Based on a true story told by Gebriye Zenebe
Writer: Mezemir Girma
The sheep are busy grazing, whereas the cattle are sleeping beside the river which flows over the historic Engidwasha Cave. Two siblings are in charge of all these animals.
“Kasa, it is your turn to bring those sheep back here before they go to that farm. You know the owner will punish us today too,” said Kelem.
“Hey! I will hit you! You go bring them!” he said waving his stick.
“No! No! You deny? It is your turn. I will not go another time. I will bring them only now and you will go for two rounds. If not, I will tell Baba in the evening.”
“You tell him and tomorrow I will hit you,” he threatened her.
Kelem went murmuring and brought the sheep.
Kasa threatens his sister as such. Sometimes he punishes her. He has also a habit of abusing other people and running towards his parents or elder brothers for protection. At this particular moment, along the road from the side of the church, comes a passerby.
Kasa told his sister that he will insult the man. His sister warned him that the man would punish him. Kasa insists that he will insult the passerby. He could not heed the advice of his sister. He even threatened to hit him by a sling.
The man approached. Seeing that he wore a lowlanders’ gabi, Kasa shouted, “Lowlander wanderer! Lowlander robber! You dirty lowlander!” However, the man kept walking as if he didn’t hear what that boy said. Kasa kept insulting the man until the man went down the road and disappeared from sight. Kasa laughed happily over his small victory.
“He heard what I said. He kept quiet only because he is afraid. Lowlanders are cowards,” said Kasa to his sister who looked indifferent.
As the boy was bragging, a man emerged from the side the previous man went to. This man hid his hands towards his back. As he approached the children, it was not easy to know he was the previous man since he held the gabi he wore in his armpits. Actually, he was that same man Kassa had insulted.
“Good afternoon children. How are you? Can you show me where Asrat’s home is?” asked this man. Kasa told him that Asrat is his father and their home is nearby. “But, you know, my parents went to a distant farm. You cannot find them now,” said Kasa.
“Ok, good! Are you his children? Come, greet me children,” said the man. The man approached Kasa and immediately held his two hands together by his left hand. It was a stick that this man held in his hands. The man ordered Kasa to apologize or he would be punished.
“What if this man punishes me? There is no one to save me here. All my family members are gone to the field,” thought Kassa.
In case he is punished, Kasa considered throwing stones towards the man using a sling. He would narrowly miss the man two, three times. The man would try to avoid the flying stones and started to run towards the boy. Eventually, he would be hit by a stone and crumble down.
Now he would only pinch him sending his hands under his shorts. He would slap him with his hard hands. Should he apologize or face the consequence and then avenge himself?
Kasa’s eyes glanced every direction for his companion, their dog that attacked people when they fought with others. The dog was not around. The dog attacking the man would also be another tribal warfare.
His sister, Kelem, observes what happens to Kasa and learns that insulting people causes such punishments. Kassa apologized and the man told him not to insult other people at other times.
Fortunately, this man was a relative of Kassa’s mother and that could be why he didn’t hit him.
The man told him he would punish him if he hears he insults other people and the man went down the road. This time Kasa didn’t insult the man. He just murmured “I would tell my father if he were here.” This single incidence made Kasa a boy who respects young and old people alike.
