September 1, 2000, 1:00 a.m. -- Mzuzu
I stepped out into the morning sun, rising above the African plains. Facing each of the four cardinal directions, I prayed silently to my ancestors.
"Mzuzu, time for breakfast," a voice called.
I sighed, and turned to face my mother. "May I eat out here?" She shook her head sternly.
"No, we must talk about where you are going today."
"I know where I'm going today."
"Come inside."
I trudged up the stairs into our small house. My mother beamed at me.
"I'm so proud of you! My little baby's growing up." I rolled my eyes, and she gave me the look. "Now you listen up, Mzuzu. You're to wait outside for your jini. Don't mess around, okay? You follow orders, and be a good little girl. I expect no bad reports." I nodded mutely. She handed me a backpack, and a suitcase. "I packed your things."
"Thanks."
She smiled. "You're going to do great. I love you, sweetie."
"Love you, too, mum."
She hugged me, then pushed me out the door.
I turned around to wave, and saw her wipe her eyes. I smiled, then sat down, about 15 meters from the front of the house. Leaning my head back, I looked up in the sky. Clouds danced slowly across the blue, and as I watched their graceful movements, I slowly drifted off.
Suddenly I was awakened by a loud roar. Jumping to my feet, I looked around for whomever had made the sound. Then I saw him. A gigantic lion with wings. I nearly fainted.
"You are Mzuzu?" he called. I gathered up my courage and said loudly, "I am Mzuzu. Who are you?"
He smiled, if it is possible for a lion to smile, and said softly, "Ah yes, you are the one." He cleared his throat and continued, "I am your jini, young Mzuzu. I have come to take you to the Mazingaombwe School of Magical Arts." He bowed slightly. "You may ride on my back."
I gathered up my things, and cautiously walked up to the lion. Awkwardly, I climbed on to his back, then pulled my suitcase and bag up after me. As soon as I was settled, the lion soared into the air with his mighty wings. I gasped, and clutched his sides tightly with my knees. The view was amazing.
I stepped out into the morning sun, rising above the African plains. Facing each of the four cardinal directions, I prayed silently to my ancestors.
"Mzuzu, time for breakfast," a voice called.
I sighed, and turned to face my mother. "May I eat out here?" She shook her head sternly.
"No, we must talk about where you are going today."
"I know where I'm going today."
"Come inside."
I trudged up the stairs into our small house. My mother beamed at me.
"I'm so proud of you! My little baby's growing up." I rolled my eyes, and she gave me the look. "Now you listen up, Mzuzu. You're to wait outside for your jini. Don't mess around, okay? You follow orders, and be a good little girl. I expect no bad reports." I nodded mutely. She handed me a backpack, and a suitcase. "I packed your things."
"Thanks."
She smiled. "You're going to do great. I love you, sweetie."
"Love you, too, mum."
She hugged me, then pushed me out the door.
I turned around to wave, and saw her wipe her eyes. I smiled, then sat down, about 15 meters from the front of the house. Leaning my head back, I looked up in the sky. Clouds danced slowly across the blue, and as I watched their graceful movements, I slowly drifted off.
Suddenly I was awakened by a loud roar. Jumping to my feet, I looked around for whomever had made the sound. Then I saw him. A gigantic lion with wings. I nearly fainted.
"You are Mzuzu?" he called. I gathered up my courage and said loudly, "I am Mzuzu. Who are you?"
He smiled, if it is possible for a lion to smile, and said softly, "Ah yes, you are the one." He cleared his throat and continued, "I am your jini, young Mzuzu. I have come to take you to the Mazingaombwe School of Magical Arts." He bowed slightly. "You may ride on my back."
I gathered up my things, and cautiously walked up to the lion. Awkwardly, I climbed on to his back, then pulled my suitcase and bag up after me. As soon as I was settled, the lion soared into the air with his mighty wings. I gasped, and clutched his sides tightly with my knees. The view was amazing.