Muna

Kabisa and Ghali Muna escorted the winner of the overall competition into Ghali’s office in her greenhouse. Two leather couches facing each other in a large space with associate gardeners busy working but attentive to Grandma’s needs, guidance, and personal advice. About 10 associates from ages of 10 to 80 worked happily as Kabisa and Ghali sat on one couch. Enye a seasoned garden worker from a village about 100 miles south of Kemet sat across from Kabisa after shaking hands. Enye is the father of Salli a 10 year old girl with bright eyes and a smile that melted her father’s heart every time. Her mother Nyongeza was from the same village as Ghali. They made the bubble around the group glow with friendship and kindness. The two old friends that are enjoying the connection they have been missing for years sometimes forget that everyone else is there and that they are supposed to be doing an orientation for Salli. Ghali brings tea to the small table between the couches, Nyongeza following laughing and chatting as they all sit and sip and glow.

Enye: Kabisa how are you so fit with all of this good cooking and love? Nyongeza says she likes my love handles but what choice does she have?

Kabisa laughing hard because he is intoxicated with joy, pride, and epiphany tea: I have to keep up with men half my age Enye. I kick my ass everyday so I will not get my ass kicked by one of these young hungry warriors that are eager to help me and take my place. One of these days I will let them and retire to the garden life you enjoy.

Salli sits patiently wanting some of the adult’s epiphany tea because she has never seen her parents so open and happy. She was happy too but she felt the vibe was getting a little too happy and was starting to think everyone was not really happy for her they were high.

Ghali: Salli dear, do your poem again.

Salli: Yes Grandma. I would like to do a freestyle instead.

Nyongeza: No. Do the poem please.

Ghali: Let her do what she wants. It’s a party Nyongeza and she has no epiphany tea.

Salli: Thank you mother and Ms. Ghali. Can I have a drum beat please.

RA! Bless my words to honor you and your daughter Ma’at.

Thank you for Epiphany Tea. I see you adults sipping and grinning.

Can’t wait till I’m 18 and can sip and grin with you.

Now. Allow me to dazzle you with my powers of observation.

Nature teaches me because my dear father first challenged me.

Salli he said: Take everything in. See the world for what it is.

A magical place full of stories and wonderful peace.

Guard it with your sword and spear. Your words and thoughts are tools.

Use them to cultivate your dreams.

Here we are successful as a family.

Mother! Thank you for the increase.

Everything you touch is blessed.

I want to be like you. I love you.

I love the way you smell.

I love your smile and your expressive eyes.

Your words give me life.

Your love makes everything possible.

Mrs. Ghali! You are Grandma 74.

I am in awe! I am so glad to finally meet you Grandma.

My mother has told me many stories of your childhood.

Like the time you saved my mother’s life.

Is it true. Can I see your scar?

Wow. It does look like a duck.

Mr. Kabisa! Stop making my father laugh so hard. That is my job.

I know you are a warrior. Don’t make me beat your bottom.

Look at dad’s face. Just playing mother. Stop laughing Grandma.

Just wanted to prove I’m flowing like the Nile carrying to Epiphany.

I am RA’s child.

Have I dazzled you yet. Let dive into the sky.

Walk on clouds like stairs to Heaven.

Soar like Eagles seeing everything.

Without your tea you would be sad like me.

I am happy for the opportunity but leaving my home for this one?

Leaving my brother, mother, and father is sad.

How did you handle it miss?

My name is Paka. I am still getting used to it Salli. I like your poetry. It reminds me of my own. Sinking like a rock in water.

Breaking through the other side into the Sun.

Flying with new people, working beside them learning and challenging yourself so you forget your sadness and your longing for home.

You will be ok Salli.

I will be your best friend.

Lets begin. Come with me. Stop bring your parents to tears.

Let them enjoy their tea and we will explore. You and me.

Paka why are you here? You did not win last years competition.

I am an orphan. Grandma took me in after my mom died about 6 months ago.

Are you an only child?

Yes. Tell me about your brother.

Msufi is strong as a baobab tree. He is three. He follows me everywhere. I don’t think he understands that I won’t be back. I hope he finds a friend like you Paka.

Where is your father?

He killed my mother and then killed himself.

I’m sorry Paka. I didn’t know. I’m making everyone cry. I don’t know what is wrong with me. I should be more discrete.

It’s ok. I only tell close friends. I tell everyone else that my father was eaten by a lion and my mother died in childbirth.

Your secret is safe with me. Where are we going?

To my favorite spot to be alone and look at the stars.

Is it safe?

So far. Up for a little adventure?

Yep.

The two walked about a mile to a hill with a path leading up to an old ruin that looked like it used to be a stone temple probably thousands of years old. They could see the light from the Great Pyramid shining in the distance.

What is that Paka?

You've never seen a barn owl eat a mouse?

No. That.

That is called light.

How is it so bright without flames silly?

I’ve been here six months, and no one really explains that to me well. I don’t know either.

Have you been to the temple of Ma’at? Will you take me sometime?

We will have to ask Kabisa to take us. Have you seen the initiation of light?

What is that?

It is in a temple a days travel from here. A week after I arrived Ghali, Kabisa, Shangaa, Kuangaza, Kufu, 72, and I all went to a festival of light. Two times a year the sun shines into the temple that is carved into the side of a mountain. The light travels 200 yards into a room with two kings, a queen, and a being of light. You stand in the space where the being of light should be and look out of the temple into the sun. You see a being of light that is supposed to be RA. Some people take all kinds of intoxicants and have hallucinations and epiphany discussions with beings that aren’t there. It was so much fun.

Did you take drugs?

No. We have to be 18. I wasn’t even supposed to be there because I’m too young but Grandma insisted and people wanted their drugs so Grandma got me in but I won’t be able to go back until I turn 15.

How old are you now?

11. Do you know what an orgasm is?

Yea.

Ever had one?

No. Have you?

Yes.

What does it feel like?

It is painful at first but then something happens, and the pain turns into pleasure that you have never felt before. What is your favorite pleasure?

Eating miracle fruit and peeing after having to hold it for too long. Drinking cool water on a hot day, a cool breeze and shade from a cloud on a long walk to get water.

Magnify all of that times 100 and you still don’t know what you are missing.

My mother said that I should wait till I’m 15 to have sex.

I’m not trying to have sex with you. Its called masturbation.

I don’t like that.

Ok.

Let’s lay down and look at the stars. Imagine what being one with RA will be like.

We are never separate from RA.

I mean Heaven.

Ok. I do that all the time. I think Heaven is this place.

Earth? This ruin? What?

The place that we created with our friendship.