searching for firewood. It was the wet season and dry wood was hard to find.

The men of her tribe, the Zulu, were off at war with the Ashanti tribe, so the women and children had to take care of all the crops, hunt, nurse, the injured warriors, etc.

As Naira walked, she looked only at the ground and not a her surroundings.

Suddenly she heard a vicious snarl. A leopard was crouched in a tree nearby, ready to pounce. Naira froze in fear and squeezed her eyes shut. I am going to die, she thought. Suddenly she heard the shwing of an arrow being released by a bow and seconds later she heard a screech of pain. She opened her eyes and saw the leopard lying on the ground, dying, with an arrow sticking out of its head and blood rushing out.

A handsome young man rushed over to her. "Are you all right?'' he queried.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for saving my life. I will be eternally grateful,'' Naira answered.

"I'm just glad I could help. My name is Jkembe. What's yours?'' Jkembe inquired.

"I'm Naira,'' she replied. That was the beginning of a long conversation which developed into many more riverside meetings. Soon they discovered that they were in love. Jkembe wished to marry her but when they realised that he was an Ashanti and she was a Zulu, they knew that a marriage between the tribes was impossible.

They tried to stay away from each other, but that they couldn't go many days without seeing each other. They continued to secretly meet at the riverbank, living in hope that the war between their tribes would one day cease and they would be able to freely express their love and commitment. Unfortunately, this day did not seem to be in the near future.

One beautiful Spring day, Naira skipped through the forest, happy that the long, cold winter was finally over and Spring had come to spread her warmth and happiness over the land and because she was going to meet Jkembe. At the same time she was a bit sad because the disheartening war between the tribes was still dragging on. Naira quickly pushed all dismal thoughts to be back of her mind and thought instead of Jkembe.

Jkembe and I are so lucky to have found each other, Naira thought. Too bad this war separates us. I wish there was no war at all. I wonder why he isn't a warrior. I shall ask him.

Jkembe is so smart and sweet and handsome and resourceful and such an excellent hunter, too. He is the finest man in the world. If all the other girls in the village knew about him they would be so envious. With that thought Naira smiled with contentment and pride and continued on her way through the forest.

When Naira reached the clearing by the riverside she quickly spotted Jkembe.

She ran towards him and they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed.

Then she heard the shwing of an arrow being released by a bow. An arrow was shooting towards Jkembe! She tried to warn him but, it was too late. The arrow hit Jkembe in his back, piercing his heart. The love of her life lay dying in Naira's arms.

With his dying breath, Jkembe gasped, "Remember this...always...I'll love you...forever, Naira.'' Then Jkembe died. Naira cried out in shock and pain then began sobbing hysterically over his body.

She was so caught up in her grief that she did not think about who had killed Jkembe and did not notice them until they were right in front of her. She stood up and saw her tribe's chief, a few warriors, her parents and the witch doctor.

"Naira, you have committed a tribe sin by meeting with this Ashanti,'' the chief pronounced disgustedly. "Because of this you are no longer worthy to remain on this earth. You will be placed in the sky.'' Naira stared at him in shock. "But she's only a child!'' her mother wailed through tears. Her father just stood there stony-faced knowing that his daughter had broken the tribal laws and had to be punished. There was nothing any of them could do to stop it.

Then the witch doctor began to circle around Naira, muttering strange words and flinging mysterious materials onto her. Suddenly Naira turned into a smoky, cloudy substance. She rose higher and higher, straight up into the sky, which was to be her eternal resting place.

On rainy Spring days if you look outside you can see Naira, sad and cold and gray, mourning the loss of Jkembe and the waste of their life and love.

By Monique Lister Age: 12 Berkeley Institute EDUCATION MONTH ED