MEMENTO ROCK

Love at first sight

Finally the day that I had been waiting for knocked in woke at 2 in the morning and started imagining how it would be a beautiful serene environment, decorated naturally by the water vapour from the massive waters falling down on rocks forming froth that produced bubbles.

I thought and thought until I found myself laughing. Was I becoming mad or what? With the sour smile I went in the kitchen, lit fire and warmed bathing water. I put tea and cut a piece of murara without wasting time I enjoyed my piquant breakfast.

At five I left for school, which was just four kilometers from home. As I passed by our previous home that was sold to a rich man I felt neglected and desperate. Only stayed like the only member of a beautiful hardworking family. I mourned internally and then continued with my day’s business.

I entered school gate with horrid mood, only because of loading burdens of years. Revenge and made me feel as if I could kill someone to pay off my relative’s blood. Bitter words and cries kept on gnawing my heart. As I entered the classroom, electricity breached down and total darkness invaded.

“Ann” a voice of a girl called, ‘annie’. It called again louder than before. I stopped and stood tall like a pole. I wanted to get who was Ann and who called her. I waited and waited until I got tired I walked in with million answerless questions. Who could she be? Could I be dreaming or am getting mad? In fact I could not elucidate what I felt when i heard such name.

The sun was now greeting us revealing its product to the creation. Learners in the classroom started to brighten and dust particles started to bounce up and down passing through the beams of light, scent from sunflowers, piquant smell of eggs as people prepared breakfast, evaporating dew and cool breeze created a fresh morning soft wind.it caressed our faces us we open windows and made it a bright grateful morning.

Students were now class full, teachers started to come one by one and we prepared for the trip.

Just when a bus painted blue entered the school compound beeping softly. We all knew that it was the trip and time was already on alarm. We moved out of the classes and went to the parade ground. Our principal Lelesimoi inspected us paying a lot of attention to boys.

When it was my time, I was asked to remove my pullover, I did so. I removed everything in my pockets. I had five hundred and fifty six shillings, three handkerchiefs; one pure white, a red one and a black one .also I had a sixteen GB memory card. He didn’t bother a lot.

He took the bag and deeper his hands inside. Here moved the bina wrapped well in my nylon paper. ‘What is it for young man? You will be given free lunch by the school….’’he said taking it back.

“It is just for a backup, when I will get hungry I will just take it and eat.” I answered him softly putting my hands backwards. This made students to laugh madly. But from my background I was not used to becoming ashamed of anything, I cared less although struggled for more.

He removed a red rose flower that was in the side pocket. “Haiya! haiya! What about this? Is it for backup or do you have a paramour either inside or outside schooling. I think I have to take it and keep for myself; or what will you say? “He said smiling broadly holding it carefully.

“Don’t take it please “I said trying to get it. “It is my family mostly my late beloved sister Annie” continued. On just saying this he returned into the bag and gave me back.

Soon everyone was inspected and we entered the bus. Its seats were as high as the canopy of poster bed, soft like airbed. It departed and flew softly on nyahururu-Rumuruti highway. Within the next forty minutes we were entering nyahururu. We were to start to visit Thomson falls. It went till we could see the gate well written Thomson falls.

As we got out a cool air welcomed us. I felt like wow. In the packing field there were so many students, some arriving and others were departing. We were given numbers and I was number sixteen. We then arrived at the gate and we entered.

Wow! What beautiful scenery? Serene Environment that attracted my eyes. It rejuvenated my mood again. I could not stop looking at it. Waters were falling in an orderly manner producing nerving sounds at the bottom. Our principal was following is as we went round trying to get a good place to see it elaborately.

“Stephen” he called. “You can lead the group down, just be careful and don’t joke.” He insisted.

It’s like we waited for his permission well all went to the way evading down. I was the first one. We walked down the stairs and soon we were down.

Suddenly I saw a girl from unknown secondary school. She attracted my eyes than the water falls. She was chocolate, tall about one and a quarter meter, her figure was still developing although attracted every eye. She was in a brown skirt with white strips.it was stylish with white blouse and red tie thought she was an angel dropped from heaven.

