THE LEAPING AFRICAN DAISIES

Chapter 1

The last bell of the day had just rang and Musonda was rushing to finish copying the history notes from the black board. Her best friends Lungowe and Mabuchi were out from their French class and already waiting for her by the window. Hurry up Muso, we have to catch the first minibus, said Lungowe. Just a minute, said Musonda, standing up from her chair while jotting down the last sentence. Slow coacher, called Mabuchi, giving the glass panel a good knock.

Musonda finished her notes and stashed the rest of her books in her cotton sack bag and ran out of the class to meet her friends who were already walking towards the bus stop. Wait up girls! What is the hurry for? asked Musonda, stopping to pull her white long socks up to her knees and patted her hair to even the look. You with your neatness, you think the bus driver will give you any notice, said Mabuchi. Leave me alonecan't a girl just look her best unless she is attracting attention, answered Musonda. Stop it you two, and just join the queue, said Lungowe, taking the leading position behind the outstretched line.

The line to the bus was long, curving from the school gate to the bend at the end of the fence and down to the next street. Five more minibuses arrived and before long the girls were on the fourth bus and on their way to the tailor at the main market.

Musonda and her friends were preparing for their school leaver's dance, and a week earlier they left eight meters of cloth material with the tailor. Musonda personally came up with the design of the dresses. The girls wanted to have a similar look, although considering the dress pattern; it was going to be challenging to have enough material to fit a 200 pounds Lungowe. Musonda's mother had insisted that she buys a cheap second hand dress from the market second hand vendors who sold imported merchandise called 'salaula' a direct translation of 'choose' as people would flock to the newly opened bail and be bent there for a while until they chose what they fancied. It could have been a bargain for Musonda, imported and cheap, but it was a rare coincidence to find twin dresses, later on a third, and not forgetting the dress sizes.

I hope he started with my dress, Mabuchi whispered to Musonda. Shut up Buchi, said Musonda, turning her back towards Mabuchi, hoping not to hear anymore of her cynical thoughts and her self-centered complaints that went on for most part whenever they were out together.

Chapter2

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