The window cleaner

A return to the cradle

The crowd kept on cheering their candidate in a show of solidarity.

"We are with you forever. Papa, we know the pain of being severally denied our victory. But we hope for better days in the future." Said another fan in the crowd.

" The time is now. Let's start preparing from now. Please I will take my leave and get back to sourcing for my source of livelihood." Said Papa as he giggled, waved vehemently at his supporters before entering his car. He kicked the car and zoomed off.

" I can see you are quite popular around here. " Said Siin with a voice of majesty.

" Not just around here sir. I may not be rich , but fame is a virtue I have enjoyed since when I was a kid. It's just high time i use it to develope the lands of my community and it's citizens." Said Papa Jallos as he smiled heartily from Siins first Sentence.

" Good then. When does this supposed election comes up.? " Siin asked with no hesitation.

in about three weeks time." Said Papa Jalo with a wild grin.

" Well then the earlier the better. The soaps and detergents you plan on taking to the Chief, we would make it a multiple of fifty and share it to majority of the constituents . The chiefs _ how many are they. ? " Siin asked looking at the landscape from the window.

" Fifty folds ? Good gracious. Ehm, the chiefs are seven in number." Said Papa Jalo in awe.

" Then we would provide them with 1 washing machine each. They can also have the wine and detergents as well." Said Siin with an air of Majesty.

" My God sir. That would cost you a fortune." Said Papa Jalo in a state of Shock .

" Leave that to mean. Just make you win. Handle the people and I will handle the finances. I have my eyes on getting that diamond Field. I believe a chairman is influential enough to get some of those Diamond lands for himself." Said Siin and returned his view back to Papa.

" Yes sir. A local government chairman overseas the whole villages under him. He is next to a governor. You stand a lot to gain if I become chairman under your leadership sir." Said Papa Jalo in a loyal tone.

" Have you picked the form yet.? " Said Siin

"I planned on getting it at the end of todays work. It's quite Costly now. Some years back it used to be very cheap. But now it's very expensive thanks to the rival party who have raised the prices to reduce competition from poor people like us who pose a threat to their victory." Said Papa Jalo with an expression of sadness on his Face.

" Follow me to the Fula Safari, lets have lunch and strike a deal." Said Siin with a majestic touch to his humble tone.

Chapter 41.

Locating his family house had not been a problem to him. Many years ago when he had ran away from congo, he had ran away from all the pain and hatred from his so called family. All affinities had been abandoned in search of a better life. But the thought of his father had came to his mind. He felt a need to see how his father was doing as he was the only thing nearest to family , that he ever knew. Upon reaching his father's compound the first thing he noticed was the dilapidated nature of some aspects of the wall. The paintings were as old as how he had left them many years ago. There was a side of the fence which had collapsed and empty sacks of rice had been used to cover up the broad space just so to maintain privacy. The mango tree outside had shredded so much leave which seemed not to have been swept or burnt for a year or so. The poor condition of the house and it's surrounding , was quick to ring a bell of doom in the mind of Siin. He knew his father was a strict man who took the issue of personal Hygiene very seriously. He also knew that his father was a hard working man who would have sold his last shirt to rebuild his wall, cause he held in high esteem, his reputation as a Chief.

" My dad has fallen. " Said Siin , in a sad whisper to himself.

He reached for the rickety gate of the compound and knocked on the door. But there was no answer at all . The silence was strange as his father's house used to be bubbling with people when he was still at Congo. Not wasting further time. He walked into the compound and engulfed in a serious discussion was his step mother and two of his half sisters who had all grown past the age of puberty. Upon seeing him, the three ladies went shut for a while as if they had seen a ghost. Perhaps it was the dark shares he wore that had frozen their sense of recognition. Thought Siin and gently took of his glass.

" Oh Goodness. Siin, you are alive." Said the younger sister and ran towards Siin , cementing him in her hug.

" I am alive Nadile, God has been merciful in my life. You have grown into a beautiful young woman." Said Siin as he held her warmly in his hands. Her mother and Sister quickly approached them to welcome their prodigal Son.

" My son . Is that really you. We all thought you were dead. " Said the Ummi who was the mother of the girls. Nadile and Zodwa.

" Mother I am alive. Where is my father. Where are all my brothers." As he let go of Nadile and knelt down to greet his step mother in a customary show of respect for eldeds.

" Our father is no longer with us. He fell sick shortly after the war and passed on. Our brothers were recruited into the army to fight the war. All six of them had failed to come back alive, they were the cause of our fathers death. Shewa and Ceranyi have all gotten married and stay in their husbands house. But they are not in this village any more." Said Nadile in a sober tone that resounded of Sadness.

" So my brothers are all dead. This is the saddest thing I have ever heard in my life. I wish I never came back at all." Said Siin and broke into tears. Even though they all left him lonely when he was a kid. They were still his family member and they never hated him. Everyone just choosed to avoid him so that they didn't contract a bad luck from him. The notion of loosing all his brothers made him sad. He had hoped to see them again and perhaps they could bond as brothers did.

" Do not cry Siin. They are heroes and are basking in heavenly peace as we speak." Said Ummee who was now very old but still as strong and witty as she was in her hay days.