They say a frog does not walk during the day for no reason. Well, in Mwisho wa Lami, one just did—several frogs, actually. As you know, right now, I should have joined other teachers in various stations countrywide for exam marking.
But given that I am half-working and half-suspended—though there has been no official communication to that effect—and given that I have no idea what happened after the KPSEA examinations, I’m just there.
When someone says they are “just there,” it means their weekdays and weekends look the same, mornings and evenings blur together, and they take life as it comes. That’s exactly what’s been happening to me. Occasionally, I talk to Bensouda, the former HM of Mwisho wa Lami Primary School, who—were it not for the fact that she had a strong deputy in me—would have collapsed the school.
Besides offering emotional support, she’s currently helping me get reinstated as the HM of Mwisho wa Lami and ensuring Kuya receives proper punishment. So my days have been uneventful, except for when I visit Bensouda.
Last week, however, things started changing. I received missed calls from Kuya. When I called him back, he said he just wanted to check on me. I told him I was doing well. Kuya doesn’t usually call me. We basically have nothing to talk to each other
“Let us meet at the school tomorrow for a catch-up,” he said after I told him I would be available.
Part of me didn’t want to go, but another part convinced me to. So, come Wednesday morning, I was at the school by around 10am. Kuya was already there when I arrived, though I didn’t see his motorcycle. I had no idea how he’d gotten to school.
We talked about general matters without delving into specifics. Later, he asked me about the SACCO I was in. Since we were in the same SACCO, I guaranteed a loan for him. Afterwards, we went to Kasuku Bar and Restaurant, where he paid for my lunch. By then, we were chatting like old friends.
Later, we went to Hitler’s Bar. He had one glass and left, but not before paying for three for me.
Word that I’d been seen with Kuya spread like wildfire in Mwisho wa Lami and beyond. It hadn’t occurred to me that people knew that Kuya and I hadn’t been on speaking terms. Even at Hitler’s, Rasto asked me, “How come you’re hanging out with Kuya? Has he been fired?”
I told him Kuya hadn’t been fired, nor had I been reinstated. “We were just catching up as brothers,” I said.
“Look at you, are you even brothers?” Rasto wondered.
That evening, Kuya texted me to thank me for honouring his invitation.
“Thank you so much; you have no idea how much you helped me by guaranteeing my loan,” he wrote.
“Huku TSC, I don’t see a bright future,” he added. I was surprised.
“TSC has been good to you,” I remarked, “and you’re poised for a promotion.”
“Don’t mention TSC to me, please. That place is run by fools,” he said. Realising he might have said too much, he added, “Just wait and see what you’ll hear.”
I did not have to wait for long. The next day, Lena, her bad hair in tow, came to visit Fiolina—the lucky laugh of my envious life. Though she hadn’t called me to say she’d be visiting, and even though she came to see Fiolina, once she arrived, it was clear it was she wanted to speak to. After lunch, she found me seated under the mango tree.
I told her I hadn’t heard any news since I was focusing on resting during the vacation. She wondered if anyone had called me, but I told her no one had.
“And what were you doing with the former HM, Kuya?” she asked.
“Did you say former?” I asked, unable to hide my happiness.
“He received a letter yesterday transferring him to another school as a deputy,” she revealed. “Though he had expected to be promoted to HM.”
I asked which school it was, and she informed me it was a small school offering only up to Grade 5.
“No wonder he seemed so unsettled yesterday,” I remarked.
Later that day, Kuya called to inform me of his transfer.
“I didn’t know how to tell you yesterday,” he admitted when I asked why he hadn’t mentioned it during our meeting.
“That’s not a promotion. The school is so small. Maybe if they’d sent me there as HOI, I’d have appreciated it. But as a deputy? Really?” He was upset.
I asked him if he had heard anything about me, but he said he hadn’t. “No one seems to know your case,” he added.
That evening, Apostle Elkana visited me. When Apostle Elkana visits, you don’t need to ask why he’s come; you just listen to his prayers. In his long prayer, he reminded God how he had asked Him to handle my job situation. He then thanked God for having listened to him.
“Thank you, God, for softening the heart of the TSC officer I told you about. I am happy that Andrea’s situation is now sorted,” he added.
After the prayer, he refused to give more details, only saying I should sit back and relax.
After the man of God left, I called Bensouda for the latest news. She simply told me to relax.
“Things are moving well. Just give it one more week, and you’ll get your letter,” she assured me.
I'll wait but as I wait for my letter, I must say how happy I am to hear that Kuya has been demoted. Serves him right!
