It was afternoon and the day's reading session was over at ACK Mwatunge.
The children were however waiting for the day's big event. Mwalimu Grace had said there will be a tug of War.
"Allright, children! Time for the tug of war!"

A thick sisal rope with a red cloth tied at the center was brought and laid out, and two leaders got picked for each team.
Mwambingu was on one side, a sturdy boy in grade four known to be able to carry two buckets of water from the river.

On the other side was Wakesho, a short, clever girl in grade three, with big eyes sparkling with determination.
They stood face to face with the rope in their hands and Mwambingu grinned widely. "I will defeat you Wakesho," he said proudly.

They then picked their team mates to ensure each side was balanced with the same number of children.
Mwambingu's team was a picture of strength.
Wakesho's team was made up of mostly girls, they looked like sparrows fighting against eagles.

Mwalimu Grace positioned them, the red cloth was over a line she had drawn on the ground.
"Pull with all your strength and the first team to get pulled across the line loses."
"Moja! Mbili! Tatu! VUTA! (One! Two! Three! PULL!)

The rope was tight from the force, they were sliding and their heels carved trenches into the soil.
Mwambingu's team was gaining ground and it was almost a sure win.
But Wakesho shouted! "Let's pull in a rhythm, not individually!"

In synchronized motions, Wakesho's team leaned back while tugging in a rhythm and the rope stopped moving.
"Stength is not just in the arms, it is in the rhythm," she said wisely.
The next pull made one boy lose his balance and he fell.

With member down, Mwambingu's team got confused and their pulling became chaotic individual efforts, that were no match for the rhythm and concentration of Wakesho and her team.
The spectating children gasped and some cheered loudly.

With one final tug, Mwambingu's team crossed the line and they bit the dust.
Mwambingu got up dusting his face and clothes and with a big grin on his face, he turned to Wakesho and said, "That rhythm thing was clever, congratulations."

Mwalimu Grace brought juice and biscuits for everyone and the children sat under the tree sharing.
The lesson for the day was that, strength does not come from being the biggest or strongest but from being united and working together.