Prix Littéraire Rumuri

It's Dark before Dawn

By Audace Hakizimana

Mvakure is a 20-year-old boy. His mother died when he was six. His father Murengera couldn't put up with the situation which he considered as loneliness. Thence, he decided to marry a widow Karire. Life has really been bitter for Mvakure. Since he was a single child in the family, he was doing any work of the household. He got weary truthfully speaking. He was ill-treated by his stepmother. She used him like a plough. However, since he was meek, he tried his best to make her satisfied but to no avail. Murengera, as the head of the family, was used to going to Tanzania to bring home the bacon. Whenever he was out of the house, Mvakure was doomed. His stepmother did not take him for a human being but a speck of dust that needed to be cleaned from a windowpane. She challenged him and he would do what even he could not afford but for there was no other way out he would make it. She had also forbidden him to tell his father what would have happened. She had promised him death if he let it out. Always at dawn, he was poured water on to get awaken. She was happy to see him struggling with tiring works. She could even misuse things such as water or fire woods in order to send him to bring them again. One day, she misused water by washing herself. The pot was full of it. But she used it off. She went to bed. Early in the morning, as it was her won't, she shouted at his as follows: "Nasty sleeper, there is no water, you know. Take the pot and go to bring it. "But mum, I fetched a lot of it yesterday. It would have not finished yet"; retorted Mvakure humbly. "Eeh, what's the hell! Do you even dare reply to me? I can't bear it." "But er... mom er... I..." "Sssh, look at him first! I see that you've put on weight. That's why you've got so troublesome." She interrupted him. Thereupon, he took it as simple as possible. He took the pot as his stepmother had recommended. He went down the sandy-dewed narrowed road with ire but he couldn't do anything. He brought the water and put it in its reserved place as usual. But Karire said that he had fetched dregs. So she spilled it. Thence, she ordered him to go back to the spring. Unfortunately, giving the pot to him, she rolled it and it broke. She imputed him and took a stick to beat him. He tried to escape but he couldn't. He thought about how he would be back and accepted to abide. She beat him severely. She obliged him to take a big calabash and go to the spring. By gauging at the spring, she said: "Do you see? I want to spit on a leaf and if accidentally you come back after the spit has dried, you will see who I am." From home to the spring, there were at about ten miles. But Mvakure was as fast as a bullet. He brought the water in time which surprised Karire. But she was not satisfied because she had longed much to whip the lad. She now asked him to go in the forest during the red-hot sun to collect fire woods. She thought he would turn it down and then she would get the tremendous opportunity to beat him. But Mvakure did not care. He accepted to give himself to cobras. When he brought them, she threatened him that his father must punish him because he had broken the pot. In the evening Murengera arrived from a bar, drinks up to the throat. Karire approached him weeping and finally, she said: "Do you know my sweet? I'm weary of your son, and look, he has also broken the pot. How will I be fetching water?" But did she fetch it?" Fancy that! Murengera asked his wife:" What are you getting at? Do you go crazy? Ok, let me call him first. "No, even if you don't call him!" She replied. "Mvakure weee" He called him. "Pardon dad! I'm coming," He answered. He came shuddering and he greeted his father first. His father could tell how much he had panicked. "Mvaku tell me, what have you done to your mother?" He asked him. "Dad, nothing but..." "No...What?" She interrupted him. And she continued:" I'm tired. Hence, that is your choice; either I leave or he leaves." She said. "And this is your choice, either you abide or you leave. Did you know? This is my blood and I love him. In addition, I hope that you remember the dating days' oath. What did you tell me about Mvakure?" Murengera said. He now gave the opportunity to Mvakure to express himself. So he said: "Dad, I first thank you to grant this opportunity to me. Therefore, water has already overpassed flour. Whenever you're out, I must make sure I have to suffer. Just from your first step off, my mother pours water on me to wake me. She orders what even horses cannot afford. She said she is wary of me but I'm wearier of her, though. She always whips me for no reason. Even today she did. The pot that she told you I broke, was broken by herself. In fact, I was coming from the spring; and when I brought water, she scolded me saying I had fetched dregs. She said I had to go back. After spilling the water, she rolled the pot to me so that I went there back. And then it broke. Murengera kicked his wife out. However, she said she couldn't leave that day since it was already night. She said she would leave the following day. Nevertheless, he said if she didn't, she would see something she had never seen before. She finally left but before leaving, she said: "Yes, you sack me during such a night. But remember that though I go, I'm pregnant of you. Moreover, for your information, you did not know that you have drawn an ember into your clothes. So early or late, you will see who I am." Later on, she came back with