Furor in the Village{Excerpt from the Mendacity} by BRAWTA

The villagers were not going to tolerate this anymore, this woman had landed on their doorstep and had caused more trouble than she was worth. They demanded that Caridad, the overseer fixed this new dispute or else they were forced to take sides. Caridad appealed to the clan but discussion after discussion would not appease them. This time Edra had gone too far, she had threatened a fellow villager and denied that this ever took place. Words of disgust rolled off their tongues when they described Edra and her malicious ways. The village reeked with hatred. The once lively place had unhappiness dwelling in it's midst. Caridad was disappointed that they would not give any more chances to Edra but she respected their decisions.

Edra was a dismal picture, a half smile was forever pasted on her face. "Good, it seemed to say, I have put you in your places, now let's see how Caridad is going to fix this?" Caridad knew that if she abandoned her, Edra would sink into a deeper depression and cast a worst shadow over the village than she had already done. What is the solution? It is as if the goddess of Joy had deserted them and in it's place Lucifer had cast a spell commanding evil, calling for darkness, removing laughter.

Caridad, not one to take defeat knew that there must be some way out of this mess. She sized up the situation, decided she would deal with the clan much later, right now Edra was the danger she had to pay closer attention to. What would be her next move? No one had enough eyes to watch her, all they knew was that she was not good news and they were keeping their distance. Caridad had a long talk with Edra, her dull appearance, fierce bloodshot eyes frightened her but she refused to show fear. What did this woman want? Why was she bent on destroying all goodness? Where did this darkness come from?

Caridad listened to stories of her family, a mother who had died when she was young, shot by an unknown perpetrator. She described a house full of siblings, aunts and uncles who thought their children were of a better and more wholesome stock. Caridad found so many holes in these intriguing stories and she asked only a few questions because Edra began to slur her words, move around uneasily and peppered each sentence with "you know", "It's like", "That's what I am talking about." whenever Caridad added some sympathy to her long and doubtful tales. Fearing that she would make things worse, she kept her doubts to herself and allowed Edra to spin stories after stories which were weaved with lies and drama.

Caridad knew that Faith can do miracles but how do you talk about the Divine One, the mercy of the Father, The Forgiving one? How do you introduce such language to someone who took her lessons from the street and according to her have participated in numerous unpleasant and dangerous experiences. She told the story of her sideline as a dancer, She danced in many community events and was looking to become a budding star. As she began to get gigs she saw hope but in this business she quickly learned there are cut throats. When someone else received a job with a big band, she was angry that she lost out on what she thought would be a chance to launch her career. She lashed out at the dashing recruiter with whom she claimed she was having an affair. Once she realized he had eyes for this other person, she reported the affair to the Authorities because she was just sixteen years old. Before long the recruiter had a mental breakdown and had to leave town.

This story would remain etched in Caridad's mind and she knew that this woman had unfinished business to take care of, she needed deeper consultation. Caridad knew that beyond that tough exterior was a child-like manner that made you feel pity but Caridad also knew that wickedness was lurking just around the corner and would pounce on you at any given moment. Right now Caridad knew she was handcuffed to this sordid mess and it would be a long time before the key would be found to unlock this tight hold.

Caridad dismissed Edra and remained alone to take in the day's event, Her mind began to wander and for a fleeting moment the thought of dropping Edra like a hot cake came to her. This would ease her trouble and bring the village back to vibrancy. She knew this was wishful thinking. She had long felt this call to her life to give a helping hand and although sometimes the call is not easy she never allowed that to get in her way. Helping the downtrodden is a throwback to the way Caridad was raised. Her Granny Maudeline was always ready to help those in need including Caridad's friends. This explains Caridad's link to Edra.

WHY DO I GIVE?

The sparkle of my journey of faith to Zambia has not faded although it has been some time now. After returning from that awesome visit with Margaret and Elizabeth, the two teenagers whom I sponsor through Children International, I wrote and thanked them for allowing me in their lives and for the wonderful experience I had on our various excursions. I waited anxiously for their reply."Wait a minute Mr. Postman, look and see if there's a letter in your bag for me?"

Their letter was short and sweet. In their child-like handwriting, they wrote of the happiness they felt on seeing me and that they were wearing their new clothing to school. "I remember what you told me about doing my best in school and I am studying very hard." Elizabeth wrote. I am glad she has began to heed my advice, because only through education will they have a chance to a better life.

Mr. Postman flooded my mailbox with a very important letter from Ecuador where another of my sponsored child lives. The news is also exciting, my sponsored child will be graduating from High School and I see another journey in the works. This time I hope to witness a young man prepare to meet the big wide world.

