Kiteng's Adventures

Traveling in a country bus in Africa is an experience not to be missed in life. Kiteng shares her journey.

Journey to the City continued

It was dark as we left the house and began the 3 hours walk to the Sokotit Trading Centre. I stayed close to Mama pulling my worn out sweater close around me to keep out the cold wind. I was excited to be going to live in the city, and also sad to be leaving everything that was familiar to me. The excitement was greater though as we left home. I had never been outside at this time and I held onto Uncle Tilakit’s hand tightly feeling safe because it was so big. Grandma had insisted that he come with us to keep us safe on the long walk and wait until the bus left. I opened my small bag of groundnuts that Grandma had given me and we munched on them as we walked away from home. They tasted good but dry, making me thirsty. Mama gave me some fresh banana juice that she had prepared for the journey. The night was quiet except for the loud crunching of groundnuts. When we reached the corner, I stopped and looked back and took a deep breath, taking in all the familiar smells that I was leaving behind.

“Come on Kiteng, we need to get to Sokotit before sunrise, the bus leaves soon after sunrise,” Mama’s eyes shone brightly in the dim light.

My feet were sore and my legs tired when we finally arrived at Sokotit Trading Centre. The sun was just beginning to rise and the colours in the ski were beautiful. It had been a long journey across a fast moving river in a canoe that smelt of rotting fish, and a trek at the edge of a thick forest. There was a short cut through the forest, but Mama said it was not safe. I was glad that we had not taken the short cut. I had heard many scary stories about this forest.
Sokotit Trading Centre had three shops and a tearoom and it was the place where everyone going to the city went to catch the bus.

There was the bus parked next to the tearoom and people had already begun boarding. Mama hurried into the tearoom and bought our tickets from the driver. As we entered the bus I thought everyone could hear the loud thumping of my heart beat. This was my first bus ride. I had been to Sokotit once before with Uncle Tilakit when we escorted Mama on her last visit. The bus was very big and the seats looked soft and comfortable. That time I had stood by the side and waved to Mama. Now it was only Uncle Tilakit who would stand on the side and I would be with Mama in the bus waving to him. I smiled to myself feeling very happy that Mama had decided to take me to the city with her. We chose seats near the back, with me at the window so I could see the different places that we passed through. I made myself comfortable and waited for the bus to fill up and begin the journey.

Finally, the engine started and people began pushing to make their way into the bus with all sorts of luggage. Two large women pushed and shoved, making their way right to the back of the bus. They were carrying large baskets of dried fish. I was glad that I was sitting by the window.

The bus slowly pulled out onto the road at last we were on our way. I looked outside and waved to Uncle Tilakit who had a great big grin on his face, almost as if he was happy to see us go. I wiped a tear from my eyes, I was really moving to the city, I thought. It was actually happening. Mama put her arms around me pulling me against her chest.

“You are going to love living in the city, Kiteng,” she said softly. “This is our chance to be together after all this time.”

“I know, Mama, but I am going to miss being with Grandma and my friends,” I whispered. “May be it would be better for us to stay in Mene. We could just visit the folks in the city and come back.”

“Don’t worry sweetheart, you will love the city. We shall do so many fun things together and you will go to a big city school. Isn’t it all so exciting?”

“Yes!” I said my spirit lifting as I wandered what all those fun things we were going to do would be.

It was a bumpy and dusty journey with so many stops and people kept getting in at each new stop. At one stop I was asked to stand up so that a grown up, an important person from the trading centre we had just stopped at, could sit down. I was relieved when Mama refused, but she compromised by squeezing into my seat with me so that the important man could have her seat. It was almost midday now and the sun was very hot. The bus was extremely full although it continued to stop to pick up people. My excitement had all gone and I was feeling very tried, uncomfortable and very hungry. We had eaten up all the roasted groundnuts and Mama gave me the last of the banana juice then I rested my head back on her breast and closed my eyes.
I must have dosed off, because Mama was shaking me and saying we had arrived. The bus was still moving and when I looked outside, I could saw tall buildings, nice big brick houses, people walking around on the side of the road, and cars moving along the smooth roads. As I watched the city people getting on with their lives, I wondered if I would ever fit in.

The bus was slowing down and turning into the bus station. Our journey was almost over! My excitement had returned and I couldn’t wait to get off the bus. As soon as it stopped people began pushing each other trying to get out.

“It would be best for us to wait until most people have left, Kiteng,” Mama said when I attempted to stand up.

I settled back by the window and watched people collecting their luggage from the bus conductor. There were people boarding the bus next to ours. Its’ engine was running and there was a lot of shoving and pushing just as I had seen at Sokotit. It was comforting, to know that the city people were no different from us at least when it came to boarding a bus. At last Mama said we could get off the bus and she led the way carrying our belongings. I breathed deeply taking in the city area for the first time. Mama took my hand and we walked out of the bus station into the city.