Day Ford nearly killed me over the love of his life

Just like everything else this year, December looks, feels and sounds different. In normal times, we don’t go to school during the month — it is usually hot and windy, with a cool wafting breeze gently blowing in Mwisho wa Lami and its environs, slowly swaying shrubs, lifting dust, and softly singing in people’s ears that Christmas is around the corner.

Not in 2020. For the first time, we are at school. In fact, this is the first time I have ever written a date of December in either a book or a blackboard. It sounds and feels strange. The weather, the environment, the mood, everything doesn’t look like, doesn’t feel like, and doesn’t taste like December. It feels like June. I am sure you know June is that unremarkable month. A month not known for any particular thing.

I started off this week in an unremarkable way. I was reluctant to go to school because of the BBI situation at the institution that has increasingly made me irrelevant.

When I arrived, I was eager to go to class to avoid meeting Kuya, the BBI Deputy, with the aim of avoiding any confrontation with him. Actually, the only reason I go to school is to avoid being accused of insubordination.

On Thursday evening, I left school and went straight to Hitler’s. The place was unusually full for a June – remember this is June, not December. All the who-is-who of Mwisho wa Lami was there. Rasto, Alphayo, Tito, Nyayo, Tocla, Saphire, Kizito, name them. But there wasn’t any December-like noise and merry, the mood was June-ish

Economic challenges

I wondered why they had all converged there. You see, due to the economic challenges ravaging Mwisho wa Lami and its environs, it is never common to find so many people at Hitler’ at once, except when there is a big sponsor buying.

“Take whatever you want,” said Nyayo, when I asked for half a pick-up, on credit. “Ford is around and he is paying.” There was indeed a sponsor. I was happy but surprised. Happy that I would drink to my fill, but surprised that Ford, my brother, would travel home without me knowing.

If you remember well, the last time Ford was seen in Mwisho wa Lami was last December on the eve of Christmas when he swam across River Lukose and disappeared in the thickets. In hot pursuit were policemen who had ambushed him. A green bag was then retrieved from his house, with my brother Pius also escaping with another similar bag.  Ford and Pius would go under for a few weeks, remaining unreachable. Weeks later, Ford called me on a strange number, saying he was doing well at Kutui GK prison. He did not explain whether he was there as a tenant or landlord. I asked him why the police had been looking for him, about the green bag that was taken away from his house and if his job was safe.

“This is Kenya, I am good, don’t worry about me,” he had said, then added: “Please take care of my children, let them not sleep hungry.”

And I have been good to his family. His children have never gone hungry and his beautiful wife Rumona can tell you that I have been more than good to her. More than good!

Acted cold

A few minutes later, Ford, who had apparently left, came back at Hitler’s. I excitedly went to greet him, like you would greet a brother, but he acted cold towards me. He did not even extend his hand or acknowledge my presence. He sat with his friend Tito, and he would later pay everyone’s bill, except mine. I am the only person Hitler asked to pay.

I did not need a calculator to know that something was amiss, and I thus left.  I was on my way home when I decided to check my phone. I had several ‘Please Call Me’ messages from Rumona, my beautiful sister-in-law, Ford’s wife. When I called back, she asked me where I was. “Your bro is around and he is not happy with you and Pius, please avoid him,” she said.

“He is also angry with me, he even slapped me for no reason when he arrived,” she said. “He says Pius disappeared with his money.” She added that she knows Ford’s temper and I was better off keeping away from him.

Later that evening, my mother called me to her place. From her voice it was urgent. I arrived to find Ford, very drunk and quarrelsome. My father was trying to calm him down but he kept saying that someone had to die.

“Kama Pius na Dre hawakufi heri mimi nikufe,” was all he was saying.

It was only my mother who was able to get details from him. Ford accused Pius of disappearing with all the money he had last December. He had managed to sort out his issues with law enforcers, even got back his job and he was looking forward to enjoy the money ‘only to learn that his brothers had taken away everything from him’.

“I did not touch your money Bro,” I defended myself. “I didn’t even know there was money in the first place.” He agreed with me.  I asked why he was angry with me. It was a mistake.

“Wewe kwanza ndio Judas,” he said and threatened to attack me with a panga. Thankfully, he was too drunk and my father easily disarmed him.

“I asked you to take care of my children, not my wife,” he said. “I know everything you have done with Rumona,” he said then started crying.

There was no point arguing with him, and so I left and went back home. I will be avoiding him completely. And I am not talking to Rumona as well until after Ford goes back to work!

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