Mvua ilianza kabla ya kengele ya kwanza.
Haikuwa mvua ya kuomba watu wasubiri dakika kumi. Ilikuja kwa upepo, ikasukuma maji chini ya turubai na kuifanya hema ya Form Two B ipige kelele kama bati lililofungwa vibaya.
Amina alikuwa amekaa tayari na kalamu mbili mezani wakati tone la kwanza lilipoanguka katikati ya karatasi yake ya assessment.
“Madam,” mwanafunzi mmoja alisema, “mtihani unaanza kujibu wenyewe.”
Watoto wakacheka.
Mwalimu wa mathematics hakufanya hivyo.
“Everyone simameni. Papers juu.”
Tone la pili likaanguka. Kisha la tatu.
Dakika mbili baadaye kona nzima ya hema ilikuwa inavuja.
Salma alipofika kutoka office, wanafunzi walikuwa wamejikusanya upande mmoja wakishikilia papers kifuani. Ndoo mbili za jana zilikuwa zimejaa nusu.
Mwalimu Jengo akasema, “Assessment imekwisha hapa.”
“Classroom nyingine?” Salma akauliza.
“Zimejaa. Library tuna Form One. Workshop roof yake pia inavuja.”
“Shift?”
“Tutamaliza saa ngapi? Na Form Three nao wana paper.”
Rukia aliingia uwanjani akiwa na mwavuli mkubwa.
“Parents wameanza kupiga simu.”
“Wamejuaje haraka hivi?” Jengo akauliza.
Rukia akamwangalia hema iliyokuwa ikitikisika.
“Watoto wana simu.”
Amina akasema kutoka nyuma, “Sisi hatuna wote.”
“Point bado ipo,” Rukia akasema.
Salma akaangalia saa.
“Tusubiri mvua ipungue?”
Jengo akatikisa kichwa.
“Forecast ni mpaka mchana.”
“Assessment tunaweza kuhamisha kesho.”
“Na kesho ikinyesha?”
Hakuna aliyekuwa na jibu.
Ndani ya dakika ishirini, wazazi watatu walifika kuchukua watoto wao. Mmoja alisema hatamrudisha mwanawe mpaka shule iwe na “classroom ya kweli.” Mwingine alitaka cooperative ikodi hall mara moja. Wa tatu aliuliza kwa nini watoto wafanye mtihani wakati familia ya Kito “inaendelea kupigania plot.”
Salma hakujibu swali la mwisho.
Alimwambia tu, “Leo tunatatua mahali pa kusoma.”
Saa tatu, Jengo alipokea simu.
Baada ya dakika mbili alitoka office akiwa ameshika karatasi.
“Kuna option.”
“Nini?” Salma akauliza.
“Mawimbi Vocational Hall.”
Ilikuwa kituo kidogo cha mafunzo ya ufundi upande wa mashariki wa mji, karibu kilomita nne kutoka SUR. Hall yao kubwa ilikuwa imegawanywa kwa partitions na mara nyingi ilitumika kwa evening courses.
“Wanaweza kutupa rooms tatu,” Jengo alisema. “Kwa wiki mbili.”
Rukia akasema, “Free?”
“Rooms, ndiyo. Cleaning tunalipa. Umeme wao. Lakini transport ni yetu.”
“Watoto watatembea?”
“Si Form One na Two wote. Na road inakata industrial junction.”
Salma akauliza, “Quote?”
Jengo akampa karatasi.
Minibus mbili, trips mbili asubuhi na mbili jioni.
Kiasi cha siku moja kilionekana kidogo mpaka kilipozidishwa kwa siku kumi za shule.
Rukia akasema, “Tutachangisha parents.”
Salma akatikisa kichwa.
“Baadhi tayari hawana emergency levy.”
“Basi wanaoweza walipe zaidi.”
“Tutafanya fund transparent, si ticket ya mtoto kuingia class.”
Jengo akaweka quote mezani.
“Lakini hata tukifanya hivyo, tunahitaji deposit leo ili buses zianze kesho.”
“Reserve?” Rukia akauliza.
Salma akafungua budget sheet.