magic to blind Murengera. It was he who became a wife to carry out husband’s orders. So he, himself started ill-treating Mvakure, his son. One day, Murengera sent him to a neighbour to ask for a hook to prune the plantains. When Mvakure arrived there, he found the man using the hook. Therefore, he was obliged to wait until the man finished. And when the man finished, he gave the hook to Mvakure who took it to his father running. When he arrived, nothing else his father welcomed him with but scolding. He did not even ask him why. He rather sent him to bring a stick to be beaten with. He was not able to escape. He went and bring it. Murengere beat him severely. This was so weird. From his birth, he had never seen his father put a finger on him. It's true that no one is perfect but Mvakure was not used to upsetting his father. But that day, he didn't believe himself. After beating him he said: "From now on, I can tell why you've been challenging to your mother. If you don't change your moods, you'll see what it is. Mvakure was not able to utter a word. He got afraid of him. Something crossed his mind. This was one of the stories his father used to tell him when he was eight years old. Normally, children at this stage have got fresh memories. They do not forget something they've heard. So, his father had once said: "A leopardess is an intelligent animal, do you know why? It doesn't want betrayal and laziness within her kids but strong, able and fearless well-trained kids. After giving birth, at some months, she snarls to threaten them. The ones that fear and flee will become small cats whereas the other that did not but who remained steady, become real leopards no matter how few they are. She may even remain with no real child because for her what matters is to have a child that will never fear threats but that will fight for himself." "Is it what he wanted to perform?" Mvakure asked himself. No, I think no. Things became worse. His father did not see him like his child, not only his but also of none else's. He'd already seen him like a desert plant, which anyone who passes beside does not look at whether it withers or not. Mvakure had really got as gaunt as a board. He would sit on a stool thinking about how to get rid of this burden but he could not find a way out. His heart was maimed. He was extremely appalled by these moods. In front of his father's hut, there was a sacred tree" umumanda". His stepmother had promised to hang him if ever she found him there. She believed that once he visited his mother's grave very often, she would inspire him in whatever he did. She only wanted him to be always working. He could not get a spare time unless when the stepmother had left. And always before leaving, she would give him many things to do so that when she came back she would find him still working. It was really an onerous task. But Mvakure was born a hard worker. He could not care. Yes, whenever rain catches you on your way and there is nowhere you can shelter, it must pound you and you must abide it. It's true that Mvakure was a hard worker but it doesn't mean that he would not mind a rest. Hardly, his stepmother would leave the homestead. When it happened, Mvakure would work as hard and quick as possible so that he could forge a rest for himself. After work, he would do a kind of suicide. He would go under the sacred tree, umumanda to watch up wrens who would come there to enjoy the freshness of the spot. He would sing some different melodies to them. Sometimes, he took them for messengers to carry messages to his mother. At this stage, he used to sing such a song. You wrens, wrens, wrens I love you so much I like your colour and games I can tell you're very happy And that's normal because you are With your sons and daughters Your aunts and uncles Your nephews and cousins Your fathers and mothers Ooh, I'm sorry to break your ears I wish I were a bird, too I'd fly far away from here So I'd like to make you messengers My message is not heavy It is light, though. When you fly back, Tell my mother I miss her Tell her that her son has withered Like ryegrass of summer Tell her from the time she left My father brought me another mother A mother who is not worthy A mother who is a lioness, though. Mvakure's mother's grave was not too far from the hut. His stepmother had also promised to kill him once she found him there. She said the ghost of his mother would teach him to rebel. One day, after singing to wrens, he got an idea: "Maybe these wrens are not delivering the message. I'll go to the grave myself. I'll abide by any outcome;" But he immediately got in two minds: "But can I really go or not? She might be coming. How if she finds me there?" He thought. But he decided to go. Getting at the grave, he sat down on it, rapt with thoughts. With heavy in-mouth cries, he said: "Mom, I've been sending messages But I've come to spot that may be My messengers do not deliver it. That's why I've made up my mind To bring it myself although my stepmother Had forbidden me to come here. Mum, I'm numb with grief Just from the day you left. I wish I had died first. I am lonely. Come out mum. I miss your educational ways. Now the education I'm getting Is that of being beaten? So mum, won't you come out? You're lingering and my stepmother Will strike me. Listen to me, mum I still love you. My stepmother has no love Burundians have well stated it They have said that: 'Hiyahura uwarozwe'. Yes, I entirely agree with them Because if any grieved person Was able to hang himself