When Akai was a little girl,
her mother used to put
her to sleep on a beautiful
mat. Akai's aunt made this
special mat from palm
leaves.
The mat had bright pink,
blue and green colours. It
was different from other
mats that Akai's mother
had in the hut.
The land around Akai's
home was very dry, hot
and full of stones. There
were many scorpions,
spiders and snakes too.
But Akai was never in
danger of being bitten by
these dangerous
creatures.
Her mother said, "Her
special mat protects Akai
from any harm."
Akai was a clever child.
She discovered where the
nearest shallow well was.
Akai also knew where her
grandmother's manyatta
was located. She often
went to drink camel milk
with her grandmother.
One day, Akai was not so
lucky. She left to go to her
grandmother's manyatta,
but she got lost in the hills.
Akai was afraid.
She sat under an edome
tree and waited for help.
Soon she fell asleep and
had a dream.
This is what Akai dreamed.
She was lying on her
special mat. A woman who
looked like her
grandmother was
watching over her. The old
woman smiled and gave
her a bowl of camel
milk. Just when Akai
stretched out her hand to
take the milk, she woke up.
Akai opened her eyes
slowly. When she looked
up, she saw a small blue
bird on a branch above
her.
When Akai got up, the
small blue bird flapped its
wings and led the way for
Akai. She followed the bird.
Akai came to a place
where the path went in
two different directions.
The blue bird dropped a
piece of a mat that was
like Akai's own mat.
Picking up the piece of
mat, Akai saw footprints
that she knew were her
mother's. Soon she saw
the shallow well from
where they fetched water.
Akai's family sang and
danced to welcome her
home. They slaughtered a
goat, roasted the meat
and celebrated their child's
safe return.
Akai sat on her special mat
and enjoyed eating a big
piece of roast meat.
Siddeeqah-Davids_-Akai_s-special-mat
