There were times back on the slopes when we’d go grazing or weeding and the usual appetizers such as gooseberries, oranges and mangoes were out of season. This didn’t leave us plenty of choices except to make a fire and roast the abundant sweet potatoes. Somehow Mr Soft had managed to convince Asusena and I that he could communicate with sweet potatoes you know like a mole does only he’d do it from over instead of under.
He’d lie low on the sweet potato vines and inspect his radius of curvature like a head of state inspecting a guard of honor. Then he’d pretend to be listen at whatever message the sweet potato was relaying, take a stick or panga dig and to our amazement reveal the hugest tuber south of the Sahara.
We’d look at him in awe like he was a god from another galaxy with special powers sent to comfort our rumbling tummies. This would go on and on until there were plenty a sweet potatoes for all of us. If the ASK show was at that time we’d have exhibited and come out with an award. We’d then make a fire and roast the potatoes although some were eaten raw to (gūkirithia njoka.’ How we survived without deworming can only be described as a miracle.
Only later on did we realize that when the sweet potato root swelled it pushed away soil to allow for it’s growth forming a crack (you know like the Archimedes principle happening on land than in water.) That’s how Mr Slow was able to locate the fat ones. Thumbs up to him for humoring us. What lie did you believe while growing up?
Revealed.
