4.
1265 Words
After I had saved myself from suffering the tragedy of an allergic reaction to cauliflower, I caught a plane to Kenya, in Eastern Africa.
Ethan was still extremely furious, he wouldn't even accept that he was mistaken to have forgotten about my allergy. I could have an attack for all he cared, I shouldn't have ridiculed his ignorance in front of a strange man.
Now, he made me begin to feel guilty for even having had prior knowledge about the chocolate bars being made with cauliflower. I know Mrs. Carter loved to use vegetables in her desserts. It was quite unusual, but I had known it since I was a child. She called it healthy confectionery, and she fed all but cauliflower to me because she knew I was allergic to it.
Georgina abandoned her daughter to spend some quality time with her African heartthrob. He was called Chege and he was a bachelor, quite younger than Georgina.
"You should try as much as possible to enjoy yourself over here." Georgina had winked at me when Chege's bachelor friends had come over. I wanted to ask her why Sofia couldn't meet her father, but I waited for the right time.
I decided that I wouldn't think of anything during my stay in Africa. Africa was a beautiful continent that was perfect for a getaway. The sun was hot and not lazily bright, the people were free-spirited. They often didn't wear their worries on their faces, and their civilization alternated between the age of the caveman and the present tech-oriented time. I fancied that their food stung my tongue in a weirdly satisfying way.
However, I didn't recover from the sting of a Safari ant until I visited the hospital.
On the third day of my arrival, Sofia had skipped out to play when I settled down for breakfast.
"What are these called?" I asked Chege, as it had been my custom since I sat at his dinner for the first time. Over time, I learned a few things about Kenyan culture and practices, and it was exciting. I felt I could write something about the people and the country already.
"Here is mkate wa maya, as you can see, it's a sponge cake," he pointed at the baked slightly brown cake that was sitting prettily on my plate. I repeated after him. He chuckled, most probably because I didn't pronounce the word well. I knew learning Swahili was just like learning any other foreign language, and it could be quite difficult.
"And this," he continued. "This is uji... it's local porridge. I bet you take porridge in the US too..."
"Sure," I smiled.
"You can take it either with lemon juice or sugar. I prefer sugar, I have a sweet tooth." He laughed.
"I'd like to have a taste of both..."
He nodded. "Good."
"Lastly, this is called chai. Ever heard of it? It's a popular beverage in the Indian subcontinent. It's total coffee."
"Amazing. Latte and Americano are all I know..." I joked. He laughed again. I thought he was a nice man.
On the fifth day, when Sofia mentioned her father in front of Chege, I found out that Georgina had told Chege an entirely different story from the one I knew.
"Mommy said my daddy lives very far away." Sofia chirped.
"Really?" Chege twitched his brows.
"Yes, do you know him? Have you seen what he looks like?" Sofia queried inquisitively.
"No, but your mommy has told me about him," Chege responded.
"Oh," Sofia sighed.
"I'll be right back, I just remembered I have to talk to Charlene on the phone." She scooted up the stairs.
"What did Georgina tell you?" I was curious to know what Georgina had told her boyfriend about the father of her only daughter.
"Not much. She only told me he's mentally deranged, and so he's looked after in the asylum." Chege responded nonchalantly. I was shocked at the lie; Georgina was clever at the game she was playing. I felt Chege was deserving of the truth as he was a good man, but as Mrs. Carter had said, it was not my place and business.
"Okay." That was all I could say. I wondered if the truth would ever be known to him someday.
At night, I lay on my bed thinking about Ethan. What could he be doing at the moment? Did he miss me at all? He had not called me once since I left.
I knew he was still mad at me. I was starting to feel guilty. It was a sour feeling. I wanted to call him and ask how he was faring, so I dialed his number, but I was redirected to voicemail. I called him about three times, but he didn't answer the calls.
From that, I could surmise how busy he was with work. Truthfully, handling the general affairs of a company was no easy task, one couldn't lounge about at one's whim.
And Mrs. Carter? How was she doing? She had spoken to Georgina on the phone after we got here, but not directly to me. I missed her a little bit. I understood she was going through a tough phase in her life, the untimely loss of my father had shaken everyone. She had been quite dependent on my father, but I had never thought she'd be in want of money so much that she'd allow a perverted man to have s*x with her. Had the company ceased to pay her salary? I should inquire when I return to the States.
I could hear Sofia excitedly talking about how she was loving her visit to Charlene in Kenya.
"And the monkeys and the little houses and the strange black children...ever seen a cultural troupe? Mommy says they are all here!" She was chirping endlessly.
"Aunt Layla, when will you have kids?" Sofia's question startled me the following day while we ate breakfast. She had told her mother she wanted a sibling, but her mother had laughed it off, so she had turned to me.
"Soon." I swallowed.
"Have a baby girl please, then she and I could play with Barbie in my tree house." She added. Chege chuckled.
"You want a baby sister, right?" He chewed on his food.
"Yes," She affirmed.
"Your wish will come through, your mum and I will make it happen." Chege smiled at Georgina.
"No!" She snapped and folded her arms in defiance.
"No? Don't you want a baby sister?" Chege asked coolly.
"I do, but mummy and daddy have to make my wish come true. You should not be a part of it."
Chege fell silent. I could sense the disappointment on his face.
"Sofia?" Her mother stared unbelievably at her.
"Go get me, daddy, mummy. Please don't be mean and just go get Daddy." Sofia began to cry.
"Shut it right now, Sofia!" Georgina gritted, but Sofia kept on howling like a little stray wolf.
"Sofia, come." I decided to take her away from the dinner.
"I'm sorry about that, honey." I heard Georgina say to Chege...
When Georgina couldn't endure her daughter's sauciness any longer, she sent us packing three days before the day of our intended return. I thought it would allow me to surprise and reconcile with Ethan. He'd never expected I'd be back earlier than planned. I bought a couple of bracelets the first time I went to a flea market. Though they were quite cheap, they only cost five Kenyan Shillings, they were unique and beautiful. I will make sure he wore his every day.
- Writer
