ThE GIRL WITH DREAMS

The sun rose over Ndongo Village . It’s rays spreading on the red clay soil . c***s crowing , goats bleating, birds chirping , tress dancing in the rhythm of the gentle breeze. Women pounding cassava, children playing, Men , sharpening their cutlasses . This was a village where women’s voices were silenced . But there ,was Brenda Eposi . A twenty four years old lady , who was bold and courageous. Brenda , never let any man decide her fate . She always said to herself “ I am different .” EPISODE ONE: “THE GIRL AND THE RIVER .” Brenda walked down the road with a pot of water on her head . Drowning in her own thoughts. “Brenda ,please slow down ,” her sister Anne said ,as she tried walking in her pace . “ you know we need to hurry up , Mama is waiting ,” Brenda replied . As the two girls walked towards a bending road leading to Ndongo River , they stopped . The river which use shine bright , flow endlessly , where women washed clothes , children swam , and stories were being told . But today the river seemed to be drowning in our world . “Hah ,” Brenda exclaimed , as she releases a sigh of pain . “ Even the rivers now drown in our world ,” Brenda said. “ what is drowning ?” Anne asked . Brenda still drowned in her thought, didn’t utter another word till they reached home . “What took you girls so long ?,” Mama Alice ( Brenda and Anne’s mother) asked . “Mama good evening ,”the girls greeted , while putting down their pots of water . Scene 1 :THE MARKET PLACE Brenda woke up very early as she had to set off for the market to sell . She worked everyday in the market selling her Cassava bread , with her best friend Tasha , who sells vegetables and gossips at once . “ Did you hear, that Patrick , Chiefs Obi,s son came back from the city yesterday ?,” Tasha asked in a low tone , as she leaned close to her friend . “ And so ?,”Brenda said with her eyes focused on her bread . “ He said he is looking for a woman of substance to marry and he mentioned you ,” Tasha added . “ A woman of substance that would , clean , wash , cook and smile only when asked to , God forbid ,” Brenda said - as she spat on the grown as if swearing . “ lower your voice before someone hears you , remember the trees have eyes and ears ,” Tasha whispered softly . The two girls looked at each other and burst in to laughter. This act drew attention from nearby women . In Ndongo village , too much laughter from unmarried women was considered suspicious . Brenda noticed the looks and lowered her voice “ finny , isn’t it ? Men can boast , shout , and laugh anyhow, but still considered brave and strong , but a woman who laughs freely is considered trouble .” Tasha shrugged “ then maybe it’s time we become trouble .” SCENE TWO : “THE MEETING,” Later that week , the old school building , hosted a rare event- a women’s gathering, led by Mrs.Odili , an activist from the nearby town . The villagers came hesitantly , curious to see a woman who spoke boldly in public . Mrs.Odilis voice , filled the dusty room . “ My sisters, you are the hands that built this village , but you are treated as shadows.” That must change . Education is not rebellion . Knowledge is power and power builds peace .” Brenda , say in the back , listening , her heart pounding with recognition when the talk ended she approached the speaker . “ Madam ,” she asked softly “How do fight what everyone says cannot be changed ?” Mrs Odili smiled calmly “ you don’t fight people child , you fight ideas with better ones .” Her words clung to Brenda’s mind ,like morning dew on grass . SCENE THREE : “THE FIRST LESSON “ A week later , under a mango tree by the river ,Brenda , gathered her sister and two other girls , with a handful of tattered books. “ Today ,” she said “ we start with words .” “ words can take you further than any marriage can .” The girls giggled nervously, tracing letters In the sand . Anne looked up “ what if men find out ?” Brenda smiled “ then we will teach them too .” Day after day , the group grew .young girls , market women, even one shy widow joined . They read , laughed and learned in whispers. But whispers in Ndongo always find ears. SCENE FOUR : “THE CHIEFS SUMMON “ One after , men arrived at Brenda’s house “ The Chief wants to see you .” One said curtly . At the Chiefs compound , Elders say in a semicircle like judges of fate .Chief Obi , tall and dignified stared at her sternly . “Brenda Eposi “ he began “ we hear you are teaching girls , to question their place and to act like men , is it true ?” Brenda’s heart pounded “ I am teaching them to read , to know themselves .” An elder snorts “ A woman who knows herself , forgets to obey .” Brenda looked at him In the eye “ A woman who knows herself, obeys truth .” Gasp rippled through the council , the chiefs face darkened . “ be careful Brenda , a young tree that grows to high will be cut down .” Brenda bowed , “ then , may it grow