Questionable release

Today we received a report from our project manager in Kenya about a tragedy, not really significant, nonetheless foreseeable and certainly warrants consideration.

... "Yesterday during Creative Writing class, I was informed that an inmate who had never participated in our programs requested a meeting. We greeted each other. However, she couldn't find the courage to present her request. An extremely talkative inmate from Nigeria bridged the gap.

'I'm Ann's spokesperson, Mr. Peter, please listen to what Ann has to say.'

Ann nodded repeatedly in agreement throughout the monologue. The woman from Lagos often brings out a good sense of amusement, given her uncensored manner of expression.

'Mr. Peter, Ann will be released on December 4th after twenty years and six months.'

I attempted to interrupt her and say, that would be my birthday. She energetically disallowed my gaffe and for the next ten minutes she explained the matter in her gibberish mix of languages.

'Her family has given up on her. She never received any visits from any of them; only her mildly disabled daughter had come a few times. Ann will go home and take care of her.'

The woman of Lagos then vividly described how the two of them would try to survive in an environment of no recognition to Ann. Unfortunately, this is a reality.

Then, after the echo, spoken by the eloquent woman had left the room, I asked, 'How can I help?’

Impressed by her longtime friend's freedom of speech, it was Ann who asked for a small suitcase. She had learned how to sew dresses in a course and wanted to take them with her.

The conversation then drifted to mentioning the ever-present, lurking reality: Political unrest, El Niño, inflation, and so on. Realities that could jeopardize not only the survival of Ann and her press secretary, but even that of all humanity.

Nairobi, September 2026

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