Kukumbuka pamoja na Bibi

Na Jane McBride

(Imetokana na hadithi ya kweli)

Kwa nini Mari amekuwa hana subira na Bibi?

Panel 1 of 3 1. Illustrated background with flowers. 2. Mari is sitting on a couch alone and looks back at her grandmother. She is sad or irritated. Her grandmother is walking away. 3. Mari and her grandmother are sitting on a couch together and are happy.

Mari alinuna. Bibi alikuwa anasimulia hadithi ile ile. Tena.

Bibi alikuja kuishi pamoja na familia ya Mari miezi kadhaa iliyopita. Mari alimpenda, lakini kuwa karibu na Bibi wakati mwingine kulichosha. Alisimulia hadithi ile ile tena na tena. Wakati mwingine aliianza tena kabla hata hajamaliza kusimulia hadithi.

Mari alishusha pumzi. “Bibi” Mari alisema, “umekwishanisimulia hadithi hiyo.”

Bibi alitazama chini. “Tayari?”

“Ndio,” Mari alisema. “Umenisimulia dakika chache tu zilizopita.”

“Sikumbuki,” Bibi alisema. Bibi alionekana kuhuzunika na kuchanganyikiwa. Kisha alisimama na kurudi chumbani kwake.

Mari alihuzunika kwamba alikuwa amemkasirisha Bibi. Tangu kufariki kwa Babu, Bibi amekuwa mwenye kusahau sana na sana zaidi. Wakati mmoja aliacha jiko likiwa linawaka, na likaanzisha moto jikoni kwake. Huo ni wakati ambao Mama na Baba walimleta Bibi kuishi pamoja nao.

Mari alimpata Baba jikoni. “Ninampenda Bibi sana, lakini ninachoka kusikiliza hadithi zile zile. Kwa nini hakumbuki kwamba yeye alikuwa tayari ameniambia hadithi hiyo karibia mara milioni hamsini?”

Baba akatabasamu. “Nina hakika si mara milioni hamsini. Lakini najua ni vigumu. Bibi yako ana maradhi katika akili yake ambayo yanamfanya asahau vitu. Hadithi zake ni njia yake ya kujaribu kukumbuka yeye ni nani.”

Mari aliinamisha kichwa chake. Kwa nini hakuwa na subira sana na Bibi yake? Bibi daima alikuwa anamtendea kwa upendo. Alimwita “Mari wangu.” Mari alifikiria kuhusu wakati alipomsaidia Bibi kupanda maua na kung’oa magugu bustanini.

Mari aligonga mlango wa Bibi.

“Ingia ndani,” Bibi alisema.

Mari alifungua mlango. Bibi alikuwa ameketi kwenye kiti na maandiko yaliyofunguliwa kwenye paja lake.

“Bibi, tafadhali unaweza kuniambia jinsi wewe na Babu mlijiunga na Kanisa?” Mari aliomba.

Bibi akatazama juu. “Unataka kusikia kuhusu Babu pamoja na mimi?” aliuliza kwa sauti ya tumaini.

Mari aliketi karibu na Bibi. “Ndio. Nataka kusikia kila kitu.” Mari aliutwaa mkono wa Bibi yake. “Wewe ni maalum kwangu, Bibi. Wewe daima utakuwa hivyo.”

Panel 3 of 3 1. Illustrated background with flowers. 2. Mari is sitting on a couch alone and looks back at her grandmother. She is sad or irritated. Her grandmother is walking away. 3. Mari and her grandmother are sitting on a couch together and are happy.

Bibi alitabasamu, akakaa kwenye kiti chake, na kuanza kusimulia hadithi.

Mari alikuwa amesikia hadithi hii mara nyingi, lakini wakati huu, hakuudhika au hakukosa subira. Badala yake, alihisi upendo na mshangao. Alijua Bibi na Babu walikuwa wamefanya dhabihu sana walipojiunga na Kanisa huko Ujerumani. Babu na Bibi yake walihamia mbali kutoka nyumbani kwao ili waweze kuishi karibu na waumini wengine wa Kanisa.

Bibi alimaliza hadithi na kutabasamu. “Wewe ni msichana mzuri, Mari wangu.”

Mari alimkumbatia Bibi yake. “Asante, Bibi. Ninakupenda.”

Page from the January 2023 Friend Magazine. Remembering with Grandma