chapter two

The cock crowed in the early hours of the morning, indicating the time to wake up. Zuba's mother woke up and began to prepare food to carry to the field. When Zuba awoke, she washed her face and brushed her teeth using her toothbrush with salt and water in place of toothpaste, their life was very different. She combed her beautiful long black thick afro hair as well. Her voluminous hair always stood out, it was her crown.

" Good morning mum" she greeted her mother

" Good morning my sunshine" her mother replied with a wide dazzling smile on her beautiful face. She always called her sunshine because Zuba means SUN.

It was still very dark, with lanterns as their source of light and you could hardly see from afar. Zuba made her way into the mud hut which was used as the kitchen. Her mother was sitting next to the fire while rubbing her arms due to the coldness.

" Is there any food for the day?" she asked her mum

"Yes we do. We'll have sample mixed with cow beans but with sugar this time." she answered with a big smile on her face.

" Are we selling any vegetables today?" she asked expectantly. She loved it when they sold their crops and only then could they have three meals a day and other groceries to use.

"Your father said an important visitor from the city will be coming." she uttered while adding more firewood to the fire.

"Who would that be?" Zuba decided to ask.

"We have never met him before, only your father knows him." She answered lowly.

"Mum, time will come when thing will become better for us. I have hope that we will rise." she dreamily told her mother

" How Zuba? Your father and I could not even take you to school. Employers only want highly educated employees."

" Don't lose hope just like my name, am the sun that shines high up in the sky emitting heat showing its power. I prefer the moon to the sun because when there is darkness, the moon defeats it all but all the same I love my name." she said and burst into laughter.

By the time it was six am, Zuba and Taonga made their way to the field. They were told to water the crops while their parents and youngest sibling remained to clean their humble home. They had a big portion of tomatoes, carrots, green pepper, egg plants, cabbages, rape, spinach and maize they had recently planted.

" Taonga!" Zuba called out while they were watering.

" Yes Zuba" she replied in a low tone and continued with her watering.

"Why do you look so low today?" she asked earning a teary eyed face from her.

" I have every reason to be sad, we do not have food like normal people. Why does every problem follow us ? Maybe we have the word problem written on our foreheads that they attract other problems like a magnet." she complained with tears flowing on her beautiful face. Taonga was very beautiful like her sister and would make a fine woman. Zuba hugged her young sister tightly while wiping her tears from her cheeks.

" Beautiful girls like you don't cry, they put a smile on their face because they look ugly when they cry." With that been said, Taonga burst into fits of laughter.

" Now that's my girl, you were born to smile."

Coming to think of it, these two were alike in so many ways. They had the same hair color only that Taonga's hair was shorter, same smile, same warm brown eyes and were both quiet.

They were watering the last portion of carrots when Meshach came sprinting the vast field. Zuba and Taonga immediately dropped their watering cans assuming something had happened to their parents.

" Zuba!" he called breathlessly.

She looked at him with wide eyes she nodded her head for him to continue as he had all her attention.

" Someone " he uttered while pointing in the direction of their house with his hands on his knees while heaving.

" Is mum and dad okay? Did something happen to them?" she asked in a very concerned manner with a little panic in her voice but you couldn't tell if you didn't get to know her . She always carried herself in a calm manner.

" No they are fine. We have a visitor at home. He has one of those beautiful cars we see by the road ."

" Is he someone we know?" she asked with a mystified expression.

"No , he's an albino" he replied causing the two sisters to look at each other with raised eyebrows and frowns on their faces laced with confusion.

" And?" This time Taonga was the one who asked.

" Father sent me to call you."

" Tell father we are on our way, we just want to finish up with the last portion and we'll be their in no time."

Meshach sprinted back to their house and in no time, he was out of their sight.

" Zuba let's hurry up, you know father doesn't like to wait."

"Am fully aware of that ." she said while running to fetch more water from the stream.

As they were approaching the house, they could hear their father's laughter accompanied by a voice that sounded very foreign to them. Even the accent was very different from theirs. Immediately they came into view, their father decided to acknowledge their presence.

" Finally, my princesses decided to grace us with their presence." their father said while their mother stayed quiet.

They couldn't make out the man's face as he had his back towards them and was wearing a black crisp ironed suit as he sat on the wooden chair. Taonga was the first to kneel before him with her arm stretched out as this was said to be respectful towards their elders.

" Good morning sir" she greeted and he stretched out his arm to return the handshake.

" Good morning, how are you?" he asked to which she replied saying she was fine.

" That is my second child, Taonga." The man nodded his head. She stood up and walked back to where Zuba was standing.

Zuba walked gracefully and knelt down just like her sister had done. The moment she lifted her head to look at the man, her breath got caught in her throat. He was handsome with an unexplainable beauty. He was a white man with tanned skin not as Meshach had put it. She hesitantly lifted her shaking hand for a handshake.

" Good morning sir?" she greeted which came out more of a question.

He shook her hand without letting go. He seemed to be studying her intently. Her unprecedented beauty so stunned him that he could not take his eyes off her. He looked at her and she stared back at him. In that moment , it seemed they were the only ones existing and the tension could be felt strongly. They seemed to be communicating with their eyes even though there was nothing been said.

Zuba cleared her throat to get his attention and when it registered in his mind, he let go and cleared his throat as well before responding.

"Good morning " he replied after recomposing himself and putting on a stoic face .

" This is my first child, Zuba and Zuba this is John, Mr William's son."

" Nice to meet you sir." She uttered with a small smile hiding her nervousness.

" Likewise , the famous black 'goddess' of this land."