THE OLD MAN AND HIS CHILDREN
Kamau sat on his three-legged stool in the shade of the spreading mugumo tree.On its fig-like fruit,mouse-birds and green parrots were quietly feeding.The old man sat very still with his eyes closed.But he was not asleep or even at peace.How could he be at peace when the raised voices of his twin grandson could be heard all over the compound?
Kamau sighed at the sound which disturbed him even more then the insects which kept trying to settle on his head and shoulders.At least,he could drive these away with his horsehair fly swat
It should have been peaceful in the compound,for the women and folks were inside their huts and the young men had gone hunting.But it was not,for Mwangi and Nyoroge were arguing as usual.
"You should help me move the cattle!"shouted Mwangi.
"I'm busy!"Nyoroge shouted back,as he went on chasing his hoop.:if you help me with the cattle now,i"ll help you with the milking tomorrow morning,:mwamgi called out after him.
"Huh!"snorted Nyoroge."you and your promise Even if i helped you with the cattle,you"d find a way of getting out of helping me with the milking.
"I would not!'
"Would!"
"Wouldn't!"
The argument continued until mwangi saw that he was getting nowhere and began,noisily and whistling,he drove the cattle into their new enclosure.
Then he returned to the compound feeling very hot and tired..The sight of nyoroge coolly continuing with his game of hoop-stick was the last straw.soon blows and insults were flying to and fro between the two boys.
At this,the twins" mother rushed out of her hut to pull the boys apart,box their ears and give them a good scolding.As she stalked back to her hut.she called out to them,"one more quarrel from you and your father will hear about it."silenced at last,the boys stood and glared furiously at each other.
Having heard and seen everything,Kamau now called out,
"come,nyoroge!come,mangi!i have a story for you."
The boys turned and walked slowly across to the tree,their faces still angry and sullen. Nyoroge flung himself down beside the old man"s stool and began furious forefinger while mwangi sat hugging his knees.
Kamau spoke in his quiet old-man"s voice.
"Once there was an old man who had seven sons.They should have been his pride and joy.
Kamau sighed at the sound which disturbed him even more then the insects which kept trying to settle on his head and shoulders.At least,he could drive these away with his horsehair fly swat
It should have been peaceful in the compound,for the women and folks were inside their huts and the young men had gone hunting.But it was not,for Mwangi and Nyoroge were arguing as usual.
"You should help me move the cattle!"shouted Mwangi.
"I'm busy!"Nyoroge shouted back,as he went on chasing his hoop.:if you help me with the cattle now,i"ll help you with the milking tomorrow morning,:mwamgi called out after him.
"Huh!"snorted Nyoroge."you and your promise Even if i helped you with the cattle,you"d find a way of getting out of helping me with the milking.
"I would not!'
"Would!"
"Wouldn't!"
The argument continued until mwangi saw that he was getting nowhere and began,noisily and whistling,he drove the cattle into their new enclosure.
Then he returned to the compound feeling very hot and tired..The sight of nyoroge coolly continuing with his game of hoop-stick was the last straw.soon blows and insults were flying to and fro between the two boys.
At this,the twins" mother rushed out of her hut to pull the boys apart,box their ears and give them a good scolding.As she stalked back to her hut.she called out to them,"one more quarrel from you and your father will hear about it."silenced at last,the boys stood and glared furiously at each other.
Having heard and seen everything,Kamau now called out,
"come,nyoroge!come,mangi!i have a story for you."
The boys turned and walked slowly across to the tree,their faces still angry and sullen. Nyoroge flung himself down beside the old man"s stool and began furious forefinger while mwangi sat hugging his knees.
Kamau spoke in his quiet old-man"s voice.
"Once there was an old man who had seven sons.They should have been his pride and joy.
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