Finally upon us, it was time for the last night in Daoudabougou get-together Mamadou and I had planned. I set up shop outside Mamadou's concession while both Bocar and he went off to collect Adiaratou and Ba Oumou from Torokorobougou. Moussa fitini arrived shortly thereafter and was able to pick up Maman from closeby market. The list of guests was lengthy, and featured a group of people that otherwise would've never hung out together: Ivo, Foret, Adaman, Alfa Vieux, Drisa (with his wife and son), Vieux Camara, Siaka, Adiaratou & Ba Oumou from Torokorobougou, Maman from ACI 2000, Sidy from Yirimadio, Sekou from Faladie, Mamadou, Baba, Bocar, Kara from Sabalibougou, Sanata, Moussa (and a soccer teammate), Daouda, and Soumaila from Sokorodji.
Adiaratou and Ba Oumou came with letters they'd written for me, and Maman pulled me aside briefly to show a bag full of beaded bracelets and other jewelry she'd sent Adiaratou to the artisana market to gift my sister and mom. Otherwise, I spent most of the evening enjoying the company of Adiaratou while my friends played cards, brewed tea, and took photos.
Mamadou convinced Maman to spend the night, and we stayed up until ~4am chatting. The next morning I chat together with Siaka, Mamadou, Maman, Soumaila, and Batoma. Later, once Maman had left (both she and Adiaratou were attending their grandfather's funeral this afternoon), Kadia came for a short visit as well.
During this time, Moussa took me on a trip to the artisana to purchase my sister's drum, as well as another pair of dress slip-on loafers. Riding on a moto through the busy Friday crowds of market was a bit exhilarating and I was certainly sunburned afterward, but it was a fun experience nonetheless.
As the evening began, Mamadou took me over to the stage house so I could pack my things in time for my ride to the airport. Maman called but was so emotional it took three tries to finally say she was doubtful a trip to the airport would be possible. Adiaratou stopped by on her way to theater practice, and we both almost didn't make it through our last greeting exchange without tears. The man giving her a ride on his moto suggested she meet me at the airport after rehearsal, and she agreed but only if it meant she'd be boarding the plane with me. I told her I only had room in my pocket.
Besides the awesome seeing-off party Mamadou organized for me at the airport (Baba, Bocar, La Vieux, Sanata, Siaka, Vieux, Daouda, Drisa, Moussa, Soumaila), with the assistance of Drisa and his taxi van, several good-bye's (or lack thereof) left me very much convinced that this cannot be this last time I leave Mali. Although Niang called me to say au revoir, Dicko was m.i.a. along with the 10.000f cfa he still owed me. Daouda and Soumaila called to say they couldn't make it, a stunning move that left Siaka speechless and ashamed. Maman and Adiaratou called to say they were on their way, but proved too tardy and check-in for my flight had begun before they ever showed up. I took Mamadou aside to give him the rest of my Malian money to split between the Comagara girls, and told him to keep them in his thoughts for me, occasionally call and visit them, give them my news, etc. Judging from the group of folks that made the trip to the airport to see me off one last time, I told him I perceived him to be my true counterpart and thanked him immensely. On my way to the terminal, Bocar lightened everyone's mood with jokes, but the last interaction, a hug from Mamadou, was the true moment of the evening.
As I sit in the Paris CDG airport gates hours later, I can still barely write about this. Each line of text is broken with lumps in the throat and a quick look around to distract my mind before continuing onto the next.
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