UNTILL WHEN

UNTIL WHEN CHAPTER 6

"This place looks amazing!" Sintoyia exclaimed after Wanjiku left. She had helped them out with the registration since not much was needed.

"You are right, it is." Nasieku added and they saw a female officer dressed in a blue uniform just like all the others.

"This way please." She said and lead the was to a building not far from where they were standing. It was lebbeled'women's hostel'.

They found so many women there but there were no children to be seen. The officer then said they were playing in the field.

" Do they stay here?" Sainapei asked curiously.

"Only the a few, the older ones have their own hostel." the officer answered her.

" So I'm I going to stay there?"

" No, you will stay with your mother until you grow."

The three of them settled on their beds that night after having their first supper which was actually not bad. Sainapei also had her own bed, since she had to get used to sleeping alone.

Life in the camp was so far much better than they expected, though communication was a bit problematic. They had to learn Kiswahili which was used by everyone since they all come back from different communicaties.

Sainapei attended the drawing classes amusigly. She loved them and the teachers loved her. It was interesting to learn.

"Mama, today Iearnt to count all the numbers from 1to ten."She said proudly. She was a quick learner which helped her to catch up soon and the teachers loved her a lot.

On the other hand, Nasieku and Sintoyia were also enjoying their training classes. They were taught different skills like; baking, hairdressing,laundry, knitting and many other skills. The women were assured of jobs after the training sessions which would make them independent. They all worked so hard to make sure they got jobs to support their families since it was a matter of how you performed.

Days passed,months and it was two years since they moved to the camp. For sure, their lives had changed since. They had gotten knowledge they never knew about and even learnt so many knew things. They were no longer the illiterate people they had been. Who lived six years in the forest and many other back then, in suffering. They were not only growing in age, but also becoming better both mentally and socially.

Sainapei was also growing and started to understand her situation very well. It was then that she went to her mother one evening looking disturbed.

"Mama," she called Nasieku who was working on a piece of cloth at the entrance of the field.

"Darling, what is it? You look worried, is something wrong?" She was surprised.

"Yes mama, I've been thinking about it for sometime and I don't know if it's the right time."

"Talk to me Sainapei."

"I've been wondering where I really came from, where we were living before we went to Wanjiku's place, who my father is and where he lives right now. Who is Sintoyia to me and where did she come from?" Sainapei asked not leaving any more question in her mind.

Nasieku was never surprised. She knew this was going to happen some day. Sainapei had grown and she deserved to know the truth. At seven, she had to know everything about her father. Nasieku could not hide the truth any longer, it had to come out, right away.

"Mama, I hope I didn't pressure you a lot." Sainapei said worried that her mother would not answer her.

"No my child. I had been waiting for this time in a while now and I think it's the right time. To tell you all that you should know."

This was when Nasieku explained to Sainapei everything. She told her the story right from when Nasieku was born until then. Sainapei was sad to here that her grandparents had died.

"Mama, so are you going to circumcise me as well?" she asked when Nasieku mentioned the worst day in her life.

" Never my dear. It is the painful physical practice and unhygienic as well. I don't want you to ever entertain it , if it's possible, when you grow up, stand against it legally." Nasieku said and continued with her story.

She mentioned about the marriage and Sainapei was shocked.

"An old man? You could have refused it." she said angrily imagining how her father looked like now after about eight years.

" I would have refused, if only it was easy. I had no option. Your great grandma was very sick and she needed medication. I just couldn't stay there, watching her die slowly."

" You mean you sacrificed your own happiness for someone else's happiness. You are so nice, mama."

The story was sad though Sainapei made it look funny, trying to make her mother forget those painful experiences.

" So my father had a big stomach and eight wives?" she said laughing and Nasieku also laughed.

" But he was a monster and he will pay one day. That one I promise you mama. " she added confidently.

Sintoyia was having a bakery class and so it was just the two of them there.

"Wanjiku was such a kind hearted woman."Sainapei said when the story ended.

"Yes, and that's how I want you to be. I vowed to myself that your life will never be anything like mine. Study hard in school and achieve your goals in life."

"I will mama, I love you so much."

As they were still strolling in the field, they suddenly heard screams from the other side.

"Mama!" Sainapei shouted.