Work Days

We had been pounding red dirt into the floors for days. We needed to pack it in before the cement was poured to create the floors. The work was slow and tedious. It was Thursday and we had just finished eating our usual breakfast of porridge and chapatti. A perfect meal to give us energy for the long day ahead.

Mukisa picks up a piece of timber and rams it into the ground. Over and over again. He does this all day. He knows that if the rooms aren’t ready, the workers will leave until it is. We cannot afford that. I muster my strength after a five minute break and pick up my skinny piece of wood. We pound in rhythm. I take many breaks, but Mukisa presses on.

“You know in Animal Farm”, he starts, “there is one old horse. He is old and tired. But he wakes up early, before any other animal and starts working. Then, he is the last to go to the sleep. I will try to be like that horse.”

He slaps his hands together with a smile, as if he’s just made up his mind, and returns to his work. He has to be so tired, but his face refuses to show it. Boom. Boom. Boom. It’s the metronome of the work day.

When the sun starts to set, Mukisa arranges the boda boda to take me home. I know that he won’t give himself the same luxury; he will walk.  He arrives home after dark and gives his usual sigh—the one that is high in hopes and accompanied by an accomplished grin. “Isukayo!” Welcome back!

“Today,” Mukisa says, “The boss saw his men slowing. Then he pointed to me and said to them, ‘see that mzee (elder)? He is still working, so you will work too!’ They all continued. Ha ha!” He did a dance with his wife, Teopista, in the moonlight.

I laugh along with them and give my congratulations. I guess nobody wanted to be showed up by an old horse after all.