writing ( 14 )

Underneath a scant shade of a mango tree,ninety people gathered to talk about the shortage of food facing their community.From a distance , there was a dramatic backdrop of the impressive granite bulk of the mount Mulanjie, rising out from the plains.The lunch time was coming.The sun heat was increasing .People used their umbrellas to shade themselves at time they expected to use them in conventional ways.

A week before Christmas,we were invited over to lunch with women of the village.They said,come to see what we eat,come to lunch.Ironically,there were many women around the world gathering for lunch and many people enjoying Christmas's turkey.The menu was "wild" beans in different stages.Ofcourse,it wasn't like good photos shots to the "HouseKeeping".The beans were poisonous and killing instantly!It need cooking all the day long with the precious water and firewoods.Then, peeled ,removing the sticky outing before it was served.At the same time,pots should be guarded or the kids would eat before making sure of sanitation.

These people grew rice and depended on the seasonal rain for their crops.This year, the rain was late, again.Their experince taught them that it would be a month late.So,it would be a bad year for them and so far there were no food aids.

People also ate unripe mangos a long with beans.They picked them, then women peeled and mashed them.

The men were far a way looking for jobs.They would come every two or three weeks .The pay would be just food and the lucky one who came back with maize as a good payment.Children were also in the other naighbouring villages,working as herds, caring for cattle and goats for the fortunate people there.Here,the well-off people had nothings.Cattle and gotas are either perished or killed for food.

The original story by Jane Beesley