Sandstorm

I am alone in the desert, with only Cal, my camel. We have been traveling for a couple of days, and I can tell he is getting tired. He has carried me many miles with little rest, and he is starting to walk slower through the hot sand. The sun is high in the sky, heating everything beneath it. There is no shade as far as the eye can see, and I have very little water left. If we have been going in the right direction, Mehaires should not be far away. I squint at the horizon, where the sand is starting to swirl in the wind, indicating a sandstorm. As we get closer, the sand rises higher and higher until we find ourselves in a cloud of sand.

Sand gets into my eyes and mouth, making me cough and sputter. I keep my eyes and mouth closed, trusting Cal to carry me in the right direction. I want to cry, but I can't open my eyes, so I lay down on Cal's coarse fur, wrap my arms around him, and bury my face into his neck. I stay like that for what feels like forever. Suddenly, the sandstorm is gone. I spit the sand out of my mouth and rub my eyes, cautiously opening them to look around. Behind us, the sandstorm still rages, but on the horizon, I spot what looks like Mehaires! My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten in a while. I reach into one of Cal's packs and grab a piece of stale bread. It's not much, but it’s better than nothing. I eagerly take a sip of water and give the rest to Cal, who slurps it down.

Mehaires is much closer now, and I decide to walk the rest of the way. I slide off Cal's back and onto the ground, glad that I have shoes because the desert sand is really hot. Soon, we arrive in Mehaires and walk through the bustling streets. Eventually, we find the shops, where I buy food for me and Cal. After that, we head to the town well to get water. Then, we look for an inn where we can stay the night. I find one and settle Cal in the stable before going inside to get a room. That night, I enjoy a hearty meal, take a much-needed shower, and have a good nights sleep.

In the morning, after breakfast, I grab Cal and head back into town to explore. We visit an old temple and check out some smaller shops. In one of them, I find a blanket that reminds me of the one my mother has at home. I take the blanket to the front, where the man at the table gives me a curious look.

"Have we met before?" he asks.

"I do not think so," I respond.

"What is your name, boy?"

"My name is Ajani Akintola."

"Are you the son of Chimalsi Akintola?"

"Yes."

"Oh! He was a good friend back when we were kids. How is he doing?"

"He is doing well."

"Good. What brings you to Mehaires?"

"I just stopped here for a day or two before continuing to Tifariti."

"Why are you going to Tifariti?"

"I am going to work for a mistress in Bir Lehlou."

"Interesting. Would you like to buy that blanket?"

"Yes, please."

"Alright, here you go."

"Thank you."

"You’re very welcome. Say hi to your father for me, will you?"

"Sure."

"Goodbye, Ajani."

"Bye."

I leave the shop with the blanket and put it on Cal, who is waiting outside. Then I climb onto his back, and we head back to the inn to collect my belongings. I load Cal up, and we pass through the shops on our way out of town. Tifariti is only a day or two away; hopefully, we won’t run into another sandstorm. The scenery doesn’t change much for the next couple of hours. I get bored and daydream about home, my family, and the mistress. I hope she is not too strict. She is supposed to pay well. I keep reminding myself that I only have to be there for four months, and then I can return home. Plus, I get to keep Cal with me during my time there. I am alone in the desert, accompanied only by Cal, my camel. We have been traveling for a couple of days, and I can tell he is getting tired. He has carried me many miles with little rest, and he is starting to walk slower through the hot sand. The sun is high in the sky, heating everything beneath it. There is no shade as far as the eye can see, and I have very little water left. If we have been going in the right direction, Mehaires should not be far away. I squint at the horizon, where the sand is beginning to swirl in the wind, indicating an approaching sandstorm. As we get closer, the sand rises higher and higher until we find ourselves enveloped in a cloud of sand.

Sand gets into my eyes and mouth, causing me to cough and sputter. I keep my eyes and mouth closed, trusting Cal to carry me in the right direction. I want to cry, but since I can't open my eyes, I lay down on Cal's coarse fur, wrap my arms around him, and bury my face into his neck. I stay like that for what feels like an eternity. Suddenly, the sandstorm is gone. I spit the sand out of my mouth and rub my eyes, cautiously opening them to look around. Behind us, the sandstorm still rages, but on the horizon, I spot what appears to be Mehaires! My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten in a while. I reach into one of Cal's packs and retrieve a piece of stale bread. It's not much, but it’s better than nothing. I take an eager sip of water and give the rest to Cal, who slurps it down thirstily.

Mehaires is much closer now, and I decide to walk the rest of the way. I slide off Cal's back and onto the ground, thankful that I have shoes because the desert sand is really hot. Soon, we arrive in Mehaires and walk through the bustling streets. Eventually, we find the shops, where I buy food for myself and Cal. After that, we head to the town well to collect water. Then, we look for an inn where we can stay the night. I find one and settle Cal in the stable before going inside to get a room. That night, I enjoy a hearty meal, take a much-needed shower, and have a good night's sleep.

"Have we met before?" he asks.

"I do not think so," I respond.

"What is your name, boy?"

"My name is Ajani Akintola."

"Are you the son of Chimalsi Akintola?"

"Yes."

"Oh! He was a good friend back when we were kids. How is he doing?"

"He is doing well."

"Good. What brings you to Mehaires?"

"I just stopped here for a day or two before continuing to Tifariti."

"Why are you going to Tifariti?"

"I am going to work for a mistress in Bir Lehlou."

"Interesting. Would you like to buy that blanket?"

"Yes, please."

"Alright, here you go."

"Thank you."

"You’re very welcome. Say hi to your father for me, will you?"

"Sure."

"Goodbye, Ajani."

"Bye."

I leave the shop with the blanket and put it on Cal, who is waiting outside. Then I climb onto his back, and we head back to the inn to collect my few belongings. I load Cal up, and we pass through the shops on our way out of town. Tifariti is only a day or two away; hopefully, we won’t encounter another sandstorm. The scenery doesn’t change much for the next couple of hours. I get bored and daydream about home, my family, and the mistress. I hope she is not too strict. She is supposed to pay well. I keep reminding myself that I only have to be there for four months, and then I can return home. Plus, I get to keep Cal with me during my time there.

Map of Ajani's travels.