The journey back to Farato for Matou and Bubel began with tears as their departure from Ousman Bah's home approached. Ousman Bah insisted on walking them to the main road leading to the Serekunda garage, providing some assistance for their travel. "This is for the children. It is not much, but let them have something on the road," Ousman Bah said, giving money to Matou. He also added, "These are yours. Share them with Bubel when you reach home," and advised, "And keep some of the sweets your mother gives you too. Do not consume everything at once." Nata’s husband had also given them money before they left. As they prepared to depart, Khadjel began to cry, pleading to go with them to Farato. "Take me with you. Please, Neneh. Let me come to Farato," Khadjel implored, adding, "I want to come home." When asked "When?" about returning, and told "You always say soon," Khadjel repeated "When?" Ousman intervened, telling Khadjel, "Come, Khadjel. Let them go," after Khadjel asked, "How can I forget you?"
Farewells and Gifts
A conductor called out that they had to leave, prompting Borogie to gently release Khadjel. Khadjel had pleaded with Matou, saying, "Take me with you. Please, Neneh. Let me come to Farato," and adding, "I want to come home." Borogie had explained, "Khadjel, my child, you cannot come now," clarifying, "Because you have school here. Your Maama is taking care of you." Borogie assured her, "You will come. You will come and visit us," promising, "Soon." Khadjel questioned this, stating, "You always say soon." Matou tried to comfort Khadjel, saying, "Do not cry. I will come and see you again," but when asked "When?" she replied, "I do not know." Borogie then told Khadjel, "My child, listen to me. You are not forgotten. Never think that. You are with family. Your Maama loves you, and you are going to school. We left you here because we wanted you to have an opportunity. It does not mean we do not want you." Borogie instructed her, "Go home with Maama. We will see you again." Matou asked Khadjel, "Do not forget me," to which Khadjel responded, "How can I forget you?" Ousman intervened, telling Khadjel, "Come, Khadjel. Let them go."
Matou waved until the figures of Ousman and Khadjel disappeared from view. Bubel had fallen asleep against Borogie’s lap during the journey. Matou took a sweet for herself and placed one beside Bubel for when he woke up. Later, Bubel stirred and asked, "Are we home?" Matou replied, "Not yet." Bubel then inquired, "Did you save my sweet?" Matou confirmed, "Yes," and gave Bubel the sweet she had saved for him.
Echoes of Past Journeys
Matou remembered being taken away as a child and recalled her own tears from that time. She reflected that returning home did not mean finding everything exactly as it had been left. Matou felt she had traveled the road before as a child who belonged nowhere, and now as a twelve-year-old girl who had seen another version of herself. She rested her head against her mother’s shoulder as Borogie asked her, "Are you tired?" Matou responded, "A little." Borogie then inquired, "Did you enjoy the visit?" Matou replied, "Yes. But I also feel sad." When Borogie asked "Why?", Matou explained, "Because everyone is somewhere else." Borogie acknowledged this, stating, "That is life, my child. Sometimes people must live in different places. It does not mean they are no longer family." Matou then asked, "Did you miss me when I was away?" Borogie confirmed, "I missed you every day." Matou questioned further, "Every day?" to which Borogie reiterated, "Every day." Matou then asked, "Then why did you let me go?" Borogie responded, "That is a question mothers carry for a long time." She elaborated, "We believed you would have opportunities there that we could not give you here. We are poor. We have too many children and too little. Sometimes parents make decisions because they think they are protecting their children, even when the children cannot understand those decisions." Bubel woke up and asked, "Are we home?" Matou told Bubel they were "Not yet." Bubel then asked, "Did you save my sweet?" Matou confirmed, "Yes." As Farato drew closer, Matou felt a familiar excitement returning, knowing she belonged at home.
The Meaning of Family Ties
The journey for Matou and Bubel concluded its initial leg upon their arrival at the Serekunda garage. During the stop, Ousman Bah presented Borogie with "Kebba Dampha" sweets, a small packet of bonbon, and some money. "This is for the children. It is not much, but let them have something on the road," Ousman Bah stated. Borogie initially declined the offerings, saying, "Caw, you have already done enough. You do not need to give us anything." However, Ousman Bah insisted, "These are yours. Share them with Bubel when you reach home." He further advised, "And keep some of the sweets your mother gives you too. Do not consume everything at once." Matou acknowledged the gesture, responding, "Thank you, Maama." The lorry later made another stop at Serekunda market before continuing its route.
The family dynamics during the visit noted several observations. Nata, Matou’s mother, was still married, indicating stability in her household. Khadjel remained away from her home in Farato, continuing to reside with Ousman Bah. "Take me with you. Please, Neneh. Let me come to Farato," Khadjel implored Matou, adding, "I want to come home." Borogie explained Khadjel's situation, stating, "Khadjel, my child, you cannot come now," and clarified, "Because you have school here. Your Maama is taking care of you." Borogie promised, "You will come. You will come and visit us," but Khadjel questioned, "When?" Borogie replied, "Soon," leading Khadjel to lament, "You always say soon." Matou attempted to reassure her, saying, "Do not cry. I will come and see you again," but could not provide a specific timeline when Khadjel asked, "When?" Matou responded, "I do not know." Ousman Bah, who had acquired a new wife and a young son, also played a role in managing the emotional farewells.
Borogie articulated the difficult decisions parents sometimes make, explaining that they chose to send Matou away to provide opportunities. "My child, listen to me. You are not forgotten. Never think that. You are with family. Your Maama loves you, and you are going to school. We left you here because we wanted you to have an opportunity. It does not mean we do not want you," Borogie told Khadjel. She instructed, "Go home with Maama. We will see you again." Matou asked Khadjel, "Do not forget me," to which Khadjel replied, "How can I forget you?" Ousman intervened, telling Khadjel, "Come, Khadjel. Let them go." Borogie later elaborated on her rationale, stating, "We believed you would have opportunities there that we could not give you here. We are poor. We have too many children and too little. Sometimes parents make decisions because they think they are protecting their children, even when the children cannot understand those decisions." Matou, now a twelve-year-old, began to understand that being placed with relatives did not necessarily signify a lack of love, but rather an effort by adults to secure a better future for their children.
Home and Belonging
Borogie explained Khadjel could not join them, stating, "Khadjel, my child, you cannot come now," adding, "Because you have school here. Your Maama is taking care of you." Matou began crying and promised Khadjel, "Do not cry. I will come and see you again," though she could not specify when, replying, "I do not know" when asked, "When?" Borogie reassured Khadjel, "My child, listen to me. You are not forgotten. Never think that." She explained, "We left you here because we wanted you to have an opportunity. It does not mean we do not want you." Ousman Bah stood quietly beside them during the emotional farewell. The group then alighted the lorry from Jeshwang at Serekunda Kunda market and took another vehicle to Farato. Borogie later articulated a broader perspective, explaining to Matou, "That is life, my child. Sometimes people must live in different places. It does not mean they are no longer family."