Huckleberry and Finn. Tom Sawyers riddles and adventures of two youngsters, aiming for nothing more than what the day brings. I could always relate to that. Just like this particular afternoon with a young boy named Domingo. Seeing those exciting eyes of a free-hearted spirit, like the way we all should be.

Arriving late afternoon in Chimoio, I needed somewhere to stay. Camping would be the preferred option, but there don’t seem many options for accommodation here at all. I dropped Alex and Santos off in the middle of town and it’s bustling streets. They enjoyed their joyride with Zimba, so much is clear. Shame that we couldn’t communicate and sing loud to rock music. He he, maybe next time. I heard about a camping place called ‘Cabeca do Velho’, which translates to ‘old men’s head’. Getting there was another mission, as tracks turned into footpaths. Zimba caused his usual confusion whilst passing the stunned locals. Just smile and wave, boy. Smile and wave. We were all smiling. A gigantic smooth granite rock laid on top of a hill when I finally made it to the Cabeca do Velho. I guess it could be an old head in shape. I negotiated the vacancy fee to set up next to the house, where I could use water and electricity inside the house.

I had already noticed a large number of kids and teenagers roaming the hills. It appears to be a favorable playground with lots of open space. On a stage floor beneath the old head, a young group was training capoeira, slowly imitating moves shown before. Fabulous. I moved Zimba next to the entrance door to the house and started my usual routine. The tent needed setting up, stuff organized and equipment required recharging. ‘Yaddi bloody ya’. It gets like that sometimes doing all the writing and editing.

It wasn’t long until I saw a friendly young face appearing, who sat down next to the house. I greeted friendly ‘bon dia’ but I didn’t get much reaction. His eyes were fixated on Zimba. He just sat there and stared at the black and white stripes. His mind was wandering a hundred miles away. His English was surprisingly good for a young fella, we could communicate in some sort of way. His name is Domingo. He had this innocent but excited look about him.

Well, what the bell. I wanted to climb the old man around sunset, but now is a good time too. You can be my tour guide, you can show me the way.

The excitement in his eyes was tantalizing, pure energy and joy. It felt like Huckleberry and Finn going on adventures. It was like taking a kid to the toy store. He jumped for joy. And so was I.

Even though we just met. Even though we don’t speak each other’s language. Even though we are ages apart. We wanted to climb the rock together. Old man’s head meets young boy’s heart. We passed the group still training Capoeira. Capoeira is a Brazilian Martial Art and game that includes elements of dance, acrobatics, music and spirituality. It is a great way to keep youngsters mentally and physically stimulated.

Domingo loves Brazil. He wants to go there one day, that is his dream. He may have seen some TV programs about Brazil since both countries speak Portuguese. Playing football in Brazil? His eyes opened up even more. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? It’s difficult to explain but it felt like we knew each other forever. Domingo was hopping and bopping around telling me all about his life and Brazil. Just like a wee bouncy ball from left to right and up and down and back again.

The trail passed open fields where chicken scratched their way around within plastic rubbish, unfolding empty condom wrappers. It is a very popular spot here for the youngsters. At least some of them know the idea behind a condom. Banana seem to be a popular flavor?!

Looking towards the head, many people already were heading up to the top of ‘Monthana Cabeca do Velho’. It was surprisingly busy up here, this is a happening place to be. One gets a good view over the smoky hazy town.

I was looking for an angle to photograph Zimba from the sidewall of the head but I left my climbing ropes in the automobile. That’s how far I gotten, thanks to Domingo’s guidance.

Random teenagers asked if they could take a photo with me. It was a random feeling all around.

We sat down on the cheeky western edge of the face, overlooking the township below and the setting sun ahead.

And cheeky they are. Ronaldo arrived out of nowhere. ‘This is my brother’ Domingo said. Of course, he is. Look at these two. While these two boys were just boys, two girls came up from behind, asking if I could take a photo of them of the sunset.

I felt a little bit overwhelmed by all this movement around me but it was an amazing connection of joy and pleasure.

The three of us were a magnet drawing everyone else in. A group of seven teens came up next. Three girls and four boys. I noticed them earlier taking photos of each other.

I just wish they wouldn’t try so hard to look so cool. Natural is just so much better.

These two besties show Mozambique’s real pictures. Ja, what else can one say?

As the sun disappeared, it was time for us to get a move on. The last light will guide us home.

It was an interesting slope down the hill. A group of women gave Domingo and Ronaldo slack, about why they were traveling with that old head.

It was an unexpected fabulous connection and time. I asked the two brothers to go home and that I would see them in the morning.

I was going to get up early the next day. I wanted to finish my next story like this one. But I didn’t. I slept well and my sinuses seem to flow free again. It was a sunny morning, once the sun showed up over the old head. I just sat down with a coffee, which had no milk. I didn’t get to the shops yesterday.

Domingo and Ronaldo showed up early, smiling as always. ‘Bon dia’ he said with his portoenglish accent. ‘You slept well? ‘Yes, like a rock’ I don’t think he got that one. I didn’t have my coffee yet and these two teenagers kept staring at Zimba and his unfolded tent. ‘Can you organize me some ‘leite’ (milk)? And some bananas.’ I had run out of bananas too. Monkey not happy.

I gave them 1000 Mets, which is a lot of money in a kid’s hand, and off they went. My coffee water had already boiled, let’s see what happens. The two came back with smiling eyes. 10 bananas and some condensed milk in a small plastic bag. Better than no milk, close enough in close encounters.

I had a quick look at how much change had been given and it appeared correct, from what I could see. How good is that? I knew it. I didn’t have a single doubt. I returned the change to them, Domingo wants to buy a new shirt. Ronaldo is probably saving it, he didn’t say. He kept looking at the rooftop tent.

‘Go up and have a look.’ Both of them climbed the stairs and felt like kings of the old head. I could only imagine their exciting thoughts, which I tried to capture with my OM-D.

Out of nowhere, the owner I think) arrived, walking rudely through my privacy, didn’t say a word, and left the same way he came. WTF?!

Okay, I had my coffee with milk and shared my bananas for breakfast. What show are we into this morning?

Shortly after, an old mate who I paid yesterday, stormed in, panic in his eyes. There we go, that’s more of an entry to the scene as I applauded. Of course, I had all my boxes in the house. One for cooking, one for the pan and the plates, and not to forget the herb garden. And ja, I needed to charge all my batteries overnight because I had just gone to places, you never will. Meanwhile, Domino and Ronaldo had panic in their eyes. We need to move the boxes. No way am I gonna scurry around at 8 am, to take my boxes out. I didn’t even have breakfast yet. But I was on my second coffee and had woken up. ‘All my charging cables are in this box. These are my cooking draws and over there are my shower and toothpaste utensils. The shower was with the help of buckets over the head from the toilet. And you’re not going to stress me before breakfast. How much of an idiot can you be?’ Domingo and Ronaldo had already started moving my stuff. So I stopped them. And had my breakfast.

All that commotion had yesterday’s girls back on truck.

Yoni, Vania, Shelta, Natka, Mayra, Marcia, Ronaldo, and Domingo of course.

We took a few photos before it was time for us to move on.

All together, all kids, ran behind Zimba, screaming and shouting as I drove off.

What a scene, what a day.