MEMENTO ROCK

Spirit of rejection

Early the next morning I was on my way to school after a whole week of absence. I met with Rosemary Kasiran, my classmate. She used to be one of the most beautiful girls in the school. She greeted me and went on silently. 

“Where have you been for the whole of last week?” She asked. “Or you waited to be funded after the fire incident?” She asked contemptuously. “Wow I hadn’t seen that you are in new shoes and trouser. Who sponsored you then?” She continued cheerfully. 

“I bought it by myself Rose…,” I answered furtively. “I can sponsor myself because I am not that poor.” 

She kept a distance side ways to scan me. She was proud and pretended that she hate being helped. More time was spent gossiping about a certain family. She could be heard saying. “It’s sheepish to be supported by a person like you, who has two hands like you do legs…” Not knowing that she lived under sponsorship of the church. Couldn’t she know that pride comes before a great fall? Who could she listen as if not the wiser? 

She could detect new things as I walked. Her eyes were like computerized although didn’t see money in the pocket.

Just as we passed at the centre, I invited her in a hotel that was next to the road. It was commonly known as Jamuwa hotel. I found about twenty students taking breakfast. I told her to ask for anything and I was to pay. 

She didn’t waste the opportunity. The waiter served with foodstuff that cost three hundred. I gave her a thousand and brought me back change of four hundred after taking the same breakfast to that of Rosemary. 

The waiter stared at me as I left the hotel being the first student ever to spend such money. She was used to students who spent, if more fifty shillings and could not be seen some days. This astonished her. 

As we entered the gate I heard some students gossiping. They were in front and none of them had noticed that I was behind them.

“Do you hear about the form one boy called Stephen who got rich suddenly after burning his kieja” the first one said.

“No,” the second person answered.

“He is now driving very expensive monster-like vehicles. Some that are the recent models. I think he is the richest person in this village now. 

“But I heard my father saying that she is in a relationship with a white girl, isn’t it?” The second one asked charmingly. 

“I think yes although I am not sure about it. It is not hundred per cent approved but from my point of view he is…” She answered. 

“Excuse me please” I said politely disrupting the discussion. They gave me a way horrendously. I assumed that I had heard nothing and walked past them hurriedly. 

Just as I entered the class, students who were in kept quiet. I thought I was the main topic that fateful morning. They became naughty and arrogant towards me. I looked like a sheep between wolfs. I could not avoid the shyness, groggy feeling and heavy eyed looks. They were things that welcomed me. I was even more than a warthog as students from other classes came to peep in just to have a look at me. 

I tried to pretend that I was okay became angry of the looks. I decided not to be silent again.

“Hey! How do you see me? Do I appear two headed?” I could ask violently with my face frowned. “Stop gazing at me like I am floating in the toilet!” I could be heard saying.

Soon students settled. The teacher on duty came in to check whether we were all present. On seeing me he opened his eyes wide enough to see veins. 

“Let me find you in the office! Get out!” He roared pointing me with a stick. 

I walked out worriedly not knowing what could follow. He used to be the most feared teacher in the school. He used to keep no nonsense in the compound. Due to his fearful traits, we used to call him muruthi. His words were highly acidic. As i stood just next to the principal’s office his car zoomed and stopped gradually. He got out and walked towards me menacingly. He gave me a heavy slap. To open my eyes, I tasted the floor. He lifted me with one hand and placed me on the dust bin. 

Then “wow! You look so beautiful somehow handsome. I thought that you have head but for now you taught me a childish lesson. I may like to share it with you by hundred per cent. Follow me to my office!” He roared ghastly wiping his hand with a handkerchief. He walked and entered his office bossily. 

His movement was not peace full but dedicated horror in me. I thought I was day dreaming. Within some seconds I rejuvenated my lost energy and stood. I shuffled towards his office supporting myself with the frozen wall. It was just some meters from where I was. I knocked his door and entered.

I found him taking hot tea that was on the table. I thought he has gregarious as he was smiling contemptuously. He ordered me to be on my knees and pray for good judgments to be passed. He walked out and pulled the door behind him. He locked it and I heard his footsteps vanishing at a distance. 

I stood up and started my own drama. I pretended to be the principal. “Kneel down there you notorious boy!” I said pointing the tiled floor. I walked around the office table bossily. I picked the cup of tea and went on. I took three mouths full proudly. It tasted wow! Exactly like that I had taken from Jamuwa hotel. It was sweet that I took the first, second and the final. I left a half. Although the slap was still active I was a man of hard work so I ignored it. 

Suddenly I heard footsteps again coming from far. I run back to my position and gazed at the floor. I went on my knees and forced my hands backwards. He unlocked and pushed the door in. He entered with the deputy head teacher. He went round the table and sat on his office chair. 

“This is the boy that you had heard about. He is suspected to be worshipping devil for the last one week. He was accused by his uncle for being in a relationship with a girl who is not familiar in this area. He was also accused for smoking bang that made him burn his house. I will also accuse him for not being in school for the last one week” He roared to the deputy principal who sat in front of me.

