Through The Storm

“I’m not surprised, given your uncle carries the same blood,” Mugi pointed out. “I never met your father, but I can already see pride runs deep in your family. It makes a man strong, if not stubborn.”

“Stop giving our Mac a hard time.” Kesi laughed at the opposite end of the table, closer to Tessa. She wore pants and a white cotton top embroidered around the neck. A printed scarf was wrapped around her head and beaded earrings added beautiful traditional touches to her outfit. Her style would have made a great subject for one of Tessa’s fashion columns. Kesi couldn’t have been much younger than Mugi, yet her warm skin had such a youthful glow.

“Are you two calling me stubborn? Me?” Mac asked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He took a piece of chapati, tore it and offered half to Nick. Nick took one bite and immediately reached for another piece.

“Oh, should I tell embarrassing stories of the first time you landed here?” Kesi smiled as she waved her hand across the table. “Please, everyone, fill your plates and don’t be shy. There’s enough for seconds and thirds.”

“I think I need to hear this story,” Tessa said.

“Yeah. Embarrass Uncle Mac. Please.” The way Nick’s lopsided smile mirrored Mac’s was uncanny. She wished she had a camera.

“Did he run out of gas and get stranded?” Tessa ventured.

“Worse. He ran out of gas on the wrong side of the river,” Kesi said. “You tell them, Mugi. I love hearing this story.”

“They don’t want to hear it,” Mac insisted.

“Yes, we do,” Tessa and Nick said simultaneously.

Mugi laughed and put his elbows up on the table. He leaned a few conspiratorial inches toward Nick and jerked his head at Mac.

“Your uncle here was out on his first flight in the area. No passengers. Just him...a fledgling.” Mugi chuckled. “So he had lost his bearings and realized he was too low on gas to make it back safely. According to him, he had been told over the radio that there was a camp nearby, but the trees had just greened up, lush enough to make spotting this place from the air difficult. So he went for a clearing...but not the one where you landed today. No, this one was across the river. Kesi and I were sitting at the edge of the camp watching the various herds make their way upstream for water when we saw him land. Now, mind you, where there’s prey, predator is not far behind.”

“So you called out to him?” Nick asked, chewing more slowly.

“Of course not. We just watched to see what he’d do. After all, even lions have babies to feed. He was just part of the food chain we were observing in action. There’s no television out here. A guy needs entertainment.”