World AIDS Day
The industrious I had been pressing flesh and making herself known to the movers and shakers for at least a month leading up to the big day and it really paid off. The hall was packed when we got down there. All the village elders turned up for the first time. Both local schoolchildren and those from surrounding villages had made the journey and at the front were around a hundred kids sat quietly on the floor. It was a magnificent sight after we’d been told that in every previous year, the hall was barely half full. Plus, through her connections, we were made the district sponsored event, which meant funding and attendance from the district council.
The event began with a prayer, as they always do. Then the Anglican Church Choir sang harmonies beautifully. There were dramas, speeches, demonstrations, poetry and it seemed the crowd were kept genuinely enthralled for around four hours. Considering many of them had just come from the football tournament, there must have been rumbling bellies and so this is some achievement. What I’m most proud of is the way Ilona handled herself the whole day though, she was like a whirling dervish ordering this and directing that but always with a smile on her face and time for everyone. I, on the other hand, was still wound up from the football so whenever someone asked me for a free t-shirt I told them they’d find one where the sun don’t shine.
The nurse at the local clinic, dodgily called ‘the madam’ gave an enlightening speech on female condoms. To demonstrate, she had cut a hole out of a piece of sponge to represent a vagina. But, she’d forgotten the other essential element. So she asked the crowd whether any one had a penis she could use. More weirdly still, one of the peer educators from the local mine had brought his wooden penis with him. Does he carry it everywhere he goes? To the bafflement of elders and primary school kids like, the madam then proceeded to insert said penis. The mirthful I maintains it’s the funniest thing she’s ever seen.
At around 6 the events came to a close with a prayer and the DJ set to work. We danced with what little energy we had left with a succession of little kids. Finally, at around 8, 12 hours after the kick-off of the first match we slumped in our chairs at home. Incredibly, the owner of our local, Sister Comfort, had made us some fish stew and boiled yam so we had our first food since toast at dawn. A beer or two later and we were at the bar thanking her and being thanked for a job very well done. (sound of trumpets blare).
The event began with a prayer, as they always do. Then the Anglican Church Choir sang harmonies beautifully. There were dramas, speeches, demonstrations, poetry and it seemed the crowd were kept genuinely enthralled for around four hours. Considering many of them had just come from the football tournament, there must have been rumbling bellies and so this is some achievement. What I’m most proud of is the way Ilona handled herself the whole day though, she was like a whirling dervish ordering this and directing that but always with a smile on her face and time for everyone. I, on the other hand, was still wound up from the football so whenever someone asked me for a free t-shirt I told them they’d find one where the sun don’t shine.
The nurse at the local clinic, dodgily called ‘the madam’ gave an enlightening speech on female condoms. To demonstrate, she had cut a hole out of a piece of sponge to represent a vagina. But, she’d forgotten the other essential element. So she asked the crowd whether any one had a penis she could use. More weirdly still, one of the peer educators from the local mine had brought his wooden penis with him. Does he carry it everywhere he goes? To the bafflement of elders and primary school kids like, the madam then proceeded to insert said penis. The mirthful I maintains it’s the funniest thing she’s ever seen.
At around 6 the events came to a close with a prayer and the DJ set to work. We danced with what little energy we had left with a succession of little kids. Finally, at around 8, 12 hours after the kick-off of the first match we slumped in our chairs at home. Incredibly, the owner of our local, Sister Comfort, had made us some fish stew and boiled yam so we had our first food since toast at dawn. A beer or two later and we were at the bar thanking her and being thanked for a job very well done. (sound of trumpets blare).
posted by Luke Chapter 1 at 2:44 pm
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