After attending the Friday prayer with her parents, Salamat ate lunch and told her mum she was going for a stroll.
Going for a stroll had become a regular habit of hers.
She had been looking for an escort to go rock climbing along with her but was not able to get one. Her previous experience was an obstacle to making a friend in the community.
She gave up going rock climbing and decided to take a stroll instead.
She stepped out of the house telling her mum she would be back soon. She walked for 15 minutes and got to Nasara which was the old settlement of the people of Radda.
The Radda settlement was a rocky area and the atmosphere was cool. She walked around and finally decided to sit on one of the rocks.
She sat down and different thoughts began to run through her mind. She thought of her discussion with her parent that morning, they were looking for ways to process her admission.
She remembered her late grandmother and realized how much she had missed her. She thought of Abeokuta, their former residence in Ogun State, and how much she missed her former room which was her only place of solitude.
Remembering Habib, she flinched thinking of the incident that happened before they departed from Ogun State.
She also thought of Habibah, his twin sister who was always antagonizing her. She remembered Habibah's threat to kill her when she saw her with Mr. Obi at Masara hotel.
Salamat always knew Habibah had a distaste for her but was always pretending to like her whenever Habib was around. Salamat wasn't surprised when Habibah threatened her and she assumed the threats were empty.
She wondered why some humans despise other people for no reason. She also thought of how their lives have changed drastically over the years and how different they have been living compared to when they were in Ogun State.
They were now living in a room self-contained apartment with their kitchen and toilet. Her father's friend who was supposed to accommodate them was not due to be back.
Mr. Ade tried securing a house in the city of Katsina by himself all to no avail and then they decided to settle in Radda till things got better.
Salamat stood up abruptly from the rock and tried ascending it, but she came stumbling back and fell flat on her buttocks. She heard giggles beside her and saw 3 little children. They were all girls and they ran down the hill as they saw her standing up from the fall.
While dusting her clothes, she heard laughter from behind and turned to see a familiar face, laughing. She quickly arranged her dress which she pulled up while attempting to climb the rock. She looked up at the guy again and tried placing his face, all to no avail.
He was looking like someone who was just coming out of a gym.
'I doubt if there is even a gym in the whole of Katsina state not to talk of this Radda community', Salamat mused within her and scoffed.
"Why do I keep seeing you in awkward situations?", the guy asked with a grin.
That was when it dawned on Salamat.
'This is the guy that laughed at me at the shop the other day, I wonder what he is doing here, she said within her.
"What are you doing here and why are you laughing at me again?", Salamat questioned, wondering within her why they keep meeting him in awkward situations like this.
"Oh my God! Sorry, my lady, I did not mean to frighten you. What you did was funny that was why I was laughing just like the other day. You are an amusing piece", the guy said while Salamat frowned at him and kept a straight face.
"Do you know why those children were laughing at you?", he demanded from her.
"You have said it all... I'm am...an amusing piece and they found my actions funny that they couldn't control their laughter", she retorted.
The guy laughed again. "Maybe but the major reason is that these children climb these rocks easily. They were wondering why a big girl like you can't climb it whereas they can. These Radda children are amazing, they are so good at it that I always admire them whenever I see them climbing. In fact, I, have been meaning to try it too but it's just that I have been too busy for that."
Salamat was quiet.
She was already sitting back on the small rock and the guy continued. "Do you know how monkeys fly from one tree to another? That's how these children climb these rocks, isn't it amazing?", he asked smiling and stared at her.
Salamat nodded and looked away when their eyes met.
"Are you an indigene?", he asked.
"No, I am not. What of you?"
"No, I am not either", he answered.
"Why are you here then?", she questioned again.
"Hmmm... actually", he began scratching his beard and moving close to also sit on the rock. "We are here for field school, I came here 5 days ago", he finished.
"Field school? Is it an institution or what?", she asked curiously?
He smiled and said, "No it's not. It's also known as a field trip but the term field school is peculiar to my department only. You know any individual or group of people can decide to go for a field trip so that's it. The field trip is the general name but we call it field school because to the department it's much more than just a trip. It's more like a learning ground for students, you get what I'm saying?"
"Uhmm yes I think so. So which department is that and what is the essence of the field school", She interrogated, waiting for his response.
"We are from the Department of Archaeology and we are here in Radda on research. The field school is an annual program for the department and the major aim is to give students first-hand practical aspects of the discipline and also to help in the development and promotion of national culture and heritage. Sorry, let me be precise since we are presently in Radda, we aim to study the culture and heritage of the Radda community", he finished.
"Waw! It sounds interesting", Salamat was intrigued.
"Yes it is, but it's quite stressful."
"I remember coming across the word 'archaeology' a few years ago when I was reading an American novel though I can't remember the name of the book. When I saw the word, I checked my Longman English dictionary for the meaning and it says 'study of old things made by people who lived a long time ago. From what you have said, I don't see the connection at all."
Saleem smiled and realized she was more intelligent than she looks.
"Archaeologists they say are responsible for what they say and not what people understand. Archaeology is the study of the past through the recovery or study of the material remains left behind by a man. So you see the definition and that of the dictionary meaning is almost the same. The discipline has lots of definitions and these definitions are all saying the same time.......the word 'ancient' or 'old' and 'study' are always on every definition. Do you understand now?"
"Uhmm", she said nodding.
"So we are here in Radda to recover the cultural materials that were used and left behind by a man. When we recover these materials, we then study and give them an interpretation which will give us an insight and help us to understand the past lifeways of those people who lived in the past. That is why we are making use of the Nasara site which is an abandoned and old settlement of the people of Radda. Do you understand what I am saying now?"
"Yes I do, but can I ask one more question?"
"Of course you can, go ahead."
"I clearly understand all you have said but my question is how do you recover these materials that you will study to understand their past lifeways as you have said?"
"I was expecting that question..... we start our research with familiarization to select a site to work on. After selecting a specific site, we then survey the selected portion and start excavating. We survey by measuring and mapping and then we excavate by digging up the soil to collect what is beneath the earth. Whatever we recover from the digging will be our guide to understanding the particular society. After collection, we take the objects or materials to the laboratory for studying by classifying, analyzing, and interpreting them."
"So fascinating", Salamat said smiling.
"Our selected site for the experiment is over there and my colleagues are there too. We were given 10 minutes break, that's why I decided to come here to relax not knowing I would meet you here. Would you mind if I introduce you to my coursemates?", Saleem asked.
"That won't be necessary", she replied with a frown.
"I think it is so you can see for yourself what I have been talking about", he insisted. May I know your name?"
"My name is Salamat Ademola", she answered standing up.
"Lovely name. My name is Saleem Yusuf. Come, let me show you what I have been talking about. Don't worry, I won't introduce you to anyone if that is what you are bothered about."
"It's not necessary. I need to get going, it's getting late", she responded, checking her wristwatch. It was few minutes past the hour of 4.
"Alright, see you some other time hopefully", Saleem said with reluctance. He was obviously enjoying the conversation with her.
"Thanks", she said and ran off.
Saleem looked at her running figure till she was out of sight.
"What an intelligent and weird girl", he thought to himself.