MEMENTO ROCK

Day of remembrance

Affectionate was the vocabulary of the day. Was I enough for this? I thought.

We started playing hide and seek in the house. It was bigger that I could take a lot of time to get to the entertaining `room number thirty four.

I think people loves with hidden agendas. Most re meant to harden our hearts. Some to tease us while others to heartbreak.

The origin of love is not known and where it goes after parting is not known. The only trustable love is that of parents that one has assurance.

The other love has a password that only God knows. One looks at face complession or size but they are wrong. Maybe the only love to get is from an angry tall skinny black person… All this happen in the presence of her father. It made him trust me greatly.

 That day he called me in the living room. He sat somewhere near the television with the laptop on his laps. He was typing some writings that was a part of some experiences.

I sat on a recliner next to him bossily. He placed it on the table and turned to me. I have been worried about him for some day but now I was being used to him. 

“I have called you here” He started, “because I want to have a talk with you about some things that may once help you. I have not involved Lightness because I believe that you are my tomorrow. 

I am not cynical nor a prophet of doom but let the truth remain with you. I have been keeping it as a secret for more than seven years! So also do this, never disclose to nobody, may be Lightness but not when I am alive, if I die then tell her. Do you agree with me?” He asked coming closer to me while dragging his chair softly.

“Yes I do dad!” 

“Some years ago I was on my way to Nyeri. As I drove on that road, I came across a lonely girl who was sitting just next to the busy road. I liked her face a lot and I decided to know where to. As I used to drive slowly due to my disabilities I stopped instantly. When I tried to speak to her she could not speak well. I took her and I had to bring her here. On arriving, my wife liked her and suggested that she could wish her to be her daughter, as she did not have. Some weeks later her grandparents got the news that I had their daughter and so they came here.

After a long discussion I came to discover that she had no parents. I asked them whether they can allow my wife to adopt her. As they were from humble background they granted my wish and I gave them 1.5 million as a prize. As I didn’t know her name I gave her the name that I liked a lot.

Ever since she was brought here she always stays in blues. The girl is Lightness.”

“What!” I wondered “Do you mean she is not your blood, daughter?” I asked aggressively. 

“Wait my son, I finish!” He thundered.

I cooled down and sat back on the recliner sinking gradually 

“Now we trained her strictly from the beginning and faked a lot of pictures to ensure that she believes that she’s from this family. We searched for his brother but we were informed that he died two days after the funeral of their parents.

“Wah!” I got astonished. “Then continue…” I pleaded for more! “How did she lose his parents,” I asked emphatically.

“I may not be able to remember well but it was a kind of accident. Her brother died due to a chronic illness. Her grandparent feared that she may also die in the process of growing up. So they allowed me to stay with the girl. Since then, I hadn’t seen them. So I treat her like my only child. I love her a lot.

When you came in this home, you chased away boredom. Your coming was introducing happiness,” He said. He cautioned that I was to avoid her knowing it before he has died.

Which kind of vision could such a person have? I could not understand. I used to be good in keeping secrets. I promised him to keep it for myself. I knew that a day of the days he will be gone.

It was the nascent of the first covenant that we made with strict consequences. For peace to prevail I had to avoid every way that could lead me to tell people the secret.

This is the main reason that made Lightness to be depressed. When she said that she was hearing someone calling her it was the spirit of her beloved parents who went early during her infancy. This is the reason she could incoherent herself.

When she said that she had a dream about her parents dying it meant that they were already in the grave and their blood was still ‘crying’ for justice. I couldn’t imagine that we were under the same category of back grounds although Lightness was adopted and her brother died two days ago after the death of her parents.

I recalled that my sister Ann died two years after the raid that left my parents dead. 

I was outside as I thought of this life. Surely God is kind to his people. He brought us together despite being orphans. He made us to meet in the best time of hardness. I failed to inherit my father’s property, I thought, but God brought another way to inherit properties that I had not seen before.

As I stood there singlehandedly, father-in-law came and placed his hand on my shoulder of the right hand. He focused his eyes on the beautiful scenery of the serene environment.

“My son, hear my words now and live wise,” He whispered pleasantly. “When you hear me mentioning my death is because I can hear some people calling me to hell. My wife will not be buried here because we had disagreements where she said that I was not to face her grave. In my youngest age, I used to be a raider.

