Runyararo
By the time Runyararo and the elderly woman had reached Creamy Inn, Runyararo’s arms were aching. She was pretty sure she’d overstretched a muscle in her right arm.
“Thank you very much, dear.” The elderly woman said as Runyararo placed the shopping bag on the pavement.
“You are welcome, mbuya.” She wiped across her brow. She had worked up a bit of a sweat. Runyararo glanced around the parking lot, there weren’t many cars around.
“Is your son here?” She asked the woman, looking back towards her. The woman was peering at all the cars, obviously trying to identify the one that belonged to her son.
“Aiwa,” she replied, shaking her head. “I don’t think so.” She pulled out a phone from her purse. “Ah yes, he won’t be here yet. He said he would come at nine. It is only twenty minutes to.”She returned her phone to her purse. “I am sure he’ll be here, now-now.”
“Okay,” Runyararo said. “Then I’ll wait with you until then.”
“Oh no, my dear. It’s fine. Don’t worry. Unogona kuenda.”
Runyararo chuckled, “It’s alright, mbuya. I’m not really rushing anywhere.” She wasn’t and Aunty Abi wouldn’t be too worried if she delayed a bit in coming back. None of the groceries were needed urgently. Besides she felt it was important that she saw to it that the woman got home safely.
“Shuwa?”
“Yes, mbuya.”
“Thank you, my dear. God bless you.”
“It’s no problem.”Runyararo said and smiled at the woman.
“Well, now that you are here, can you watch my things? I would like to stop at the bank quick-quick.”
“Sure,” Runyararo replied. “I’ll stay here until you come back.”
“Wonderful. Thank you,” The woman said as she walked towards the bank. Once she had entered the building, Runyararo dusted off the pavement and sat down; eager to give her arms and legs a rest.
She had only been sitting there for a few moments, lost in thought, when she was pulled out of her mind by a voice.
“Excuse me?”
Runyararo glanced up. A young woman in her early twenties stood before her. She had on hooped earrings and was holding a black handbag.
“Hello,” Runyararo said.
“Sorry to interrupt. But have you seen a woman with pigtails come by here?”
“Um,” Runyararo glanced around, and searched her mind to see if she had seen someone of that description. She shook her head. “No. No I haven’t sorry.”
The woman sighed, and shook her head.
“Is everything okay?” Runyararo asked.
“Oh yes, it’s fine,” She smiled, “I’m just waiting for her.”
“Oh,” Runyararo said. “ Well, I’m sorry. I haven’t seen anyone of that description.”
The woman glanced at a phone in her hand, “Mhmm. Okay. I’ll wait here then. She glanced down at Runyararo, “Do you mind if I sit with you?”
“No, no. It’s okay.”
“Thanks,” she said as she sat. “Oh, I’m Anah by the way.” She extended her hand to Runyararo.
“Runyararo,” Runyararo replied, accepting her outstretched hand.
They sat in silence for a few moments. The other woman, Anah, was busy on her phone. No doubt trying to find out where her friend was. When she had put her phone aside, Runyararo cleared her throat and asked,
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” She replied, “ I was just texting my friend. Turns out she’s stuck in a traffic jam,” She chuckled wryly, “A fuel queue is spilling out onto the road and there’s a lot of confusion. But she said the police have just arrived, so things should be fixed up soon.”
“Oh that’s good.” Runyararo lifted her eyes and saw the elderly woman whose bag she was watching coming walking towards her, she was walking with a young man.
“Thank you so much, dear.” The elderly woman said as she approached. “Everything is sorted,” she laughed, “And my son has finally arrived.” She said, gesturing to the man standing beside.
The man smiled and shook his head, “Mama.”
He looked to Runyararo, as she got to her feet and said “Thank you for waiting with Mama and looking after her things.”
“It’s no problem,” Runyararo said. “Oh, this is Anah,” Runyararo gestured to Anah who was now standing as well. “She was sitting with me while I waited.” They all exchanged greetings and shook hands.
The young man clapped his hands together and said, “Alright. I guess we better be going. Thanks again.” He turned to pick up his mother’s bag and they headed in the opposite direction, probably to where he had parked his car.
It was now just Anah and Runyararo. Runyararo turned to Anah, “So, umm, how far with your friend?”
“She’ll be here soon, I think.” She said, “If not, I’ll have to go without her. Don’t want to be late.”