Just because of his grief I too would have already Hanged myself But, it's impossible I've been thinking of it But I always fail However, there is still time. Do you want to tell me That from the day You left, you've forgotten me forever? No, do not do that I humbly beg you; Come out and hug me Just as you used to do. Mum, you betray me, ok? No other solution. Since you don't want to come out, I'm off. But know that my heart Is not still within me. Bye, bye." He went back swamped with ire. On his way, he recollected how his mother used to lull his little sister, Ntimba. Ntimba died before Mvakure mother's death. She was 3 years old. She was the most beautiful girl in the village. That's why she was poisoned. One witch had said Ntimba would wear the family with honor. She had said that if she had to grow up in this family, the latter would earn many jewels and cows for a dowry. Therefore, she said they'd jump together. Ntimba's death was so abrupt. When Mvakure recalled this, he couldn't help crying. With all of his recollections, the one that seemed to have been haunting his mind was that of the motherhood that his mother used to show to her children. The lullaby she used to sing to Ntimba appeared to govern the recollections. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember any entire lullaby but some passages. Here is a passage that often pampered in his mind. Calm down, calm down I beg you Because children are adulated I'll take you to your own father I mean your father not your uncle He will ask me the reasons for your cries He will milk fresh milk for you. Calm down, calm down I beg you I wish not to give you to a stepmother She is a ferocious animal She would send you to fetch water In the rain of dawn She would send you to collect firewoods Under the red-hot sun And in the forest hosting ghosts. He'd compare this to conditions he was living. At that time, he thought that his mother was simply calming down her daughter but now he discovered how much love she was showing her. And he could think that perhaps she did not sing such a song for him. If she had, he would have not passed through such hardships. Ntimba died at first because his mother had denied to offer her to a stepmother. So what about him? Where there is death, there are cries and suspicions. Those were hypotheses Mvakure would simply make. Hardship is fought by means of only one weapon, courage. Mvakure was not discouraged though he was facing such hardships. He remained steadfast, humble and courageous. Later, Mvakure ended up down the hall. How did he get there? By "dunyuri". This is an art that cyclists use in order to move faster. Most of the time, they use it while climbing upward roads. They cling somewhere at the back of a lorry and it pulls them. This is also practiced by some lads wandering about. They climb on the back of the lorry and hold somewhere tightly. They are taken wherever they want. Mvakure had no money to buy a ticket for himself. But with this technique, he got in town easily. He went in the milieu he had never been before. Somewhere he had neither a relative nor a friend. When he arrived in town, he was surprised, and for a little while, he lost countenance. Time went on. He had no coin. Hunger pondered him. He knew nowhere. When it was getting dark, he went under a mango tree and lay there. He could not sleep because of hunger and the sounds of cars. In fact, misfortunes call one another and they follow one another. When little misfortunes occur to someone, despite their cries, great misfortunes must come. One must abide because you will fear a lion when you hear its roar. Nevertheless, when you encounter it, since you cannot run away and leave it, fear will disappear and you will engage yourself in a fight. Mvakure regretted to have left home but he thought he could let himself run over by a car instead of going back. He spent the night under the mango tree. At dawn, birds chanted and reminded him of how his stepmother was used to pouring water on him in such a cold. He was, of course, shocked but he could not go back to give himself to his stepmother. He had escaped from her because she was so ferocious. Besides, he had escaped from the whole family because even his father had changed much. He had become harsh to him, too. There was then no other choice. No suicide was possible. He had tried it before but it did not work. One day, he took a rope and made a loop but in vain. So he had succeeded in escaping his stepmother but had he really escaped from hardships? Who knows? Let's carry on. At sunrise, he started to walk without knowing where to. He met another idle boy who spotted him at the first sight and asked him:" How are you, young man? Where are you going? I can see you're new here in this town, aren't you?" "Yes, I'm new and I don't know where I'm going." "Little boy, you don't know where you're going? Come along with me." He took him somewhere to look for leftovers to eat. He asked him what had brought him in town and Mvakure told all about himself. The lad found out that they shared hardships. He finally said tearfully:" I'm sorry to hear your awful story. In fact, we share this story. So you're lucky to meet me. I'll show you all the ways to survive on. After eating the leftovers, they went downtown to beg. Days passed and others came. Mvakure lived this life for months. It was at about a year when he encountered a rich hospital person who, when Mvakure stretched hands to beg, said: "Make your choice, either I give you a ten thousand