Four boys in my neighborhood who were interested craftily zoomed formed a group to help them scoop my attention using individual invention this happening left a lifelong impression especially when I heard from my friend who was dubbed a courier of a kind by one of them who grew up with her to intervene in his favor I was informed but wasn’t moved couldn’t submit at all to his proposal when he heard was bewildered girls he knew wouldn’t have dared to go against advice from peers got back at me for the diss telling my friend the group’s intent in getting together to win my heart.
The eldest of all pulled out automatically handling the situation diplomatically weighing how it would be unfair competing with a wild younger brother the third one was so direct expressing himself as to how he felt asked me out with such assertion his ruse being same level of education I declined deflating his righteous mind I shouldn’t have been told about the boys world I was hopelessly hooked when I examined preferred the one who first deserted chasing him became my mission waiting patiently during intermission inside the compound of summer school followed his every move like a fool a new era was unfolding before my eyes am having confusing exciting disturbing desires my heart pounding when he appeared aching for his acquaintance, I wondered.
Why oh why wasn’t he like his brother? who smoothly blended like the weather befriended my sibling through pigeoning started bringing to our house his colorful pigeons in a large box the boys summer passion joined force they searched high and low going around with other boys in our neighborhood they spent hours studying their possession the two of them looking like leaders of a nation coaching their allies with such strong urge how to rescue birds when they surge unsuspectingly into traps set by foes.
Now I declare if you care to hear more about teens back then when school closed in the rainy season apart from soccer chasing each other wrestling boxing outsmarting waging war nothing comes close to lying on the ground listening to the tottering sound brought about by the caged pigeons confining them in boxes with holes restricting their movements depriving them their freedom now that isn’t the only worry if they let them out to be free they fly away and will be lost so they delight keeping them tight Am no pigeon but fell in to trap set for me by you know who frequent visitor of brother dear who succeeded in drawing near enough to produce the proper means of approaching the girl he loves narrating about the pigeons he had methods he used to keep them sound dramatizing making me giggle displaying how they always wiggle I thrived in his company became inseparable gradually his brother didn’t mind when I overstayed for all they know am the girlfriend decided to clear the air once and for all pointing out to my friend they caused my fall
Everyone thought we were in love both of us were trying to solve the problem close at heart couldn’t hide the misery we felt disclosed the intense feeling I harbored to the big brother he was horrified at my relentless audacity guised in the cloak of friendship disregarding the relationship he took no heed no matter how I pleaded defending his brother who patiently waited going great lengths to please covering his hurt not to lose the friendship he valued more than the wound he carried I salute you big brother for the simple truth you utter hold on to what you have.
BY EMBET MESFINE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2023
