Ada ran through the forest, as fast as a gazelle being chased by a predator her bucket under her arm, "you can't catch me." She called out to the boy behind her as she zigzagged through the trees in the forest. She had learnt the hard way that the only way to beat Esomchi was to never ever run in a straight line.

"Careful Ada, don't fall." She knew Esomchi could not catch her and inasmuch as he was trying to watch out for her he was also trying to distract her, another lesson she had learnt the hard way.

"I haven't fallen in five years Esomchi, you will have to do better than that." Ada said as she broke free from the forest and ran towards the river, at the river bank she threw down her bucket and did a little victory dance, her hands in the air and her hips swaying from side to side a move she know greatly annoyed Esomchi.

Minutes later, Esomchi arrived panting very hard. He dropped his bucket, planted his hands on his knees and took deep long breaths. "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Ada asked as she walked into the river to fill her bucket.

"Breath steadily after a thirty minute run? You breathe as if you were taking a leisure walk in the village square. Its not fair!" Esomchi whined.

Ada walked to where he was squatted on the river bank still trying to bring his breathing under control, she deposited her now full bucket of water beside him then picked up his bucket.

"How are u still breathing like a dog, when we have been doing this for the past fifteen years? Admit it Esomchi I am the better runner."

She turned, flicked her braids over her shoulder making sure to hit him in the face which wasn't very difficult considering she was five feet five to his six foot two, she only began walking back to the river after she heard his grunt of pain, signifying she had hit her mark.

"You are carrying both buckets of water back to the village." She turned to stick her tongue out at him mockingly as she filled the second bucket.

"Don't I always?" He asked while rolling his eyes as he straightened to his full height. Esomchi was handsome with his dark skin and even white teeth, at twenty he was not only one of the tallest boys in the village, he was also the sweetheart of many girls in the village.

"Yes you do." Ada dropped the second bucket at his feet "Don't forget we have to pick the uguwri fruit on our way back else mama will use me for pepper soup this morning."

"My children, you are back." A middle aged woman said, as she came out of the hut behind her, she had a cloth of beautiful colours wrapped around her chest that fell to her ankles, her hair was graying and was braided in a traditional manner.

"Yes ma." Esomchi replied as he dropped the buckets he was carrying, beside him Ada had a bag made of raffia palm hanging from her shoulder which was filled with to the brim with round green coloured fruits.

"Mama I will go make breakfast and then go to the market, I made sure I picked the best fruits."

Ada said as she approached her mother after dropping the bag in front of the hut "Esomchi will you help?"

"I won't give up a chance to eat your food Ada but I won't be long, i still have to go prepare for the festival today, Mama you will be there won't you?"

"Definitely my son, I want to see you initiated into manhood and I have a surprise planned for you." Nwakaego said.

"Come on." Ada said and dragged Esomchi by hand towards the back of the hut where the kitchen was located .

Ada's home was located close to the forest, some ways away from the village. Her compound had two huts, one served as a bedroom which was shared by Ada and her mother, the other was a store, at the back of the hut which served as a store was a structure made from bamboo sticks and roofed with palm fronds, it served as the kitchen. Ada got the fire going with firewood and the bark of coconuts while Esomchi went to get the yams.

"What are you bringing to the festival today as your token?"

"Don't worry about that I have been planning for this for sometime, I have everything I need.”

"I know you were going to say that but I have something for you, wait here." Ada hurriedly washed the cut yams, placed them in an earthen pot and ran towards the hut. She returned some moments later with a small raffia weaved bag. Taking her seat she opened the bag and brought out the first item.

"Give me your hand." she held her palm out.

"Why?" Esomchi looked a bit wary. "The last time you put a spider in my palm.”

Ada put a black beaded bracelet on his wrist, "Happy I bu nwoke.”

Esomchi was dumbfounded, he wasn't expecting this. "Ada, you didn't have to."

"What sort of friend would I be if I don't get you a gift for this celebration?" she began searching the bag on her lap again. This time she came up with a wrapped parcel.

"Here," she placed the parcel in his hand which was still on her lap. "it’s not much but it will get you something you have to shine tonight. I want you to be the envy of all the boys and girls alike.”

"Ada this is too much, where did you get this? You need this more than I do especially with mama’s health." He tried to give her back the parcel but she wouldn't take it.

"I have been saving too, so have it." she wrapped his fingers around the parcel still in his hand. "You would do more for me, I know it."

OK I hope you all enjoyed this chapter , this is my first work on wattpad and I will love to hear from you.
# the ugwuri fruit is known as bush mango it looks and tastes like mango but has a funny tang to it .