So when people ask me why I give, my response is always that this simple act has touched the most important aspects of my life; faith, family and education. I give because it provides an opportunity for those in great need to have a constant means of support in our uncertain world. After all Today's teenagers will be tomorrow's adults.
All is well!

The Fallen Masks:Excerpt from the Mendacity by BRAWTA

Crestfallen and petrified, Mercy Palomino came running through the door to get Caridad, screaming that Edra had threatened her. In a rage she had wanted to attack her but Mercy ran away to get help. Caridad always knew it would come to this, she had seen it brewing. Caridad and Mercy had a close connection and that did not sit well with Edra. Although everyone, even if some were reluctant, had reached out to Edra, that was not enough. It seemed as if when things were serene, it was a clue for her to stir up trouble. Caridad had no choice but to take disciplinary actions, it had passed time to think this would go away. Edra was foaming at the mouth with anger,her eyes were bulging and she spewed out words so mumbled that you would need an interpreter to understand. But Caridad recognised this ploy, Edra had used it many times before, when she was caught in the wrong. The fast talking and gibberish was meant to throw off any blame from coming her way. Mercy was equally angry but looked rather frightened and took this attempted attack very seriously.

That evening a division became evident, never to be mended again and when Mercy left the village for good, shortly after this unfortunate incident, Caridad was saddened by this disruption that tore them apart. One by one the masks began to crack from the other villagers and a full blown war of words erupted. No discussions, no mediation could quell this blow out and Caridad threw up her hands at this shouting match, this radical shift.

It got so bad that many of the villagers would not walk down the same street with Edra, they took a different path. From the get go they had wanted to go the opposite direction, away from Edra but gave in to Caridad's call for solidarity. There were no words of joy spoken at the lunch room, lunches were no longer shared even the village jester had dried up. They continued to celebrate birthdays but there were no more outings and this went on for about two more years.

The black cloud came back with vengeance, the melancholy mood set in again with Edra and Caridad had her hands even fuller. This day the masks began to shatter and the villagers sighed a relief,they had named her a persona non-Grata, their faces now say and they no longer had to wear a mask. There goes that half smile again, Caridad knew what that meant, once again she had brought sadness to the village and this time she had managed to drive one of the dwellers out. She was so full of herself that she had totally ignored the fact that Mercy had left to start a new life as she had planned.

Edra could not stand this silent treatment although she had caused this on herself, she pointed fingers and laid the blame elsewhere. She even turned on Caridad, the only person who gave her the time of day, not because she deserved it but because of her warm heart. How could she abandon this dweller as diabolic as she was? But Edra continued to fight against Caridad with her few posse, visitors to the village and her family members. Edra's campaign was meant to tear down Caridad and although her spirit felt broken for the moment she was not about to let this nincompoop trip her up. But was it too late? She left the broken masks as they were. She would no longer persuade the villagers to do what they were not feeling. She on the other hand would not give up, she did not think it was impossible to live peacefully together. This riptide she knew would go away, only a matter of time. Some called her a wishful thinker, a mender of souls but in all of this she held her head high. The erect posture meant she had some serious business to take care of to mend this village. The written reprimand handed to Edra shattered the last remaing masks, that of Caridad which had to be taken off to help her get a handle on this very serious crisis that had become an albatross around her neck.

Gaining A Foothold:Excerpt from the Mendacity by BRAWTA

Months had passed that left them weary, but Edra was now participating in more activities. She was an early riser in the village and although Caridad sensed danger, she translated that into a positive sign. By now Edra had began to gather her posse. Many mornings she could be found lurking around the corner with the cleaning man. Her laughter was thunderous and she was always whispering and playing the cat and mouse game, watching for Caridad or other villagers. This was a different Edra, the villagers began to gossip about what they called strange behavior but Caridad would not entertain any of this, she did not mind hearing her laugh. They had suffered for months through black clouds and finally the sun was peeping through.

Caridad did not want to show that she was not comfortable with this change, she had a weak feeling in her stomach every time she came up on her rendezvous. By now her entourage had grown to include the handyman and a flock of women who all looked like trouble, in other words cut from the same cloth like her. Soon some of the women who came for service in the village community began to ask for Edra by name. They all fit the same profile, meanspirited, loud and sassy. Bad karma, the villagers called their presence. Whenever they arrived it was as if the village was filled with toxic fumes, they were ready to provide service to these troubled souls so they could leave and take their bad spirits with them. Edra was gaining a foothold, she finagled herself into the life of one of the villagers and together they began a menacing act, throwing seeds and disrupting our sacred ground, now she had company to help perform her bad deeds.

