The Girl Who Won The Gender Debate

Lucy Sankho found herself to be an orphan not because her parents were dead as many orphans you can think of, it’s just that she was born a girl. She was born on father’s day as planned. She was born as the second born child in the family but if she had known what her father was thinking she should never have been born. She should have been better off staying there as an angel or a singer in heaven, but who has that choice when and when not to be born? Lucy was born anyway. When the labour pains started Mr Sankho was in the kitchen. He dropped all the bottles of liquor from his hands and rushed to help his wife Suzy Sankho. Suzy shouted, ‘Frank, call an ambulance, my waters are breaking.’ Frank looked away and said, ‘I bought the delivery kit manual, I will help you darling.’ Frank started guiding his wife how to give birth. The wife loved the idea although she was in great pain. ‘Push Suzy! Push! That’s it my darling! You are doing well.’ After some hours a baby girl was born. This is not what Frank Sankho expected. He has told his wife he only wanted a son. The moment he realised it was a girl the excitement became a frustration, the face looked wrinkled with bitterness, the smile fade away and he stopped looking at the baby, the baby crying and searching for her mother’s breasts. It was hungry. Before midnight Frank told his wife Suzy, ‘You have two choices, give away this child or you and me it’s over right now.’ Suzy was thrown into tears, ‘this is our blood, our own child how can you think of this.’ Frank looked away and said, ‘I told you, this house only belongs to boys, I mean baby boys. No more girls.’ Frank Sankho, in the middle of the night picked the baby girl wrapped it in a cloth and made sure no one was looking when he placed near an orphanage. He was pretty sure the orphanage workers would pick up the baby girl and take it to the home of orphans. He walked home and told his mournful wife, ‘Everything will be fine, don’t cry, the orphanage will look after the baby but when people ask you what happened to the pregnancy say to them you had the miscarriage.’ This was the saddest day for Suzy. She knew men were cruel but not to the extent of giving their child away. She cried uncontrollably and Mr Frank Sankho made sure she told everyone the unfortunate thing happened, miscarriage. In the nearby road close to where the baby was dropped, three thieves planning to break into people’s houses heard the baby crying. The thieves stopped and listened, the baby’s cry was heard nearby. When they turned around they saw the baby girl. Mark Phiri, the leader of the thieves said to others, ‘I have never seen a beautiful girl like this.’ The two other thieves Sikeremu Gondwe and Jailos Mangochi also adored the baby girl. They took turns holding the baby girl; Mark took off his shirt and covered the baby girl to make sure it was warm. The three thieves were about to break into the house of a businessman and take away cash and shoot anyone who would stand in their way. But suddenly they changed their plans. ‘Gentlemen, this girl reminds me of my late mother, she is looking into my eyes. I can no longer steal tonight maybe another day.’ Mark told the two others. Jailos Mangochi suddenly started weeping , ‘ this girl reminds me of my sister , she died last week of cancer, my only best friend I have ever seen in my life, I think we should not steal tonight.’ Sikeremu Gondwe picked the guns from each of his friends and said , ‘ I think this girl has certain powers , I feel terribly guilty why I have been stealing , am sorry guys I have to throw away the guns no more stealing for me.’ The three thieves decided to live together and raise the baby as their own child. They took turns washing, dressing and feeding the baby. As thieves they were both good at running so they taught the girl Lucy how to run. When Lucy was at primary school she was already the fastest runner in school. Lucy got used to be teased by fellow kids, ‘you have no mum, and you are living with people who were thieves.’ Meanwhile Mr and Mrs Sankho had three boys. The boys went to the same primary school where Lucy went. Even though Mr and Mrs Sankho knew that their daughter Lucy was living in the house of thieves they never bothered to think of finding ways to take Lucy into their home, Mr Sankho hated the idea of having daughters. One day there was a running competition. Lucy and other girls and boys were in that competition. Mr and Mrs Sankho’s three boys, Joy, James and Alick were also taking part in that competition. The stadium was full to capacity and the atmosphere was brilliant. ‘On your marks, get set and go!’ The whistle blown and the children started running. The three thieves cheered their much loved Lucy who was in fore front, ‘Come on Lucy! You are the reason we stopped stealing!’ Sikeremu shouted, ‘Come on Lucy! Lucy my mother’s photocopy, when I look at you I see my mother telling me to behave!’ The running reached its peak, Lucy was number one now. She sprang fast passing everyone, the stadium exploded with noise of cheering and everyone stood on his or her feet shocked and amazed at the little girl Lucy. The president held the hand of his wife excited, ‘my darling I wish that girl can be my daughter.’ Lucy was going to win a million kwacha. She was now nearing the touching line as everyone cheered. Suddenly she passed two boys who bumped into each other and collapsed on the floor. Lucy immediately stopped running. She walked to where the two boys were and checked their pulse if they were alright. The boys were the sons of Mr Sankho. Lucy hugged them and assured them they would be alright. Because of what Lucy did every child stopped running and they all hugged each other and cheered up the two boys Joy and James Sankho. These scenes made everyone in the stadium to stop cheering and cry , they cried the fact that the girl who was in the process of winning a million kwacha stopped the race just to make sure the boys are alright. Anyway Lucy still got the award of a million kwacha for saving lives but the loser was Mr and Mrs Sankho for the money Lucy won could have stayed in their house not the house of thieves. Lesson: Every child comes as a gift and a blessing. Lucy changed the lives of everyone it didn’t matter she was born a girl.