back stronger .” SCENE FIVE : “ THE WHISPER “ That night , the village hummed with gossip . Some praised her courage ; others whispered that , she had brought shame . Mama Eposi , sat by the fire , silent . “Mama ,” Brenda said quietly “ I only want to help .” Her mother sighed “ help , can become rebellion if men feel small . Be wise my daughter.” Brenda looked at the flames “ wisdom , without courage is just fear , mama .” Outside , the wind rustled through the palm leaves , carrying her words into the night . EPISODE TWO : “THE FIRE BENEAT THE SILENCE “ The harmattan wind swept through Ndongo village,carrying dust and tension in equal measures .Brenda’s name was on every tongue- spoken with admiration by women , with suspicion by men .The mango tree by the river had become more than a classroom ; it was a quiet revolution beneath the sun . Each morning , girls gathered with slates and tattered pages .Some came barefoot, others with babies on their backs. They read haltingly,stumbled over words ,then laughed together when Brenda clapped her hands and said , “ Mistakes means you are learning . Silence means you have surrendered.” That line began to spread through the village , Iike a prayer . SCENE ONE : “RUMORS AND SHADOWS .” At the market , Brenda noticed fewer smiles . Men stopped greeting her . Women lowered their voices when she passed . One afternoon, as she arranged her cassava bread ,Tasha leaned close . “ Brenda , the elders are angry ,” she whispered. “ they say you are poisoning the women with city ideas .” Brenda frowned “ since when is learning poison ?” Tasha sighed “ since men started coughing from it .” SCENE THREE - The Gathering Twilight The sun was sinking behind the palm trees , painting the village in bruised colors of evening. Smoke curled lazily from kitchen fires , and the distant pounding of fufu echoed between the huts . Brenda walked home slowly , her school books pressed tightly against her chest . Every whisper that floated behind her back seemed heavier. Than the dust rising around her feet . Since the confrontation at the market , rumors had spread like dry season fire . They said Brenda Eposi wanted to turn the daughters of Ndongo village into men ; they said she was cursed with restless tongue of city women. When she reached her compound , her mother , Mama Lendi, was sitting by the cooking fire , slicing plantains. The lines on her face had deepened in the past in the past few weeks-lines of worry , of love , of confusion. “Brenda ,” she began softly , not looking g up . “ the elders came today . They say you have been gathering girls under the mango tree again.” Brenda’s lips tightened. “ we only read together, Mama . I am helping them with words and numbers . Is that a crime now ?” Mama Eposi sighed . “ you know this village , my child . People don’t understand such things easily . They fear what they don’t know .” Brenda knelt beside her mother , her voice trembling but firm . “ Then someone has to teach them not to fear , mama . We can’t remain silent for ever.” Mama Lendi looked at her daughter -the determined light in her daughter’s eyes reminded her of Brenda’s late father , who had once dreamed of sending her to the city to learn. She touched Brenda’s cheeks gently , “ Just be careful, my daughter , fire can cook food , but it can also burn the one who tends it .” Brenda smiled faintly. “ then I will cook carefully, Mama .” SCENE FOURE : THE COUNCILS VERDICT The next morning, the air in the village square was heavy with unease . Word had spread that the council of elders had summoned Brenda. Children ran barefoot across the compound , carrying gossip like palm wine ; women whispered as they pounded cassava . When Brenda arrived, heads turned , eyes fixed on her . Her heart drummed inside her chest , but she walked tall , her school uniform ironed , her books tucked beneath her arm . Chief Eyong , the oldest man in the village, cleared his throat . “ Brenda Eposi ,” he said in a voice deep as thunder . “ we have heard troubling things.they say you defy the customs of our people. You speak of schools and city ideas that will turn our daughters against their husbands. Is this true ?” Brenda swallowed . “ I only speak of knowledge, not rebellion. Education will not destroy our customs; it will strengthen them . A wise woman raises wise children. A learned wife supports her husband better.” Murmur rippled through the crowd . One of the elders , a stern man named Pa Ako , spat on the ground . “A woman’s wisdom lies in her kitchen , not in school books . Our ways have kept this village safe for generations.” Brenda met his gaze . “ And yet , Pa Ako , how many of our daughters die in childbirth because they cannot read what the nurse writes ? How many are cheated at the market because they cannot count their money ? Is that safety ?” The silence that followed was sharp . Even the wind seemed to pause.