Free Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters

came to the boots. I went to put them into the pack and one of the boys stepped forward and stopped me, saying something I didn’t understand.
    â€œHe wants for you to try them on to make sure they fit,” Sarah explained.
    â€œOh, I’m pretty sure they’ll fit unless my feet have changed sizes in the last few hours.”
    â€œJust do as he asks,” Sarah said.
    Almost instantly one of the other boys materialized holding a little three-legged stool. I sat down and pulled a pair of socks—my socks—out of the pack. I kicked off the sandals, pulled on the socks and then slipped my foot into one of the boots.
    The same boy said something and Sarah translated. “He wants to know if they fit.”
    â€œTell him they are too small and I want to know if he has something bigger.”
    Sarah looked shocked.
    â€œGo ahead and tell him.”
    Sarah gave me a sly smile and then spoke. The boy looked as surprised as she had.
    â€œAsk him if he has any bigger ones because I do not really like these much.”
    Sarah translated and the boy replied.
    â€œHe says there are no bigger ones in Tanzania, and he thought for sure they would fit you as if they were your own.”
    â€œTell him they are too small and too ugly, but I will take them if the price is right.”
    Sarah burst into laughter and then told the boy, who also started to laugh. He slapped her on the back.
    â€œHe says the price will be good because he likes you. He says you are a good mzungu .”
    I did up the laces on the boots, making sure they were tied tightly. I wasn’t giving back these boots and I wanted to have something better than sandals if I had to run.
    I searched the stall again until I was certain that I’d located all of my things. What I couldn’t fit into my pack I put into my other bag—the green duffel bag. I did a rough tally in my head, trying to remember what else was missing, what else I still had to find. I basically had everything I could think of, including my special flashlight—the one I would wear on my head like a mining light.
    â€œThat’s it,” I said.
    â€œGood. We will negotiate a price.”
    The two of them began talking. The conversation quickly became excited, and I could tell that they had very different ideas about what I should pay. I wished I could have been part of the discussion or at least understood what they were saying. The one boy turned away and joined the other two, and the three of them began an equally noisy discussion.
    â€œI have offered them around twenty thousand shillings,” Sarah said to me.
    â€œBut you told me to bring—”
    â€œBe quiet. Do not let them hear the number. Numbers in English they understand. We are negotiating. They wish to have one hundred and fifty thousand shillings!”
    â€œI don’t have that much money with me!”
    â€œAnd we will not pay that much. This is how things are done here. I will talk them down.”
    Sarah turned to the boys and yelled out something, and instantly all three of them burst into laughter, one of them laughing so hard that he almost fell over.
    â€œWhat did you say to them?” I asked.
    â€œI told them that if they didn’t sell the boots to you that they would have to hope that an elephant needed footwear or perhaps a small family could use one of them as a hut.”
    The first boy returned, and he and Sarah again started talking, throwing sentences back and forth. Finally, judging from the nodding of heads, I thought they’d reached a decision.
    â€œGive me your money,” Sarah said. “And turn your pockets inside out so they can see that you carry nothing more.”
    I did what I was told.
    There were more arguments, more discussion, and then finally Sarah gave them the money. The boy looked at me and said something.
    â€œHe is telling you that it was a pleasure to do business with you and that he hopes you always keep an