Once upon a time, in a small village amidst the winding hills of Bukembe, lived a 12-year-old girl, Nana. She had a deep love for animals, especially her pet named Sheyi.
Sheyi was no ordinary cat; a best friend and a soothing presence in her life. The cat walked with an adorable attitude, had a majestic posture and was ever wagging its tail as if to state “ wayi bona kumukhinga nga kuno”.
One sunny morning, Nana woke up to find Sheyi missing. Panic set in as she realised that her beloved companion might have run away during the cold night. Nana’s heart sank, and tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing Sheyi, her forever friend.
In the whole village of Bukembe, Nana’s father, Papa hated Sheyi passionately; he spat with disdain whenever he would see him creep back home after an escapade. Papa once threatened to smack Sheyi against the wall after finding it licking lips after devouring pieces of chicken reserved for visitors.
Where is Sheyi? Could Papa have finally chased it away? Did her jealous friend take her? Did the once stray kitten finally reunite with his parents in the forest? Questions streamed through Nana’s like a freight train. “Kano kamakhua kamatinyu ” She exclaimed.
Determined to find Sheyi, Nana embarked on an adventure to track him down. By that act, she risked the wrath of her no nonsense mother, a towering figure, devoted christian and an avid user of the cane whenever she needed to discipline a disobedient child. Word is, echo from the crack of her whips could be heard in the neighboring homesteads and the wails of the recipients in the neighboring village.
The search started by retracing Sheyi’s favourite spots, loudly calling out his name and hoping for the best. She searched in every nook and cranny, asking everyone who cared if they had seen Sheyi. Hours turned into days, and Nana’s hope began to fade. One day, unexpected help arrived.
A local boy named Kofi, who admired Nana’s adventurous spirit, offered to join her in the search for Sheyi. Kofi was known for his bravery, making him perfect for this quest. With newfound zeal, the two friends set out together, exploring the village surroundings.
As Nana and Kofi followed leads and searched high and low, they discovered that they were not the only ones looking for Sheyi. A girl named Shiyingwa, who had always been envious of Nana’s popularity, secretly desired Sheyi as her own pet. She had seen Nana’s despair and decided to be the first to find Sheyi.
After days of searching, Nana and Kofi stumbled upon a hidden trail in the forest that led to an old abandoned house. As they cautiously entered, they heard a faint ‘meow’ coming from a locked room. Their hearts raced with anticipation as they unlocked the door and found Sheyi anxiously waiting inside.
Overwhelmed with joy, Nana and Kofi celebrated the successful reunion with Sheyi. They didn’t realize that Shiyingwa had secretly arrived moments earlier, hidden behind the bushes. Consumed by envy, she couldn’t handle seeing Nana’s happiness. She confronted them, confessing her intentions and apologizing for her actions.
Nana, although hurt by Shiyingwa’s deed, understood the jealousy. She forgave her and reminded her of the importance of honesty and genuine friendship. Shiyingwa, truly remorseful, promised to change her ways, and the three of them walked back to the village as friends.
News of Sheyi’s safe return spread quickly throughout the village, and Nana’s courage and unwavering determination became legendary. Nana and Shiyingwa slowly built genuine friendship, while Kofi remained loyal to Nana and a protector of all animals in the village.
Nana realized that this adventure had taught her valuable lessons about trust, friendship, and not letting jealousy consume her. With Sheyi by her side and her new friendships intact, Nana understood the power of love and the joy that comes from embracing compassion and forgiveness.
The following day Nana, woke up to find Sheyi missing again. The hustle of looking for her friend was exhausting. It felt like to much too soon.
At that point that she woke up to the beautiful rays of the sun radiating a bright new day.
It was all a dream. Her best friend was alive, sitting adorably by her side.
In a tight embrace the friendship was re-affirmed with Sheyi wagging his tail as if to say “wayi bona kumukhinga nga kuno”.
Story by Brian Anyanzwa
Leave a Reply