A letter from the moon

Hi mama,

I thought this would be an opportune time to tell you how I am fairing. You’ll be glad to know that I landed safely, though the ride was less than pleasurable. The road was quite bumpy, the boy beside me kept messing up my hair and the driver refused to make a bathroom stop.

Oh well, I’m here now and that’s what matters. The thing is though, I’m here all alone and sometimes I get lonely. Sure, the big mountains and tall cliffs are a site to look at. They remind me of the women back home with their large behinds and tall strong backs. The sky is always black here. It reminds me of the underside of the iron sheet roof in our kitchen.

When I see all these things and remember home, I get sad and lonely. When I do, I sing the song of the stars. I don’t know whether you can here me sing from here. It looks like a long way down to where you are. I tried jumping the other day to come to you, but my hair was too heavy and I feel back to the ground.

Say hello to everyone for me. Tell father I miss him.

Say hello to everyone for me. Tell father I miss him. The big white sun in the sky makes me think of him. Tell sister not to play on my side of the bedroom. And tell her I haven’t forgotten that she stole my potato baby when it was asleep and I was out talking to the cow. Please ask her to throw it up to me, I have become a better catcher since I left.

And little brother, tell him to stop hitting the cow when feeding it. It cries every time he does that.

I have to go now, the sky is getting too dark for me to see. I hope to talk to you again soon. I love you mama.

On her way from the market, in a hurry to get home before night fell, a woman looked up at the rising moon. She smiled, relieved that she would find her way home even if darkness set in. A memory of a face as bright and joyful as that of the moon came to mind. The tragedy happened a long time ago, but it felt like she was back right beside her, her childish face also turned towards the moon in arrant delight.