School reserve ilikuwa imepungua kwa temporary tents, tarpaulins, replacement stationery na security ya usiku. Kiasi kilichobaki kingeweza kulipa transport kwa siku nne tu bila kugusa mishahara midogo ya support staff na food supplier.
“Hatuna wiki mbili,” alisema.
Rukia akasema, “Basi tunahitaji public appeal.”
“Ndiyo.”
“Na tuseme kwa nini.”
“Ndiyo.”
“Na tuseme demolition.”
“Ndiyo.”
“Na Doto?”
“Hapana.”
Rukia akafumba macho.
“Nilijaribu.”
“Najua.”
Walikwenda Mawimbi Vocational Hall saa nne na nusu. Mkuu wa kituo, Bi. Halima Tenga, aliwaonyesha rooms tatu. Hazikuwa nzuri. Moja ilikuwa na welding posters ukutani, nyingine ilikuwa na desks zisizolingana, na ya tatu ilikuwa na fan moja iliyopiga kelele.
Kwa Salma, zilionekana kama palace.
“Assessment inaweza kufanyika hapa,” Jengo alisema.
Halima akasema, “Asubuhi mpaka saa nane. Saa tisa tuna short course.”
“Tunaweza kupanga timetable.”
“Watoto wangapi?”
“Classes tatu kwa rotation.”
“Na supervision?”
“Walimu wetu.”
Halima akasema, “Mimi siingii kwenye dispute ya ardhi yenu.”
“Hatukuombi,” Salma alisema.
“Nimeona radio.”
“Tunataka rooms tu.”
“Basi rooms zipo. Wiki mbili. Tukihitaji moja kwa training tutawajulisha siku moja kabla.”
Jengo akatoa agreement fupi ya temporary use ambayo alikuwa ameandaa njiani.
Halima akaisoma.
“Hamtaandika kwamba tumewa-host kwa sababu tuna-support upande fulani?”
“Hapana.”
“Vizuri.”
Akasaini.
Tatizo la roof lilikuwa limepata jibu.
Tatizo la kufikisha watoto huko halikuwa limepata hata nusu.
Walirudi SUR na kufanya parent meeting chini ya verandah na library. Mvua ilikuwa imepungua lakini uwanja ulikuwa matope.
Rukia alisimama mbele.
“Tumepata rooms tatu za muda kwa wiki mbili bila room rent. Tunahitaji transport.”
Mzazi mmoja akauliza, “Kiasi gani?”
Salma akaweka budget kwenye whiteboard.
Minibus.
Fuel.
Cleaning.
Emergency stationery.
Kiasi kilichopo kwenye reserve.
Shortfall.
Hakuficha namba.
Mwanaume mmoja nyuma akasema, “Familia iliyovunja ilipe.”
Mwingine akasema, “Kwanza semeni nani alivunja.”
Sauti zikaanza kupanda.
Salma akasimama.
“Leo hatuwezi ku-finance kesho kwa accusation ambayo bado tunathibitisha.”
“Basi nani atalipa?”
“Sisi tutaanza na continuity fund. Contribution ni voluntary. Hakuna mtoto atakayezuiwa kusafiri kwa sababu mzazi wake hajalipa.”
“Na kama pesa haitoshi?”
Salma alinyamaza kwa sekunde.
“Tutapunguza trips, tutatafuta local transport support, na tutatumia reserve kwa siku za kwanza. Lakini kila shilingi itaingia kwenye ledger inayoweza kuonekana.”
Rukia akaongeza, “Tutachapisha total ya contributions na matumizi kila jioni. Majina ya donors yatawekwa tu kwa ruhusa.”
Mama mmoja akainua mkono.
“Mimi siwezi kutoa cash. Nina bakery. Naweza kupeleka buns kwa watoto wanaokwenda hall.”
Jengo akaandika.
Mwanaume mwingine alisema, “Nina van. Si bus, lakini inaweza kubeba vifaa na walimu.”
Rukia akaandika.
Mtu mwingine akasema anaweza kulipia fuel ya siku moja.
Mwingine hakutoa chochote, lakini alisema atasaidia kusimamia crossing ya industrial junction.
Salma alitazama list ikianza kujaza.
Haikuwa solution kamili.
