Pigment (7 page)

15

Lucidity

July 27

Another clear hot day, Aliya is sitting with Bashima near the fance and is showing her flash cards at different distances, testing her vision. She’s testing her theory that Bashima’s week eyesight is why she isn’t participating in class. She holds up the W card. “Come on, Bashima. You know this letter. I know you do.”

Bashima makes her best guess, “N?”

“Try this one.” Aliya steps closer and flips to the Z card.

“X?”

Aliya steps yet closer and turns to the A card.

“N?”

Aliya goes to her. She takes off her glasses and puts them on Bashima. Bashima can’t believe this gift of glasses and sight. “Now.” Aliya holds the C card.

“C.”

The T card.

“T.”

“Very good!”

Bashima smiles and bounces, proud of getting the right answer and for being able to see. She tries to give the glasses back to her, but Aliya won’t take them. Bashima insists.

Aliya leads Bashima into her hut with her. From her bag, she fishes out an old pair of glasses, taped together at the bridge but usable and puts them on.

“You help see.” Bashima says, pointing to her heart, in broken English.

Aliya takes a moment to translate her words into English,
You help me see.
She responds without hesitation, “Kunisaidia kuona zaidi. You help me see more.”

Bashima smiles and hugs her.

As they go back out to the yard, both sporting their glasses, Bashima sees a suspicious man on the other side of the gate, some distance out. He is leering threateningly at them. She cowers behind Aliya and eventually flees into her hut.

Aliya stares at him, pushing up the glasses that slid down her nose to better see.

He is dark and staring wide-eyed at her, a hunter.

“Kuondoka! Leave! Kunisaidia kuona. Get out of here!” She yells at him.

Jengo comes from the other side of the fence with his rifle drawn. He puts himself between them as he approaches the hunter. The hunter walks away slowly, still staring at Aliya, who won’t take her eyes off him. Jengo won’t either.

Once he is out of sight, Jengo turns to see that Aliya is okay. “I will watch for him.”

She wants to thank him, but can’t find her voice. She was moving with protective adrenaline and anger, but now that the hunter is gone, fear stole her voice. She musters a slight nod.

Delila and another volunteer come running around the corner to see what is going on. No words need explain. Delila can tell by Jengo’s defensive stance, what transpired. It’s not the first time.  This is why Jengo and the other guards are armed.

Aliya goes to Bashima. She finds her in a ball in the corner of the sleeping quarters. The glasses are on the floor, clearly thrown there. Aliya picks them up and hands them to her, but she won’t accept them. “I see bad. No want.”

Aliya is amazed. This poor child thinks the glasses made the hunter appear. She argues with her. “No, Bashima, the glasses help keep you safe. You couldn’t have seen that man so far away without them. He could have gotten much closer to you. Ni vizuri kuona -- It’s good to see. Tafadhali -- Please, Bashima.”

This argument persuades Bashima and she puts them back on.

That man, fathered her and wanted to end her. Aliya wonders if a similar fate would not also be hers were she born to it here rather than in the States.

#

Later in the school hut, while the children are out in the yard at recess, Aliya is addressing Delila and Kennen. “What do you mean there is nothing we can do? That hunter is out there terrifying her. We should go to the police!”

Kennen utters words that show his realistic side, “It’s the same story every time. They won’t do anything.” He explains, “They don’t have any evidence.”

“How about her missing limbs? How about the graveyard out back? How long before he comes in and takes the rest of her? Or all of us?” Aliya’s exhaustion is clear as she sways with dizziness.

Delila intercedes, “Aliya, sit.”

Kennen leads her to a chair. “You need rest. You’re absolutely exhausted, emotionally and physically. You can’t keep...”

“What else can I do?”

Delila is at her wit’s end, “You haven’t slept since you got here. Have you? You are going to burn out and then what good will you be to anyone?”

“We have to do more!” her plead more directed at Kennen.

Who responds, “We are doing everything we can.”

“Are we?” The tape holding her glasses together loses its grip and her glasses fall off onto the floor.

“Aliya, you should go with Kennen to get supplies tomorrow. Take the weekend.”

Kennen picks up her glasses and examines them. “Go see your father’s friend. Didn’t he invite you to a party? ’Could use a little R&R me self.”

“I can’t go.” She tries to take her glasses back, but he swerves to examine them further.

Delila insists, “You can. You must. It is something we all feel when we leave here, even if we’re only going for a spell.”

