The Chain

Calm down Richard!!! all will be well. you cannot see what a'm able to see even if you climb a very tall tree. people are always there for the good. it's not easy to convince a goat after she has tested salt. she said with her soft voice. I nodded my head in agreement with her points. it was a very hot day and we were forced to stay outside our shamba. it story after another story. My mom was a good caring woman when it comes to such moments. I used to enjoy such moment's because it always made me to forget whatever I had encountered in the past.

I could leave whatever a'm doing just to listen to her short interesting stories. she could sing and be a friend of many children in the village. I could smell and see empty stomachs coming and going home. Different fight's sometimes when all she has is finished. all in all our days were good old days. no shoes but we were able to learn more from our grandparents and our parents and earn a living. we were not worried about thorn's in our fresh. No one can change your surrounding if you don't want to. she said. my mind to visit uncle Mathews came back from part of my brain. I thought it's a wise decision to make a final decision. The chain of poverty is just too much in this village. No one seems to worry about it. everything is normal for everyone in the village. No one wants to see another side of the coin. our leaders can't think out of the box. Beggars were everywhere in the street. No one sees the development, no one knows it. The chain is just too much. I thought I was the only man who did quit education in my early years. I was better off than my fellows. I had a good shamba with mats and kitchen items. when friends comes to my shamba at least they can have something to drop in their tummy. I should make an effort to break this chain of oppression. People were people when political parties are conducting political meetings. 50 tambala coin was enough to buy a car by then but it was prohibited to do so because of poor mindset within our party officials.i could smell change after seeing myself staying with uncle Mathews. All my friends were contented with what the village was giving them. I refused to be in the same culture of moving up and down within the same village. You become happy when it's time for fruits.

The only men who did enjoy in our time were the chiefs because they used to receive 1.50 tambala per month which was a great improvement to them. I have to be a strong character to see a great future. I walked straight to where my father sat. smoking from his usual smoking stick. swallowing all the smoke. This poor Dad doesn't know what I gonna do some hours coming. I sat down closer to his old sack chair. His feet could tell you that something is really wrong. No one was allowed to wear shoes in our time. It was regarded as lack of respect for the elders. The chain is still going. I remember to be shouted at the day I tried to steal my father's shoes. What has happened to you today? He asked while looking at me with a different gaze. He took his hand,deep into his pocket just to add some tobacco on his smoking stick. Richard!!!! a'm asking you!!! what do you want?....His wrinkles could indicate that he's not happy with my presence in his chamber. I...I..I want you to help me papa. I said it while my face pointing down with my other hand scribing some scribbles on the ground. His anger was all over the place. Richard! I don't want to repeat myself what is it that is troubling you today? I don't want to wrong our ancestors he continued to say. Anger and frustration entered my heart. papa I want to break the chain. Are you mad!!! Do you know how strong the chain is and for your own information have you ever met someone who has broken the chain in this village? I looked at him with a great disappointment. This poor soul doesn't understand my arithmetic. papa I want to leave for town very soon for our own goodness. He turned his chair to my direction. what I heard was a local language saying please leave my compound. (chonde ndati choka Pano) I left the place immediately in afraid of being beaten.

The game started very well. All the teams had star's everywhere. it was a game wealthy to watch. songs of praise to different players were being sung by Both supporters. chanting and dancing was all over the ground. Dust in the air was the climax of the day. Everyone expected to watch it. people from far villages were there just to witness the winner. Yes it was a I don't miss game. The game reached at a climax, the people's mood was good and great all over the pitch. players were really encouraged by the support from both sides. I have never seen such an amazing site. I started chanting at my best team. everyone was very happy to witness this great given football game. The sky was covered by a strong strange noise. I saw people under panic running all over different directions. Everything went sour within a short period of time. I didn't wait to see what made people to be on their heals. The players were nowhere to be seen. The pitch was full of mixed jerseys. You could see the boot's at a distance. The the ground was covered by a great swam of bee's. No one knew what a magic it was. I run. within seconds no one was seen by the street. What a bad situation it was.

Richard!!! Richard!! what is it? my eyes and heart were not allowed to see who was talking to me. All my clothes were soaked in sweate. what has happened? I heard the voice but it was hard for me to respond. I felt a cold like ice all over my body. She took Water and poured it over my dead body. I felt a great change. "Go in my bathroom and take a bath"..... she pushed me in her shamba and helped me undressing. These are your clothes? ye ye ...ye....yes. I looked at her with contentment and joy. Go and have a bath. I entered the bathroom. Beautiful colours all over the bathroom walls. Something we didn't have at home was there. something like a tablet with an amazing smell. I'm I dreaming? A'm used in swimming not bathroom like this. my feelings were leading me to another great season. Our village was keeping great people like these? I nodded my head. with no time I finished bathing and stood at the doorway leading to her sitting room. Come in Richard don't be surprised Mercy is my name. A'm the governor of the ruling party. I'm not married and a'm looking for someone like you to make me happy. Her voice kept ecoing in my mind. She led me towards a dressing room. you must put these new clothes and leave the old ones. I protested against this idea of leaving my old t-shirt and my shots including the very old underwear. I looked at her blue beautiful eyes. Please take these and leave those one's behind.

