MEMENTO ROCK

Grace of God

“What caused all this?” I asked her as we sat under a tree just next to the house. 

“It went like this,” she started, “Some years back during my infancy age, my parents used to be healthy and strong to do even hard work. They used to work in our big wheat plantations as supervisors, in Rumuruti just near the main town. After they harvested for some seasons they bought their first vehicle and several tractors. The car was a probox. By then I was ten years of age. I had a brother called Solomon Ndonga by then. 

A day of bad days came. They decided to visit the plantation on a rainy season. As dad used to be gorgeous he said that he could like to be accompanied by the whole family in general. We woke up very early and that day we prepared for the trip. 

My brother called me in his bedroom and told me that he had a story that I had to know before I mature. He said that I was beautiful and attractive to him mostly. From my side of view, I thought he admired me…” She wiped tears that spilled from her eyes. This condition made me to nearer to her so as I can sooth her. 

“Our dad called us and said that we were ready and could leave. When at the door a feeling of and premonition inter-twisted my nerves. I felt weak, my body cooled and everything was now smelling blood. 

My brother who was older than me suggested that I was to be left because my body had a problem. As per this I went back and switched the TV on. I started to watch a movie that I used to like a lot; Afro-cinema called Beyoncé from Nigeria. I watched until I fell asleep

 When I woke up I found it was over and there was electricity breakdown suddenly, I picked my phone and went to switched on the generator. This is when I saw four unread messages on my phone. When I opened they were from my dad. The first one read:

My dear mummy, we have reached successfully and your brother is enjoying driving tractors. He is driving a combine harvester now (a picture of Solomon Ndonga in a tractor)

Your mother is reading newspapers in the car, good day I love you mummy.

I went and switched on the generator. When I went back, I found breaking news were online. It was reading!! ACCIDENT INVOLVED TRACTOR AND PROBOX.  

This is when I thought of reading the three messages. I opened the last one that was written. 

Mummy! We are in the hospital with your mother. Your brother drove a tractor carelessly and hit the car. It then crushed it ruthlessly. When he saw this he jumped into a well and died.

It sounded horrendous, I cried that day a lot and bitterly. That is the reason I am the only child in this home. My dad lost his legs there when trying to save my mom. Who was in the car that was crashed by the tractor” Tears of melancholy run out of her eyes as she lay on me. 

What did her brother could know about her? Why did he admire her? There was something behind all this. Could they be of different mother? I didn’t know. 

It was painful and unbelievable to love somebody who had something special to give or tell. I understood her bitterness was the same as mine. I had lost a sister in a way I didn’t understand and I could blame nobody for it. I held her tight that I felt her heartbeat that rhymed well with her soft breath.

It touched me like a hornet sting and I found my tears flowing out. Although death was mundane, some was not like death but tragedy. A brother or sister was more meaningful like the world. 

“I only wish once to know what my brother wanted to tell me before he died,” She added shaking in pique. “It is the reason I do not like a lot of stories from people who live. They are useless because they exposes me to passive aggressiveness they are naughty to me” she said incautiously. 

She stood up and suggested that we were to go and greet her mother. I did not disagree and she supported me on my ribs as I stood. We walked holding hands together on the white corridors. 

As we entered the room she was, an idea came in mind. To tell my love that, I had to investigate deeply to know the secret that this family had. As a brother cannot admire his sister, if so not such? This made me doubtful. I didn’t want her to notice that I doubted her family. We found her sitting on a recliner with her arms on a laptop. She was playing a game that seemed enjoyable to her. 

“Mum! “ She called her. “Here he is” She said placing hand around me romantically. Her mother smiled and closed the laptop. 

“Wow! You got the right one! He is handsome and like wow! Is he Stephen?” She asked delightfully. 

“Yes I am Stephen” I answered him greeting with honor.

“Feel at home, welcome!” 

“Thank you mum” 

She spent three minutes looking at me smiling friendly.  