Many were lukewarm but she was getting there, some human beings are easily pulled in, if you keep working on them. She began to tell tales, they were flowery and full of holes and almost everyone was more leery of this new act. The melancholy look was turning into burst of laughter, the villagers did not know which was worst. They continued to make merry, each month as they celebrated each persons milestone, a birthday, a new birth,nothing was off limit to have a joyous time. They were back in business, the village felt like before and so they began to relax but Caridad never closed her eyes on Edra. She knew it would only be a matter of time that this new found personality would revert to the old self. Caridad had seen the mood swings.

Nevertheless Caridad began to plan activities for the village. One such fun time was creating fabled characters much like the Aesop tales that she grew up reading and enjoyed so much. Although Caridad was not an artist, she was able to sketch the inhabitants of this idyllic village.For example, there was the everready battery for the staff who was always willing and ready to go the extra mile; for the suave persons, the profile was portrayed as movement slowly carried by the wind. Caridad drew an eye and a reflection in a pool of water for Edra who would constantly look in the mirror. The buddies had a jolly good time identifying themselves. Between the outings, the birthday cakes and meals fit for queens and kings, they certainly had a whopping good time. They worked hard but never forgot to live.

Flashes Of Hope:Excerpt from the Mendacity by BRAWTA

Caridad sat down with Edra to see if she could get to the bottom of this turmoil. For the month since she arrived, she had turned the place upside down. Caridad was uncomfortable broaching this subject but knew this had to be done. She fumbled awkwardly and began with extending an invitation to an upcoming after work get together. As much as she wished that she could side step the many issues, Caridad knew this was the moment. The villagers were buzzing about Edra's unkempt look. Foul smells were attributed to her, some held their noses, others disappeared as soon as Edra entered their space. Caridad had brought in deodorant, body wash and cream, to keep the odor down and the dry skin away. She knew it would be difficult to explain such gifts but she would give it a try. Edra took Caridad by surprise, she thanked her and said she was happy she brought this concern to her. Caridad knew this was too easy and expected some repercussion. Caridad shivered at the half smile that broke out on Edra's face.
She must have spent the night getting a new hairdo because the next day her hair was neatly styled, every strand in place, a far cry from the days past when pieces of weave were found in the hallway, bathroom or anywhere Edra had visited for the day.

The villagers were coming around, they were still faced with a rebel but nevertheless a cleaner rebel who smiled more often, who had began to have civil conversations. One day when they were all sitting down at lunch, which happened rarely now; the stand-up comic of the village cracked a joke and Edra began laughing. Her laugh continued when everyone else's had ended. The group stared away and Caridad felt uneasy. They wanted laughter but this did not feel right. They let this slide like so many things because they were banking on change. They wanted to be as cohesive they were before so that they were willing to savor flashes of hope.

By now they had extended their celebrations to include birthdays, the entrance of a new addition to our world and tying the knot. As if that was not enough, they had laid claims on the families of the villagers and if one of the children did well in school, it was a reason to bring out the drums. They knew little of Edra, everything was shrouded in secret and when she did speak and they compared notes, nothing seemed to match,everyone had a different version. "Who is this among us?" Caridad began to wonder. The mysterious one lies through her teeth. "Liar, liar, pants on fire" she thought she heard voices chanting. Caridad dismissed this but knew for sure that she would not give up, she believed in giving everyone a chance, she believed that some good can come out of this. This was a troubled soul, calling out for help and although they were not Social Workers, they collectively had a lot of love and caring to give.

Caridad truly believed that if they continued to nurture, paid attention and showed this person that she is loved, that a miracle will happen. It was hard work, straightening out every misunderstandings, pushing her suspicions aside that people were talking about her, giving individual attention so she would not feel left out. This certainly took a toll on them, but Caridad counted the crack of a smile coming from Edra as a blessing.

Black Clouds(Excerpts from THE MENDACITY)

As the story goes, right after talking to the boss, Edra began rolling on the ground, groaning and howling. The people around her were amazed at this outburst. "What could have brought this on?" they asked. Some bad news, they thought! Edra was out of control, how long would this go on? The crowd of on-lookers were shaking their head. "She is hallucinating," one cried out. The staff was nervous and knew that they had to act fast;just then the second call came in. It was the boss again. After some cajoling, Edra came to the 'phone. Suddenly the moaning stopped, she stood straight as an arrow,she would get to stay on the job for now but she needed to do what is right. She would be transported somewhere else. The grimace on her face was replaced by a forced smile,"I have pulled this off again" her look seemed to say.

