Chai Tea Sunday by Heather A. Clark Page B

in the other direction, past where the night guard had been standing.
    â€œThe guard doesn’t stay in the day?” I asked.
    â€œNo, he leaves at six o’clock. You have got no worries in Ngong town during the day, dolly. You can wear that backsack on your stomach if it makes you feel better, but it is safe in daylight. It is the night that you have to worry about.” Mama Bu stopped in her tracks and turned to look straight at me. “No matter what, Nicky, you absolutely cannot be out after dark. You have to plan your travel around the sun schedule, do you hear me? Because if the snatch-and-run thieves do not get you, it will be Kiano who has your hide when you get back to the house. We worry about our home stays, and it is our job to keep you safe!”
    I listened to Mama Bu’s words, taking them seriously. Fear of being targeted by violence obviously didn’t sit well with me and I vowed to never be out after dark — no matter what.
    â€œAre you okay with a quick stop? My neighbour, Barika, has been going on about wanting to meet you for days now. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” Mama Bu beckoned me to follow.
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œWonderful. You will like her . . . just be prepared for her to talk.
A lot
.” Mama Bu tugged at my hand once again and guided me down the path to the red dirt road where I comfortably fell into step alongside her.

10
    â€œ
Karibu
, Miss Nicole!” Mama Bu’s plump neighbour squealed when she saw me. Barika greeted me with a big smile and a handshake so firm she crushed my hand. She pulled me in and squeezed me until I struggled for breath. “We sure have been waiting for you! Welcome to Ngong.”
    â€œThank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I replied, trying to remove myself from her overbearing embrace as tactfully as I could. Barika dropped the hug, but quickly grasped my hand and pumped it firmly in her own.
    â€œI am Barika, Bu’s neighbour — and her very good friend. We’ve been like family for many years and anyone staying with Kiano and Bu is family of mine.” Barika opened the door and waved us inside. “Please, won’t you come in for some chai so we can talk and get to know one another?”
    â€œWe have only got a bit of time, Barika,” Mama Bu warned. Then, turning to me, she said, “Barika is one of my closest friends but, like I said, the woman is a talker. If she had her way, we would stay here until nightfall, drinking chai and talking about everything under the sun.” I chuckled softly as Barika waved her hands in protest and my host mother deepened her grin. It was clear to me that the two women were more like sisters than just friends.
    â€œSit, sit, Miss Nicole.” Barika pointed to the couches before bouncing from the living room to get us our tea. She called out from the kitchen, “So, tell me, Nicole, do you
like
Africa?”
    â€œWell, from what I’ve seen so far, I like it very much. But I’ve only been here for about twelve hours, although I did read a lot about Ngong before I came. It sounds like a great place.”
    â€œYou will see it all today, Nicky,” Mama Bu said. “We will walk through town and I will show you where everything is. We will hit the market and I will show you where you can find the internet spot.”
    â€œYou have internet here? I didn’t realize I’d be able to access it so easily,” I said, relieved. I thought there would be internet in Nairobi, but not Ngong.
    â€œYes, chicka, we have got the internet right in Ngong. Are you surprised? All of us can connect to the rest of the world from our very own town. And you can too.”
    â€œIs it expensive here?”
    â€œAbout one shilling per minute, dolly,” Mama Bu replied. I did the quick math in my head and realized it would cost about sixty Canadian cents per hour. I suddenly felt closer to home.
    â€œAnd what