Zhandalee And The First Metamorphosis. Enzo Lo Grasso
they put Efia in a rudimentary wheelchair that she used when she had to cover long distances, but before starting Efia wrote on a piece of paper something and put it in Biko's hand saying:
-- Put it on the table, so my father knows where we are if he come back before us --
-- Ok—He go to deposit it inside.
--Are you not blind at all?,-- Zandi asked.
--No, I see a little bad, I can distinguish things -- said Efia with a smile.
--Sorry for the question,-- Zandi said.
--Quiet, come on, let's go, --Efia said.
Biko stood behind Efia to push the wheelchair and they began to walk.
After about thirty minutes of road, they could see the destination house, it gradually became closer and closer, when they arrived in front of the gate Biko stopped.
--Attention, there should be Yao, let's be careful – Biko murmured scrutinizing the inside of the house’s gate.
--I do not see and I do not hear anybody here –Efia said then she continued.. -- Maybe it will be running around chasing someone or some passing animal.
-- Who is Yao?-- Zandi said.
--Yao is Mrs. Clara's watchdog,-- Efia replied.
--It is good even if its size is so big to scare, it has never bitten anyone even if it always barks, and Biko has a great fear – Ima ended with a big smile to which Zandi and Efia joined smiling.
--You laugh, but for me it is not a normal dog, it like a horse and with a bite it swallows us all even without chewing. However strangely I do not hear it, I think it is not here. Let's hurry up before it returns -- so very quickly he pushed the wheelchair inside the gate in front of the house’s entrance, the other two girls followed him just a few steps behind, as soon as they were in front of the entrance, they knocked entering.
--Is it allowed? Can we get in? Mrs. Clara? -- Efia and Ima asked.
-- Yes, who's so early riser to visit me?—Clara said.
Clara is a about sixty miss, she came from England, she had been working there for about thirty years, her hair was white with curls, she was chubby and she was the only person who managed the correspondence in that area, she was very kind and she knew everything and everyone, thanks to her work having to do with many people, she had remained Miss but everyone called her Mrs. Clara in sign of respect.
--Come on, but Why has not Yao announced you? Usually it makes himself heard when someone enters --Clara said, arranging a few letters in her desk full of envelopes to be fixed.
--It must have come out, we did not even see it,-- Biko said.
-- It cannot be, I have seen it through the window 5 minutes ago in front of its dog’s bed as always next to the gate -- Clara said getting up from the chair and heading to the window.
--You see where it is, right there where I told you, why did not you see it? -- Clara added opening the window and calling Yao, it replied, getting up and barking, wagging its tail.
--It is strange, ok it’s nothing, it will be distracted, after all age goes also for it, it is becoming old too, -- Clara said, closing the window and heading in front of the boys.
Biko was speechless with a vague and unexplained look, it was the first time that Yao did not chase him.
--I'm here, but who is your host? Wait, do not tell me, you are the divinity that all the inhabitants of Zebenjo are talking about. I do not know whether or not to believe to these rumours, in fact it has been the first news I received this morning. What's your name? And what can I do for you? -- Clara said.
-- Mrs. Clara, my name is Zhandalee Niversa, I came here with them because I would like to call my parents, and they told me that here I could find a phone, I wanted to warn them that I am here and that I am well--
--Zandi, help me get up, I can stretch a bit my legs,-- Efia asked.
--Come on, guys, come with me,-- Clara suggested.
Together they went into the room behind the desk, and as they entered they saw a telephone near some stools on a small table.
-- I put this phone here because when some family comes to phone I leave privacy. Zandi, give me the number, I ask the switchboard to connect with the phone of your parents' house -- Clara concluded.
Zandi communicated the number expecting that Miss Clara succeeded in her intent, but after several attempts and various tests discussed with the operator of the switchboard Mrs. Clara closed the phone and turning to Zandi said:
--Dear girl, I'm sorry but I have to give you a bad news: the number you gave me does not match the name you told me, at that house number, at that phone number does not live any Niversa family, an old gentleman called Cardelli lives there, are you sure about the number? -- Miss Clara asked.
--Yes, I’m very sure, how is it possible?-- Zandi answered casually.
- Be quiet, you will see there will be an explanation to everything, and everything will work out for the best, you must have patience – Efia said embracing Zandi and comforting her, then she added:
-- The miss of the switchboard has done some mistaks- - turning the face to Mrs. Clara, the elderly lady not making notice of her gesture to Zandi nodded to the boys it was not wrong, then she sat down.
--I have seen strange things but everything was comprehensible explainable. I have a strange feeling, something "magical" is happening, I have always been sceptical but in the face of the facts I cannot accept it, -- Clara said.
- Which are these strange things? If you refer to the dog, it can happen that it is distracted and it not for this reason I have some kind of strange powers, I am a simple girl, do you want to convince of it?-- Zandi answered crying.
- I was not referring only to the fact of the dog, I was referring to the fact that you can speak perfectly the English, my language of origin, and the dialect of Zebenjo so perfect that after thirty years I have not been able to learn here, can you explain this? I know we're in 1999, and believing these things sounds incredible, but the facts show the opposite,-- Clara said.
Zandi stopped crying instantly and with a wide-eyed look, she turned her face to Clara.
--What did she say? What date do we have today? Would you please repeat it? –Zandi asked.
--Of course, today is August 16, 1999 -- the old lady replied, showing with her finger the calendar hanging on the wall.
Zandi watched the calendar and ran out, she stopped her run in the middle of the small courtyard getting down on her knees with her hands on the ground and looked down. Immediately Ima and Biko ran behind her stopping at a few meters from her, while Efia and Clara watched from the door.
Zandi felt licked hands resting on the ground, it was Yao who wanted to comfort her. She slowly raised the glance and she saw the big eyes of the dog looking at her full of love towards her, Zandi hug it giving back to its face a shy smile, then Biko arrived with a wary gaze towards the dog and gradually all the others arrived.
--What's the matter with you? -- Clara asked in a loving voice.
--Madam, in the place where I live today should be August 16, 2011. It is the year of my finding on the beach by my adoptive parents, I should be about two years old, believe it or not, I do not think I'm crazy, so what's going on? – Zandi answered getting up.
--There is certainly a reason to all this, I do not think you're crazy, you're here because in my opinion you have to fulfil a task that you'll have to find out, and I think you'll find out very soon – Clara said tightening the girl to herself.
--We do not believe you're not crazy too, and we're here to help you find your way, -- Efia said.
Biko and Ima nodded and all five joined in one hug. After a few minutes Mrs. Clara told to the boys:
--I have to go to my job now, later I will try again to