Endless Night
The explosion of color slowly faded as the sun began to set over the savanna.
"Mama, why don't we ever visit the lions?"
"Lions will kill you," the mother hyena explained.
"Don't lions also eat meerkats and warthogs?"
"Timon and Pumbaa helped raise King Simba. That's why he doesn't harm them."
"Would the king like us too if we did something kind for him, Mama?"
"He would not allow it. Hyenas and lions have been enemies for as long as anyone can remember. In fact, many years ago, King Simba was almost killed by hyenas."
"So he's going to judge our entire species by a few problems that happened a long time ago? It doesn't make sense!"
The mother sighed. "Someday you will know, my dear child. When you grow up, you will understand hatred and prejudgment. You will comprehend the rules of war and the war of rules."
"What's the difference between the rules of war and the war of rules?"
"You'll know soon enough." She attempted to change the subject. "Why don't you go tell your aunt good night? She might have a story for you."
That's how I came to have my niece visiting me at dusk.
"Usiku mwema, shangazi."
"Good night to you too, niece," I answered.
"Aunt?"
"Yes?"
"Are hyenas and lions enemies?"
"I'm afraid so."
"And it can't ever be changed, right?"
I almost started laughing. "The Serengeti is full of such myths. Has no one ever taught you the truth about such common beliefs?"
She got comfortable, ready to hear the story.
"First of all, you need to learn about your own species." With that, I began teaching her about the animal I know more about than any other.