Choices & Dilemnas

As the sun rose in the east it illuminated the village chasing away the coldness of the night and the dew on the straw-colored grass glistened in the sunlight.

Madlenkosi slowly stretched as the warm sun rays peered through the spaces of his room.

Upon waking he remembered that the village children would be yet again learning how to make bows and spears as well as how to use them.

Due to the trauma, Madlenkosi was more mature than the other village children. This made him take the things he was taught more seriously. He had been often praised for how well he crafted and used the weapons by the adults due to his learning speed and comprehensive abilities.

...

Madlenkosi got up and cleaned himself to get ready for the exciting day ahead. Soon it was time for the hunters to share their knowledge with the youths and children of the village.

He gathered in a group with a few children and noticed he saw four friends of his that he made since he got to Nyala. Akwesi was a tall dark-skinned boy with pearly white teeth and a very low haircut, he was always making jokes and having fun. Akosua was Akwesi's twin sister who was quite similar to him in looks as well as personality. Abena was a small village girl with a round face and cute features who normally was quite shy. Kwaku was the last of the bunch and he was different from the other children being that he was used to doing difficult and dangerous jobs. Similar to Madlenkosi, Kwaku was also an orphan. Kwaku normally worked these types of jobs with his older brother whom he helped mine for gold in Abidjan.

It was a dangerous job going down into the mines but the pay was worth it.  Every small piece of gold they found, they could make around ten dollars which could help them get quite a few things to take home so they may eat.

The four shouted to Madlenkosi to attract his attention as they grouped up to talk about what they may learn from the hunters and elders today.

As they were walking up the dusty road, the heat from the morning sunshine came down upon them. They soon came to see a clearing under some trees where the hunters usually stayed for shade.

They greeted them and routinely sat down on the dried grass where the boys were taught how to make traps and woven ropes while the girls were taught how to make woven baskets.

Madlenkosi paid attention to both skills as he tried learning all that he could. He knew he may need to know this information to use later if he wanted to sell these in the market.

"Madlenkosi, how is your Aljada?" One of the older hunters said.

"She is still doing her best" Madlenkosi replied with a sigh.

"You must take care of her, make enough money from the market so she can get her medication, she isn't as well as she lets on.." another elder said.

"But I don't get enough from the market to get her medicine...it's barely enough for us to eat...." Kosi thought to himself.

...

As the day slowly came to an end Madlenkosi packed up the things he made and placed them on his back. He looked up at the sky and muttered to himself "How am I to make more money?".

Kwaku was nearby as he heard Kosi's mutterings and called Kosi to the side.

"Kosi, Kosi" He whispered.

"I heard you said you wanted to make more money," He said in a hushed tone while looking around to see if anyone saw them.

"Kwaku, I'd like to make more but...I just don't know what to do. The market gives barely anything, we get enough to eat but not enough for my Aljada's medicine..." Madlenkosi said while being quite distraught. His Aljada took him in when he had no one and he felt like he wasn't doing enough to take care of her.

"Kosi, I can help you make more money. You can come with me and my brother to the mine. Kosi you're strong, stronger than the rest of us, you'd find lots of gold!" Kwaku persuaded.

"Don't people die in those caves Kwaku?" He said.

"That hasn't happened in a long time Kosi, I've gone in the cave many times and I'm still here, you just fill the bucket and send it out to get washed, easy-peasy," Kwaku said. " Just meet me by the Baobab tree tomorrow morning and I'll take you, think of your Aljada..."

Madlenkosi agreed reluctantly " Okay, Okay, fine. I'll meet you tomorrow."

What Madlenkosi didn't realize is that this decision would affect the rest of his life as he knew it.