The Dream ****

Odongo sat, leaning against the shady tree. The heat was suffocating. And after the rains, the humidity was so high that he was drenched in sweat. He used the dried leaf to swat the flies occasionally. He looked out at the cows. There were 28 of them. And 8 were his. He had worked hard to earn them. His father Ogwambe was a hard man.

“You have to work hard,” Ogwambe would often repeat to Odongo. “Hard work is the only thing that will help you.”

Odongo attended village school. It was a disused cow shed. Wemusa, their teacher was at least 100 years old. He spoke so softly that no one heard him. And often, he would stay silent and still for such a long time that Odongo sometimes thought Wemusa might have died.

At school, Odongo at next to Nabinye. Nabinye was a dreamer. He wanted to become a lawyer. In the Big City. Everyone knew about the big city. But no one had been there. “One day I will go to the Big City. I will become a lawyer. I will wear a shirt and pants and tie. And everyone will stand up when they see me. I will be rich. I will buy a big house. In the Big City.” Nabinye would go on and on. Odongo listened. But Odongo had his own dreams. His dreams were different. He dreamt of having 20 cattle. With hard work, he could achieve his dream in a few years. He looked across the class-room. At the corner desk sat Munyiga. With 20 cows, Munyiga would be his. Munyiga’s father M’wale had told Odongo. “I want you to come with 20 cows. And take Munyiga.” And Odongo had replied, “Yes, Sir. I will come with 20 cows. And take your daughter.” Then Odongo had looked at Munyiga, standing silently at the kitchen door of their hut. But Munyiga had just turned and moved away.

***

Many years later

Odongo felt uncomfortable in the starched yellow shirt, and khaki pants. His clan accompanied him. In front was Ogwambe. Flanked by his 3 wives. Then came Ogwambe’s brothers, uncles, cousins and all manner of relatives. All of them were chattering away at the top of their voices. They were full of admiration for Odongo. He had managed to get the 20 cows is such a short time. And all his cows were so healthy. On top of that, Odongo looked so smart in his yellow shirt and khaki pants. He even wore an old pair of shoes, which he had cleaned and polished for the occasion. In the middle came Odongo, with his friends jostling him. There was much giggling and good natured jibes and insults. Odongo was very happy.

Soon they were at M’wale’s hut. As the party approached, M’wale came out to greet them. He looked grim. “The sun has set,” he began.

Ogwambe was taken aback. There was frantic whispering among the relatives. Ogwambe looked at M’wale. “We have come with the offer of the cows as you wished. My first born Odongo has 20 cows. He has come to ask for your daughter, Munyiga.”

They all sat down. M’wale looked at all of them. “The sun has set.” He said again. “Munyiga belongs to another man now.”

There was a hushed silence. Odongo could not believe his ears. “But you promised. You said 20 cows. I have the 20 cows. I worked hard for them. I want to marry Munyiga,” he sounded shrill.

M’wale looked at him sadly. “The sun has set.” He said again. “Munyiga is another man’s wife now.”

As he spoke, a man came out of M’wale’s hut. He was a Big City man. He was dressed in a smart suit. And shiny shoes. He held a hat in his hand. Most of the group stood up instinctively, as they saw the man. Slowly Ogwambe stood up, followed by his wives, and other relatives. Odongo was the last. As he stood up, recognition dawned on him. And as Odongo watched, a figure slowly appeared behind the man. It was Munyiga. She held on to Nabinye’s shoulder, and looked out defiantly at Odongo. She had had her dream too.

Slowly Ogwambe nodded at M’wale. “The sun has set.” Ogwambe turned around and started walking slowly. All the others followed suit. Only Odongo stood for a long moment, looking at Nabinye and Munyiga, standing at the doorway of the hut. Then he too, turned around and walked back to his village. And his cows.