I howled with frustration. We
were lost amid the immense size of the filthy foul slum that we lived in. And
worst still grey clouds told me that rain was about to bucket down again soon.
The air was moist and humid, and the clouds were covering the sun so there was no
telling what time of day. I guessed it was 5:30.
My petite sister was shrinking
into a small mouse and she squeaked looking up at me with her big brown eyes
like she was pleading me to take her home or out of this rubbish tip we call
home.
“Where are we brother? I want
to go home!” The last couple of words her voice was trembling and her eyes were
glassy and panic stricken. I was cold without a top on to cover my bare body
where my ribs poked out the sides. I waded through the water which was up to my
knees but it was even worse for my tiny sister, it was up to her chest, so I
called to her in a soft but frail voice to hop on my back.
I began to hobble through the
water but I felt a sharp metallic pointy tip penetrate my spongy flesh and felt
it slide into the cut making the wound expand bigger and bigger. I yelped out
in pain and looked down at my foot. I pulled out the piece of metal and
inspected the damage. It had left a deep open gash across the sole of my bare
foot with blood oozing out of it. The pain was excruciating. “What’s happened?”
my sister whispered so quietly I had to strain to hear her anxious voice.
I replied calmly, “Nothing my
sister you don’t need to be concerned. We have to get out of here before night
takes over the sky or we could be stuck in this labyrinth forever.” “Do you
remember which way our home is brother?” she managed to say between sobs.
“Of course I do!” I lied to
comfort her. The truth was I had no clue! All the dirty streets looked and
smelled the same, I hadn’t realized it before but the smell was unbearable!
Rotting meat pollution our own human waste, sucked it up through my nostrils
and gagged as it wafted through my nose.
There was a loud rumble and my
stomach grunted and told me it was hungry, my sister must have heard it because
she cried, “Brother what are we supposed to eat? We can’t scavenge around like
dogs begging for food can we?” No we couldn’t I thought, these people will need
to satisfy their own bellies that is if they have any food for themselves at
all. “I don’t know what we’re going to do this far away from home little sister
but I may be able to get some money by doing some small jobs, stay here while I
get some money don’t leave my sight or I may never find you again.”
“Yes, I’ll stay put.”
Just as the last words fell
out of her mouth, there was a crack of iridescent light gleamed in the inky sky
where fumes were as thick as fog, and rain started to plummet and splash onto the
already vast bucket of water.
“Get under cover!” I shrieked.
And we dove under shelter as the rain started to drench mine and my sister’s
already tattered clothes. We then dozed off to the loud rhythm of the rain
pitter-pattering above our heads and the wind swirling and moaning around us.
I woke with a shudder and an
icy chill ran up my spine. Something didn’t feel right, my eyes were showing me
colourful shapes dancing in thin air. I wobbled my way through the water and
splashed water on my dirty face to wake my half asleep self. I blinked and
looked around. I jumped and a pang slammed into my chest and my heart started
thumping so hard I could feel blood pulsing through my body. Where was Lakita?
I searched around, my eyes darting left right, left right but I couldn’t see
her mousey face anywhere. I started to shake and I felt dizzy until I heard a
soft shrill voice say, “I got a loaf of bread!” I sighed with relief and my
muscles relaxed and I spun round.
“Where were you? I was looking
everywhere for you. We’d better start finding our way home, if we can.”
“I told you I found some bread
so are you going to eat it or not?” She passed me the bread in her delicate
hands and I sank my teeth into the crusty bland bread and devoured it hungrily
like a beast. It didn’t satisfy my gnawing feeling in the pit of my empty stomach
but it would keep me going. We trudged along through the dank wet streets, the
water had now evaporated that the sun had come out of its hiding place behind
the clouds and it was blaring upon the earth. It felt like it was eating away at
my flesh on my bare back and drinking every water molecule from my pink skin.
After hours of walking I
finally called to my sister, “You can rest now.” No soon as my words reached
her ears she slumped to the ground.
We sat there for what seemed
like years, it felt like my life was ending, how long had we been lost? I had
no idea but as the minutes ticked by I began to drift off once again. I tried
to keep my eyes open but they felt like metal weights and before long my head
lolled forwards so my chin rested on my dark skinned chest and I drifted off to
the dreams inside my head.
I woke to a squeal and a
stench swarmed around my head it was a breath of an animal panting and a slimy
tongue licked my grimy face and slobber was dripping down my cheeks. I opened
my eyes and a bright light stung them. My eyes adjusted to the light and I
began to see a familiar although blurry sight, my dog! I reached for him and
clung to his shaggy brown fur as he bounded and barked hysterically. Suddenly I
heard a gleeful shriek come from where my sister was dancing about with
happiness. “Brother it’s our dog he’s come for us!” I jumped up and I staggered
because my legs were like jelly and my head spun with giddiness.
We started to chase our dog
all the way through the streets. My feet were still sore from the cut but it
had now sealed closed with gluey blood. We ran then through the streets. My
knees were stiff and they creaked but finally, my eyes found a familiar sight,
home!