note or I take you to my domicile." The lady answered after a few seconds of hush, "Boss I'd like to go with you so that you give me some work. I think I'll be eating to satisfaction. Besides, I think I'll get somewhere to sleep comfortably." The person said: "You're actually a good thinker, but why didn’t you ask me anything about wage?" Mvakure did not linger to answer; "Boss, looking at my hardships, better to get something to eat and somewhere to sleep. That's all. Nothing about wage, I reckon." That person got pitiful and said: "You’ve got good ideas. I can tell that you're here because of the problems. Therefore, I'll take you with me. You'll be eating and sleeping comfortably." They went together. Getting there, as he was a young meek and hard worker, he got on with his boss like a house on fire. He confided him much. He could even send him to account his money. Mvakure had never seen his boss drunk. One day, he saw him coming plastered which surprised him much. The boss had done it deliberately. He had simply drunk a little to let out an alcoholic smell. He did it to test Mvakure. So after getting in the sitting room, he thrust his hand in his bag and took out many bundles of notes, which he scattered on and under the sofa. He lay weakly on the sofa. He called him. Mvakure came running. Having arrived, he could not believe his eyes. He picked the money first. He put it in the bag it was in before and took it in his boss's bedroom. He went back to take the boss. The latter was well built and a drunk person is too heavy to be carried by one person. Mvakure recalled how his grandfather used to tell him about drunkards. He had said that a drunk person is heavy. You can think he weighs ten times his real weight. However, there is a technique to carry a drunk person when you are alone. When he is lying down, bend down yourself, take his hand, put it around your neck at the back, and stand up. He will stand up, as well. Walk ahead, he will be walking, as well. Therefore, he did it and found it was easy to carry him up to his bedroom. Early in the morning, Mvakure banged on his boss’s door. He was going to ask how his boss had spent the night. He welcomed him in. He asked him all that had happened. He narrated it all. He told him about the money which was scattered and the boss pretended to be surprised whereas he had done it deliberately. Therefore, when Mvakure showed his boss the money the boss asked him to count it. He thanked him too much and said: "I've seen how much loyal you are. This reminds me the day I dropped a ten thousand note while I was going to work, you brought it running after me. You're really different from the one you replaced, I tried him twice by dropping notes down, but he would pick them and calm down. From now on, I'll lend you money to set up your own business. Later, Mvakure got a loan from his boss and set up his own business and it worked well. He was very successful and became popular. When he was seventeen, he joined the Common Business Company, which he ran after only eight months. At the age of eighteen, he had a car of himself. Besides, up to now, he hadn't gone back to his family. In his late nineteen, he made a car agency of his own. In his early twenty, he decided to go to the countryside to visit his father. One day, he loaded his car with crates of beer. And he set off with his boss and one of his business mates. He rang first at a mile away yard ward, secondly at five meters. Murengera and Karire were labouring in their farm and they seemed to have forgotten about Mvakure. They got surprised to see a car heading to their hatched house. When Mvakure arrived, he got off. Murengra and his wife couldn’t believe their eyes. Therefore, they came from their farm. Murengera hugged him with fear-hidden but Mvakure figured it out. He then said with a trembling voice, "My son, things have changed a lot. And r... r... I thank God to have looked you after for I didn't think you're still alive, and I'm r... I'm...r... dreadfully sorry for all that I've done." Karire greeted him shamefully, too. They unloaded the car. Murengera prepared seats while Karire had run to call off nearer neighbours. They sat and began drinking. After a time, Makure took a speech. He said: "My dear parents, my dear neighbours. I just take this time to tell you something. First, I am very thankful. I've endured hardships and now I'm out of them. I've already forgiven my parents and anyone who may have done evil to me. God had poured blessings on me. Here is another father God gave me." He pointed at his boss. "I think that amongst you no one thought I'd become who I'm. But God always keeps an eye onto the miserable. So do never ill-treat a human being whoever he may be because you cannot know his destiny. Who would think a coq could strip from its egg's shell? Do not ill-treat someone taking into account relationships. Know that there are people who will help you with what relatives cannot in spite of being able, thanks." Many got shocked by this speech and women who're prone to tears couldn't help crying. Murengera took a speech where he thanked his son. Karire couldn't utter a sigh, her tongue was now stuck not as in the former days. And her tough face, so made by household works that were formerly done by Mvakure, was full of shyness and shame instead of happiness. But Mvakure calmed her down in these words: "Calm down. I know that your wickedness was caused by ignorance. But don't worry. Let's forget the past and deal with the present."