pikipiki lamb

twas a cool, brisk morn in the high elevated village of kibuku. although the sun had been up for 2 hours, it was being blockaded by giant, passing storm clouds. the air was heavy with the result of the nights rambunctious rains.  the dirt roads were now carved with red mud. it was a peaceful time though. we stood right outside our car. preparing for the last medical day in kibuku. kids had gathered round. wide eyed and happy to see us, they covered their excited giggles with dirty hands. a donkey, with his leash tethered to a rock, stood near, munching on the sweet, green grasses. a motorcycle (or a pikipiki in swahili tongue) made its way up the road. headed for us, i could tell it carried a single man. as it got closer i could see something sticking out behind him. he stopped only yards behind our vehicle. he hopped off, dragging a muddy sheep behind him. its hooves bound together like a handcuffs. the man laid it on its side. it baa’d and flopped from side to side. an amusing sight. everyone gathered around and starred at it. i don’t know what was so interesting about one measley sheep lying helplessly there on that rain soaked ground. kicking and wiggling,  struggling to break free. i ambled closer, still trying to see what all the hoo-plah was about. ok, maybe it was fun to look at. it gave us humans a sense of power. maybe maybe.  ha i smiled, my mind continued reasoning within itself over the sheep and its many onlookers. we got to work. touching people and letting our light shine bright before men. the morning flew by. my stomach had long ago eaten its last piece of granola, it was aching to be silenced. i love african food. excited to taste what the village women had prepared for us, i mosied along outside, humming and singing a bit here and there. happy for the day. happy for the upcoming arrival of food into my mouth. i stepped into the yard of the family who was preparing lunch for us. the sheep was no where in sight. but that donkey was still eating. still tied to a rock. chickens pecked. cows mooed. goats did there thing. children sat on the ground. women held water basins for hand-washing. they washed dishes. laundry dried on the line. it was such a pretty day. i traveled inside with the nurses and doctors and people on the team. i filled my bowl with rice and some sort of meaty stew. and chipotti. hmmmm african food. i ate. had a good talk with my nurse friend. laughed. ate more. satisfied my hunger. with a smile i got up to return back to the clinic. as i was thanking the cooking ladies i glanced over to the side of the yard. there, on the ground, was an extremely fresh hide. looked like it was warm enough to have just come off the body of an animal….looked like a sheep. looked to be the size of the sheep that caught every one’s attention this morning. i stopped. thought about that bound sheep. thought about that stew.the meat did taste different. thought about everyone standing around that sheep. thought about why it had come all alone, all bound up. thought about that sheep skin stretched out right in front of me. thought about my un-hungry stomach. hmmm pikipiki lamb stew…..not bad.