Weak Fences and Greener Grass

‘So he said that’s the reason he can’t make it today. He also said that you won’t understand.’

He was staring down at the ochunglo crawling up the wooden wall of the shed next to Kate’s mother’s house.

She was mad. Clearly. She clicked, ‘Kwani what’s...argh! Then why did he bother telling me to wait for him?!’

Silence. The things Jimi made him endure. He had already missed practice at their church since he had to stay and listen to Kate vent. He couldn’t just leave her like that. And by the time he got to church, the team would have gone through the praise songs and half the worship songs in the list he had in his phone.

He’d hopefully catch them walking home all excited about that day’s practice and catching up on each other’s weeks. Or having a word with Mwas, their mentor.

‘What the hell’s wrong with HIM?!’

By now Kate had sat down. 

Her demeanour and reactions did not match. People don’t shout while making themselves comfortable on cold cement stairs while picking up a Tropical sweet wrapper blown by the wind. 

He thought of leaving her, walking off since his job as messenger was done.

‘You know, you are not like him at all Kwame.’ She sighed and started twisting the wrapper in her hand before turning to face him.

He hadn’t expected that so he had to change the angle of his body. He ended up in a weird pose. His mind, wanting to leave had ordered the body to turn until she dropped the bombshell and now it hang and left the torso to figure out for itself what to do. 

‘A-m...’ he muttered. That wasn’t even a word.

She did not make it any easier, just staring. Waiting.

‘Oh No. Not this,’ he thought to himself.

It was getting dark. He needed to go. Now. So he decided to tell her,’ Ummm...we can’t be more than this.’

But instead said,’ Ummm...he said he’ll make it up to you on Tuesday when you guys hook up at the Barn, as you always do.’

Before she could reply, that Emmy Kosgei ringtone broke the silence.

Glancing at her, hoping that glance communicated his goodbye, he picked the call.

‘Hey, mmefika wapi?... We wacha!... By the way umebeat,.. Zii, nacome...’