Life & Limbs

“How long do we have to hide Madi?” one of the younger girls asked.

“Maybe all day into the night. We’re safest here so relax little warriors, we’re alright here.”

“Warriors should be out there fighting!”

“Yeah!”

“That’s right!”

“We can take 'em!”

“Katkatkatkatkatkatkatkat,” loud gunshots blasted in the distance nearby.

“Shhhhhhhhhh! Everyone quiet NOW! This is a serious matter... Our lives are SERIOUS. Do you understand that it is time to stay QUIET?”

The children respond in a sad unison, “Yes Madi.”

Looking at the scared and defeated faces, Madi began crying and comforting the smallest children clinched to her legs and arms.

_____________________________________________

When the mayor of Nunut declared martial law and lockdown, Madi planned to secretly evacuate the city until she stumbled upon a group of toddlers and children a little older walking in the street alone with sticks and worn-down clothes. She stopped them to find out why they were outside alone and all kept quiet except an older yet short child holding a stick.

“They’re back that way, in the middle of the street.” pointing down the street behind them, while a younger child began weeping. Madi knew that she couldn’t continue on her journey without these children.

“If I promise to keep you safe and feed you, will you all come with me?”

“Yes!” Two of the younger girls exclaimed, “Feed us what?” asked a boy with a stick, who looked like the oldest child. “Something tasty,” Madi answered with confidence.

“We’ll come.” the oldest boy told her.

“Alright. Let’s stay close together and head that way!” Madi gathered the children in a bunch in front of her and they moved towards the back roads where they were least likely to be seen by anyone who could stop their movement.

They made their way to a nearby facility of three stories, made with brick, and small rectangular windows about 8-feet apart from each other around the entire building. Madi felt a chill of nostalgia when she saw the abandoned playground outside. Some of the younger children screamed in excitement as they fixed their eyes on the rusted swings, “Let’s swing!”

“Shhhhhh! That’s not a good idea. We need to find food and shelter first so we can get off of these streets. It’s not safe outside right now.” Madi assured them.

“Are we going to get shot too?”

“LAM!”

“What?”

“No. We are going to find food and shelter so that we can relax and be comfortable,” Madi tells one of the younger girls. Almost not believing her own words, she looked around at the area they were in and tells them, “First they’d have to find us and be monsters to kill beautiful and innocent children like you all.”

Suddenly, Madi had a flashback of a moment in her childhood. She could smell sweet potatoes and mustard greens, remembering smiling faces of women, and strong yells of playing children. Able to then remember why the nostalgia chilled her body, this brick building was a birthing and child care center when she was a young girl.

“Listen up, I know this place. We’re going inside. It’ll be safe and we’ll eat here.”

Everyone followed Madi into a side door that was slightly incapable of fully opening or closing. The entryway led them to a dark and cold hallway where paper and old wet clothing ran along the bottom of the walls.

“What is this place Madi?”

“Lifeline. I used to come here as a little girl, no bigger than you. We had really tasty food here.”

“Doesn’t seem like any food around now.”

“Have a little faith, why don’t you?”

“Ooookayyy.”

Madi remembered the gathering area near the kitchen and brought the children there to sit and relax. “Come, sit, I’m going to get you all clean garments so you can be more comfortable.”

The oldest boy aggressively adds, “How are we going to be comfortable in here? No one’s here, it’s dark, cold, and they’re waring outside.”

Madi turned to him with a look of pity, as she knew he was hurting the most and trying to be the strongest.

“You’re right. It’s cold, dark, and there is real danger in the streets. This place was once a birthing and child care center where women would come to prepare for having babies. Babies would grow up here with other children of the community and everyone was happy and safe. The spirit of what was is still here. We just need a little light and warmth. I’m going to get that for us. Do you trust me?”

“How can I trust you when you don’t even know my name?”

“You’re right again, I’m sorry. Would you do me the honor of telling me your name?” As the boy turned away, holding back tears.

“His name is Kristoff!” Said the oldest girl.

“And what is your name?”

“I am Imani. This is Jimti, this is Lam, this is Kai, and this is Brooke.” All of the children smiled as they were called out.

“I am honored to meet you all. My name is Madi Raphael.”

“Madi? What kind of name is that?” Kristoff asked.

“A name given by my grandfather Ishmael, who was an Orator before he became an ancestor.”

“Oh.”

Madi gave Kristoff a stare for a moment, waiting to see a change of mood in his face.

He slowly relaxed his forehead and jaw muscles and eventually went towards the other children and sat on a chair beside them.

“I’m going to browse the kitchen now. Please, everyone sit, I’ll be right back.”

Imani gathered the younger children to sit under a window as Kristoff contemplated doing the same.

_______________________________________________

Most of what was left in the kitchen cabinets had rusted yet Madi gathered what hadn’t. As she finished collecting all that she could carry, she made her way back to the children, out through the hallway that led to many doors which the sight sent more chills of nostalgia through her body. Like the last time, she was guided by the feeling and decided to walk ahead into an old office room with a sofa, file cabinets, and a huge dusty globe still upright in the corner. She remembered this globe and the office. She remembered passing by in the hallway, always curious of what was in the cabinets, and why only men with suits who never looked familiar would be sitting on the sofa. Her childhood curiosity was as strong as the cinnamon potpourri scent that still lingered around the room even after being neglected for so long.