“I need to have a talk with you please Stephen after this! Note its nothing is done feel free” She said.

 We left her and went to the living room. Here we danced together more than twenty love songs. She feared nothing and she was dancing in a way that I won’t forget until I taste the cup of death. I called myself a rock but I met an igneous megalith, hard to break!

She then went to take a bath after all this. This is when her father came. He was holding a newspaper of Taifa Leo. He sat next to me and folded it then placed it on the table.

“Can we talk my dear son” He asked placing his reading pair if spectacles on the table.

 “Yes we can…”

“First is to thank you and my daughter for being in love. I admired to have a boy child since I lost mine. I know that you may be having parents responsible for your growth but you can take time to think. I have only one child that is Lightness. If I die my properties will have nobody to inherit as she may get married there out.  

Even if she may inherit I want to leave a boy in my home. I don’t have brothers or sisters because I was the only child in my family. If I die today and my wife dies, Lightness will be on a hot pan.

 If you don’t want to be adopted, you can marry her and make a living covenant that will live with you until death separates you. You will be her one and only husband.

Then, if you will accept my wish I have something that I will tell you that I have been keeping for myself. Will you accept it?” He asked paying a lot of attention.

“From my side of view,” I said candidly. “I may prefer marrying her and make a covenant to stay together as man and wife,” I told him in a low tone. 

“Wonderful! Its good my son, let her come we talk, let me call her mother…,” He said hurriedly walking out. 

Was it a good luck? Was it bait that will soon cause tormenting? Is it a succulent poison? I thought deeply. Here I was the one to be given not to give how? I came to recall some words said by my teacher who taught me English Mrs. Mwangi, “When the deal is too good think twice.” 

I was from a poor family so I was searching for richness in my life, a comfortable life, financial stability and to be a good parent. Mostly parenthood may come suddenly but for the rest turns up gradually. Here it seemed that all would come suddenly within a week or so.

Ghastly, my fundamental needs were met once. The love that I missed to have, I got hope of it. The problems that I, came had end. 

Suddenly, her mother came. She was on an electric wheel chair that was highly computerized. She controlled it using her laptop. I thought I was hallucinating or day dreaming. I stared at her as she moved side and side escaping sofa sets and eventually she was at the point. She drove to the place I was.

“I am here my son” She started. “I wanted to talk for a while with you before my daughter or her dad comes.” She said trebling as if there was or she was feeling cold. 

“Continue mom,” 

“You know that we have a lot of wealth here. I and my husband are just ephemeral in this crooked world. From the way I am feeling deep in my heart, it may be good to call you our son and inherit everything be it our businesses in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nyahururu or Nyeri, be it this home, even vehicles you can inherit. You may be our son in law or adoption son the choice is yours.

 If it is son-in-law you have to follow some conditions strictly. Starting with trust, you have to be trust. Two, never marry any other lady apart from Lightness. Thirdly give her love and respect she deserves. 

Finally, the greatest condition is that never abandon the three rules always remember them and write the on a rock in your heart. I may be glad if you accept my request. If my wish will be granted one day before my days end I will tell you something,” She said pleasantly and in a low tone. 

I looked up to the flowers that lit brightly on the wall. I tried to think how life could be if I marry too early like the way I was, seventeen years old of age. I was a student, a parentless child. Could I be able to manage marriage well? 

What if they break their promises? What next? How could the world understand me if I marry this girl? I could not elucidate my feeling as I was not just confused but even tired of thinking.

Soon the family was fully present. Lightness sat just next to me and parents on the other side. The house girls; Susan and Nyamindi were here to witness. A moment of silence started. The house girls murmured at each other giggling.  

“Stop it!” her dad roared furiously at them. “I told you to behave maturely,” he continued. “Susan!” He called. “Go and call Nguiwan from his room and do it faster!” He ordered bossily. Susan left the room running.

