Silence in the room was too loud. As I tried to put myself together and after some minutes of silence, my uncle (mum’s elder brother) starts on the meeting. At this time I’m thinking to myself: ‘what if they don’t agree on what they came for and I’m back to the life I’m used to? What if they come to terms? Will I have the best life? Will my dreams come true? So much kept going on my mind not knowing what’s gonna happen next.
Family introductions are done and I was so happy to hear my dad speak as I looked at him. It was some sort of fulfillment that I could not understand but it made my eyes wet. The meeting goes on and my uncle handed over to my dad’s brother (my all-time favorite) to carry on. He talked of what had transpired when I was born and everything and to cut the story short, he said why they decided to come to my home. While on that he asked me what I was doing and why I wasn’t in school. Innocent question yes? Yes :-).
My heart was beating loud and blood rushing through my veins so hard because I was afraid to speak with all eyes on me. I had to regain my courage and speak: “I have been working as a salonist and that is what I’m currently doing at Mlolongo. I also was not able to join secondary school at the time as there was no one in the family who would have catered for my secondary school fees. So instead, my uncle (mum’s brother) decided to pay for my hairdressing course for 6 months. I did my KCPE in November 2005 and since then I have been working”. When my dad heard this I could see him tear and it did break my heart as I could see the love he had for me even if he had been away. It felt like some lost love; the love that you had and lost it? Then it came back? And you can’t figure out why God is so good to you? Yes, that love! So my uncle says they will do exactly what I want them to do; if it’s taking me to a secondary school or if it’s putting up a hair salon business for me. Decision back to me. I told him that it had been and still was my dream to join a secondary school so that is the choice I would go with. He asked me what I had scored on my KCPE of which I had a score of 242 marks :-). And the interesting part is that I had not collected my KCPE results as I had misplaced 3 school books and it had been set clear by the headmaster at the time that no one would be issued with their results without paying for books. Njoki here had lost 3 damn books and her grandma could not raise the money to pay so what did I have to do? After all I knew I wasn’t joining secondary school because there was no money. So I became that bad girl and was like ‘Aaaai let him hold back the results after all it’s a mere paper and I already know my score’ :-).
So my uncle tells me to collect my slip so we can look for a school. Luckily, I had a cousin who was schooling in the Eastern Province and the dad (my uncle – mum’s brother) said that they can inquire and plead for me to join the school. My dreams were being fulfilled. So they all agreed that I was gonna school first and the rest on family matter shall be solved later on – priority was on my school and well-being. Meeting ended so well and we were all good. When they were leaving my dad said that they had brought for me a phone and clothes. We escorted them to where they had parked the car and he pulled out some clothes and shoes and then he handed me a white and pink flap phone (see picture below - with one of my cousins).
The joy I had cannot be equated to anything man! I was so happy and all smiles. Clearly I was not ready for it. I was not ready for the fatherly love. It was part of me now and I was slowly getting drowning in it. Sleep that day was not part of me as I tried to picture how my life was taking turns! Tremendous turns!
Right after Easter I went to collect my result slip with no money because I knew it was not the same headmaster that was in charge :-). Bingo!! I went on confidently more than 2 years later to collect my KCPE result slip. He gladly over the slip to me after asking me if I had any school fee balance or lost books and confidently said no. No nice yeah?! My mum’s brother reached out and said that they had inquired and that I could join the school but I had to take the slip. So I met with him in Thika town and gave him the slip and then I joined my dad in Nairobi so we could shop for the school items. Went to his brother’s office and we did the shopping with his office secretary. I kept thinking that I’m not used to getting such shopping. I didn’t even know the meaning of real shopping! My heart was full. I was happy. Tears of joy run down my cheeks. Wasn’t gonna be a laughing stock anymore back in the village. The night before being admitted to the school, I spent the night at my uncle’s with my dad and I must say it was the most awkward moment I had ever been into. I was all shy and didn’t know what to talk about. What to say or not say. A beautiful house that I had never seen before ever. We spend the night and the following day we embark on the journey to Eastern Province (Embu) where the school was. Was with my dad, his elder brother and his friend. I didn’t know much of what was in store for me nor whether I would make it but I was confident and had purposed to beat the odds.
Getting to the school my cousin was eagerly waiting for me and it was just after dinner when students were taking their time before prep time. What attracted the girls was the man with dreadlocks (my dad), what I wore (was in jeans, boots and relaxed my long hair looking all cool and dolled up) and my huge box (one that a whole being could fit it). So everyone was trying to peep and you know how girls get excited to peep on visitors. Finally I was admitted in the school and bid my dad and fam goodbye knowing that I was not gonna see him for a long time. But it was the best moment of my life. Had no idea of what was unfolding after being out of school for more than two years. And the time I joined, the school was starting on their end of first term exams the following day. Had no idea of what to write but the deputy principal had made it clear to my dad it was for the purpose of appearing in the list of the Form 1 students they had so even if I was gonna write my name and leave the paper blank that was okay.
My cousin was so good and friendly (I still owe her a lot). Together with her friends and the captain in charge of the dormitory I was assigned to, carried my items to show me my bed and later to my class which was at around 7:30pm on Thursday the 27th of March 2008…
Let’s continue on Monday :-) Take Care of yourselves. Stay safe! Stay home! Sanitize! I love you all and don't be afraid to leave your comment below :-)