Madi put the perishable food onto the sofa, walked over to the globe, and finally touched it as she’d always wanted. Blowing the dust off of the top to find South America resting below years of abandonment, she closed her eyes and welcomed another chill of nostalgia. Her mother’s smile and the excitement of her mother’s then best friend filled loudly inside of Madi’s memory. She remembered them planning to travel to South America with their families to visit other women and children who were a part of the birthing communities. Madi came back to her present senses knowing it was no coincidence that she was standing here in this moment, looking down at South America on the ancient globe. Always wanting to search through the treasures of the file cabinet, Madi took a chance on searching what was in the cabinet labeled “P-S”. Coming across the “Raphael’s”, she sees “Raphael, Madi. Raphael, Nora.” and became overwhelmed with anxiety from possibilities that rest in the folders with her and her mother’s name on them.

_______________________________________________

“If I had MY own gun, each of them would be shot in the street instead,” Madi finds Kristoff standing over the other children talking aggressively with the stick that she found him holding when they met.

“STOOOOPPPPP! It scares me, Kristoff! Stooopp!!”

“Brooke, I have to protect us now. Even if I’m scared too. We’re all alone now.”

“You’re not alone anymore,” Madi placed the food from the kitchen on the floor next to the children and squats down to embrace a crying Brooke and Kai. “I’m sorry I took so long looking for the food. I found an old room filled with ancient treasure.”

“Wooooow! Where is it? I wanna see!”

“Yeah!” Brooke and Kai exclaim anxiously.

“We should respect the treasure that is left for others to claim. There is a lot with people’s names on it and they may come looking for it. Want to know what I found with my name on it?”

“Yes!!!” Brooke and Kai, now joined by Lam, declare.

“I found a bronze safe!”

“What’s inside?? Open it!” Kai asks.

“Well, first I have to find something pointy and sharp to open it with so we can find out!” Madi roams her eyes around the room for anything that fits the description.

“I have pins in my hair Madi!” Imani rumbles through her braided updo to find a pin, gathers two, and bites off the tips to get to the sharpest point. “Here!”

“You are so handy! Thank you, little sis!”

“I’m your little sis?”

“You’re all my little sisters and brothers. I told you that you’re not alone anymore. If anyone asks, I am your big sister Madi!”

“Yayyyy!!” Jimti cheers.

“Okay, let’s see what’s inside!” Madi sits in a crossed leg position and focuses the hairpins into the inside of the safe’s lock.

The children buckle down in suspense for the opening of the safe. Even Kristoff found himself closer to Madi in anticipation of what they would discover.

“I’m so nervous and excited! Ahhhghh!” Kai yells shakily.

Chhk click.

The children gasp as the safe unlocks.

Madi looks up at Kristoff, “Will you please help me lift the top Kristoff? It’s a little heavy.”

Kristoff walks over, confidently ready to assist. He pulls the top of the safe back, “Thank you, Kristoff!”

“You’re welcome.”

“Katkatkatkatkatkatkatkat,” loud gunshots blasted in the distance nearby.

“Ahhhhhhhh!! Noooooo!” Brooke, Lam, Jimti, and Kai scream in terror. “Madi!!”

“Get low on the floor!” Madi drops the safe and runs to the window to see what direction the shots are coming from. She notices large flames coming from a house toward the east of the city and black smoke in the air.

Kristoff finds a small black notebook near the safe that fell when Madi dropped it.

“How long do we have to hide Madi?” asks Kai.

“Maybe all day into the night. We’re safest here so relax little warriors, we’re alright here.”

“Warriors should be out there fighting,” Kristoff shouts.

“Yeah!” Jimti exclaims hesitantly.

“That’s right!” said Brooke.

“We can take 'em!” joined in support by Lam.

“Katkatkatkatkatkatkatkat”

“Shhhhhhhhhh! Everyone quiet NOW! This is a serious matter. Our lives are SERIOUS. Do you understand that it is time to stay QUIET?”

The children respond in a sad unison, “Yes Madi.”

Looking at the scared and defeated faces, Madi began crying and comforting the smallest children clinched to her legs and arms. Imani and Kristoff lean over them like a fortress.

“We’re going to be okay if we stay together, right?” Imani asks Madi with a look of uncertainty striking out of her eyes.

“Yes, we are protected because we are warriors. We are protected.”

Kristoff reaches in his pocket, “Madi, this fell out of the safe!”

“What is it?”

He hands her the small black notebook. Madi holds the notebook and immediately feels a rush of nervousness about opening it.

“What’s in it, Madi?” Kai asks curiously.

Madi opens the notebook to find a key and a letter dated back to fifteen years ago that reads, “Madi Raphael, this is a key to a portion of your inheritance. There is $20,000 in a safe deposit box at the location below waiting for you to claim it for travels to Machu Picchu, Peru. The Lifeline community there will be expecting you. Safe travels and Shalom!”