DAVID’S NEW GIRLFRIEND; SARAH

 

DAVID’S NEW GIRLFRIEND; SARAH

David could not quite wait for Thursday to try and pick a conversation with Sarah. He stayed awed the whole week that followed their encounter in class, by Sarah’s sense of presence and the aura that filled the area between them, that first time they met. Come to the next class the following Thursday, David was about 40 minutes early in class. He was hoping to see Sarah somewhere, but she wasn’t in. A little disappointed and as was his custom, he went straight to the back of the class, found a place and sat. He got his Programming book out of the bag to try and read something, but his concentration was poor. After about 10 minutes, he saw Sarah Walk in. She came straight towards the back but to the other side of the room. David lifted his gaze and could not get his eyes off her. Sarah looked down and when she noticed that David’s eyes were still on her, she raised her hand and waved at him. David waved back but Sarah went to the extreme opposite side of the lecture hall, removed her books and began to flip the pages. David had a difficult time concentrating. Five minutes before the class began, David remained but saw Sarah move to the front. The class ended. Sarah was out again before David would catch up with her. David made up his mind that he would not take more chances the following week. He promised himself to sit next to her, introduce himself and keep the conversation going. So came the following week. David walked into the lecture room 15 minutes earlier, saw Sarah at the back of the room, went straight to her, greeted her and sat right next to her. He introduced himself and they had a chit-chat before Sarah said that she needed to move to the front seats. David said that he would also go with her and try a different sitting place. So, he did. After the class, they both walked out together conversing. They stood outside for a few minutes before saying bye to each other. David was so relieved to have had the courage to talk to her. He was excited. It felt good to be around her. She was truly beautiful, and her personality was also cool, relaxed and relaxing to be around. David had not felt this good ever around a woman. Of course she was beautiful. Talk of the face, the hair, front, back and side curves---the legs, the arms…the whole of her was clearly the work of a perfect sculptor that God is. Apart from her beauty though, there was something amazing about her that David could not quite explain. A special presence that felt good to be around. The weeks that followed were not different. David always sat next to Sarah in that class. A friendship developed between them and not long afterwards, David asked her out for a date which she was agreeable to. That date was special. It was in java house near parliament. They sat at one corner in the evening from around 4:00 PM from where they enjoyed coffee with pieces of cakes. Sarah tried out a black forest piece while David ordered his favorite Carrot cake. They talked a lot about everything and had an excellent time together. More outings followed and they became too close. David eventually asked Sarah to be his girlfriend, which she agreed. They started dating and with time, David started introducing her to his family and friends, especially during events and parties that they went together. Sarah’s family and friends also began to know David. It felt good for the two, but Sarah remained a little skeptical. She had heard so many negative things about campus relationships and men. She hoped that Her’s would be different.

@Stephen Mungai 

COMMUNICATIONS 101: THE BACKBENCHERS

 COMMUNICATIONS 101: THE BACKBENCHERS

David was in 4th year doing IT and loving it. He had dutifully attended most of his classes save for the times he needed to attend to something in the family business or the Clearing and forwarding business whose shares, the dad had taken over from his uncle, Mwangi. Still to be done though was a mandatory common course, communications 101. He registered for it and began to attend the classes. From his days in primary school, David loved to be a backbencher. This was not only because he loved to do other personal things as the lectures progressed but also that he disliked the Front benchers especially those who asked endless questions or liked conversations with the lecturers.  He was also an early person to class and when he came in, he would walk to the seats at the very back. Sarah on the other hand preferred to come to class one hour or 30 minutes before time either to have a short preparation before class began or to remind herself of what had been taught in the previous class. That way, she always felt part of the class and would be able to follow up during lecture progress. Every time Sarah came into a class, she would go right behind to do her prep thing and then move forward around 5 minutes before the class began. It was at the backbenches of the Communication 101 class that David met Sarah. On the 2^nd week of the class, which was usually Thursdays from 2 to 4 PM, David walked into class and right behind there sat a lady attentively reading something. She had short, unplaited hair. She wore a black, white polka dotted dress, a front buttoned navy blue pullover and some black closed leather shoes. As David approached the back area, Sarah lifted her face to see the gentleman approaching. David had a glance at her beautiful face and was filled with awe. She then buried her head back into her book. David came and sat on a seat an arm’s length distance away. ‘Hallo’ he greeted. ‘Hallo to you, “Sarah replied. ‘Are you here for Comms 101’, David enquired. ‘Yes. But I must finish something before that’, Sarah replied. ‘Okay. Good day then’, Said David. ‘Good day too’ Replied Sarah as she went on flipping her book. David sat there not being able to do much but wishing that the conversation could go on. He was also reading a programming book occasionally stealing glances at Sarah. That was like 20 minutes before the lecture began. As time went by, more students came in in increasing numbers and five minutes before time, Sarah picked up her things as David was looking. ‘I have to move a little bit to the front,’ she said to him. ‘That’s okay, “David replied. So, Sarah moved to the front as David remained at the same place. So, the class progressed and ended some minutes before 4.00 PM. When the class ended, there was a strong urge inside David to follow Sarah out to progress the conversation, but another voice told him to let go. Before he could move out, he noticed Sarah Walk out but there were many students ahead of him and by the time he got out, Sarah was nowhere to be seen. David had no more lectures that day and so went home to his apartment in Kahawa Sukari. He made himself Ugali with scrambled eggs and continued to do the programming work that Eric had assigned to him. He could not well get that lady, Sarah, out of his mind and looked forward to the next comms 101 lecture. Hopefully to see her again.

