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Where Lions Sleep
Anna G. Joujan
© Copyright 2018 by Anna G.
Joujan
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Photo (c) 2001 by Richard Loller. |
It
is a sound unlike any I have ever heard before, and a sound
impossible to describe with the written word. But once you have heard
it, you can never forget it. So my sleep has been sweet, lulled into
slumber each night to the soft and steady hum of the lions.
It
has been the week of the lions. A small pride of females moved into
the camp—no one knows why, as it is unusual for them to choose
such a relatively inhabited spot, humanly speaking, for their hunting
grounds. But they are most definitely here. And our daily life has
been significantly disrupted.
I
first realized how much so when a vehicle arrived early Monday to
pick us up from school. The driver explained that the lions were
right there behind the school, and so it was not safe for us to take
our usual 5-minute walk back for lunch break.
For
the remainder of that afternoon, we heard consistently intermittent
reminders that one large cat was lounging right behind us. She was
just hidden enough by the grasses for us to not be able to get a good
look, but tauntingly close enough that each rustle in the grasses
left us with almost-glimpses.
The
next disruption occurred when the subject of my morning runs came up
among staff. While I had asked about running before I came, it has
ended up being debated off and on, as local folks notice my habitual
roaming of the grounds.
It
was with trepidation that I awaited the outcome of these
deliberations—being an utter addict, if I were to be cut off
from my run, I would be a lost soul indeed. Ultimately, to my great
relief, it was decided that I could keep my routine, on one
condition: I can no longer run with headphones.
So
I am, for the first time in about 10 years now of running, getting
used to what I call my “silent runs.” It’s been
actually quite a nice realization to find that I can adapt to hearing
only the sound of my own feet and breath. No doubt when I am once
again living in an area where I can run with my iPod, I will welcome
its return, but for now, I am happy without.
And
so we have come through what I will remember as the week of the
lions.
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