MEMENTO ROCK

Hope

Early the next day I received a phone call from Lightness. She suggested that I was to meet the lorry that could bring building items at Gatundia. After taking breakfast I walked to the meeting point. I didn’t have such a vision that one day I could have got a person who can help me in time of need. The soft heart of hers was even out of description. I wondered what I could do to such a person; can I afford to make her happy all days of her life? I thought. 

As I sat on a grassy point just besides the road, here it came, a lorry painted blue. It drove and was parked at the spot. A strong man, who seemed to be gym manager, from how his body was, got off. He walked to where I was and greeted me with a lot of respect.

“Excuse me sir I have been sent by my boss’ daughter Lightness to bring this construction materials to you! He said with a heavy voice. “Do you accept them? He asked politely holding his hands together. I looked at him in wonders of comparison of his body muscles and his polite language. Surely world is spherical with endless lessons. 

“I accept them my friend” I confirmed standing up. 

We boarded the lorry and he drove to my home. He seemed to have a lot of important information that could help me know who Lightness was. Why did she supply me with all these items as soon I asked for them? Why did she appear in blues when alone? All these were some of the questions that I needed answers, before he left. We unloaded the lorry and my cucu brought him tea. 

This is when I got a chance to interact with this gigantic monster. I picked two stools from cucu’s table room and placed them just near the site of the building. I welcomed him and we enjoyed the tea together. 

It was second day since my uncle left and here he was with a panga to threaten me. When he saw the monster with me, he got frightened and changed his mind. He started preaching peace. He greeted me holily and also the monster. He then went in the kitchen to talk with cucu. 

“I need you to tell me something that can help me please, can I ask?” I started the man murmuring. 

“You can ask, I will answer well Stephen,” He answered pushing himself closer to me. 

“Who is Lightness or how do you know her?” I asked him looking directly to his red big eyes. 

“Let me say that from the way I know her it may be half of what you need to know. I was employed in that home four years ago. I found her with her parent although I usually don’t know the way she stays she is silent, she is always bored by everything and she laughs hardly. 

Most of her time is spent in the fields playing with her dog. I don’t know the reason she don’t like interacting other people around home. Some time she is in blues and looks stressed. Although her father is always interested to her happiness she is not happy. When you were with her in Nyahururu, she went home and told her dad directly that she met with the boy she fell in love to. 

Her father noted her change because she started smiling and talking compared to her previous days. This is the reason she is helped to do anything she wants to. When she told him that she wanted to help you he provided her with everything. 

You are her happiness and I think you need to visit her in her home. His dad and mom are very welcoming and love visitors a lot. They like people who visit there to talk to Lightness because she is usually introverted,” He said looking away from me.

His discorded feeling was seen as he narrated it. An anxious face described anguish in his heart. I noticed that my present aggravated the problem that I could be a riddle to him. His expression and determination on his face made me worried about ‘what next.’

I was cautious not to make him angry and so I dismissed the conversation. I stood and went around the building materials then added him some tea. I feared he could crash me into pieces. I stepped a distance anytime I served him.

After a long time of silence he called me and welcomed back to the seat. I sat bossily with my eyes stared on his hardy hands that kept on moving up and down, right and left. 

“You know,” he started like a suffering person. I have seen if I cannot beat you better I join you… I loved her but she didn’t bother even to greet me. 

Every time I tried to joke with her, she said “sitaki utoi” that made me sympathize myself. That is why I became jealous when she said that she indeed loves you. What I only want from you is just trust, be trustworthy because you got the best of all.” He said.” I will be trustful “I said revealing my fear. 

“How will I know?” he asked. 

“My acts will show what I mean, words are just shadow”

“Okay let me have myself was out of here….good bye.” He said giving me an envelope. 

He drove away and disappeared in the dust, the dusty road leading to the tarmac. 

With a lot of anxiety, I opened the envelope, first I saw ten thousand wrapped with a nylon paper, secondly a letter. It was 

Hi beibz,

I know how you are feeling about the tragedy that struck you. Also I understood that you will not be in school this week. I send my condolences at this time because better late than never. I would like to inform you that my dad wishes to see you. You may arrange the day that you will be free and inform me, I will come for you at your home. 

Every time you feel lonely remember I am here for you and I promise never to let you down my love. You are my dreams, the water to quench my thirst. Have a lovely day full of God’s guidance. 

By Lightness.

I folded it back and put it in my pocket I walked to the center that is Gatundia, to find a fundi who was to construct the house. 

After a long search I met with a young man called Mwendia who promised me to do the work. He was to start with immediate effect. 

We went with him and shown him the site. He sat down and came up with the appropriate plan for a two roomed house. I left him to start and I went for a hike in the Great Marmanet Forest.

I was walking up the hill when I met the girl that had seen the previous day with other two children. She was dressed well and looked bodacious. Colcord filled the air on seeing that her life had eventually changed for better. I would have been dismayed if I met her same. She played cheerfully with other children and had affectionately bonded their relationship. 

I went and passed them pretending not to know anyone. When she saw me, she shouted, “Uncle where are you going?” 

 “Yes” I answered, “Just to walk inside here”

“There are some huge mammals inside” she said.

 I felt like caught by heart attack on turning, I looked with a lot of care around the forest but I saw nothing. Could she be wrong? What are the big mammals is she talking about? I kept on wondering. 

The final scrutiny declined my plans. Few meters, two huge elephants were enjoying the hot sun. They were dusty and couldn’t be easily seen. 

I walked backward then run away, I used to fear just the term elephant not only the animal itself, that is when I learnt that never leave duck line to die saying that its small to eat. I learnt that my life is dependent and was always influenced by how I behaved, I learnt to love people regardless of their weakness, background or even race.

To help is a choice that you can lose if you not willing to do so, but its fruits are admirable by every living creature for no one hates to see good things happen.

 After a long thinking period, sitting on the side of the road, I recalled the days that I had a family with a beautiful house. I recalled when the house was being constructed, we were living in a timber house. It was located just near the road where I was sitting. We used to cheer for vehicles in our infantile age with my beloved sister who now was believed to be dead. 

The childish songs, riddles and tales were some of the things that contributed greatly to my growth. The rhythms used built mercy in my heart. Those of my mom who sung a lot, I could hear her sing in my mind even that very day. The more I listened to my mind, the more I felt weak and irrelevant. 

The discipline that I had was greatly contributed by my dad whose words still rang in my minds. I avoided any obnoxious behavior that would let him down whenever his spirit was. There was nothing best than to have been left a gap that nothing else can fit in. I gave them respect even if they lay in the graves and maize plants were on top. Darkness was now coming, cows were moving home from a long day pastures.

 I went back home, Lightness informed me that she could not come home. I was left in a dilemma but soon I understood her as she was an active student.

I fail understand why things happen centrally tour wishes. It seems like the world is a container of secrets that forces nature to cause pain in our soft souls. I mean, we live under heavy chains of suffering, although giving ourselves almost empty basins of hope.

It was my wish that I may understand the reason to suffer. I still needed to get an answer why curses reach to the innocent generation, who never know the reason? I had to count the number of days, months and years alive to put a tick, ‘life is precious than everything.’

Soft winds blew as they closed the eyes of the sun. Hyenas were waking up to chase the hours. Owls were had flying over the houses grasses and forest. All this were natural beauty wishing us good, good night.

I ate the supper and then went to sleep. Tired of the day’s movement and thinking, I sent a message of good night wishes to my friend Lightness.