I was left with my mouth open on hearing my mistakes. When did I worship the devil? Who saw me burning my house truly? When did I smoke bang? I wondered. All these were drama not even a movie or a tale. Suddenly the door was knocked as I was thinking nifty. The principal closed a file that he was reading and removed his spectacles.

“Yes get in!” He shouted curious.

The door was pushed in. The waiter from Jamuwa Hotel stepped in proudly. “How are you sir?” She greeted. 

“I am more than fine Nduta” 

“I have come to inform you about the boy that you have been investigating. 

Today in the morning, he bought food stuffs worth six hundred shillings. He was accompanied by a tall brown girl. He removed a thousand notes and I returned the change of four hundred.” She said in a low tone. This is when I discovered that she had not noticed my presence. 

“What’ the principal yelled. “I can’t spend even four hundred even for lunch!” He continued. Just then another knocks were heard at the door. The waiter was given a seat. She sat next to the deputy. 

“Get in please” He said. 

The door was pushed inside and the nyumba-kumi chairman bounced in. He came smiling.

‘Munene’ he called the principal. “I am here again to bring my report.” He said removing his smartphone from his pocket. 

“The boy that we were inspecting entered in to my trap. Yesterday, he was brought home in the evening by a path finder vehicle. It was being driven by a strong monster that looked like Satan.” He explained. Here I have pictures with me. He showed the principal.

Just before he had finished another knock were heard at the door. They sounded weak than that of the Nyumba kumi chairman.

“Get in please” The deputy allowed in the contents outside.

My grandmother pushed the door in. She entered with hot air that started to suffocate me. Her fake face that she used to display at home changed. It was short lived as it came to pass. The mercy that I used to see, turned blues. Her craws were now seen clearly. 

She sat without being allowed to do so. Just then she removed my smart phone from her handbag. 

“Mwalimu” She called. “I have come because I can’t stay with such a person at home. Here is the phone that he is using; here is the paper that I wrote everything he used during the construction of his house, he also spent fifty eight thousand and some shillings above. His phone cost sixteen thousand nine hundred and ninety nine.

He had a laptop but I didn’t find it. This was evidence, that he is either a thug or a devil worshiper. Even Lotto itself cannot offer such money. I want you to take the right step, if police officers are needed call them. 

The secret behind all this must be exposed by evening and if a thug he must be arrested. Then anything at home I will keep it for myself.” She said aggressively. 

“He is just at the back there kneeling” He said pointing at me. The waitress, chairman and cucu turned. They all felt an over inflated fear. They had said everything in my presence. I had heard what everyone thought and knew about me.

As they stared at me in a dilemma I stood up fortitude and picked my phone from the table. I put it in my pocket and went back on my knees.

This was followed by an ephemeral atrocious silence. They gazed at me like a live drama. On seeing that I was the television I turned and looked behind. This was to avoid eye contact. 

Fractionate I could breathe fresh air. It was filled of bad premonition, apprehension and shameful audacious acts that I had done. I had forsaken the wise ways that they said could lead to Canaan and went back to Egypt. Who knows that I am wrong? May be I was right or wrong according to the point of view. 

“Stephen remember that your parents were killed and you were left with your sister…” 

“Where is she?” I asked cutting off the conversation. 

“She is wherever she is, be it in the grave, on land I don’t care! Then I decided to bring you up in my home!”

“What about our home? I need to inherit my family’s property soon!” I said democratically. 

“You have nothing to inherit except the grave that you will dig for yourself; your father didn’t leave Stephen in his home! After bringing you up, you turned to be an animal! Hayawani! You smoke bang, you insult your uncle, burn house that I built for you and even you walk with prostitutes.” 

She turned to the principal “Mwalimu this boy will be a professional pimp after school dropout. He cannot start dealing with prostitutes when I call him my son. I wish I had sold him before nascent of maturing. I could have gained money and still saved money to bring him up! I think that he may kill me in future if I am not careful”. She kept on complaining.

Everyone listened at her to hear the story of inter twined life boy. It was the most painful moment that left my heart ajar. 

Who was I to listen to? My mind or heart? My mind wanted to follow their words to leave Lightness whom they didn’t know! My heart wanted to give her all the love! Who was right then? If I abandon her to embrace them I could heart break her. If I forsake them to support my heart I could have been in jaws of death. Then what next? Just to follow my heart… I didn’t have somebody to love me.

 All my loved people lay deep in the mud. They were caressed by termites and roots. They enjoyed the silent and peace of the spiritual world. When I got someone to love, to fit the left gap I had done a mistake. Work done by heart is better than that of mind. My heart was the perfect selector.

“Stupid boy stand and move near. We are not here to bring summon to you!” The principal roared furiously. 

After the passing of judgment it was decided that two weeks suspension was to be given to me so that I can have time to think. After two weeks, I was to go back to school carrying a jembe to dig half an acre of land as a punishment. This was too much time wasted because I had an addition week that had passed. 

I went home heartbroken my fateful day bounced to pass putting up my records. People who I had given my trust had become enemies. My only parent had turned to a man eater who hunted my borny body.

If they called me stupid, I think nothing was wrong as it was just a name like Stephen. Well and good, the day was wiped by cool night. I found myself swimming in Great Ocean of thought, where genius lives.