She was in a group of four students standing on a rock near the river just few meters from the falling place of water. I went staring at her almost to fall but I was held by Juliet who was just behind me. 

“Stupid! Look in front!” She shouted at me. I suddenly backed to my real sense and pretended that I had seen nothing interesting. When I tried to look at the falls, I found myself gazing at the girl. She had attracted my eye and I was obsessed. I did nothing else, confusion was one on my best trail. 

When will I meet or see her again? Will I get known to her? Could she be in love with me or I am in Jupiter alone? I wondered. Just then Lelesimoi appeared ghostly. He found me sitting on a rock looking at the girls positively. He waved his hand in front of my eyes that made me to be horrendous. 

“Hey my friend, I brought you to see girls instead of falls!” He said jokingly. I kept mouth my shut. “I think you are indolent or tired of dancing with wind, come on stand and join the rest! He said holding my hand, lifting me up. He then stood, turned to see the girls that were now coming where we were. On seeing this, he called me. “John come and eat this mango, he said putting his hand into his pocket. Although I knew he was joking I went to the place. “Stand here” he said pointing on a rock beside him. I did so. 

Just then the girls came on chatting with each other. He stopped them. “How are you girls? He greeted one by one with his hand patiently. 

“Here is Stephen Ndirangu Gatu, my student in Form one West. I have seen that he is gazing at you and I decided to introduce him to you maybe you know him. Can you introduce your names please…”? He suggested.

From the right there was Annabel Wacuka, Scholastica Wangari, and then Diana Nyawira and finally the girl that attracted my eyes was Lightness Wanjiku. On hearing this I thanked them and joined the rest of the students.

We played with water and then left for others. As we were climbing the hill with a high gradient I turned back, only to see that Lightness was staring at me. What could she be thinking about? Did she know me as she is new to my eyes? I wondered a lot. I had nothing effective to do other than obeying the rules.

We photographed at the site and then we left the falls. We had to walk to the K.C.C. We went joking and commenting madly. All the comments were based on my behavior which they called it obnoxious and furtive. I had nothing to argue about because it was just to pass time.

As we entered the big gate, a matatu painted white passed at the spot. Only to see the girls again getting out. Lightness was the one leading students out, by the guidance of their teacher. They went and registered then entered. We soon joined them as we were taught different processes of processing milk. I understood nothing as I was looking at the beauty of the girl. 

We soon went outside under a tree and sat. This is where we got a chance to interact with the girls. She was talkative like others. She spent most of the times looking at the active factory. I thought she admired building one after school. It may be so but...

I went and sat next to her. She turned and looked at me. I became shy and faced away. Then “Okay Stephen take these and avoid coming near me please, our teacher is becoming suspicious so am sorry!” She said handing me an exercise book. “Don’t read while still together so keep it.” She said to me and left to join her schoolmates.

She appeared depressed and had aptitude of using good language. Her soft voice echoing in the veins of my ears. How she moved to the rest appeared like a nightmare to me. I too joined the rest but still hanging. 

What could she have written in this book? Could it be atrocious message? What if, she is a spirit or something to do with demonic forces? What will happen soon? I kept asking myself questions. Packets of milk were brought and we were given. Rules were stated on the first carton as follows. 

Take all the milk here 

If satisfied refer to rule number one. 

I felt in a comma so could not take anything. This was the day that I was stressed enough in an extent to be noticed. The students enjoyed the milk and deposited the packets in the dust bin. We were then assembled as the gate ready to go. Lightness came running where we were, she greeted my friends hugged me with a smile. 

“Steve wacha tuonane tena, nice journey” she said as she left. 

“You too” I replied feeling heartbroken to part. Lugubriously I faced the coming bus. The day was overjoyed to others but to me it was unexplainable. We left the industry. On the tarmac road, the bus went smoothly passing innumerable vehicles.

 I was shocked to find myself in school within no time. Other students had a lot to tell about the day but to me I had fractional. I went at my sitting place and sat without wiping. I felt tired but hopeful for a better life. As I used to be assiduous I could not stay idle. I removed the geography exercise book and started reading.