Day Of The Jackal

As I neared the makeshift gate that no one actually used, I knew was in for a good one. Every homestead had several ‘Panya routes’ that villagers used while going about their business, and our was no special. Though I was carrying firewood and a water jerry can, I was pretty sure they would not save me. Looking at the sinking sun, I knew I had committed two cardinal sins from my mother’s 5 commandments.

My mother, a teacher at the village primary school was a strict disciplinarian and a lady per excellence. She was feared and loved like no other. Her blue belt meant she could stand up against any bully in the village. Once she had slapped a girl till the girl fainted for disrespecting her. The next day the girl’s father stormed the staffroom with a panga looking for my mother. Before he had known it, he was down begging for help and saying that indeed his girl needed to be disciplined. An arts teacher, great story teller and a lover of sports, she was loved by her students like none.

Back in the day, teachers were highly regarded in the society. As a pupil, you were supposed to keep quite and stand up as a show of respect if a teacher passed near you. It didn’t matter whether it was in school or at the shopping center. These were some of the unwritten rules that had to be followed failure to which the powerful Scouts Association would deal with you ‘perpendicularly’ once in school.
The two cardinal sins I had committed were going to swim in the river without permission and being out past curfew time. Yes, before Muigai wa Mashati introduced his curfew time, I had been through that. As her child, you were not allowed to be out if her chicken were already in the coop.

The week had been a good one. It was during holidays and she had been representing the church in several leaders meetings. I would leave home immediately she left and return early. Not today though! I could lie but I would be breaking another commandment, probably the 2nd greatest of all. That would be a death sentence if she found out.
“So you have made this your home?”, said a voice as soon as I got to the door. Before I could answer, I was only ground looking at the sky wondering where my help would come from.
“One week of you behaving like any other kid in the village.”
“But mum…”
“OOh so now you want to talk back to me? You are now a man and think that your mother cannot tell you anything?”

To cut the story short, I think I’m ready to serve my country in the military because I lived to see another day.