Ilikuwa jamii ikikataa kusubiri perfect solution.
Kisha Doto aliingia.
Mkutano ukanyamaza.
Alikuwa hana mwavuli. Shati lake lilikuwa na matone ya mvua mabegani.
Rukia akasema, “Umefika kwa meeting?”
“Nimeambiwa kuna transport problem.”
Mwanaume wa nyuma akasema, “Lipa wewe.”
Sauti kadhaa zikaunga mkono.
Doto alisimama bila kujibu mara moja.
Salma akaingilia.
“Hii fund si admission process.”
Mtu akasema, “Lakini biashara yake ndiyo ililipa contractor.”
“Investigation inaendelea.”
Doto akatoa envelope mfukoni.
“Nitalipia buses siku mbili.”
Chumba kikaanza kunong’ona.
Rukia akasema, “Kwa nini siku mbili?”
“Kwa sababu hiyo ndiyo cash ninayoweza kutoa leo.”
“Na tunapaswa kuchukua?”
Doto akamtazama Salma.
Salma akasema, “Ikiingia fund, ita-recordiwa kama contribution. Haitafuta evidence, haitakuwa settlement, na haitabadilisha mediation.”
Doto akatikisa kichwa.
“Hiyo ndiyo nataka.”
Mwanaume nyuma akacheka kwa dharau.
“Ananunua image.”
Doto akageuka.
“Ukitaka watoto watembee kilomita nne ili mimi nionekane mbaya zaidi, sema.”
Salma akaona Rukia akitaka kuingilia, lakini hakufanya hivyo.
Envelope ilihesabiwa mbele ya watu wawili. Receipt ikatolewa. Ledger ikaonyesha:
**Doto Kito — voluntary continuity contribution — transport, two school days — no settlement condition stated.**
Doto akasaini receipt copy na kuondoka bila kukaa.
Baada ya meeting, Rukia akasema, “Hiyo itakuwa headline nzuri sana.”
“Usiifanye headline.”
“Nilikuwa na-joke.”
“Bado najifunza jokes zako.”
Saa kumi jioni, Salma na Jengo walikuwa bado office wakipanga student transport list.
Amina aliingia.
“Kesho tunaenda vocational hall?”
“Ndiyo.”
“Assessment?”
“Ndiyo.”
Amina akaguna.
“Nilifikiri demolition ingetupa free week.”
“Pole.”
“Na mvua?”
“Haijasaidia.”
Amina akakaa kwenye kiti.
“Watu wanasema Doto amelipa buses.”
“Amelipia siku mbili.”
“Kwa hiyo yeye ni good sasa?”
Salma akamwangalia.
“Contribution ni contribution. Evidence ni evidence.”
Amina akatikisa kichwa.
“Najua. Tracks mbili.”
“Umesikiliza sana.”
“Nyumba yetu haina walls za siri.”
Salma akacheka.
Asubuhi iliyofuata, mvua ilikuwa bado inanyesha kidogo.
Minibus ya kwanza ilisimama mbele ya shule saa moja na dakika kumi.
Watoto walipanda wakiwa na bags, transparent exam folders na kelele nyingi kuliko hali ilivyostahili.
Amina alisimama mlangoni kabla hajapanda.
“Salma.”
“Nini?”
“Usipoteze school wakati tuko mtihani.”
“Nitajitahidi.”
“Si joke.”
“Najua.”
Amina akapanda.
Bus ilipoondoka, Salma aliona hema zilizolowa nyuma yake na classrooms mbili zilizobaki kama meno yaliyovunjika upande wa rear compound.
Simu yake ikaita.
Ilikuwa namba ya transport company.
“Bi Salma? Tuna confirmation ya siku mbili. Lakini kwa wiki iliyobaki tunahitaji deposit ifikapo kesho saa sita, vinginevyo tutatoa buses kwa contract nyingine.”
Salma akafungua continuity ledger.
Contributions za jana zilikuwa zimefika karibu nusu tu ya deposit inayohitajika.
Watoto walikuwa wamepata mahali pakavu.
Sasa walikuwa na chini ya saa ishirini na nne kuhakikisha wanaweza kufika huko tena.
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