Kennen, “We’re afraid there will be fewer of them here when we come back.”

Aliya resists, “I won’t go.”

Delila stomps her bare foot down hard on the dirt floor, “You are no good to them like this. You are no good to any of us, and yourself included. Go. Or I will fire you and you can pack your things and go home. Either way you are going. You decide for how long.”

Aliya grabs her glasses from Kennen and storms out of the room, heading for the children’s hut. She has to hold the lenses to her eyes to see clearly.

“Aliya.” She keeps walking. “Aliya wait,” he follows her. “Let me fix those for you.”

She is furious at the world and Kennen is closest. She abruptly turns to face him and his momentum is so great he walks into her.  He grabs her, trying to stop their fall, but instead they both go down and he manages to land under her and catch her. They are nose-to-nose. Their hearts race with adrenaline. But she doesn’t want to be close to anyone right now. She puts the glasses in his hand, picks herself up and slowly makes her way into the dark hut, with extra challenged sight in the dark.

#

Kennen goes to his toolkit in the van and rigs an adhesive and a piece of thin fabric from his bag to set the glasses. As it sets, he climbs to the roof of the van, his perch for stargazing keeping watch.

In time, almost all the camp is sound asleep but for the guards on watch. In the child quarters, Bashima is sleeping, holding Aliya’s hand. Aliya is lying next to her, wide-eyed. The world is so blurry, it's a wonder she bothers leaving her eyes open.

Kennen peers in the doorway. She closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep. He steps in quietly and places the mended glasses near her. She ignores him. He lingers for a moment, watching her, he almost says something but holds his tongue and steps back out. When he is gone, she takes the frames and sees they are mended. She doesn’t put them on, but rests them on the sill and closes her eyes, hugging Bashima close.

16

Dar es Salaam

July 5

Kennen’s had romantic dreams like this. He and Aliya driving on the road in Africa on a mission to make the world a better place.

The first time he set eyes on her at The National Organization for Albinism (NOAH) summer camp in the States three years ago, where he was a counselor, he knew. “She’s an angel.” He told his sister Fiona the moment he first described her out loud to anyone, “She’s a stunner. She’s got this iridescent skin and pale grey-green eyes. But it’s more than that. Like Ma’s always saying, ‘Looks only get you so far in life. Take it from me. I loved your Da with all my heart. Sure he was easy on the eyes with his soft curls and warm smile you got, but he had no idea about it. He worked hard and loved deeply.’ Aliya’s like that. She has a fierce passion underneath that glow.”

He’s mesmerized looking at her with the sun glistening down over the brim of her hat like a halo. She looks calmer now. He’s sure it was right to insist she get away from it all. She needed it. They hit a bigger bump than usual in the road and she opens her eyes as he steers them steady back in their lane, if you can call them lanes. She blindly glares at him. She hasn’t said a word since they got on the road. She hasn’t put her glasses on yet either, so he knows she’s still pissed at him and he’s very blurry to her. Okay, so she’s stubborn, he’ll give ya that. You’d think she were Irish for it.

He’s extra glad to have this time alone with her, without any third parties. Rhadi had shown up at the camp, making his moves. Kennen knows Aliya doesn’t look at him the same way, she can’t see how calculated Rhadi is. Oh, but maybe this time alone can turn that blushing gaze his way.

He can’t help but smile at her. She sneers and looks out her window. Her eyes are wide yet calm. A tear rolls down her cheek.

As they pass the Mukuyu tree, she puts her glasses on and settles into them to see it. He thinks he’ll have to thank that tree on the way back for spurring her to put her specks on.

Poor lad, doesn’t fall in love often, but when he falls, he falls completely.

There’s the old man sitting there per usual. Kennen wonders if he can see them. ‘Seems like he can the way he’s always looking out at people...Like he can see their before and after.

They park the van near the Mwanza airport and go to the entrance on foot.

#

This is a gentler flight than the last one Aliya was on, due in part to Kennen sitting next to her, and there being no paranoid superstitious people making a scene and refusing to fly with her. As they approach the landing strip, Aliya looks out the window and sees the bustling city below. Still too high to see the people yet, but she sees colors, movement, and feels the energy. For the first time she’s a little home sick for LA. Not because it’s LA, but for the excitement of a diverse lively populace. She was just getting used to the bush sounds the night brings at camp. She can’t remember the last time she heard sirens or saw a helicopter or could walk invisibly down a city street -- fewer people tend to notice you when there is so much other stimulus pulling their attention.

