Hello kids,
Welcome to #ClimateStory4Kids.
Trees are important to our ecosystem because they absorb carbon emissions and rid our environment of air pollution. That is why we must protect them.
In today’s episode of #ClimateStory4Kids, we’ll tell a story of how two young children, Akil and Avana, helped an old man to save their village. We hope you enjoy it.
On the outskirts of Zwanza lay a small village called Bwida. The village was known for its rich culture, one of which was the tree-hugging festival.
During the festival, the oldest man in the village, popularly called *Mwenye Busara, would mark the foreheads of young children – typically between ages 4 and 6 – with white native chalk after which the children would take turns in hugging the ancient Ndugu tree.
Standing at 300 feet, the Ndugu tree had thick branches and leaves that stretched out like angry claws. Legend had it that the tree was as old as time and it was instrumental to the victory of Bwida village during the succession wars.
The festival was a harrowing experience for the children because the tree was quite scary and it was located in the evil forest which was a tiny distance from the village. In fact, it was whispered behind closed doors that the tree was home to the meanest of spirits.
As the moon glowed softly in the sky, children with their parents gathered around Mwenye Busara in the village after the day’s activities. Taking his usual position in the middle of the crowd, the old man began his tale.
“All that we enjoy today in Bwida village is because of the great Ndugu tree. She has always fed us, provided rain for our farming activities, and protected us.”
He continued, “During the succession wars, when the enemies were almost on the verge of winning, strange sounds came from the forest and stones came flying towards them, hurting them in the process. They all fled and never returned till this day.”
Among the group of people listening to the old man speak were the twins Akil and Avana. From their countenance and the way they scooted closely to their parents, you could tell that they were terrified. Thoughts of invisible beings hurling stones weren’t particularly pleasing to their small ears.
Mwenye Busara continued, “Earlier in the day, some of the villagers saw chopped wood a few kilometers from our village’s border. This means we have strangers around us.”
“As you all know, it is forbidden to hurt the trees because they are our ancestors and they give us life. We must protect them.”
Trees were sacred in Bwida. They were treated as humans and as such, were not cut.
Nudging his twin, Akil whispered to Avana, “Those strangers sure are dumb because I couldn’t imagine myself going into a haunted forest.”
Avana rolled her eyes at him and placed her forefinger on her lips, effectively shushing him. She knew he hated it whenever she did that but that was the only way to get Akil to keep quiet.
It was midnight by the time the villagers dispersed and went into their huts to rest for the night. Akil and Avana stayed awake on their mats discussing the highlights of the day’s events.
“I almost fainted when it was my turn to hug the tree,” said Avana. Absently, she plucked a loose thread at the hem of her cloth and sighed dramatically.
Akil hooted with laughter, earning himself a playful knock from Avana.
“Ouch”, Akil whisper-yelled. He gently rubbed the spot, firing Avana a stern look.
They were interrupted by a light shining from a distance. The twins shared a curiosity that often got them scolded by their mother. Glancing at each other, they stood up in unison and moved close to the window to peep through.
It was Mwenye Busara. He was garbed in his familiar wrapper which he tied on one shoulder. The old man held a lamp and was walking towards the bush path that led to the evil forest.
Akil and Avana looked at each other and quietly left the hut, quickly catching up with the old man. They were careful not to startle him as they walked quietly, a few distances behind him. It was then they heard the strange sound. The children suspected that was what drew the elderly man out.
A buzzing sound could be heard from a distance. As they got closer, they saw about eleven men and two huge machines.
Mwenye Busara had turned off his light and had hidden behind a tree. His back was to the children so he couldn’t see them.
Also taking cover, Akil and Avana keenly watched what was happening from where they were hidden behind a rock.
The strange men were marking trees to be cut and from where the twins were. “It sure was a lot of trees,” the children communicated with each other in the strange way twins seem to do without having to utter a word.
Suddenly, Mwenye Busara’s bellowing sound split the heavy silence. The children almost fell out of their hiding spot. Quickly, they repositioned themselves and giggled softly when they saw the men looking around in fright.
Mwenye Busara bellowed, again and again, alternating positions so it looked like the sound was coming from different directions.
Realization dawned on Akil and Avana. Mwenye Busara was making those sounds to scare them away. There were no evil spirits. No, scratch that. Mwenye Busara was the evil spirit.
One of the strange men yelled in a shaky voice, “Who are you, reveal yourselves!” The other men were cowering behind the brave one. No one who saw them would doubt that they were very frightened.
Akil and Avana knew they needed to help Mwenye Busara so they quietly crawled to where he was and joined him in making strange noises.
The wailing sounds became unbearable for the men and they all scampered away, leaving their machines behind. One of them fell, face flat, to the ground in his haste to leave the supposed haunted forest.
After the last of the men ran for his dear life, Akil, Avana, and Mwenye Busara laughed so hard that tears rolled down from their eyes. The three pranksters slumped on the floor, exhausted from all the bellowing.
The next morning, Mwenye Busara told the whole village that the strangers that had been cutting their trees would not be returning anytime soon, thanks to the “evil spirits” that chased them away.
As he mentioned the spirits, his eyes sought Akil and Avana among the crowd. On spotting them, the old man winked at the mischievous twins. They were his comrade after all. True to their form, the little rascals winked and nodded in response. No one would believe the night they had the previous day. Akil and Avana looked at each other and shared a secret smile.
*Mwenye Busara is a Swahili expression for “wise one”.
End of ClimateStory
