HOME | DD

Description
{Chapter 1 - My Life on the Plains}

My heart pumped like an African drum as I run through the tangled vines and large of leaves... I took a sharp breath in for each foot running across the mud. I had to run away... I continued to run until I tripped and a yelp came from where I landed. I regained my stature and I gazed upon on what I tripped over, a lion cub. The cub growled at me and it chased after me. With the hopes that I can outrun it, I charged after the cub. I closed my eyes, shouted a war-like yell after the cub. The cub and I fought and wrestled with each other. The cub's large paws punched my dark skin as I wrestled the cub with my bare hands. However, after the dust settled...
"Tag! You're it, Mango!"
"Aw, no fair, Jarko! You made me trip on purpose!" The both of us laughed as we walked out of the jungle and headed for the vast savannah plains.
Jarko and I have been best friends growing up in our local village. Jarko is like an older brother to me. Although he is not my brother by blood, we became best friends the first time we met. He always likes to play the predator-and-prey game with me while his father goes off hunting and mother harvesting fruits. At certain times, he goes off hunting with his dad and he shares his lessons with me as we play.
Jarko pulled me up, "Sorry, Mango. The element of surprise is important for a successful hunt. Say, shouldn't we get back home before your father gives our village his food and music?" I smirked, making a note that Jarko mentioned my generous figure that is my father.

My family was not the "hunter-gatherer" type. They were peaceful and fun-loving music-makers. My father, Domingo, loved music since he was young. His specialty was making and playing the village's drums. His other specialty was the village cook, the person who gathers the whole tribe for a big dinner all together. Our tribe loved his food and his music, especially at special dinners our tribe celebrated our holidays. The tribe would gather their hunts and plants and give it to my father's shack. Next, he gathers all the food and places them on and in a stove. He cooks the vegetables and fruits in a large enough stove pot filled with water and cooks the meat in a heated room while he plucks the fur or feathers off. Then, after a few tastings and cooking, he summons his drum and plays a song as the village gather for a wonderful meal.

"No, Jarko," I reminded, "my dad will call the whole village whenever his drums are playing." And, just as an answer to a prayer, my father's drumbeats came into mind as it vibrated in my head. "I'll race you. First to finish gets a date with Zarina!" Jarko tagged my arm and sprinted back to the village.
Zarina was the most beautiful of my tribe's girls. She was a carer for all of our village, especially me. She even acts like an older sister to me. Once, she caught me sneaking out after dark for trying to take some Jarko's food. "Never steal," she would say to me firmly, "and besides, what would you feel if Jarko took something of yours?" Yes, she is a wise "older sister" while growing up and I've developed a small screen on her when she gave her power of forgiveness through her smile. It was the most precious smile I've ever seen. The most precious of all smiles was when she came to me and asked me for a gathering with her. I accepted gladly as she knew like I couldn't say no. After gathering a whole lot of berries, I played a little joke and took a berry from my basket and placed it on Zarina's cloth while she bathed in the river. However, she spotted me and ran after me with her basket in tow. We bursts into a berry fight as the sun brought upon the heat of the "battle". Zarina let to of her wise side to spend a little time of fun with me. That's what I like to see most from her: Her funny side.
I spent so much time daydreaming that the drums beat louder. I snapped out of it and ran back to the village. Of course, Jarko beat me to Zarina. He motioned his plate over to her, but she waved it away and walked up to me. "Aw, lucky you!" Jarko dropped the plate in defeat, but with little to no disappointment. Zarina nudged me over to the pot, "What about your dinner, Mango? Don't worry about mine," she smiled. I chuckled for a bit and gathered my food. A piece of hyena half cooked with carrots that looked oily and not fully cooked.
I tilted my head in confusion.

Description
{Chapter 1 - My Life on the Plains}

My heart pumped like an African drum as I run through the tangled vines and large of leaves... I took a sharp breath in for each foot running across the mud. I had to run away... I continued to run until I tripped and a yelp came from where I landed. I regained my stature and I gazed upon on what I tripped over, a lion cub. The cub growled at me and it chased after me. With the hopes that I can outrun it, I charged after the cub. I closed my eyes, shouted a war-like yell after the cub. The cub and I fought and wrestled with each other. The cub's large paws punched my dark skin as I wrestled the cub with my bare hands. However, after the dust settled...
"Tag! You're it, Mango!"
"Aw, no fair, Jarko! You made me trip on purpose!" The both of us laughed as we walked out of the jungle and headed for the vast savannah plains.
Jarko and I have been best friends growing up in our local village. Jarko is like an older brother to me. Although he is not my brother by blood, we became best friends the first time we met. He always likes to play the predator-and-prey game with me while his father goes off hunting and mother harvesting fruits. At certain times, he goes off hunting with his dad and he shares his lessons with me as we play.
Jarko pulled me up, "Sorry, Mango. The element of surprise is important for a successful hunt. Say, shouldn't we get back home before your father gives our village his food and music?" I smirked, making a note that Jarko mentioned my generous figure that is my father.

My family was not the "hunter-gatherer" type. They were peaceful and fun-loving music-makers. My father, Domingo, loved music since he was young. His specialty was making and playing the village's drums. His other specialty was the village cook, the person who gathers the whole tribe for a big dinner all together. Our tribe loved his food and his music, especially at special dinners our tribe celebrated our holidays. The tribe would gather their hunts and plants and give it to my father's shack. Next, he gathers all the food and places them on and in a stove. He cooks the vegetables and fruits in a large enough stove pot filled with water and cooks the meat in a heated room while he plucks the fur or feathers off. Then, after a few tastings and cooking, he summons his drum and plays a song as the village gather for a wonderful meal.

"No, Jarko," I reminded, "my dad will call the whole village whenever his drums are playing." And, just as an answer to a prayer, my father's drumbeats came into mind as it vibrated in my head. "I'll race you. First to finish gets a date with Zarina!" Jarko tagged my arm and sprinted back to the village.
Zarina was the most beautiful of my tribe's girls. She was a carer for all of our village, especially me. She even acts like an older sister to me. Once, she caught me sneaking out after dark for trying to take some Jarko's food. "Never steal," she would say to me firmly, "and besides, what would you feel if Jarko took something of yours?" Yes, she is a wise "older sister" while growing up and I've developed a small screen on her when she gave her power of forgiveness through her smile. It was the most precious smile I've ever seen. The most precious of all smiles was when she came to me and asked me for a gathering with her. I accepted gladly as she knew like I couldn't say no. After gathering a whole lot of berries, I played a little joke and took a berry from my basket and placed it on Zarina's cloth while she bathed in the river. However, she spotted me and ran after me with her basket in tow. We bursts into a berry fight as the sun brought upon the heat of the "battle". Zarina let to of her wise side to spend a little time of fun with me. That's what I like to see most from her: Her funny side.
I spent so much time daydreaming that the drums beat louder. I snapped out of it and ran back to the village. Of course, Jarko beat me to Zarina. He motioned his plate over to her, but she waved it away and walked up to me. "Aw, lucky you!" Jarko dropped the plate in defeat, but with little to no disappointment. Zarina nudged me over to the pot, "What about your dinner, Mango? Don't worry about mine," she smiled. I chuckled for a bit and gathered my food. A piece of hyena half cooked with carrots that looked oily and not fully cooked.
I tilted my head in confusion.