“Samm, I’m not ready. The fair is tomorrow, I feel sick. Is there a way for me to participate without being at the fair?” Mulenga asked Samm, while stroking the books with her hand as she paced chi dams room in Chitambo.
“Have you been practicing?” Samm asked Mulenga without stirring from his book “Well, yes” Mulenga replied.
“Do you have your report ready to be submitted?” Samm continued. “Yes, I have all that but…” Mulenga stopped as Samm interrupted her “But nothing, you’re simply scared. How can we go on an adventure if you’re this scared?” Samm asked putting his book down, to stare at Mulenga.
The door suddenly opened with Kezipe storming through clearly worked up about something she’d heard. She paced round the room without saying anything.
This caused Samm and Mulenga’s interests to shift as they stared on, forgetting the drama of the science fair altogether. “Whatever you do, you can’t go to the science fair.” Kezipe eventually exploded after all her pacing yielded no results. “Not this again. I just got her confidence back up” Samm sighed, closing his book in frustration.
“Look Samm, you weren’t there ok? You didn’t hear what we heard or see what we saw. Mulenga’s life is in danger.” Kezipe spoke, careful not to mention any important details in front of Samm. “Kezipe it’s fine, I think Samm needs to know, this is the adventure afterall.” Mulenga thought out loud as she slumped her in a sit to get comfortable. Mulenga watched Kezipe tell Samm her story, occasionally adding her own words to set facts straight.
“That’s everything.” Kezipe said finally after detailing all she could remember. Samm’s face beamed with excitement and wonder as he jumped up and down. “You have to go to the fair!” Samm exclaimed, after he had calmed down from his excitement. “No Samm, it’s safer if we all just remain here.” Kezipe spoke thinking the safety of her friend before above anything else.
“They won’t stop searching for her. Is she to be on the run for the rest of her life? Hiding herself from the world behind locked doors?” Samm asked Kezipe, curious as to what the master plan was. “I don’t know, but I just don’t want to lose a friend” Kezipe broke down thinking of the worst possible situation. Mulenga sat unable to move or console her friend as her mind went blank with fear of how the next hours could turn out. Samm stood from his chair, walking himself to Kezipe who had sunk to her knees in grief.
“I know you’re scared. But if we don’t take a stand together, as friends, then she will keep running.” Samm hugged Kezipe tightly trying to reassure his friend. “I have an idea but it involves loads of trust.” Samm continued, this time now staring at Mulenga waiting to see her reaction. None of the girls seemed enthused by the thought of planning to expose the very person they were afraid of. Samm sensed the apprehension of the girls as he slowly started to lay down the plan.
“Kezipe your sculpture is done all you need to do is showcase it. Mulenga you are a natural at dance and those moves you came up with are going to be impressive nonetheless.” Samm spoke, taking the lead. “Samm do you even have an experiment?” Mulenga asked, joining the discussion at last as they got ready for what would be her first science fair at Chikwendo.
“I don’t yet have a name for it yet, but its a sound modulator, sort of. I want to test how many different sounds can be made that the human ear fails to pick up on but still can affect our world” Samm explained, with a wide grin clearly proud of himself.
***
Chandeliers transformed the gym into a night time spectacle. Draped along the walls were glow in the dark stardust wallpapers from one end of the wall till they met again by the doors to entrance. The large room smelled differently from different spots within the room but from the door all the trio could smell was food. People walking around everywhere, some in white coats as judges and the rest were company CEOs keen on discovering new innovative ideas.
Samm, Kezipe and Mulenga stood by the entrance completely transfixed by the transformation of this one room.
“If you’re taking part in the fair, remember to register, secure a table. We will be getting started any time from now.” A voice boomed over the speakers waking the trio from their day dream.
“Let’s sign up and set up next to each other” Samm said, leading the trio away from the entrance through the crowded room towards the registration table. As they walked past, Mulenga got distracted momentarily by another child she’d never seen before dancing. It was magic and just as she was starting to lose herself in it, Samm’s voice pealed her eyes from the dancer.Mulenga took one last glance at the dancer before following Samm. As Mulenga turned she bumped into someone.
Mulenga looked up to apologize, and felt her blood dry up from fear. “Apologies” said the figure as she kept moving on. “Mulenga you have to stop getting distracted, let’s go!” yelled Samm metres away, but Mulenga couldn’t move. The realisation was too much for her to contain. “She’s here” was all Mulenga could utter once her friends rejoined her side.
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