The hour drive to the airport in the back of the dark Humvee seemed never-ending. Zuri was quite surprised to learn that the two men helping them were Baba’s groundskeepers. She questioned their loyalty from the moment she learned their identity, but if Mama Winnie enlisted them, then they must be legit.
They made it to the airport with only a few close calls of being caught. Sadness enveloped Zuri, gazing at the women who had risked their lives to ensure her safety.
“Until we meet again.” Mama Winnie pulled Zuri into her bosom. “I love you.”
“I love you back and thank you for everything,” she replied, fighting back the tears before breaking the embrace and facing the other women. “Thank all of you. Much love and appreciation for all you have done for me.”
The women said their goodbyes, then Mama Winnie and Zuri climbed out of the Humvee and entered Kilimanjaro International Airport in northern Tanzania that served the cities of Arusha and Moshi. Zuri went straight to the security checkpoint since she already had her boarding pass.
After several minutes of looking over her shoulder, Zuri finally made it to the front of the line. She turned and waved one last time, then scanned the immediate area, handing the security agent her boarding pass and passport. Mama Winnie waved emphatically.
Zuri maneuvered into the next set of security checkpoints to scan her body and luggage. While waiting in line to put her items on the conveyor belt, she turned around a second time to catch a final glimpse of the woman who loved Zuri as her own daughter, and her legs almost gave way.
Godfrey had grabbed Mama Winnie and was shaking her by the shoulders.
“Miss, you’re holding up the line,” said the man in a brown suit holding a briefcase standing behind Zuri, gesturing for her to step forward.
Frozen solid, Zuri stared past him, her eyes locked on Baba handling Mama Winnie like she wasn’t a woman. “Excuse me.” She nudged the man out of her way and pushed through the crowd toward Mama Winnie, her heartbreaking with every step she took.
Approaching the third passenger in line, she came up short as she stared into the gentle eyes of Mama Olivia. “I cannot let you do that.”
“What are you doing here? You did not come with us,” Zuri asked the housemaid who cared for her as a child, glancing over the short woman’s silky braided white hair. “We need to help Mama Winnie.”
“Turn around and walk. You are next,” Mama Olivia said, prompting Zuri to move forward. “Winnie knows what she is doing.”
“But.” Zuri pointed a trembling finger.
“Next,” the pudgy TSA worker said in a loud voice.
As Zuri moved forward to put her items on the conveyor belt, she prayed the surprise Mama Winnie embedded in her duffel bag remained hidden or else she’d end up behind bars, and Baba would be the least of her worries.
Zuri stepped into the body scanner as her belongings glided in a gray bin through the thermal scan demodulator. A loud beep made Zuri jump, and the impatient man who came through before Zuri glanced in her direction and winked just as police officers swarmed around him.
“What are you doing with a knife in your carry-on, sir?” an officer asked the man, grabbing him by the arm with such force it might break.
“You are good, Miss,” another TSA worker with shoulder-length locs said, waving Zuri through. “Do not forget your belongings.”
“Um. Okay.” She hesitated, frightened by the commotion, but relieved that the sensor hadn’t told the world her secret.
Mama Olivia came through security right behind Zuri.
Zuri leaned in and whispered, “Did you see that man wink at me?”
“He is with us, too.” Mama Olivia smiled. “A decoy to take the focus off of your luggage, just in case it was flagged.”
Zuri was still amazed at the meticulous planning Mama Winnie had orchestrated with the help of the tribe and others.
“I will stay with you until you board,” Mama Olivia said as they headed toward the gate. “I know you are worried about Winnie. She is fine. We anticipated Godfrey either following us or showing up at the airport. He may suspect Winnie helped you, but he does not have any proof.”
“But what about you, Mama Olivia Zuri asked, as a sadness coursed through her heart. She didn’t want Baba to take out his frustrations on any of the women. “What will happen if he finds out you helped me?”
“Chile, you do not have to worry about this old woman. I am on a two-week vacation to visit my great-granddaughter,” she explained. “I only came to the house for Suby’s home-going celebration.” Pausing for a moment to catch her breath, Mama Olivia said, “I promised your mother I would always look after you, so I was more than happy to help and grateful to see your beautiful face, if even only for a minute.”
Finally, making it to the gate, Zuri sat with her back to the window so she could see the travelers who walked past and hoped none of them were her Baba. Unzipping the pouch inside her duffel bag, Zuri pulled out the note and unfolded a worn paper on one side, then she heard Mama Winnie’s voice in her head telling her to wait, so she put it back.
Flight 834 to Chicago is boarding now.
“This is it,” Zuri said, releasing a breath she wasn’t aware she’d been holding. She wrapped her arms around Mama Olivia and kissed her soft-wrinkled cheek. “I love you.”
“You make your Mama proud. Be everything she knew you were destined to be,” she nodded; her cloudy dark-brown eyes were glistening.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The pool of tears in Zuri’s eyes, cascaded down her cheeks as she walked over and stood in line. This was the last time she’d see her homeland, but intuition told her this wouldn’t be the last time she’d see her Baba.
Zuri handed her boarding pass to a female TSA worker with a smile that could light up the darkest of days. The woman scanned and gave it back to Zuri. One final glance over her shoulder at Mama Olivia who blew a kiss and waved, then she faded from view as Zuri traipsed down the ramp to board.
Sitting in a window seat, she placed the duffel bag in her lap, then retrieved the note from Mama Winnie. Zuri glanced at the woman who claimed the middle seat next to her, unfolded the paper, and angled it toward the window so the passenger couldn’t read the contents.
Zuri instantly recognized her mother’s handwriting.
If you ever need an emergency place of refuge, go to the Second Chance at Life Women’s Shelter on Seventy-Ninth and Cottage Grove in Chicago. Ask for Mariano DeLuca and no one else.
How did she know I would need this?
Zuri folded the piece of paper, placed it back in her bag, and committed the name and address to memory.
Who is Mariano DeLuca?