This Little Piggy Went to Market
The market is absolutely crazy! Anywhere you go in Kisumu, someone is selling something. They drape their bodies with ties and shirts, toys and electronics and walk the streets. Or they set their goods out on the sidewalks. At the market, though, chaos reigns as people walk into each other along the narrow passageways, between wood kiosks selling household goods, grains, tea, shoes, furniture, vegetables and fruits. 'Karibo, Mama, they say to welcome us, as a way of getting me to stop and look at their wares. 'Karibo, take your time, please!'
Stephanie, who appears to be about 12 years old, attaches herself to me. Her English is very good and she walks with me and Ian as though she, too, is an adult. I take this opportunity to learn about Stephanie's family and the price of goods at the market. She asks a vendor the price of his sugar, for if I ask, the price would be quadrupled. Stephanie's parents are dead. She lives with her grandmother. Her uncle makes furniture and we pass him as we explore the market. He seems affectionate toward Stephanie. She helps me pick out a pair of rubber sandals. 180 Ksh (about $2.25 US). To compensate for her assistance, I give Stephanie 20 bob and tell her to buy some sweets. 'What do you like?' I ask her, wondering what her favorite candy is. 'Shoes,' she replies very seriously and she points to a pair of smart-looking lace-ups. I laugh out loud at her cleverness and courage. 'How much are they?,\ I ask the vendor. '550 Ksh,' he says with a straight face. Stephanie asks to hold the shoe. I tell her I can't buy her a pair of shoes today, especially not a pair for 550 Ksh. 'They're too small, anyway,' she says.
Having a child stand next to me and ask for shoes is the most natural thing in the world. I feel totally comfortable when she asks. My children have done that very thing thousands of time and continue to ask for things, even though they're grown. So I tell Stephanie I'll look for her around her uncle's furniture the next time I visit the market. Perhaps we can find some shoes that fit her then. 'Okay,' she says. She shows us the way out of the maze, the fastest way to the road leading away from the market. I head to town and Ian goes home to nap, exhausted after our pass through the chaos. I hope to see Stephanie again one day. It would bring me great joy to buy her a pair of shoes.
Stephanie, who appears to be about 12 years old, attaches herself to me. Her English is very good and she walks with me and Ian as though she, too, is an adult. I take this opportunity to learn about Stephanie's family and the price of goods at the market. She asks a vendor the price of his sugar, for if I ask, the price would be quadrupled. Stephanie's parents are dead. She lives with her grandmother. Her uncle makes furniture and we pass him as we explore the market. He seems affectionate toward Stephanie. She helps me pick out a pair of rubber sandals. 180 Ksh (about $2.25 US). To compensate for her assistance, I give Stephanie 20 bob and tell her to buy some sweets. 'What do you like?' I ask her, wondering what her favorite candy is. 'Shoes,' she replies very seriously and she points to a pair of smart-looking lace-ups. I laugh out loud at her cleverness and courage. 'How much are they?,\ I ask the vendor. '550 Ksh,' he says with a straight face. Stephanie asks to hold the shoe. I tell her I can't buy her a pair of shoes today, especially not a pair for 550 Ksh. 'They're too small, anyway,' she says.
Having a child stand next to me and ask for shoes is the most natural thing in the world. I feel totally comfortable when she asks. My children have done that very thing thousands of time and continue to ask for things, even though they're grown. So I tell Stephanie I'll look for her around her uncle's furniture the next time I visit the market. Perhaps we can find some shoes that fit her then. 'Okay,' she says. She shows us the way out of the maze, the fastest way to the road leading away from the market. I head to town and Ian goes home to nap, exhausted after our pass through the chaos. I hope to see Stephanie again one day. It would bring me great joy to buy her a pair of shoes.
posted by Cindi at 10:59 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home