A GIRL NAMED MIRRIAM
I can assume that when you don’t see someone in a long while, someone that you knew, maybe they were ‘content’ to a table of events in and out of your life. Perchance, for those that pay attention to detail, conceivably they were part of what is or was your story; otherwise, it’s normal social orientation and a human cue, for we’re social beings in our blank slates from conception to birth to full reasonable and rational beings.
I was brought up with what I believe is an outstanding and remarkable chance to have experienced some real-time events in life. In my nascent phase coming up, I wasn’t familiar with the concept of nannies; I probably had a few, but I don’t remember most of them being there for a while or longer. I can’t tell whether it was due to the financial bargain or moral value; quite an odyssey. Growing up, I had to be aware of the responsibilities around me, and I also had to learn how to do my stuff: wash my underwear and school socks, brush my school shoes, write my homework and get it signed, make my own tea in the morning—I just had to. I had an alternative, which was to still learn them or learn them. That is just what it was!
In that particular Milieu, sometimes on the weekends when my mother had work, she couldn’t fancy the thought of leaving me behind, not at least until I was responsible enough. So she carried me along with her as she went to work; I wasn't around her a lot of the time at her office because it was not good work ethic, rather not professional. So she took me to a ‘centre’ where there were a lot of different kids, just to hang around and pass time until it was evening, so we had to go back home in loud and overspeeding matatus, paying twenty shillings for transport, oh! What a time! This place was called Sally Test Center in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, a place dedicated to providing emotional & social support and well-being of children.
On my premier to Sally Test, I saw many children of about my age (9) and even younger circa 2008/09. The first question in my head was: What would all these children be doing here? Do they have homes, at least? Why around the hospital? That was purely rhetorical All I can vividly bring back is that they were beautiful kids—adorable creatures, to say the least. So my mother took me there and left me to spend the whole day with those kids. My mind was taking really big steps, and I wasn’t thinking as you would have thought or expected a child my age to be thinking. In Sally Test, the kids that stayed there most that I saw or interacted with had a certain problem attached to them. So I was playing along, singing along, thundering frisbees and boomerangs, and this wholehearted creatures just deserved to be happy, and that’s what was at Sally Test Center. It was for the kids, and thanks to Mrs. Mamlin, these kids knew home. For what I know till hithertho a good heart doesn’t talk about another good heart; it makes good for the heart.
Still a debutant at the center, I met this particular adorable young kid, almost the same age as me at the time; her name was Mirriam. Once my eyes set on her, I never seized to wonder why she did not look the same as me, and it really was a pertubation! She was this quiet girl, humble at first glance, slow to speak and shy to meet. I did not say hi; I was scared because she looked sentimental and a little bit squeamish. Hadn’t I learned what was going on in her life and what she had gone through, I would have asked innocent questions the wrong way! I was constantly throwing furtive glances at her, trying to get to know her through veiled observation. Somehow my mom knew about her and she told me her story. I can confess to you: as a 9-year-old, I was gutted by it. Mirriam was a survivor through the post-election violence that occurred in Kenya in 2007. She had burn injuries I can’t exactly remember to what degree, but they left a visible but painful scar in my eyes. When my mom told me about her, I couldn’t stop thinking about how adorable and promising this girl looked. As innocent as she was, there wasn’t a day you’d go past Mirriam without her trying to pull her face to smile; she was so winsome and enchanting. I remember she used to carry around this 10-shilling coin. Well, I don’t know for what purpose but she didn’t want to give me when I asked her to share some money (Hahahaha!) I was just being a kid.
So as time went by, I got closer to her. I never asked her what was up; I hadn't had the courage yet, but in all things I did, I did them out of love and through non-physical emotion, I let her know that I cared enough for her as she was. So I read story books to her with everything that she couldn’t pick up. I helped her do so, just as she was, trying to understand what this life is, why things happen to people and why they miss others. I never found my answer, but I can say that, as I have been growing up, you understand that circumstances come around; it just depends who’s around, She was lucky, or rather blessed for that matter for the people around her that contributed to her well-being. Steadily, while I tried to do a subtle survey, I read lullabies to children at Sally test and swang cradles so that the little ones could sleep, but deep within me, I was just trying to ask myself, Why am I so fortunate? You’d go home to your mom, your skin all black, no bruises or contractures, I couldn’t understand so well but I had to once, I started growing up and being a kid with so much to think about, so much that I promised myself the character and discipline needed, I did understand one valuable thing: We’re not always dealt the same cards in life, but when you’re fortunate enough to gamble, play the game as if you played it not for yourself but for others.
I last saw Mirriam in 2009, and since then I have not seen a picture or heard bout her. I randomly think about those kids, for I wonder what’s going on in their lives and how it's going, for I believe they’re grown adults and now can understand what life is to some degree. I have questions I would like to ask these kids, ask Miriam, but before I have passion and desire to look out for kids, kids who need to realise a dream and be whoever they want to be, without limitation, prejudice, or any form of discrimination. Shortcomings and disadvantages have masked potential and devoured passion out of people not within their liking, but because situations come to you, not because you asked them to, but because you cannot dictate how fate decides to unfold.
That Is a story about a girl named Mirriam.
Thanks to Sally Test Center Eldoret, thanks to Mrs.Mamlin, and thanks to the support around, the staff, and everyone, these kids realised a life, and certainly some things were covered for at least at that moment, but what was is what good it did! As the quote goes, “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.” — Nelson Mandela.
