Hide and Seek

The beginning of summer vacation has always been Mwanga’s favorite time of the year, and although he felt the same excitement as years past, there was no denying that this year would be different. Since schools shut down in response to the pandemic, he hasn’t been able to attend virtual learning on a regular basis. Partially due to the fact that their WiFi often doesn’t allow them to log online without lag; and he has to share the laptop with his brother and mother who is currently job hunting. Lately Mwanga’s parents have been arguing a lot more than usual. They do their best to ensure that the children aren’t disturbed with their issues, but they’re also unaware that Mwanga has trouble sleeping, and is often wide awake and can clearly hear their voices through the thin apartment walls.

On one such night, in between trying to force sleep by shutting his eyes and counting sheep, he noticed a rapid flash of light on his ceiling and he felt a bit calmer. Mateo, he thought to himself, his downstairs neighbor and best friend. Like many times before, he climbed through his bedroom window and headed downstairs.

“ I heard your parents muffled arguing back and forth, and figured you’d need a distraction” Mateo said as Mwanga made it down the last step.

“ Yeah, thank you. Sometimes I wish I were deaf so I couldn’t hear them, but then that would mean I couldn’t hear the baby and care for her.” Mwanga’s tone was laced with sadness as he imagined his baby sister crying and nobody tending to her, then quickly snapped out of it.

“ Anyways, park or construction site tonight?” Mwanga asked in an effort to change the subject.

“ I got a better idea!” Mateo responded as he reached into his back pocket.

“ Corner store!” exclaimed Mateo as he pulled out a crumpled twenty dollar bill.

“ Yooo! That’s lit! Late birthday gift from grandma?”

“ You know it! Thank you abuela!” Mateo said as he gave the money a kiss.

At twelve years old, both boys already had more responsibilities than most of their classmates. They spent their days caring for their younger siblings while their parents were either at work or looking for work, so their late night excursions were the only times they felt like they could be themselves and enjoy their childhood. Although they had $20 to spend, the boys were aware that corner store trips only happened every once in a while, and were only guaranteed around one of their birthdays. Allowances were not a norm in either household, so the boys learned how to stretch their money from an earlier age. They greeted Mr Karim as they entered the store, then headed straight to the snacks aisle. They did a couple laps around checking out any new flavors or obscure snacks that occasionally showed up in Mr Karim’s store. This was simply standard procedure of course, because the boys’ order was always the same, one large bag of Takis and two Arizona iced teas; Much Mango for Mwanga and Peach for Mateo.

“ That is all for you boys?” asked Mr. Karim with a warm smile.

“ Yes Mr.Karim. And could we please get it in a bag?” Mateo responded.

“ Have a good night!” Both boys called out before the door shut behind them.

They spent the next couple hours talking and laughing about the latest virtual learning mishaps and the funniest videos they’d seen on Tik Tok. If not for their prepubescent voices or constant referral to Tik Tok, an eavesdropper could’ve easily mistaken them for two old men reminiscing over their youth. Their night ended halfway through the bag of spicy chips and as always with enough liquid left for one big sip. Per their tradition, they thrust the cans towards one another and uttered the customary “ A gulp and a burp”, after which they both chugged the remaining contents from the can, followed by a synchronized “ Ahhhhh” and alternating belching. They both laughed at the silliness of it all, then wished each other goodnight. Mwanga was designated guardian of the remaining takis until their next excursion, and he hid them under his bed soon after climbing back into his room and closing the window behind him. He took a deep breath as he laid under the covers, thankful for his friends and their time together, then turning to his side, he submitted as sleep washed over him.

The next morning Mwanga was awakened by the savory scent of fried eggs and his mother’s rendition of old Congolese gospel music. He rushed to the bathroom where he quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth, then swiftly ran towards the kitchen. His younger siblings were already munching on their breakfast, cheeks smeared with cooking oil and bread crumbs all over the table. His stomach rumbled.

“ Bonjour maman! Lelo ozo luka musala te?” he asked his mom trying to hide his surprise that she wasn’t out looking for work.

“No” responded his mother in a thick accent

“I have interview yesterday, and they say I start on weekend” she responded with a smile. He could tell by her smile that she was proud of herself both for finding employment as well as for getting through that sentence. He gave her a big hug, and she kissed him on the forehead before handing him a plate of fried eggs and toast.