Edra landed in this idyllic village, this was where she was given a second chance. The inhabitants were hardworkers with contentment written all over their faces. In this community of workers merriment was the order of the day. Each morning as they gathered to start the day's work, it is as if the sun came along to brighten their days. As they went about their activities, caring for the folks of the community, they were planning their next outing. It was as if they could not get enough of each other.

Edra stood by the door murmuring under her breath. This was not a good sign, they immediately saw black clouds as the sunshine seem to disappear. The look on her face was one of evil and sadness combined, a melancholy glare. Caridad James the overseer of this charistmatic group, knew that she would not allow anyone to destroy their happy 'home. She had experience with naysayers, ball busters,pretenders and that bunch of troublemakers. At this moment she began to reflect on the brood she manages and remembered a few dissidents.

Take Agata, she puts up a fight for any change. She was so used to upsetting the barrel that it took her a long time to recognize even when the change was beneficial to her.
Leonardo kept the bible close by, it was tattered giving you the impression that this was his regular storybook. Yet he was cunning, conniving at first but gradually came along for a peaceful ride with the rest of the gang.
Let's not forget Charmaine, a complainer who had every ailment you could think of. She kept a medical book nearby, willing to try any new remedy at the drop of a hat. This was so out of control that something had to be done to quell this distraction. Finally, no one paid any attention to the stories of these various illnesses and the complaints all but vanished. So Caridad had no doubt that this newcomer could be straightened out in no time, at least that's what she thought.

Caridad introduced herself and the rest of the staff and knew right away that this one would be a challenge. She thought she had seen it all but even the repenters shook their heads, vowing to stay their distance. There was trouble brewing in paradise, sunshine was replaced with black clouds, they were forever putting out fires and Edra was in the midst of this chaos that had overtaken the village. They had allowed bad spirit to creep in and now they must fight to get back the joy that once flowed in their path. Caridad called a meeting with a few of the long time residents, including Agata, Leonardo and Charmaine, she wanted to bring Edra into the foal and needed some assistance. They were resistant but Caridad reminded them of their beginning and their turnaround. The truth is that they now seemed like saints compared to the daily disruptions that they were now experiencing from Edra. The group relented and made it easier for Caridad to bring the plan to the rest of the folks.

THE TIME HAS COME

Travel to Africa demands an open mind, I told my friend who had a difficult time understanding this journey of mine. This time, this trek will lead to Zambia where I will meet Elizabeth and Margaret, two preteen girls who I know only from photos and letters. The arrangements for the visit were made through Children International the U.S.A. based organization that provides for their well-being. I called the Headquarters in Kansas City a few days before my departure to assure them that I was making the trip and they assured me that the folks at the Children International Headquarters in Zambia would be expecting me. I came armed with contact numbers, rules and regulations from the organization and of course the latest photos of Elizabeth and Margaret.

When I made contact the sound from the voice on the other end said "ready, set, go" Oh ye of little faith I thought, after months of communication via E-mails, why wouldn't everything be in place? It was the beginning of winter in Zambia and the sun was playing hide and seek but the warmth of the smiles from the group who greeted me soon let me forget the chill in the air. As I went on my guided tour, I began to learn each persons role at the Headquarters and they welcomed me and marveled at my philanthrophic spirit. Their extended open arms meant a lot but I quickly downplayed the small role I am playing in these two young girls' lives and wanted them to know that I have made it my duty to make a difference in the lives of as many children as I possible can.

The road to Kanyama was paved with potholes of anxiety, and happiness all rolled in one. The bumpy road did not seem to bother the driver or the guide who were transporting us to the Children International Center where I would first meet Elizabeth. Another round of introduction and tour of the Center was the order of the day. The center was packed with children and adults and alive with activities. I later learned that some of the parents of the children who are lucky to be counted as members of this center, do volunteer to help out in various areas, making it a real community affair. We entered a classroom and a group of boys and girls greeted us in unison "Good afternoon and welcome, we are glad to meet you," they screamed with joy. We thanked them, listened to them rattle off the alphabet, pronounced big words and I watched their smiles lit up the room. As we departed and the door closed behind us, I could still hear their infectious laughter, even in the midst of such poverty. These were very young kids being prepared by their teacher to enter the very few community or public schools that exist. In the midst of all this excitement, Elizabeth, her mother and baby sister were patiently waiting to meet me. I had passed her on the way in without noticing her presence in the sea of faces but at this formal introduction, she became familiar. I pulled out the photo I was carrying with me and she shyly smiled. After a little chitchat and lots of smiles, we started out to the township where the family lives. Realizing the distance Elizabeth had to walk to get to the Center, my stomach was in knots. Her feet were the only means of transportation, yet this young girl has the fortitude to regularly attend the Center's program.

