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