“ Today, we celebrate!” she said before resuming her concert.

Mwanga had just finished clearing the table when the doorbell rang, followed by three successive knocks; Mateo. Mwanga dropped the dishes off on the counter then ran to let his friend in.

“ Bro! A bunch of people from school are getting together at the park for a game of hide and seek, we gotta go now! Oh, hi Mrs. Bijou” sometimes Mwanga wondered how his friend could speak so much without stopping to breathe

“ Je peut aller?” Mwanga asked his mom, hoping he wouldn’t have to bargain with chores, but also knowing that he would end up doing the chores either way.

“ Hi Mateo. Go play with your friends, but be careful and play safe” Bijou responded as she waved the boys off on their way.

When Mwanga and Mateo pulled up, there were about twenty of their classmates gathered in a giant circle, making sure to keep their distance. They had decided to break teams off based upon households, or those that lived close to each other, to the relief of the boys. The boundaries were expanded to within the park because the “it” group had four people, leaving eight pairs to hide. As the four seekers started their count, Mateo and Mwanga headed to a spot they found a couple weeks back while kicking a soccer ball around. It was a naturally formed hole that turned into a lake of sorts during the fall and winter from a nearby drain pipe filling it with rain water from the city. During the spring and summer months, it was completely dried and had some grass faintly growing on it. The boys had snuck in some rocks from right outside the pipe’s opening that allowed them to hide better, they were relieved to find the rocks hadn’t been moved since the last time they were here. They both tried to still their breathing to allow themselves to blend in better with the darkness surrounding them. They sat in silence, listening for any footsteps heading their way, and ducking further behind the rocks as to conceal themselves better. Mwanga’s foot grew numb front the way he was squatting, and in trying to adjust himself he fell backwards. Reaching out towards the wall to help himself up, his hand landed on something that had not the consistency of a rock but rather that of cloth.

“ Are you okay?” Mateo whispered to his friend

“ Yeah I’m good. Lost my balance is all, but I think there is something here. It feels like a bag but I can’t really see it” Mwanga responded as he tried to pick up the bag. It wasn’t too heavy, so he was able to lift it towards the entrance where there was more light.

They discovered that it was a medium sized blue duffle bag, and as they opened it they discovered on one end of the bag a pile of neatly stacked crispy $100 bills, and on the other side was a small black notebook. They looked at each other, mouths ajar and pupils dilated.

“ We should take this home,” Mateo suggested. All Mwanga could do in that moment was nod.

As they entered Mwanga’s apartment, they were welcomed with the strong smell of bleach and other cleaning chemicals, Mwanga’s mom was cleaning today. The boys managed to make it to the kids bedroom, and started counting the money. After careful counting they were done,

“ $20,000” Mateo whispered to himself

“ That's a lot of money,” Mwanga responded as fell back onto his bed.

Mateo reached over and grabbed the journal that was in the bag with the money. He discovered that the first few pages were blank, but in the middle of the notebook was a short paragraph

To whomever found this, first off congratulations on becoming $20,000 richer, the money is yours and you’re free to do whatever you want with it. Second off, you’re doubly lucky for opening this notebook. Most people would’ve tossed the notebook and just kept the money, but you allowed yourself the gift of discovery, and for that here is your reward. I recently tested positive for the coronavirus, and given my age and prior health issues, the doctors don’t think my body is strong enough to fight it. This duffel bag is part of my will, and upon learning of my death I urge you to present yourself to Mr. Jamie Henderson at Henderson and Lewis. You are entitled to 5% of my net worth upon death. My family is aware of my wishes and should pose no objections to this. I hope that the money will help change your life in some way.

Sincerely,

Robert G. Christensen

“ We need to tell our parents,” Mwanga said after reading the note.

“ It’s your money, and therefore your call,” responded Mateo seemingly distant

“ No way man, we're splitting everything 55/45 only because I had to fall to find it.”

Both boys giggled at the thought, and they went out to tell their respective parents.

A few weeks later...

It felt weird watching the news or reading the newspapers looking for any mentions of Robert’s passing, but both families were at peace knowing that this is somebody’s will and that their family was okay with that decision. Mwanga and Mateo’s parents were now in the process of looking for houses as well as potential business ventures, while the boys were simply excited that their parents could afford nannies instead of them looking after their siblings. Leaving them with plenty of time and freedom to play together again and go on day time excursions.