Chapter Four

She immediately broke down in tears with a thousand questions racing up and down her mind as if wanting to make her run mad. How could she tell him that she was in love? How could she tell him that the love of her life was almost twice as old as she was, that she had missed her monthly visitors and that for the past few days she had been having the urge to vomit, a disease that only attacked her every early in the morning? Just how yet she had not even told anyone not even her boyfriend, Mr Evol? She needed help. She needed an advice on what to do next,so she just had to spill the beans. If somebody was in shock, he was Wadiaga. To him she was just too innocent to be in such a mess. He often used her as an example to the whole of her classmates and the school during school assembly for her hardwork and her personality. Despite his disappointments, Wadiaga knew how to handle the situation, lest he wanted to lose her to suicide. After a very long conversation between the two, they both agreed that she was to approach the boyfriend with the issue. At least he needed not to be put in the dark about such. She was also advised to share the issue with her grandmother. She promised to do all this and by so doing, Wadiaga bid her goodbyes then left to his errands. Mr Wadiaga was a heavy drinker. Hardly could a day pass without him stopping by at Mama Adhis to have a taste of the local brew 'busaa' only to be heard later in the evening making stories to imaginary people. She promised to let him know of the results. She was relieved that at least she had not been judged by the first person she shared her story with.

That evening, she and Arnold met at their usual meeting place, a place no one else went to. It was a roc beside the river, a few metres from the point where people drew water. It offered a cool breeze and with the rushing waters, it was the best place to have your mind relaxed. That time round, Ogola was early than usual. Even Arnold was surprised by her early arrival. Usual, he would get there and wait for over thirty minutes before she could arrive. Well, they did their usual stuff, you know, the kissing and hugging things then started swimming.

When they had had enough of the water they laid on their backs on the rock to bask in the sun. They started talking about how much they loved each other and would always be there for each other, you know all that crap that teenagers promise each other not knowing the weight it all carries. Then all over sudden, Ogola's face lost all expression,as if Arnold had said something to offend her and turned her guaze on him. "Evol, something has really been consuming my mind," then she got quiet. Women love creating tension, I tell you. Arnold just stared at her, not knowing what to say or to expect next from her. "Something is happening to me. I really don't know how you will react to it but I think it better to share it with you while it is still early. You said we will be together forever no matter what, do you mean it?" Arnold was then very tensed. What could she really be talking about? Unable to say anything, he just nodded.

"Well, Evol, I failed to get my monthly visitors and I have been puking for close to three days now. I think I am pregnant. Baby, I told you that we should not have had sex till we got married but you insisted on doing it. What am I going to do about this? And I know this is where you are going to cut ties with me." She was covered in tears. Arnold did not know what to say. One of the reasons he was from Nairobi was because he had impregnated a minor and had to escape to the rurals to avoid being locked in prison, and yet there he was, covered in the same mess. It that time it involved a poor girl from a poor family. He so much wanted to marry a rich and fancy girl. Dreams boys have! He decided to accept his fate. Maybe he was meant to marry pupils, those minors. What a twist.

"Ogola, I love you to the moon and back. There are so many girls in this village but I still chose you. And I'm glad you also chose me despite our age difference. This is our mess, and we are in it together. Like I said, we will always be here for each other, come sun, come rain. We are raising this kid together,I promise you this."

With this, Ogola was relieved. At least he was ready to take responsibilities. She and Arnold spent the rest of that evening making stories and jokes about how the baby would be, how it would look like, the name I would be given and such. Arnold promised her that he would take care of their child while she had gone to boarding school come the following year. After the conversation, they bid each other goodbyes. She left the stream very happy, like a toddler that had just learned how to walk, like a dog that has been been released from the leash. She only had one more person to talk to, someone she was sure would always have her back,her all loving grandmother.

She headed home to prepare supper as she prepared herself for the big conversation with the old lady. She had bought some fish in the market earlier and cooking them did not take long. Within no time, the meal was ready and she set the table. She avoided looking at her grandmother in the eyes, but something from the way she was looking at her suggested that she knew something. After the meal, she started clearing the table. "This old woman, does anything ever get past her without her noticing it," Ogola thought. All over sudden, their eyes met.