LOVE FIRST LOVE I said. it was an amazing time to see myself fitting in new clothes as if I was created within the clothes. it was my first time to put on shoes and socks, the first step to walk with freedom in a stranger's house. I can not call it a shamba but a house. The socks were full of the party colours which I did not like it but it's alright. Let's have tea!!! she said...what is tea? just come and see. she laughed at me with curiosity. Wow you look handsome in such a great outfit.

I smiled hiding my all teeth. "Don't be shy" she caught my attention. We sat down on a very good and beautiful table. something like a bottle full of Steam was placed closer to my side. That's a flask my boy don't worry let me do it for you. she poured hot water in my cup and add a spoon full of black appearance things.

These are called tea leaves. she took 4 Spoon's of sugar and added into my cup.

I cleared my throat ready to sip something great. A great relationship within minutes of meeting. The sound of her radio was so much great. songs of joy from the radio were so touching. I was thrilled with such great songs. she started dancing around the sitting room. Her waist was so amazing to gaze at.

The night came. I was worried as to how my Papa and Mama are living at home. I prayed for the god's of our land to bring peace in their hearts. maybe they are thinking that a'm busy with my garden at the shamba. I remember Papa used to say..... Richard is a hard worker and when it comes to farming he's not shaken by laziness.

maybe my mom is calling my name but she can't trace my whereabouts. "Richard what are you thinking about?" aaaaa.... nothing, I responded with happiness on my face but battles in my heart. we exchanged eyes. I will send a telegram to my party officials to deliver it to your family that your son is with me and they have not to be worried for I love their son. This gave me a relief but somehow worried me as to how they will think about how I find myself in such a great house. I smiled again. let's go and watch TV. I just followed because I didn't know what a TV is.

I walked straight following her little steps. Three big objects white and black in colour were well placed in that room. please sit down Richard!! Her sweet voice echoed through my ears. I sat down on a mat. "No!! don't sit on the carpet but on the sofa." I looked at myself very ashamed of. How I wish to have continued with my education by then. I could have known what a sofa is. I recalled what my papa is using as a sofa set at his shamba. I started sitting down slowly to make sure that something bad doesn't happen to me. she looked at me and laughed. Her eyes could tell that she has a genuine love. The warmth of the sofa comforted me, the feelings of a baby coated my body. What Channel are you going to watch? The answer was zero in my mind. I have never watched a movie or TV show. A'm nothing but a stranger. In front of the room was some fire wood burning slowly making the room warmth. I loved the scene and everything in the room. "Such rooms makes you to forget your shamba." What have you said Richard? a...a....a nothing. She laughed again and again. Let's watch ZEE WORLD. she said with with all her mind out. I started waiting for a dog to enter the room but to no avail. I believe the dog will find us soon. I whispered to myself. No Richard zee world it's not a dog but a channel for entertainment. I loved it that she was open enough to correct me.

The government is unfair. Making one person very rich than making a great mass of people being rich. she left me for some minutes. This removed fear in me. I gazed up and down to appreciate the magnificent room. How can she have all these on taxpayers money? I hated myself. I don't know how will this chain be broken where there can be equal opportunities for all the people regardless of education and regional of origin. Some schools in the village have no items like books and enough resources to meet the requirements. This pained me though I was not educated but I could feel the wrongs our political leaders were doing. She entered the room with a question. what is your favourite food? I was silent for a few moment. "Matoke with tomatoes" she laughed at me again. I don't eat such foods here Richard. I will do something appetizing for you. She left again. I heard her having a conversation with someone in the kitchen. This made me to feel comfortable with the place. It is a big house in the middle of the forest and really dangerous for a beautiful lady like her to be living alone. Beautiful plates were in her hands full of delicious meals. We started eating after her short prayer. Where is your friend? My friend? yess.....call her we eat together. she is my friend in England. How can you be talking to someone who is not here but far miles away? This made me to tremble with fear. The food became sour within minutes. she left me alone and followed her kitchen direction. I stood up and run towards the door. Oops it was rocked. Richard where are you!!!?? She knew that I am running away from her house. she pointed at something which she introduced to me that it's name is mobile phone. I looked at the small object and could not believe that something can happen between the two. she pressed a certain button and her friends picture appeared on the object screen. This is my friend Clara I was talking about. she touched my shoulders and led me to the sitting room again.

Our night was awesome. Her vevelent embrace was so amazing. The room was very beautiful with some amazing objects making it to look of classic. She touched my back and I tauched her back. It was a good game. something amazing happen in the middle of the night.

How was your night Richard? I looked at her with contentment. "it was great" Can you tell me something? hahaha I looked at her and said you are beautiful. Love first love I said in my heart.

I wished to stay quiet for a long time but my mother kept coming to my mind.

I should go!! Her eyes were filled with tears. I need to break the chain at home. what type of the chain are you talking about? My father and mother are very poor.