Diary of a Village Boy: The Leopard Spirit 13 (Tales by Moonlight 3)

I ignored the onlookers and went to sit with Fata. The evening was still young, and more children arrived as time went on. The moon shone differently than before; the white underside looked like it was cloaked in a light gray hue. The evening wind was busy doing its thing, and the little commotion of the moonlit tales continued. Many kids of all ages came and went, and many people shared their stories. During each break, there were breakout groups. Young adults, girls, and boys all had their own groups of friends. The little ones also chatted in different groups, which is why I called the moonlight gathering a bit of a commotion.

I’ll explain why I sometimes felt like the gathering was a commotion. I’ve seen kids throw sand at each other’s faces, then yell and cry. Sometimes the older boys were so loud that we couldn’t hear the instructions from the front. Fights do happen, but that’s rare. Teenagers in love hate to be disturbed when they meet to talk. A lot went on, and I can’t catch it all. Still, talking with Fata this evening was a good start.

“What are you thinking?” Fata asked with a smile. I completely forgot she was right beside me. There’s a kind of forgetfulness that often lingers when you’re spending time with someone you love.

“About school,” I said. She took a long look and shook her head, then let out a small laugh.

“I’m sure you’ll make the admission list. You’re smart… you’re…” she kept describing the qualities she sees in me that I never knew I had. Okay, guys, that’s one thing to love someone; it’s another for the one you love to praise you. Now, I was on cloud nine and would have hugged and kissed her if we weren’t in public.

Talking about public intimacy, I could go for a hug without caring much about people’s opinions, but a sudden kiss would definitely attract attention. Also, Fata doesn’t seem to be the type of person who likes public displays of affection. It’s not that I care what people think, but I don’t know how Fata would react. I wouldn’t want to be the talk of the town either, like the village teacher who once kissed one of the Chief’s daughters on the cheek as a sign of affection and interest, and how the Chief’s wife, who was passing by at the time, called it unclean mouthing and warned him to stay away from her family. Even the village idiot still remembers that event and shares it with anyone who cares to listen whenever he crosses paths with the teacher.

At this point, a messenger arrived quickly and, in a deep baritone, asked everyone to return home immediately. Why? People wondered. There was a large cat on the prowl. Night hunters had observed fresh paw prints and sent a warning to the village. It was likely a leopard…

To be continued…