Bambwe

Giggles, snickers and outright laughs

Pressing in around me are thirty ebony faces big and small

Few speak English

Few even chance a look

Try asking their name and they giggle and hide in the crowd

Curious are few, timid are many

Some reach out and touch my arms, amazed by the way they feel

Skin so pale has never been seen in this village

One asks what my name is

I reply, "Linley!"

A chorus of "Leen-lee" echoes around me

I try this out- "Hello!" 

"Hello!" I receive back

They love copying me

I keep smiling at all the little ones

They usually scatter

Some come up from behind me and grab my hand

I turn and peer down to those cute malnourished bodies and see big brown eyes looking up at me

Now we are best friends 

They take me to flat ground and get in a circle

We all hold hands and they start to chant a song

Then we dance

Leaping to the side while singing this song

They look at me and laugh 

The pale person is playing with them

This is not something they are going to forget

I won't either