The next few weeks were business as usual for Darling. Once during the week, Fred gave them a surprise phone call late in the night and even though she had to wake the twins to talk to their father, they were giddy with excitement at the opportunity. These rare calls left Darling feeling both happy and sad. She was glad that her daughters were getting a chance to connect with their father, but at the same time upset that he didn’t seem to be putting enough of an effort to be in their lives. When she asked him when he was coming home, he gave her a non-committal reply that left her feeling colder than before.
The following morning started had the usual mark of frantic action to beat time. Darling dressed her girls and drove them to school before rushing to her own job. There was some light traffic on Jinja Road and the street kids were running from one vehicle to the other, trying their luck. Two of them caught her attention. They were young girls dressed in bedraggled clothes. What caught Darling’s attention was the fact that they weren’t begging. One proudly held up a sign that proclaimed in bold red letters “God loves you. Smile.” The poster was almost twice the size of her small body but she didn’t seem to notice. Her accomplice was doing something equally as startling. She was singing a gospel song at the top of her voice, her chocolate colored face flushed with a beautiful glow.
Those two young girls stayed on her mind the rest of the day and from then on, she would see them on her way to work. It seemed she wasn’t the only one whose attention they had caught. Darling would see many passer-bys being affected by the children’s simple joy. They never begged. What a strange sight. That day at work, she talked to Joan, one of her friends about the street girls who never asked for money but seemed to have a bountiful supply of joy. “Wow…they sound amazing. I’d love to interview them.” Joan said excitedly. Darling thought it was a pretty great idea too. Luckily enough on her way home, they were still at their usual spot on Jinja Road and she decided to use this opportunity to make contact. She parked her car in the most convenient spot, took a deep breath, and approached them. “Hello, my name is Darling. Can I please talk to you?” She cautiously greeted them. Both inspected her with similar large eyes and she noticed that they also had identical corn-rows. “Yes ma’am.” The oldest one replied. The children were surprised when she suggested they go to Kyoto for a chat.
“They won’t let us in. We are dirty.” The young one said with a worried little frown. She inspected her torn shirt and huffed in disgust. Darling was just surprised at the level of awareness these innocent souls exhibited. “Don’t worry, they’ll let you in.” She said as she firmly led the way. In the 5 minute walk to Kyoto, she learned that they were sisters and their names were Tshani and Malika. Tshani was eight years old and three years older than her sister. “What beautiful names you have.” Darling said with a gentle smile as they were finally seated. The proprietors of the posh restaurant had given them strange glances but otherwise said nothing. She quickly gave them her proposition and their eyes widened when they learned that they would get 50,000 shillings for their trouble. “Wow…yes! Thank you ma’am. When should we do it?” Tshani asked with childish exuberance. Malika on the hand, only had eyes for the large pizza that been delivered to their table. “This chapatti looks funny.” She said as she studied the strange food in front of her.
Darling laughed and corrected her. They sat at Kyoto for an astonishing two hours and the young girls opened up like flowers blossoming in the sun. Darling intuitively sensed that the interview, which she had scheduled for the next day, would be a success. She felt a little guilty when she delivered them back to the harsh streets. They were only little girls. She hoped that the bleakness of life didn’t squeeze that beautiful glow out of their souls.
Just as she had expected, the interview went very well and within 24 hours, Tshani and Malika were front page news. She bought them a copy of the New Vision and they were excited to see their pictures in the press. Darling felt a strange maternal tug as she watched Malika’s wistful smile. Her tiny finger trailed over the paper with poignant longing as she scrutinized each word carefully. “I don’t know how to read, but Tshani is going to teach me.” She said almost defiantly. Darling was shocked that Tshani could even read. Despite their age, these were the strangest, most beautiful, most awe-inspiring little human beings she had ever encountered.
She was surprised when she wasn’t greeted by their bright smiles the next few days at their usual junction. Stirrings of worry crept into her heart but she tried to shrug them off to no avail. On the third day, she couldn’t take the anxiety any longer and enlisted one of the other street children to take her where Tshani and Malika spent their nights for 5,000 shillings. It was a dirty, disgusting hovel and she gasped in shock when she saw where the girls called home. When she found them, her heart plummeted right down into her stomach. Tshani lay feverish on a dirty kaveera, her head clumsily bandaged by a dirty rag.
When Malika saw her, the brave little soul crumbled into her arms and Darling could feel tears stain her shirt. “They beat Tshani and stole our money.” She said, her voice trembling. Darling took in a shaky breath, surprised that her own eyes were damp with tears. “Would you like to come home with me?”
Malika’s smile was brighter than the sun when she said yes.
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