#

The International Trade Fair in Dar is one of the biggest annual events in Tanzania. It coincides with Saba Saba, which means Seven Seven for July 7
th
. It is the anniversary of Tanzania’s independence. Tanzania was ratified in 1961, so it is quite fresh in the minds and hearts of those who fought for freedom and, as such, is celebrated with relish and vigor.

The festival grounds are about a mile from the harbor, a convenient location making it easy for importers and exporters, and people of all colors and creeds from all over the world to get to. While most buying and selling is above-board, there are just as many under the table and in the shadows, as unfortunately happens with international events -- sex trade, slave trade, illegal endangered species, and even illegal potions and artifacts trades occur.

This and the thousands who attend and the media presence, make Dar the choice place at which Kuchuna will take action for the cause. But they have to do something big enough to draw that attention.

#

Kennen and Aliya try to check in at a low budget hotel, more like a hostel. They say they overbooked and it appears they’ve no record of Aliya’s reservation...seemingly impossible, since she was the one who booked both rooms, one for Kennen and one for herself. Why they’d have Kennen’s and not hers is mind-boggling. Is this yet another instance of prejudice?

“Well it looks like you’re on the street then?” He teases her. “Alright, you can bunk with me, head to toe like me and me cousins.”

She’d smile at his sweet joke if she weren’t so incensed about why her reservation is missing and she’s concerned about having to share a room with Kennen. How could that possibly work? She needs privacy. But what else could she do?

“Come on, Aliya. It’s not like we’ll spend much time in the room anyways. Dar awaits!”

They step into the hotel room. Kennen teases her more in a very prissy voice and tone, “I know what you’re thinking: in a situation like this there might be temptations. But I’ll have you know there’ll be no funny business. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me cause I’m sharing my room with you. I’m a respectable man and have my reputation to consider. I’ll sleep on the floor.” He accents the finale of his speech by landing a pillow from the bed on the hard floor.

Kennen spots the swimming pool out the window.

“Fancy a swim?”

“No, too much sun for me. You go ahead. I’m gonna write in my journal...as soon as I can find it.” She’s digging in her bag and not finding it. “I must have left it back at camp.”

Kennen finds a hotel pad and pen and hands it to her. “Will this do?”

“Yes, cheers.” she’s adopted his word.

“Don’t thank me. It’s better for all of us that you write it down...whatever it is ... rather than have it stuck running around on that hamster wheel in there.” He says pointing to her head. He knows her too well sometimes.

“See ya soon, dear.” He grabs his trunks and runs out the door.

Aliya shakes her head after him, then let’s out a long exhale. She looks at the time. It’s a relief he’s gone. She doesn’t have to explain that she has other obligations, or why she is leaving, or with whom she is going.

Rather than write in her makeshift journal as she said she would, she grabs the simple cotton bag she uses as a purse, her hat and sunglasses and ventures out to the street. Most passersby mistake or dismiss her as being white, still a drain, but nothing to the extent of what being an albino would incite.

She finds a street market Rhadi had directed her to and there buys a white tracksuit. She has tea at a café. She looks at all the city bustling around her and thinks of the Hollywood Farmers Market back home and the Santa Monica Promenade.  She takes her phone and dials Mom.

Tamika is just bringing groceries into the house, her hands full, she hears her phone ringing in her bag. She puts the bags on the steps on the porch. She can feel it’s Aliya. “Baby.” she answers.

“Hi Mama.”

“How are you, honey?”

“I’m fine, Mama. I miss you.”

“I miss you baby girl.”

Mama knows she’s not fine. She can hear it in her daughter’s low voice. She speaks of normal things to redirect what sounds like her daughter’s tears about to fall. “Well, it’s another beautiful day here. Reggie placed second doing the medley at his camp swim meet. Michael got that new truck for the business he’s been talking about and I’m getting ready to fix some chicken for dinner. Do you know I can’t find broccoli anywhere? I went to three stores. Some major recall happened. I got cauliflower.”

“Are you making your broccoli mash?”

“Broccoli mash with cauliflower...Cauliflower mash.” They chuckle together at the absurdity of it. “How are your kids?”

“Bashima is doing better. I gave her a pair of my glasses. They’ll do her more good and my old pair was just sitting in a bag. Oh, they are all wonderful, Mama. They inspire me every day. They are so resilient.

