Crunchy

Yesterday was the end of the month of fasting.  Here it ends with a nice big lunch.  I was still busy with school, so my dear husband went off for a walk around the village....and boy, for once was i glad that i was still busy!

As he rounded a corner the chief greeted him enthusiastically and invited him to lunch.......They said that they had already eaten but they would join him again.  And so they sat down and washed their hands.....  A big plate of ugadi (maize meal) appeared and with it a big plate of fish stew.  This was going down well and he was enjoying sitting with the chief and our neighbour.  But as usual all good things come to an end - another plate now appears - with only two little things in it.  Two little birds - like sparrows - lie there just waiting to be eaten!  Heads, tails, bones and even a few feathers - all nicely fried and crispy!

He cautiously points to the birds and asks the chief to show him how to eat this "delicacy" - hoping that then at least one will be gone!  But no, the chief takes only a head and pops it into his mouth and then, just becasue it is so good, the other one too (best bits go to the chief, you know!).....now only the little scrawny bodies remain......so the good missionary that he is, he breaks off a wing, tiny as it is and tries to get the meat off the bones, while all eyes are now on him.  (Have you ever tried eating when everybody is watching you??)  He kind of throws the tiny bones over his shoulder nonchalante and wonders how to proceed next?  But by now, they are laughing at him and telling him to just eat the whole thing!  Bones and all?  YES!!  So, he pops the body into his mouth and crunch, crunch chews and ...sparrows, i mean, swallows.

"And it wasn't too bad", he said!  :)  "Well, done!"  i said!! And then our little boy prays "please help pappa not to get sick!"  :)

bella, the not-as-brave-as-my-husband-but-thankful-for-him!!