ght , sheshal l t ootandbay ! BI BI : Af t erNi nahaswont heday , wehav eabet t erwayofmaki ngt hev i l l ai nspayf ort hei r at r oci t i esi nt hepastandt oday BABU: Anol dbeehi v ehungonabeekeeper ’ scor di sabet t erweapont hanagunoraswor d. Komboshout edt ot hest r angeappar i t i onsi nt hesky .Hewant edt oaskBabuwhatt hewor ds meant .Buthi sv oi cecoul dnotcomeout .Hest r uggl edt ocal l hi sgr andpar entbutt onoav ai l . Whent hev oi cecameoutatl ast , hewokeupwi t hast ar t . Theni ghtwasst i l l y oung.Hekeptt hi nki ngaboutt hedr eam.I twasnott hef i r stt i mehehad whatusual l yt ur nedoutt obepr ophet i cdr eams.Foury ear sago, t woday sbef or ehehadan acci dentandbr okehi sl eg, Babuhadwar nedhi mi nadr eam t ost opcl i mbi ngt r ees.Hedi dnot heedt hedr eam’ swar ni ngandt heacci dentoccur r ed. Whatwast hedr eam war ni nghi m aboutt oday ?I tmustbeagai nstat r agi cev ent .Thewor dsof BabuandBi bi hadsoundedst r ange.Ni nashal l t ootandbay !Whywoul dNi nat ootorbay ?Owl s t ootasabadomen; anddogsbayt ot hemoon, war ni ngt headv entofat r agedy .Whatwast he omi nouswar ni ngabout ?Hemustt el l hi sf at heraboutt hedr eam f i r stt hi ngi nt hemor ni ng.Onl y hi sf at hercoul di nt er pr ett hest r angedr eam.Hi sadv i cewoul dbet hebasi sf orei t herpr epar i ng f ort hewor storf i ndawayt okeept hebadomenatbay , byconsul t i nganor acl e.Fi nal l y , Kombo r est edhi sheadont hepi l l owandwentbackt osl eep. *** Lat ert hatni ght , hewasawakenedf r om hi ssl eepbyt hecr yofabushbaby .I twasmi dni ghtand i twasunusual t oheart heani mal att hatt i me.I thadcr i edsocl oset ot hehouseandpr oduced suchahor r i f i edshr i ekt hatt henoi sesoundedasi fi tcamef r om i nsi det hehouse.Nor mal l y , bushbabi eswoul dbehear df r om af ari nt hef or estasdawnappr oached.Youcoul dheari t t r umpet i ngal ongsnor tl i keahor nbl owi ng, pr ocl ai mi ngdawn.Wheny ouhear di tatot hert i mes oft heni ght , i tpr oducedagent l ersnor toragr unt .I tmeantt hebushbabywascel ebr at i ng hav i ngst ol enr i pebananasf r om af ar m.Somet i mesi twoul dgi v eanaught ychuckl ewheni thad t akensomeswi gsf r om abamboowi net apper ’ sgour d.Butsuchcr i eswer enotaswi l dand f r i ght eni ng.Whathadhappenedt oi t ?Hewonder ed.Wasal eopar dl oomi ngi nt he nei ghbour hood? Ashel ayont hebedt hi nki ng, hef el thi sey esheav yagai n.Hedi dn’ twantt osl eepany mor e.He mustknowwhyt heani mal hadcr i edsohor r i dl yandsocl oset ot hehouse.I ft her ewasa l eopar d, i twoul dat t ackt heani mal shedandt akeagoatorsheep.Shoul dhewakeuphi sf at her ? Noty et .Hemustconf i r m hi ssuspi ci on.Leopar dswer eacommont hr eatbutt heni ghtcoul d hav eot herdanger s. I nt het wi l i ght , hecoul dst i l l seet hedy i ngchar coal gl owatt hecooki nghear t hi nt heki t chen. Thesmal l bedr oom’ sdoorwasl ef topenandsohecoul dseedi r ect l yi nt ot heki t chen.The ker oseneoi l l amphadbur ntoutandl ef tanunpl easantpar af f i nsmel l domi nat i ngt heai r .He l ookedacr osst her oom atNi na.Shewasf astasl eepandherbr eat hi ngwassof tandpeacef ul . Heenv i edher . Ni naal way ssl eptpeacef ul l y .Shenev ersnor edandhehadnev erhear dhercompl ai naboutbad dr eams.Shewassl i ght l yt al l ert hanhewasdespi t ebei ngy ounger .Ev er y bodyi nt hehouse t easedheraboutherr api dgai ni nhei ghtandconst antt hi nni ngofgi r t h.Asshesl ept , herl egs st r et chedbey ondt hel owerpar tofhermat t r