People had less work to do, unlike the wet season when the Bantaba used to be quiet like a graveyard as everyone would be busy weeding and doing other farm works.
The Bantaba was full of life. Men, both old and young, were present. Petelbodi was known to have the most interesting Bantaba in the Region. Its location at the heart of the village was awesome, but the idea to have separate "grand-places" for the two-rival old-Pa gangs made visitors more astonished. This rivalry, they said, emanated from politics. The APRC gang, where Mboud Sapo's grandfather belonged, was more powerful at the time, but the UDP gang was untouchable.
Many people narrated that Mboud Sapo's grandfather -- Kaw Diwreh, who was very fast-tempered -- fought another old Pa from the UDP gang just because the latter pointed his finger at them while explaining something to his gang members. Kaw attacked him and managed to bite his left ear. People who were there to separate them told him "Kaw atchu noffrou ndou" but Kaw just closed his eyes and continued bitting even harder until he cut off his rival's ear. This had happened many years ago. Mboud Sapo was in his teens at this time.
Young boys within the age bracket of 10-15 were blissfully playing football with a ball made up of rags which were rolled together and put in a sock and sown with a needle to ensure its durability.
The other old Pas who didn't belong to any group served as spectators for the famous Choki, a checker-like game played on the ground. Two young men were playing, and others watched amusingly. Juldeh, the master Choki player, was tempted to speak as he saw a very tactical move that could instantaneously end the game, but he couldn't say it directly. He just laughed and gave a hint. "Choki dii gassi" which implied that the game was over. Another man retorted, "just keep quiet.'" He smiled, shook his head and kept quiet.
Women were passing by frequently. Most of them were fetching water from the main well. They were in a haste to finish their house chores before night.
The old Pas in each Grand place discussed about many things, but the topic of the week was the bountiful harvest that the village had recorded that year.
“Heh, this year’s first rain was one of its kind. It was not destructive compared to past years.” Kaw said thoughtfully.
“Yes, you are right. I can remember how I had to push and pull with the storm that accompanied last year’s first rain. It nearly carried away my hut,” another one added.
Everyone laughed out loud. It took some seconds before the laughter was erupted by Dem Binta who said, “but you were lucky that it did not carry yours. Mine was completely thrown at my backyard.’’
“I can remember. It was difficult for you. "Last year was full of misfortune.’’ Kaw added.
The discussion was erupted when the village’s angel, Gehdadoh, passed by and greeted. The attention was shifted on her. They watched her as she walked majestically heading to the well with a big bucket. Gehda, as they fondly called her, was one of the politest ladies in the village. She was loved for her politeness and beauty. Her physical appearance was top-notch. She was tall and had a coco-cola-like shape. The color of her skin looked like an anthill, not dark but not also very fair. Her teeth, very well arranged, were as white as milk. It seemed as if a mechanic chiseled them in that sizable and well-arranged manner. She had a sizable diastema, a small gap between her upper front teeth.
The old Pas observed her with expert eyes as she gave them her back. One of them shook his head and said, “what a polite and beautiful girl! Her husband will be lucky,” he continued.
“No wonder, she did not get this by chance. She is a spitting image to her mother,” another one added.
“She will soon get married. Most of these young boys can’t stop eyeing her. I know they will fight spiritually over marrying her” Kaw spoke after keeping quiet for a while. He was busy observing Gehda in a secret way.
“I just pity her. Some gifts are accompanied by a big burden. I know they will take her to many marabouts,” Juldeh added while still looking at the direction of the Well.
Mboud Sapo’s agemates were at the other side discussing about their plans for the dry season. Some said they would go to the Kombos and search for blue-colored jobs. Others said they would start land preparations early for the next rainy season. Mboud Sapo, the program mobiliser, raised the topic about a fural, a musical jamboree, that was to be organized at the neighboring Saré Bojo.
"When is it taking place?" His best friend, Pateh, asked eagerly.
"You want to tell me that you are not aware," Mboud Sapo said surprisingly.
‘’Yes, I am not.’’
‘’Okay, the fural will take place tomorrow,’’ he said amusedly.
‘’What are your plans? You know you have always been the unlucky guy whenever we attend a fural,’’ Pateh said mockingly.
‘’AH, this one will be different. I know I don’t have a girl-friend in Sare Bojo but I will have one tomorrow. My grandfather had given me one ‘’jatol’’, a spiritual recitation that I can use and instantly have a girl accept me,’’ he said confidently.
‘’ Boy, help me with it please,” the rest of the boys hastily said simultaneously.
‘’You guys don’t know how much I suffered to get it. I had a contract with my grandfather. He asked me to weed his entire farm before teaching me anything. And he said I should not teach anyone,’’ Mboud Sapo added.
‘’This is the problem with these spiritual recitations. It’s only in the hands of few people who always refuse to share them with others,” another one retorted.
Mboud Sapo, in an attempt to end that discussion, raised the issue of transport. The distance between Sare Bojo and Petelbodi was some kilometers away. The means of transport used the most were horse and donkey carts. But the problem was this: how to have this horse or donkey cart. The only option was to use someone’s donkey without their consent.
‘’I have thought about using one of these donkeys that roam at night. What do you think?” he asked.
“Yes, we can manage and catch one or two of them,” Pateh suggested.
‘’It will be tough but we can catch up to three. It will make our journey easy,’’ another one added.
‘’Yes, let’s meet at my house tomorrow. I have ropes that we can use to catch them,’’ Mboud Sapo concluded.
It was already some minutes to magrib. Some of the old Pas proceeded to the mosque while others walked to their homes. The young boys had already dispersed. Mboud Sapo and his mates also dispersed.
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Mr. Omar Cham
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