The adventure begins!

Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot he continued.  Ruthlessly hot and unrelenting, the African sun beat down upon him.  It hung in the sky surrounded by infinite blue, a fiery and shimmering red orb that no cloud dared challenge. It seemed now matter how many steps he took he never moved and the sun stayed directly overhead beating him down a constant reminder of his place in the world. 

Endlessly the land stretched out before him, behind him and next to him. Golden and green grasses as far as the eye could see.  In the distance the flat gave way to rolling hills that were dark and calming.   Large trees dotted the land.  Proudly defiant of the sun their long branches stretched high into the sky until spreading in all directions creating the only source of shade.  He walked and he continued to walk, a small and insignificant peon in the realm of boundless sky and endless earth. 

His tattered sandals were covered in earth, both dust and mud caked his feet.  His pants, long out grown had become capris while his shirt was several sizes to large and resembled a short dress.  It was lonely walking alone so he pretended and day dreamed.  The trees were old men just waking from a nap, they creaked and they stretched.  The hills were woman offering him snacks and relief from the heat but they were just out of reach. 

            “No thank you,” he said to them in the distance. “I’ve got to keep going!”

Far off in the distance he could barely hear a hum but as the moments continued it became more audible until it was undeniably the sound of a truck.  He moved far to the side of the road not bothering to turn and see it.  He continued walking even as the truck slowed down and drove next to him. The loud and unmistakably diesel engine proudly bustled, drowning out the sounds of birds and wind.    

“Hey.  Hey there.  You.  Boy!”  Shouted a man from the driver side. “Where ya be goin out here all alone?”

The boy stopped and turned to the truck.  It was green mostly but also it was gray, yellow and brown covered in the same dust that he was so familiar with.  It hummed and shook with somewhat violent idle until the man in the truck shut it off.  It lurched forward and gave a shake as the engine quit.

“What are you deaf?  I said, ‘what are you doing.”  The man continued to shout despite the absence of the motor.

The boy looked the man in the eye while he whipped his forehead with the back of his right hand.  He looked timidly at the man and took in a deep breath to help give him the courage to speak.

“America.” He said. “I am going to America.”

The man in the truck looked at the boy with a smirk of doubt before scoffing,
           

“You can’t walk to America boy.  It’s too far and besides your too small.”

“I’ve got to go and I will go.  I have been going and I am going.  I am going to America.”  Interrupted the boy. The boy continued to defiantly stare in the man’s eyes before continuing, “I’ve got to go and I am going! I am going to America!”  He said proudly.

“Boy, what’s your name boy?” The driver said as he opened his door and stepped out of the truck. He spat into the dirt and stood over the boy before slamming his door shut.  For a moment the only sounds were the diminishing echo of the door, the wind and the ever present buzz of insects. 

The boy cleared his throat and whipped his forehead again. 

“Barack, my name is Barack.” He said.

“Well Barack, its nice to meet you.  I’m Abasi.” Said the man while he extended his large right hand.  The two hands met and shook while Abasi said.

“How old are you Barack?”

“I’m seven.”

“Seven? Well that’s too young to be out here all alone.  It’s dangerous and besides that its hot.  Get in I’ll give you a lift.  I am only going as far as Nairobi but let me take you there.  I can’t have you dying out here from the sun or a lion.” Abasi said with lighthearted tone. “Are you really going to America?”

“Yes,” responded Barack.  “I’ve got to go to America.”

“Well Kenya is a long way from America boy,” Abasi paused while he spat into the dirt once more, “but hop in.”

The doors of the truck gave a loud and somewhat angry creak, as they were swung open and then a violent and sharp clang, as they were slammed shut. The cab shook and the truck gave a shutter before it rattled to life.  Abasi slapped the dash twice before he shook the long shift lever and finally with a loud clunk placed the truck into gear.  Slowly yet infinitely faster than Barack had walked the landscape moved towards them.  The windows allowed for a pleasant breeze and the roof of the truck helped keep the sun at bay.  Finally Barack felt like he was moving and America became that much closer.