I was an assassin who killed very important people. When God decided to pay it back, I became disabled. For now I regret for the visions that I killed when I had time I practiced on how kill to satisfy my desire to pour blood.

God punished me in every wrong I did. I thought and approved that I am the one who killed parents of Lightness. For, I can hear them calling me to die. I regret every time I saw he depressed. I felt guilty when I saw her alone, knowing that I took part in destroying her life. I really admire to die. I can hear the cries from far coming to take me. 

I thanked God to see you knowing that if I can die, lugubrious air can be minimal. I may not want to be buried where you can remember me. Just burry me in the graves of the county council or cremate my body to ash. Then burn every picture that I appear in. Let my name be in the grave with me” He said fearfully.

I thought if how blood of human being is and I wondered, how can it cry? Experience is the best teacher. I knew nothing because I was innocent. Hence I kept that for myself.

“You know my parents too died when I was nine years of age. My sister died two years after this fateful day. I live with parents at a village called Melwa village. My life turned to procrastination since then cucu became hostile and her words became acidic and painful in my heart like a hornet sting. My talents were killed gradually. The hope was ephemeral. Her asperity brought horror in me.

I felt as if born again when I arrived here. I haven’t thought that I will live such a life. I do even still not believe my eyes still,” I told him, still standing still.

He paid attentions to my words and made himself curious. His eyes reddened and he became appall of the story that was not legend, forgery but an experience. Sober mood stretched in the air gradually.

“I will die gradually without suspension…” He whispered breaking into hot tears. I could have lived long my son but what I did lost my golden opportunity to live. My life became a negligence of best people. I rejected every word that my late parents left; surely death is paid by death after severe suffering,” He said fearfully.

I couldn’t imagine such a monster crying. His tears were highly viscous that I could not wipe it. I thought it could carry me wholly. He looked like a sick mongrel or cat. On hearing what made him to cry I walked away leaving him like a maiden. A lout turned to mentor, from when?

My parents were assassinated like goats. Blood spilled all over the living room as they did this ruthless act. It may be him who also did this to them. The killing was performed skillfully that’s why it was successful. If it were not the Almighty I could be also in the grave. But what made him do this? I questioned myself.

I returned to him humbly. He was sitting at the same position. I lifted his hand gently that made him to c**k his head.

“Why did you do this to innocent people?” I asked directly without meandering. He slanted a look at me with assimilation.

I wanted to be the only known businessman. I assaulted all who all who competed with me in all towns.” He said candidly.

He removed his designer shirt and placed it on the floor. Regret gnawing in his heart tormenting him completely. I looked at him sympathetically. His heart busted intricately. This exposed the subtle feelings that burnt in him.

Flies skirted around him, he tried to kill them but all his efforts drown in the salty seas.

“This is what happened when I killed her mother…” He said in remorse.

He used not to enjoy his aristocracy, aptitude piquant delicious foods and his love. Just because of the drops full of incidence. He cried.

Horrendously her daughter was seeing him as he cried. She walked slowly down the stair cases. She stood behind him staring at him.

“Did I not know that I will regret for k…” she said surprisingly. “Did I not know that I will regret for keeping that picture in my mind;” He said to confuse her. 

“Which one.” She asked bending down with her eyes wide open.

“My parents picture…” He said laughing madly.

She turned around as if searching for Wi-Fi connections. She was doubtful that something had happened. I thought that she would sooth him but she didn’t. She walked where I was and got hold to my hand.

Just then his father called us loudly. We walked there together.

“Children, I want to look for my friend who I can trust to look for my property before you get to the I.D age.” He said faintly.

I looked at Lightness but her face was still bright. I thought she could cry but this was different. Why didn’t she have parental love? She said that it was even good.

At around evening he called his Peterson Muthingu Ndonga. He arrived at around seven at dusk. He found father sitting depressed with his eyes red like tomatoes.

We left them for a brief discussion. As I was investigating all the secrets of this monster, I left a phone recording just beneath the table between them. This was to ensure that I get everything that they could speak.

We went in the kitchen to help house girls to cook. Nyamindi was frying chicken, Susan was cooking rice. Lightness started preparing stew. I had nothing to except spectating.  

I was now feeling the change the state of ‘peace’ of richness. Was now smelling the world that pays what you give was at work. I came to believe the saying ‘every dog has its own day.’