The Mulondo Children: The search for Samsoni

The story so far:
During play one morning, Nalu chases Samsoni into the old hen house. At lunch time Muko and Nalu are sent to call him to eat but can’t find him.

The story continues:
“Well if you locked him in here. Where is he?” Mrs Mulondo snapped.

“He can’t fit through the windows and there are no cracks in the walls. I’m giving you one hour to find your brother. If you fail, we go to the police.”

Muko and Nalu watched as their mother walked back to the house.
“This is all Samsoni’s fault. He wants to get us in trouble. I know he is hiding.” Nalu said as she folded her arms and sat down.

“Get up!” Muko cried. “If we don’t find him, we don’t get to eat. You search the house and I will look for him in the garden. The hiding places are few, even for someone as small as Samsoni.”

Muko poked at the bushes and inside the hedge. He shook all the fruit trees and a couple of guavas fell on his head. He threw one away and put the other in his pocket.

“Samsoni!” he called... “you had better come out or you are dead!”
Inside the house, Nalu looked for Samsoni underneath all the beds, behind all the doors and on top of all the wardrobes.

“Samsoni!” she called softly, “come out I will give you my ball.”
“Have you found him?” Muko asked when Nalu stepped outside.
“He must be at Hajati’s with his friend Abdul.”

“Or he could have gone to the lake, you know he likes watching the fishermen.”

Muko took the path down to the lake and Nalu walked to Hajati’s shop. Abdul was playing on the
verandah.

“Have you seen your friend
Samsoni?” Nalu asked.
“Give me money and I will tell you.”
“Stop being silly, Samsoni is lost”
“Lost!” Hajati came bustling out from inside the shop. “Did I hear you say your brother is lost!” Her fat hands grabbed Nalu’s shoulders. “I knew it, I knew this would happen.” Hajati cried.

Activity
1. What did Mrs. Mulondo say she would do if Samsoni was not found?
2. Where did Nalu and Muko think Samsoni could be?
3. Who is Abdul?