Skip to main content
THE PRETENDER

          Mom had to use the nearest route possible. The day was still fresh. The African share of the sun slowly brought Kitale a brighter and warmer essence. Dad had not seen them though. After seeing dad in that state, mom was immediately confused. She could never even explain how on earth she managed the 3 kilometers back home. She had even forgotten that Nekesa had accompanied her. At home none suspected had left earlier that morning. Breakfast was brought and lucky enough she had arrived. Mom explains that dad used to drink those days.It was after this that he came home and physically abused her. She would scream her lungs out for the neighbors to arrive for her rescue.
          She explains such an occasion. After seeing that it was quite a burden to the sisters, dad decided mum should be preparing her own meals and that of dad. Dad got mum three cooking pans, plates, spoons and a small basin. He brought in fish and some flour through which mom prepared a meal for lunch that day. Dad went for the a drink with friends. at around 6 that evening he brought some of his friends to see the wife he had married. It was something cool for one to have a wife those days; especially one from other towns. Dad ordered mum to prepare supper. Although she was tired as hell., mum rose and did so. Things went wrong during on the table. Mom brought the food, gave each his share and then left for the kitchen. She never prayed nor invited them for the meal. Dad was angry. 
          Mom was with Aunt Nekesa having their share of the supper when dad kicked the door open. He went straight towards mom and commenced heavy blows and kicks on her. Her screams never mattered to the drank man, "how dare you show contempt to my visitors, don't you have manners woman"dad would shout amid the beating, none came to her rescue,she deserved it they thought, dad mercilessly dragged her through mud that night mum explains

          Mom was in war. Mother-in-law was tough. This forced mum to verbally abuse her some times. Dad would never litsen to her part of the story when he arrived for the weekends. Mom would receive a beating and sometimes forced to sleep out in the cold nights of the Transnzoia. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GOING OVER           Mom had to be taken home of course. My aunts came over, i came to know, later the following day. None liked my mother. To them, my dad didn't deserve a woman of her kind for a wife. She was a witch who had cast a love spell to Harun Wanyonyi Wafula, my dad. My late grandma wasn't any different, she too wasn't enthusiastic about her son having such a young woman for a wife, mom was about 19 years old.           The journey from Kitale District Hospital was a silent one, my mom narrates. she further explains it as a silent one. How could they talk to a person they disliked that much? She never minded though.           This was on a Friday. My dad was to leave for job in Eldoret. He was a mechanic at Raiply woods company. This meant mum was to be left ll alone with me and little Moses. Grandpa was the only one mom thought she was to be left with. On Saturday morning dad left early for the bus stop, the struggle began. As it was approaching the end
1 comment
Read more
REVAMP           Things worsened for mom. Mother-in-law was too rough, mom resorted to be resilient but the pressure from the on-laws was too much to bear. The only person mom trusted for as friend had died, dad was so busy with work for him to notice  what she went through, she had to revamp her earlier plans to go back home. This time, she had to be smart and careful, she had no option, that was the only thing she had to do for the better life she wanted.                  Mom had an ego. She narrates how she could not accept to be in an affair with any man from her neighborhood. None deserved a beautiful woman like she was. Unlike many hyperactive women in the village, mom stayed home, cooked and washed all day. When the chores were done, she either slept or sang the catholic hymns she learnt at the local catholic church she attended. It is in this, dad won her heart. Dad had visited his sister, Gladys, she was married to a certain man. The two met and this is how their marriage
Post a Comment
Read more
PARTING SHORT           Situations could not allow mom to stay longer. The negativity she faced was so intoxicating for the young mom she was. Mom had to leave. Early one morning, at around 5:30 she set out on a journey. A journey she was determined to do once. She was done with this. The ridicule, contempt and disrespect from the in-laws was more than she could bear. She was loving though to me and Moses of course. She did bathe the both of us, changed the diapers and breastfed us. Her boobs were dripping she narrates. She then silently closed the door behind her and left. The morning was chilly, birds chirped from the many trees that fenced the homestead.           She met a few early risers  of course. Mum is shy and was even more shy back then. She walked herself all the way to the central business district. As early as it was she could manage to get any form of mechanical transport. The buses were few those days.               The bus she boarded was almost full when she arr
Post a Comment
Read more