“Oh you have a meeting to get to?” Runyararo asked.
Anah chuckled, “Not really. Well, it is a meeting but probably not the kind you are thinking of. It’s a Bible study.”
“Oh,” Runyararo said. “Oh that sounds cool.”
“It is,” Anah said, smiling. Oh,” she exclaimed, “I hope I’m not keeping you from something. Do you have somewhere you need to get to?”’
“No, actually,” Runyararo replied. It looked like today was a day of detours. “I’m not rushing anywhere. I don’t mind waiting with you until your friend arrives.”
“Oh, that’s so kind of you.” Anah smiled. Runyararo smiled back, as they both moved to sit down again.
“So, what’s it like?” asked Runyararo.
Anah glanced at her, “The bible study?” Runyararo nodded, “Oh it’s great. It’s a really simple thing. Nothing fancy. So far there are just five of us, me, the girl I’m waiting for and three others. We all meet at my grandmother’s house. We set a book in the Bible that we study as a group and when we discuss what we gained from it and how we’ve been implementing the things we learned in our lives. We have lunch, talk some more. Then go home. Like I said, it’s pretty simple but it’s good. We have really good discussions and we grow a lot spiritually, you know?”
“Wow, that sounds amazing.” Runyararo said.
“Yeah. It’s just a great way to engage and talk about God, you know? Especially as young people. Not many people our age do this kind of thing.” She smiled at Runyararo, “And you? Do you go to church or Bible studies?”
Runyararo laughed wryly, “No Bible studies. But I do go to church.”
“You don’t enjoy it?” Anah, asked.
“What makes you say that?” Runyararo asked.
Anah chuckled, “That wasn’t a very happy laugh.”
Runyararo laughed. She hadn’t realised that she had let her emotions about her father’s church show so clearly.
“Well, it’s not that, exactly. Or it is. Just- yeah. I don’t quite feel like I’m growing in my church, you know? Like there’s more to God than what I’m learning.”
Anah nodded, “Mhmm. I hear you.”
“Yeah,” Runyararo said.
“Well,” Anah started, “You’re welcome to come this Bible study if you’d like?”
“Really?” Runyararo asked.
“Yeah. We are always looking for new members.”
“That sounds great,” Runyararo said. She sighed, “But I can’t today.”
She had delayed enough already. Aunty Abigail would be expecting her home. And besides she felt a bit hesitant at the thought of disappearing off to the house of someone she had only just met.
“Oh, that’s alright,” Anah said. “You don’t have to come today. We will be having another next week Tuesday. You could come to that one?”
Runyararo paused. She had been about to say yes, but at the thought of her father, she hesitated. What would he say? But right behind the apprehension was a feeling that she shouldn’t pass up this opportunity.
“Okay,” she said, “Yeah. I think I’d like that.”
“Awesome!” Anah exclaimed, “Here let me give you my details.” She pulled a notebook from her bag and tore off a page. She scribbled her number and address on it and then handed it to Runyararo.
“Thank you,” Runyararo said.
“No problem.” They were interrupted by a loud hoot. Both of them glanced up to see a small, green Nissan in the distant. The figure inside was waving.
Anah laughed, it was something that Runyararo was beginning to realise she did often. It made Runyararo feel welcome and comfortable in her presence.
“That’s Panashe. Looks like she made it.” Anah waved back then turned to Runyararo, “Guess I’ll be going now. Thanks for waiting with me.”
“You’re welcome,” Runyararo replied, smiling.
“Oh and please do come to the Bible study. We would love to have you.”
“I’ll try be there,” Runyararo replied. Lord, please let me be there.
“Call me, if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Anah.”
“It was nice meeting you, Runyararo.” She said.
“You too,” Runyararo said. She waved at Anah as she walked off to her friend’s car, got in and drove away.
Runyararo took a deep breath and lifted up her shopping bag. What a morning! She had helped a woman carry her groceries, met Anah and now she was, maybe, going to a Bible study. Talk about unplanned. She was just moving to leave, when she paused.
She hadn’t realised it as it was happening, but it seemed she had just received the answer to her prayers. She had asked God to send her someone who would teach her more about Him, and she had met Anah, a girl who hosted a youth Bible study.
Runyararo shook her head in amazement. Who would have thought? Mwari, You are amazing. She prayed in her heart. He truly was.
