Switching Brothers

My step brothers visited us in town permanently a few days after I graduated from nursey school. I did not realize I was switching brothers. Mzee has separated with his first wife, a mother of six at the time. Her first and third borns were boys. They had come to live with us. And my two brothers were going to take their place in their vilage. It was a disguised plan but a great strategy to integrate us into Mzee's extended family.

The following year, they started a new school in the village. Mom accompanied them. After all, I gained other brothers in exchange. The younger one was my age mate though slightly older. He was going to join to Class 2 in the same school where I was about to join Class 1.

His elder brother had just dropped from school, in Class 3, and was scheduled to being a training course as a shoe care specialist. A friend of Mzee offered the training in exchange for the young man's commitment to his shoe business.

He was already working by the time the schools were openning in January. I’m not sure if he had achieved the working age. Nevertheless, it was necessary because learning had taken a toll on him at the time. Mzee had handed him to his friend, a shoe repair professional to mentor and train him to make, repair, and polish shoes.

He still does this job to date.

He has mastered the skills well - it's been over 30 years.

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