singular instead of the plural, since he only has one knee, and like a long-legged bird, keeps his balance when he touches his toes and returns to standing with a hop.
Aliya is enamored with each of them. Her eyes convey her deep emotion and marvel. She can’t sit still. She gets up and joins the fun for another round.
They finish the song and some of the little ones give her hugs.
“Nzuri sana. Very good, children. Sasa...” Delila leads them. “Welcome, Miss Aliya!”
Aliya offers, “Ajabu! That was wonderful! Asante. Thank you.”
Delila says to Aliya, “They’ve been practicing all week. Aliya, they are very happy to have you here as their new teacher.”
“I’m happy I’m here.” she responds.
Delila shows Aliya into the hut. Her new backpack, a “happy trails” gift from Mike and Mama, looks out of place.
“We will share quarters. Okay?”
“Sure.”
Delila pauses for a moment. She’s got to ask: “Aliya, throughout all our correspondence, why didn’t you tell me you are albino?”
“It shouldn’t matter.”
“Maybe not in America, but here...”
“Especially here it needs to not matter.”
Delila responds, “Especially here, it does matter. I have to check on the food for the children.” She leaves Aliya to organize her things.
Outside, Delila approaches Kennen who is a few yards from the hut. “You should have told me.”
“And ruin the surprise? Come on, Delila, Aliya’s very brave...”
“More foolish than brave. We need the help, but it’s hard enough to protect the ones we already have.”
“She’ll be anything but a burden. I promise. I’ll look after her. She’s my responsibility.”
“No, Kennen. She’s all of ours.” Delila walks away, pensive.
#
Inside the hut Aliya is unpacking. Kennen steps in the doorway. “You settling in all right?”
“I think so.”
“Tired?”
“I should be, but I’m too excited, too much going on in my head.”
“Well try and get some rest. ’First day tomorrow. Wee ones will run you ragged for sure.”
“I will.”
“I’m outside if you need anything.”
“Outside?”
“You know me. The sky’s the limit...”
“Okay...” She follows his lead and steps outside to see the many brilliant stars above their heads.
He looks at her.
“Okay,” she exhales long, relaxed. “Kennen?”
“Yeah...”
“Thanks for helping me get here.” She gives him a peck on the cheek.
A big grin and blush envelop his face. He lingers a little too long in the doorway, and then says, “Right. Sleep well.” Kennen stares at her, not wanting to go.
“Good night, Kennen.”
“’Night.”
Aliya walks into the hut. She climbs onto her mat to sleep. She looks up at the sky through the open square where a window would be. She takes her spectacles off and lays them next to her mat and closes her eyes.
#
The sun bursts high and hard, as it never slept.
Aliya wakes to children -- albino and black -- peering in, watching her. They are whispering and giggling. Her light eyes look almost a pale green and are sensitive to the morning light. She squints and slides on her nerdy glasses and their faces become detailed. She smiles and jumps out of bed. She pats their heads through the window frame, a big smile on her face. Then there is the sound of Kennen’s morning chant roaring into the cloudless sky, “It’s a beautiful day!” It echoes and his enthusiasm for the day spreads to two of the older boys who playfully mimic him. And her first typical day begins. She hands out hats and sunglasses to the children, teaching some how to apply sunblock to their skin, she teaches the English alphabet to an all-ages class, she helps Kennen and some of the older children and adults repair a fallen hut, and Aliya tells the story of “The Three Bears” to some of the children.
#
One day, while Aliya is teaching class, she notices Bashima longingly looking out the window with tears streaming down her cheeks. Aliya looks to see
Aliya is enamored with each of them. Her eyes convey her deep emotion and marvel. She can’t sit still. She gets up and joins the fun for another round.
They finish the song and some of the little ones give her hugs.
“Nzuri sana. Very good, children. Sasa...” Delila leads them. “Welcome, Miss Aliya!”
Aliya offers, “Ajabu! That was wonderful! Asante. Thank you.”
Delila says to Aliya, “They’ve been practicing all week. Aliya, they are very happy to have you here as their new teacher.”
“I’m happy I’m here.” she responds.
Delila shows Aliya into the hut. Her new backpack, a “happy trails” gift from Mike and Mama, looks out of place.
“We will share quarters. Okay?”
“Sure.”
Delila pauses for a moment. She’s got to ask: “Aliya, throughout all our correspondence, why didn’t you tell me you are albino?”
“It shouldn’t matter.”
“Maybe not in America, but here...”
“Especially here it needs to not matter.”
Delila responds, “Especially here, it does matter. I have to check on the food for the children.” She leaves Aliya to organize her things.
Outside, Delila approaches Kennen who is a few yards from the hut. “You should have told me.”
“And ruin the surprise? Come on, Delila, Aliya’s very brave...”
“More foolish than brave. We need the help, but it’s hard enough to protect the ones we already have.”
“She’ll be anything but a burden. I promise. I’ll look after her. She’s my responsibility.”
“No, Kennen. She’s all of ours.” Delila walks away, pensive.
#
Inside the hut Aliya is unpacking. Kennen steps in the doorway. “You settling in all right?”
“I think so.”
“Tired?”
“I should be, but I’m too excited, too much going on in my head.”
“Well try and get some rest. ’First day tomorrow. Wee ones will run you ragged for sure.”
“I will.”
“I’m outside if you need anything.”
“Outside?”
“You know me. The sky’s the limit...”
“Okay...” She follows his lead and steps outside to see the many brilliant stars above their heads.
He looks at her.
“Okay,” she exhales long, relaxed. “Kennen?”
“Yeah...”
“Thanks for helping me get here.” She gives him a peck on the cheek.
A big grin and blush envelop his face. He lingers a little too long in the doorway, and then says, “Right. Sleep well.” Kennen stares at her, not wanting to go.
“Good night, Kennen.”
“’Night.”
Aliya walks into the hut. She climbs onto her mat to sleep. She looks up at the sky through the open square where a window would be. She takes her spectacles off and lays them next to her mat and closes her eyes.
#
The sun bursts high and hard, as it never slept.
Aliya wakes to children -- albino and black -- peering in, watching her. They are whispering and giggling. Her light eyes look almost a pale green and are sensitive to the morning light. She squints and slides on her nerdy glasses and their faces become detailed. She smiles and jumps out of bed. She pats their heads through the window frame, a big smile on her face. Then there is the sound of Kennen’s morning chant roaring into the cloudless sky, “It’s a beautiful day!” It echoes and his enthusiasm for the day spreads to two of the older boys who playfully mimic him. And her first typical day begins. She hands out hats and sunglasses to the children, teaching some how to apply sunblock to their skin, she teaches the English alphabet to an all-ages class, she helps Kennen and some of the older children and adults repair a fallen hut, and Aliya tells the story of “The Three Bears” to some of the children.
#
One day, while Aliya is teaching class, she notices Bashima longingly looking out the window with tears streaming down her cheeks. Aliya looks to see
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