@Stephen Mungai

THEURI’S FESTIVE CHRONICLES

 THEURI’S FESTIVE CHRONICLES

Good times make good memories. And, now that the festive season ended not long ago, what have you kept for memories?

Theuri family festive days make for interesting moments, and the just ending was not an exception. At 80, Theuri is ageing but credit to him, he has kept his family together since his kids were babies. Every of his 7 children has kids themselves and it is fascinating enough to him, that already 4 of them are themselves grandparents.

The festive week was this time exceptional because everyone made it to come including Aunty Lucia, who had been married in Luhya land and since lived in Bungoma. The plan was to celebrate Theuri, who in November had turned 80. Theuri’s grandchildren made festivities memorable. They did the slaughtering for boiling, roasting and frying to later serve. The ladies cooked the other foods. The cousins worked in groups and preferred to have their parents relax.

Uncle Kinyanjui, Kinyaa, as the cousins fondly called him made the days fun. He would tell them stories of his own childhood and that of their parents too, which the cousins found interesting. Kinyaa is the kind that never leaves home. He was once married, got a boy but his wife left for not being able to stand his alcoholism. He had loved his drink as long as the cousins could remember but now, he seemed frailer, even emaciated for his poor eating habits. Word has it that as early as 5.00 am, he’s the first knocking doors of the squalor dens of liquor or Chang’aa dealers. Nevertheless, he is everyone’s favorite. He seems reasonable, telling honest stories of his life experiences or of the newest brand of liquor and how the new compares with the previous. At such family gatherings, he disappears for a drink when someone gives him a 50-bob note. Some cousins like to accompany him, buy him and taste his favorite drinks too. Without a 50 bob, he would at times be dancing to entertain the guests or making jokes and laughing out loud. Ushago was just not it without Kinyaa.

Aunty Wanjira herself arrived early on 25th. ‘Again’, someone wondered. ‘I thought she wouldn’t come’. Many cousins avoided her, considering her a spoilsport. She seemed to have issues with almost everyone. She would join a group, and all would leave with excuses to go do this or that. She normally took over discussions beginning to preach to the group. She would tell one why alcohol taking was a sin. Another would be told why such music that was played was devilish. Cousin Jane was particularly advised to consider getting married not just degrees as her age was advancing. She avoided aunty but the festive never ended without the lecture. Aunty Wanjira’s son Elisha always told the mother to allow people to lead their lives the best way they knew how, but this conversation seemed never to end.

So runs festive seasons for Theuri’s, starring Kinyaa and Aunty Wanjira. Who is your favorite? Kinyaa seems lost yet, people’s favorite. Aunty Wanjira tries to bring positive changes to the family, but it looks like people love evil more than good. Or what do you think?

@ Stephen Mungai

MEANINGFUL DAYS

 MEANINGFUL DAYS

The start is always super. Staying awake on new year's Eve enjoying a drink or bite with family as the old year is making the last step out the door. Some people like it while enjoying stage performances from their favourite music or comic acts, to see off the old year with a smile or hearty laughter. Churches also like to fill up with worshipers keen to say a big thank you to God for preserving them over the whole year, as well as say a prayer for divine guidance into the new year. Starting with God if you wish to call it. How did you welcome the new year? Whichever the method, the new year's jump provides a point for reflection, re- thinking and reorientation for our lives. It's a new chance to become what we dream of and to move towards achieving our life objectives. So, do you already have new year's resolutions? Are you already working on your plans? Have you already done a complete successful week? Kudos to all of us who are 100 percent on it. The question is how good we are at keeping our resolutions. How did you perform with your last year's resolutions? Could you have been discouraged making new ones this year due to your poor performance on them last year? The solution may be to make new ones or renew them every 1st day of a new month or every week. Maybe fewer resolutions may be better and easier. Maybe something to do once a month or every two weeks. Or even something to do today. What is most important is beginning and doing. If you fail, it's okay to replan and do another attempt. God wants every of our days to be meaningful and we should endeavour to count our every 'today' as meaningful. For God's help, let's join the psalmist in the prayer of Psalms 90:12, 'Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.' That is the way to live as wise people. So help us God.

@Stephen Mungai