Don’t forget my money! Fesito Weraba, Kasiingi … Hey! My friend! Kikyo! Look at me! I’m taking the bananas to market. My father has the fever. Where are you going, Kikyo? Kikyo To the hospital, to get my medicine. Won’t you let me ride with you, Fesito, please? My legs are tired already. Fesito And where would you sit? It is hard work for me with all these things. Old Musoke made me carry his paw- paws and Kasiingi made me carry her chickens. There is no room for mere children, Kikyo. Am I a pack mule, to carry everyone to market? Use your own legs! Weraba! Narrator 3 He rode on quickly, leaving Kikyo behind. Narrator 4 But somehow Kikyo’s face was still in front of him. Narrator 5 Kikyo’s eyes were big and his face was very sharp and thin. Narrator 1 His ribs stuck out above his stomach and the joints of his legs were swollen, Narrator 6 his arms and legs very thin. Narrator 7 His face so sad. Narrator 2 Kikyo did ask nicely. Fesito Kikyo! Come here quickly! Hurry! I’ll take you to town if you sit very still and do not fall off. Hurry! Kikyo Webali, Fesito. Thank you, my big friend. Fesito Climb up and sit on the saddle, and sit very still. If you wobble, the bicycle will topple over and everything will fall off. Kikyo Eh, webali, my friend, I shall sit as still as a mouse … I’m hungry, Fesito. Can I take a banana? Fesito No, they’re to be sold at the market! What will my father say if they’re eaten on the way by children? Kikyo Eh, I see. Fesito (aside) Kikyo is so thin. And small and hungry- looking. He’s only seven and has suffered a lot for such a young one … (to him) Kikyo, you may take one banana! Only one! Take it very carefully and do not upset the pile. Kikyo Webali! Thank you! It is very good, Fesito. Webali. Fesito Eh, it is good to be going to market! It is good to be a man among men. Kikyo Truly, Fesito, you are strong! Bosa Look who goes there! Bobwe Look who goes wobbling on his father’s bicycle that is much too big for him! Kagwe Who goes there, loaded with rubbish! Waswa Look who rides to market eating a banana like a baboon! Matabi Baboons ride to market! Baboons ride to market! Fesito You’re jealous because you have no bicycles to ride! Matabi You lie, you lie! Kagwe We’ll teach you to shout so rudely! Narrator 4 Bosa ran ahead and broke a stick from a cassia tree. Narrator 6 He held out the stick so that it would catch the spokes of the wheels and send the bicycle with Fesito and Kikyo crashing to the ground. Narrator 3 There was nothing he could do. He saw he would fall with the bike and Kikyo, and the bananas and pawpaws and chickens would be squashed. Bosa Ha, ha! You who think you are a man among men! Kagwe You’ll cry like a baby when you fall in the road! Narrator 7 Bosa came closer with his stick.


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Kikyo Ride, Fesito, ride! Matabi You! You baboon! Boys You! You baboons! You baboons! Kagwe You think you can be rude to us! Let me show you what I do to the boastful. ( runs up with a stick) Narrator 6 The chickens pecked crossly at Kagwe’s face and arms. Kagwe Ow! Ai! Fesito Ah! Now I’m glad I took the chickens for Kasiingi! Narrator 1 But they had not reckoned with Waswa. He picked up a stone and threw it at Fesito. Smack! It hit him in the back and it hurt very much. Waswa Little cowards! Little cowards who run away – instead of turning to fight! Ba, little cowards! Narrator 2 He bent to pick up another stone when bonk, a hard green pawpaw flew through the air and hit him on the ear. Fesito Ah, I’m glad I did not refuse old Musoke! Kikyo Ride faster, Fesito! No one can catch us now! Narrator 3 Fesito pedalled faster and faster. Zizzzzz! sang the bicycle. Kikyo’s laughter rang in his ears. Narrator 6 Faster they went and faster. Narrator 4 No one could catch them now! Zizzzzzzzz! ticked the wheels. Zzizzzzzzzz! Fesito Kikyo! You are a clever child, even if you are so small. Webali! Without the banana skin and the pawpaw so swiftly thrown, we would now be lying in the road while those thieves stole our things! (aside) I’m glad I was kind to Kikyo! Narrator 3 Now they sped down the road as if they were flying. Narrator 7 Trees and houses flashed past. And then suddenly they burst into the marketplace. Narrator 1 People and chickens and dogs scattered out of the way. Villager 1 Hey! Fesito! Is the evil one chasing you? Villager 2 Mind my peanuts! Villager 3 Mind my eggs! Villager 4 Mind my pawpaws Auntie Dudu Fesito! Mwana! Son of my brother! Is this how you come to market, like a whirlwind on the plain? Narrator 1 But his aunt was smiling and he, Fesito, with Kikyo on the seat behind him, rode into market with his head held high. Narrator 2 He, Fesito, had brought the bananas of his father … Narrator 4 … and the pawpaws of old Musoke … Narrator 5 … and the chickens of Kasiingi to market without harm. Narrator 1 He, Fesito, rode as a man among men! Fesito I, Fesito, rode as a man among men! All A man among men! Adapted from a story by Cicely van Straten from Madiba Magic, Tafelberg Publishers Ltd


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