ess. Fr om t henextr oom, Kombocoul dhearhi sf at her ’ ssnor i ng.I twasl oudandwi l d.Maj al i wa al way ssnor edi nhi ssl eep.Hi ssnor i ngmadeKombot el l whet herhi spar ent swer eawakeor asl eep.Hi smot herdi dn’ tsnor e.Li keNi na, shesl eptpeacef ul l y .Shenev erwokeupatni ght exceptwhenawakened.Thatni ghtheknewt hatt heywer ebot hf astasl eep.Hewast heonl y per sonawakei nt hehouse.I tmadehi mf eel uneasyandunusual l yconsci ousoft hequi etni ght out si de. Apar tf r om t hesnor i ngofhi sf at her , t her ewer enoot herbi gsoundsbutf oranoccasi onal r at t l e ofar atcr ossi ngt hematont hef l oor .Cockr oachesmadesmal l scr at chi ngnoi sesast hey ni bbl edatl ef t ov er sont heunwasheddi shes—pl at esandcooki ngpot s.Fr om out si de, t her ewer e ot hersoundssuchast heconst antshuf f l eofdr yl eav esf r om t hebananat r ees.Cowsi nt he cat t l eshedof t enr ubbedt hei rhugebodi esagai nstt hepol esandcausedt hewoodj oi nt st o knockandcr eak.Buthepai dl i t t l eat t ent i ont owhatwashappeni ngout si de: Somet hi ngwas di r ect i nghi sat t ent i ont ot hei rr oom andhi si mmedi at esur r oundi ngs.Hesawt heki t chenkni f e l ef tcar el essl yneart hecooki nghear t h.Hei gnor edi t .Hel ookedatt hewhi t ewashedwal l s, at t hei r onr oof i ngwi t houtacei l i ng.I twasaf our r oomedhousewi t hasi t t i ngr oom, t hei rpar ent ’ s r oom andt hechi l dr en’ sr oom.Ther ewast hesmal l ki t chenf aci ngt hechi l dr en’ sr oom anda f oodst or ewher et heykeptgr ai ns, bananasandsomet i mescassav a. Asmel l ofr i peni ngbananaswascommoni nt hehouse.Bananaswer et hemostr eadi l y av ai l abl esnack.Onecoul deatabananaanyt i mehewant ed.Kombohat edeat i ngt hem.Hehad eat enbananasal l hi sl i f eandnowwasf edup. Kombol ov edhi spar ent s.Theywer eal way sconcer nedabouthi m andNi na.Maj al i wawasnota meanper son.Heenj oy edspendi ngmoneyont hebasi cneedsofhi sf ami l y .Att heendofev er y mont h, whenheandhi swi f ewentt ot het ownt or ecei v et hei rpay mentf r om t hemi l kcol l ect or s, t heywoul dcomehomehappy , l oadedwi t hpr ov i si ons.Of t en, t heyhadpr esent sf ort hei rchi l dr en. Somet i mest hei rf at herwoul dbedr unk, l aughi ngal otandmaki ngj okes.Thei rmot hernev er t ookal cohol out si det hei rhome. Theyownedt wosmal l f ar msofaboutf i v eacr eseach.Thi swasn’ tasmal l hol di ngwhen compar edt ot heot herhousehol ds.Howev er , Maj al i wawasbestknownasadai r yf ar mer .He keptdai r ycat t l e: f ourmi l ki ngcows, f ourcal v esandabul l .Thi swast hei rconsi st entsour ceof i ncome.Thei rdai l ymi l kcol l ect i onwassol dt odeal er swhomader out i nemi l kcol l ect i ont r i pst o I dandar av i l l ageev er yday .Thef ar mer swer epai dmont hl y . Kombol ayawakeonhi sbedwonder i ngwhyt hebushbabyhadmadesuchunusual cr i es.He t ooki nl ongbr eat hst or el ax. Besi dest hesmel l ofker oseneandbananas, t heai ri nt her oom washeav ywi t hahumant angof bodysmel l s, sweatandni ghtbr eat he.Dur i ngt heday , whenhi smot herpassednear by , hecoul d di st i ngui shhersweetbodysmel l whi chhadapar t i cul ardi f f er encef r om hi sf at her ’ swi t ht he st r ongmanl ysmel l f oundi nagedmal es.Butatni ght , al l smel l swoul dbebl endedi nt oone st r angel ydi st i nctt angoft hef ami l y , sodi st i nctt hati thadr emai nedi nKombo’ smemor i es.The ev ent st hatf ol l owedt hi spar t i cul arni ghthadwel dedt hatchar act er i st i cf ami l