To read the story from the start go to: https://the-inkling.com/catch-up-with-the-inklings/
As Syafika walked home from Fanta’s place she wished she’d changed into her running clothes because she wanted to run but the shoes she was wearing were not suitable for running in – just the walking she’d done in them that day had given her blisters on her little toes.
“Why am I putting up with this!” she asked herself, and took her shoes off. She put them in her bag, then ran barefoot the rest of the way home.
When Syafika arrived home she saw a tow truck loading up a large white car. She was relieved to see that there was no obvious damage to the car, not because she cared about the car, but because she didn’t like the thought of more people getting injured by cars in her street.
Syafika wanted to tell her mum about her date with Anthony but couldn’t because India was there. India and Festus were examining a drawing of a building. They looked angry. Rose was writing notes. Syafika could smell beans and realised that her dad must have cooked dinner. Binta was making salad.
“Where are your shoes?” asked India.
Syafika had forgotten that she was barefoot. She looked at her feet and noticed that they were a bit grubby because she’d run through some muddy sections of footpath on the way home. “In my bag. They were too uncomfortable” said Syafika.
“Better give your feet a wash” suggested Binta.
Syafika didn’t like all the scruitiny her feet were getting so she went to have a shower.
When Syafika came back India was still in the kitchen and Rose had made a few more pages of notes.
“What’s going on?” asked Syafika.
“We’re organizing a street meeting for Thursday night” said India. “Some greedy a-hole wants to build this disgusting thing where the burnt-out houses are”
Syafika looked at the drawing India was pointing too and realised that it was a large block of flats.
“The block of land won’t be big enough for a building that big” said Syafika.
“They want to buy us out too” said Festus.
“And they’ve also made offers to the people with blocks backing onto the site – we went and spoke to everyone this afternoon to see what we could find out” said India.
“Can I come to the meeting?” asked Syafika. She didn’t want a block of flats next door and was worried her parents might consider moving.
“Of course!” said India.
Mamadou, Ousman and Aminata came into the kitchen and India realised that it was dinner time so she got up to go.
Syafika noticed that Aminata was making a hissing sound.
“Is she ok?” asked Syafika.
“She’s been making that noise for a couple of hours” said Ousman. “I think she’s imitating the sound of something”
“It sounds like a tyre deflating” said Binta.
The Inkling 