After some seconds she came back breathing heavily, Nguiwan followed her. They all sat on one sofa set and gazed at their boss. 

He cleared his throat and then, “I welcome everyone to meeting and let all concentrate and not to urge or fight. For the workers you are not allowed to talk without my permission. That’s all,” he said removing his smart phone from his pocket. He placed on the table and the murmured to his wife on a wheel chair. 

The two ladies came and lifted her placing her on Sofa Set. The room was silent as we listened to our inner persons. She then led with prayers that were as long as railway line. She was a Christian and served God a lot. Soon we heard ‘amen.’ 

“Eeh!” he cleared his throat. “I have been waiting for this indispensable moment that will go down in history, as one of my best days, to thank all the workers for your care to our daughter Lightness. I may not take it just for granted because God has enabled us to bring her up healthy and wealthy. She is disciplined and I can say that job is well done. I have heard from many who say that she is of high dignity. 

Put that aside. I may like to talk about this life, full of suffering and misunderstanding, I know that we are not that old but death is like a ghost comes suddenly.

 I had promised Nguiwan that he will be responsible for my properties if we die before Lightness matures. God has seen it better to give us Lightness happiness. 

Here we have a boy whom she loves. I need such a person because in the name of love, she is safe. For this reason, I may like to inform you that Stephen is now the owner of everything and Lightness is his helper. If I do die right now nobody should claim even a simple inheritance as workers. 

Respect them and allow them to be your leaders. I understand that you may find it difficult to follow rules from such young people but if you feel that it will be stupid just pack and leave. Nobody will ask you a question if you just do it kindly.”

“Stephen” he called me changing serious face to a sour smile. “From that end is Susan Ngima then Julia Nyamindi and your friend Nguiwan there. Here is your mother in law and then I am your father in law. 

Here, we love peace a lot and visitors are welcome. From this moment, you are my successor after my death. I love the way you talk. I admire your respect and I hope you shall always be the same forever. Take care of your wife and the property here. 

For the businesses I will take you around introducing you to the managers involved. After you register as a Kenyan citizen I will open an account for you and transfer every cent in my account for you.” He stood and shook my hand. He then sat just next to me. This made me centrally located. 

Mother stretched her hand and picked her laptop. She switched it off and placed it back on the table. She cleared her throat and then turned to the workers. 

“Mine is not much,” She started. “Just to thank you abundantly and bless you. Then for the first and second, year of new leadership, as a retiring secretary, I will increase your salaries with fifty per cent. This is to enable you to adapt with the new management. 

I will then build you a house outside this to avoid disagreements that may arise. Finally I will keep my promises and die as a Christian. So if you are not a Christian you just need to leave immediately. Thank you.” She said thanking every one for concentration. I was glad to be related with such a kind family although the world, a war to me. 

After a long time discussion we dismissed and I had to go home. I was driven home by a path finder car that flew with little time. I could not believe that the car was to be mine within no time. 

The residents of our village were astonished to see such a car driving me home. Where could be the car from? Who could be funding him? These were some questions that left their mouth ajar. It passed in mellifluous. Its appearance was that attractive and caught eyes of many.

It was parked just at the gate. I jumped out victoriously and pushed in an old timber gate. Nguiwan waved at me as I entered the humble home. I had a laptop in my bag of about seventy five thousand. I appeared to like as an Astronaut on the moon, stepping on my own steps.  

This made some village nyumba-kumi leaders to meet at home and passes judgment for me. They accused me of being a devil worshiping and being in a relationship as my uncle had witnessed in Rumuruti the previous week. I slept stressed getting a report of those who called themselves judges and their mistakes could put Satan to shame!

I could hardly believe that I had to face the harsh law. A law that worked by mind and never understands the deep secrets of my heart.

Surely, I agreed words ‘world is tough than a megalith.’ Everything that is touch heals its wound for many years. I slept as I hugged my pillow to overcome the spirit of rejection.