ymemor yi nhi s mi ndt her estofhi sl i f e. Todayi twasanewmoonni ghtandaf t ert hecr escent , at hi ckdar knesswasl ef tbehi nd.Far away , Kombocoul dhearf r ogscr oaki ngf r om t her i v erv al l ey .Rav ensf r om anear byf or esthad notst ar t edmaki ngnoi ses, whi chmadeKomboguesst hatt heni ghtwasst i l l y oung.Att hr ee, t her av enswoul dcawsev er al t i mesandt hent heywoul dceaseunt i l t eno’ cl ock.Thenatt en, agai nt her av enst oget herwi t hcocks, pi geonsandot herbi r ds, t hel ot , woul dsi ngt owel come t hedawn.I nt hev i l l aget heymeasur edt i mebyf ol l owi ngt her out i neofani mal andbi r dcr i es. Ashel ayont hebed, Kombor emember edadi scussi onhehadwi t hNi naaboutt heecl i pseof t hesun.I twoul dhappent hef ol l owi ngday .Chi l dr eni nI dandar av i l l agewer eanxi ousl ywai t i ng f ori t .Onl yaf ewel der sbot her edaboutt heecl i pse.Mostoft hem knewl i t t l eaboutt heev ent . Butal l t heschool chi l dr enwer ei nf or medabouti t .Ev er ychi l dwasgi v enapi eceofcol our ed gl asst oshadet heey esf r om di r ectexposur et ot heecl i pse.Theywer ewar nedt ol ookatt he ecl i psev er ybr i ef l yev enwhent heyusedt hecol our edgl ass.Theywer eal sot ol dt owar nt hei r par ent sandot herv i l l ager saboutt hehazar dsofl ooki ngatanecl i psewi t hnakedey es.That ev eni ngbef or eNi naandKombohadgonet osl eep, t heyhadcur i ousl yexami nedt hei rcol our ed gl asses.Theydi dnotbot hert oputt hem backi nt ot hei rschool bags.Theycar ef ul l yputt hem i nt ot hei rpocket s, r eadyt ot r ansf ert hem i nt ot heschool bagst hef ol l owi ngmor ni ng. KomboandNi nahadr eadaboutecl i psesoft het woshi ni ngbodi esi nt heskyf r om Howt o Pr edi ctt henextSol arandLunarEcl i pse, abookbyJamesMakongor o.Kombohadbor r owed t hebookf r om t heschool l i br ar y .Thel i br ar yhadal l ki ndsofbooks.Thankst ot hegener ous suppor tofaWor l dBankagr i cul t ur al pr oj ectt ot hev i l l age, t hel i br ar ywaswel l st ockedwi t h books.Thepr oj ecthadi ncl udededucat i onal suppor t .Wi t ht hi ssuppor t , I dandar aPr i mar y School wasbui l tal ongsi det hel i br ar y .JamesMakongor o’ sbookhaddet ai l saboutt heecl i pse oft hemoonandt heecl i pseoft hesun, t oget herwi t hdet ai l sont hehazar dsofobser v i nga sun’ secl i psewi t hnakedey es. “ Youmustcomposeapoem abouti t ! ”Kombohadt ol dNi nawhenhecl osedt hebookand handedi tt oher . “ Sur e!Theecl i psewi l l beawonder f ul exper i ence.May beIwi l l beabl et owr i t esomet hi ng, ”Ni na sai donr ecei v i ngt hebook.Thatdayshehadl ookedsmar ti nherol dbutcl eanbl ueschool ski r t anday el l owbl ousehangi ngl ooseabov et heski r t .Herhai rwasneat l ypl ai t edi nt ol ongt hi n r i dgesr unni ngonf r om herf or eheadbackwar ds.I twast heuni f or m hai rpl ai t i ngst y l ef orschool gi r l s. Ni nawasr ecogni sedatschool f orhert al enti nwr i t i ngpoet r y .Att heageofsi x , ev enbef or e ki nder gar t en, shewasal r eadyi mi t at i ngTaar abandr apmusi csi nger s.Assoonasshehad l ear nedhowt or eadandwr i t e, shest ar t edt ocomposer hy mi ngv er ses.Herpoem abouta gener ousbaobabt r eewonf i r stpr i zei nt hepr ev i ousy ear ’ sRegi onal Wr i t i ngCompet i t i on.The st ar t i ngl i nesr eadasf ol l ows: Mbuy u, Mbuy u, Haubagui y ul enahuy u; Sot et ul i andal i wamabuy u! 1 1Baobabbaobab, Di scr i mi nat esnei t hert hatonenort hi sone, Wewer eal l pr ov i dedwi t hbaobabf r ui t s!