NOT YOUR SONG TO DANCE TO

I remember a time when I was just a little girl when I was carefree and happy ,when everything I felt , heard or saw was fascinating . when I was innocent to the wrongs and right of humankind of different cultures religions any and everything , A time when I was oblivious without being called ignorant .

one particular memory emerges when I think of such a time .I was outside in my blue shorts and blue top , I guess even then it was my favorite color , I was always a bit boyish with my short hair and large grin , and I did not mind playing alone , but this particular sunny Saturday morning I was playing with my brother . running around giggling making jokes and pushing each other to the brink of laughter .

We suddenly heard a song , I could hear different voices blend together making such a beautiful sound . Music was my first love even then , so filled with raw emotion and talent , I have always wished I could make music . The music this particular day I did not recognize , it was filled with so much emotion I had to stop I had to listen , I ...I just had to , but then it changed .. instruments I had later found out is what was producing the melodies accompanying the voices . My brother seemed to not care about the music he just continued to speak but I couldn't hear him .

"Mantsho" I heard him say , I didn't really like that name but I had come to accept it , it means Black girl or something of that sort , It is a nickname , as I was the first grandchild to be born with dark skin . I looked at him willing him to not talk to me I wanted to listen to the music , he suddenly stood up and went into the house , I started moving and giggling to the sound of the music .

" Hey stop right there " I could hear someone say but surely they were not talking to me I was just dancing doing no harm so I ignored them . suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder I jumped back and opened my eyes . when had I closed them ?. I looked above the hand . my mother's worried eyes looked at me " where were you going?" she asks . I looked around and I was almost out the gate , I felt my heart beating fast and I felt scared and anxious when did i get here? I was at the back gardens .I burst into tears , fearing what might had happened had my mom not caught me , my eyes where closed what if I had gone out the gate? what if a car came? what if I was snatched? .

My mother picked me up and took me into the house ,shushing me in the process. I calmed down after realizing that I was safe . " Tell me what happened ?" my mom says softly , softer than I ever heard her talk ." we were playing and then we heard music playing .." I starter . " what music ?"my brother asks ." you know the music we heard when we were playing before you came into the house " I say looking at him weirdly . " Luna ,I came into the house to tell mom something is not right with you , you were just standing there looking at me like you didn't hear what I was saying " he says agitated .

"I …I heard music and I started dancing . That's all I remember " I say not even sure what to believe . my mom snatched me from beside her and hugged my close to her . " Oh my baby , not my baby please lord not my little moon " My mom cried . " Mercy what's wrong ?what are you crying about?" my grandma says as she enters the house. " she has heard the mermaids call ma , we have to do something" my mom says to her . " no not my granddaughter " my grandma says snatching me from my mom and looking me over before hugging me ." yes Ma , what can we do " " I know a man , we need to go to him immediately , what is it you heard exactly , mantsho ?"." It was so beautiful , they were singing about a little girl living with the creatures of the sea .." I say remembering the words .

We go to the man grandma was talking about , Mr. Joe is what he told me to call him, we told him what happened. " This is very peculiar , like you I've heard of all this ,my Grandmother told me of this when I was but a little boy . 'The song of the water mother' she called it " he said." but what do we do , will this happen again should we keep an eyes on Luna". " this is not something to be scared of Mercy , she is gifted , to hear the song can only mean she is connected to the water mother ,the only time she will be hurt is if you ignore her gift or suppress it ". my mom looked worried not sure what to do next . "next time you hear the song tell your mom , Mercy follow her as she moves to the music it will surely lead you all somewhere with answers "

The reason I started thinking is after , 20 years , I finally heard that music again . my mom and grandma have since passed ,but not to worry this time the water mother talked to me ,and I know exactly what to do .