After we entered the road leading to the family's home, the whole neighborhood came out to see us, adults and children peered around corners. A group of young children were chanting "Bazungu" meaning "White people" the guide explained that they were only used to seeing "Bazungu" on these missions. I am sure others will come when they can. The space was tight but they welcomed us in their humble home. I sat on a tiny stool, the only seat in the house, everyone else stood. I gave the gifts I had brought, games, books, clothes, sweets, etc. Elizabeth and her family were delighted,a skipping rope and a colorful skirt received wide grins. Then we were on our way to meet Margaret and her family who were in another Center located in Chibolya, which was certainly not around the corner.

As we traveled on more bumpy roads, I glanced back at the quiet young girl in the back and wondered about her future. At this Center we repeated the activities as before, tour of Center, introduction to staff, volunteers and children. This time I was prepared, I knew the drill and I instantly picked Margaret out of the crowd. We chatted for a while, smiled a lot and then headed for their house. Along the way they proudly pointed out the school she attends. We came to a halt in the road as the van, our transportation, struggled to mount the rocky road. We advised the driver to stop and we left Elizabeth, her family and the driver waiting in the van, while we walked the rest of the way to Margaret and her family's abode. We didn't want to chance having the vehicle conked out on us.

This time we were greeted by Margaret's uncle and cousins. You see, Margaret's mother died a few years ago and her mother's sister, her aunt went to the village, where they lived to get her and raise her on what little she has for her household. Her aunt's husband, her uncle, proudly told us that he built this concrete house after he retired. The house albeit small had the luxury of electricity which is so rare in these areas. Again, I disbursed the gifts, chitchat and as per the organization's regulation, a family member must be present with us, so Margaret's 20 year old cousin joined us the rest of the way. Margaret's aunt had been out for many hours already and must stay home to prepare the family's meal.

The plan consisted of having lunch and then going on a shopping spree. Our group had swollen to two guides, Gladys and Melody, Elizabeth and her baby sister cozily strapped to her mother, Margaret and her cousin, my traveling companion and me and of course the driver. This was the families' first outing to a shopping center and on the recommendation of Gladys and Melody, we made ourselves comfortable at a restaurant called Steer, which had a menu with various choices. We ate and the guides prodded the girls to talk, after all they told them,"do you know how far they came from to see you?" The parents said the girls did not sleep all night, they tossed and turned, full of anxiety. While we ate, I took the opportunity to advice them to stick to the program at the Centers. I encouraged them to study hard, keep learning, never to give up. Dream big I continued because all things are possible. Will my words take root in their young minds? Only time will tell.

Shopping was fun, I gave them a budget and the freedom to choose the clothing that meet their fancy, watching them brought excitement for all of us. The guides were snapping away, they wanted to capture every moment. I wanted to make sure their feet were protected in sturdy walking shoes, after all they walked everywhere, far and near on perilous terrain.One of the girls picked out a strong looking pair of school shoes, the other a more dressy selection. I like that they have a style of their own and my concern for a sensible selection seemed not to matter right now. They chose the pairs of shoes they liked.

When we parted company, I had time to reflect on the day's journey. Here I am in the warm heart of Africa, I am convinced it is in their DNA to be naturally friendly. Our trusted guardians, Gladys and Melody did a fantastic job. The driver took to the hazardous roads with confidence and took us safely from town to town. The children were quietly absorbing this day, their tell tale faces showed happiness. The parents were exuberant and wished us God's blessing. Before I left for Zambia, I asked and answered the question:"What will I say to two young girls?"(See blog of 5/16/10). I came, I saw and I felt contented but listen up, more stuff to tell them.
Margaret, Elizabeth, you should trust life to take you as far as you want to go.
I have pledged to coddle you through the hard times you certainly face.
But never forget there is always HOPE.

The day's event opened up my soul even further, my soul was filled to bursting. That night I slept like a dead person,already I miss engaging in colorful conversations with the locals, but I'll be back. You just wait and see!

"I have always known that at last
I would take this road,but yesterday
I did not know it would be today."
Ninth Century Japanese Poet,
Akiro No Narihara

All Is Well!