“Like you?”

“More than me. I’ve never had to be that strong. Being albino here is harder than there.”

“How so?” Aliya didn’t mean to worry her. She almost slipped and told her mother the bigger truth about where she is. Now she can hear the concern starting in her voice. “Oh, it’s just...they have so much less.” She deflects, “’Makes me appreciate all you gave me even more.”

“Well, now you are giving.”

“Because I can. Because of all you gave me.” Aliya is breaking down. She doesn’t want to melt into tears. If she starts, she won’t be able to stop. “I’ve got to go, Mama.”

“Honey, are you okay? You can come home any time you want. You know that.”

“Give Reggie a kiss for me. I love you.”

“I love you.”

Aliya hangs up the phone but she can feel that love resonate through space, she can feel it coursing in her veins, in her pulse. She stretches her face with the palms of her hands, swallows her tears, breathes, and takes the new calm.

#

Kennen, clean and dressed is tying his shoes when she returns. It’s a small space and they are close. He cleans up very well, even shaved the scraggly beard that was trying to grow in. Now that he’s all fresh-faced and smelling good, Aliya does a double take.

“There you are. I was beginning to worry.”

“Beginning?” She calls him out. She’s been feeling him worry about her since the day they met. She takes a moment, lured by the fresh smell of him. She gently touches his cheek and smiles. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

He leans in, a little unsure, but hopeful for more closeness, more of her touch. But he’s nervous, “Are you uh… Are you hungry?”

Aliya nods. She catches herself gazing at him too long. She leans in and kisses him softly on the lips. He can’t move his lips at first but then melts into a long gentle kiss. She pulls away.

“I’m…I’m going to grab a shower and get ready.”

“Sure.” His Irish shows in the pink rushing to his face. “Right. Well I’ll be out of your way...” I’m goin’ down the bar for one and give you some privacy. I figure we can grab something to eat. Sound good?”

“Meet you downstairs.” She closes the door behind him, brings her hand to her head, and pulls her hair for what she’s done.

She walks over to the bureau where Kennen set some sliced papaya for her and a flower.

There is a knock on the door. It’s the concierge with a note for her:

“Meet you in front of your hotel at 10pm tonight.      -Rhadi”

She hides the note in her makeshift journal under her pillow.

#

They step outside onto the busy street, full of life, then into a small warmly lit restaurant. As they settle into their mats, the server brings them warm cloths to wash their hands. Kennen opens a cloth. “Let me see your hands.”

“Why?”

“Just let me.”

She holds out her hands. He folds the cloth around them and gently wipes her palms and fingers. Her eyes close, her whole body relaxes in the warmth, into a lingering sensual moment. As the heat escapes, the cloth cools and she opens her eyes to Kennen looking at her lovingly.

“Kennen, we kissed.” She withdraws her hands to her lap.

Feeling her try to slip away into her shell, he makes light and flirts, “
You
kissed me. Then
we
kissed.”

“Yes, I did. I don’t know why I did. I’m telling you this because I don’t want to lead you on or hurt you.”

“Okay.”

“Kennen, I’m serious.”

“Okay. But you kissed me first. So, there’s that.”

“Kennen.”

“Aliya, you know how I feel about you. But I’m not a fool. I know you’re all screwed up in the head right now. You’re exhausted and believe it or not you’re human. Most people don’t treat you like you are half the time, including yourself, but you are. Anyways, I’m over the moon
you kissed me
, I’ve been praying for a kiss from you since I met you. And you did kiss me first. And that gives me hope that maybe someday, there may be something. That maybe somewhere deep inside, we are more than friends.”

Calling his bluff, Aliya raises a glass of wine, “To friends.”

Kennen raises his, “To friends with potential.”

They clink their glasses as the food arrives. Generous ugali, a traditional meal of white cornmeal and peanuts, served with meats, fruits and vegetables and a selection of dipping sauces, they eat with their hands.

“Friendship with … what did you say?”

He repeats, “Friends with Potent…” Before he can finish, she stuffs food in his mouth.

She’s pushing drinks on him, hoping he’ll get tired and pass out, but he’s got that Irish hollow leg and he’s getting rowdier instead of more subdued.

#

They stroll back to the room. As decided earlier, he’ll sleep on the floor. He’s playfully frustrated. She’s got to shake him. He’d try to come along if he knew where she was going. After an hour, he finally falls asleep and she sneaks out.