Chapter 2
© The School of Truth
Source p. 6, Jul / Aug 2009 - The Path of Truth (Young Ideas)
In Chapter 1, Mukombe, Senjaan's friend, told his pals about the Bulbul (or "Toppie") who ate his paw-paw. The lads all had a good laugh at this story.
Senjaan said: "Well, you cannot blame the iPotwe because paw-paw and such like fruit are their natural food, and I suppose they thought you had put the paw-paw there for them. I have seen your mother putting unwanted fruit on that flat stone for the birds to eat."
"They do not only eat fruit, they eat insects, too, and especially the grubs that destroy the fruit. And I think that perhaps they got to like the taste of fruit when they started digging into it to get at the grubs," said another in defence of the Bulbul.
Senjaan said: "You are talking as though you think that all fruit belongs to man. Don't you think that perhaps the iPotwe thinks that if we did not eat so much of the wild fruit that grows in the bush, there would be more for them?"
"Have you seen the nest they are building in the thicket lately?" asked someone.
"Not only have I seen the nest they have built but also the eggs they have laid," said Senjaan.
They all got up noisily and went off to the thicket to see the new home, and there, about six feet from the ground, was a small cup-shaped nest made of twigs, roots and other finer vegetable matter, beautifully lined with fine rootlets, situated in a specially selected spot hidden by leaves, but not at all difficult to find.
When standing on the stump of a tree near the thicket they could see four pinky-white eggs with underlying slate markings and red speckles and spots.
The two birds did not relish the boys being so near to their precious nest so flew about noisily trying to attract their attention away from it.
Then from a clump of bush near the spring about twenty Bulbul started a chatter that all country dwellers know means that they have spotted an intruder.
The boys went off to see "what the iPotwe were laughing at," as they put it.
"Walk warily," cautioned Senjaan. "Don't forget that these birds often do this when they see a snake."
The boys cautiously advanced towards the spring, with nerves tense, not knowing what they might encounter, stopping every few yards or so to take a good look ahead. The atmosphere was charged with excitement.
Then suddenly a burst of laughter from Senjaan broke the tension.
Following the direction of his pointing finger with their eyes, they saw a flying bundle of fur making for the nearby hut.
The cause of all the excitement was Senjaan's much loved cat!
[To be continued.]
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