chapter 3

No sooner had John left than Zuba and her family rummaged through the different grocery bags he left. Everyone smiled as they clearly knew that now was the hour of pure joy while others may have thought it was that of their demise.

They would have enough food on their plates, body lotion, washing powder, bathing soap, toothpaste and other groceries. Others would think this family life was a joke or a made up story out of imagination but it was their reality. Not only had he payed for the boxes of tomatoes he bought but he added more. Instead of paying an actual amount of K 2000.00, he payed K6000.00 which would last them more than a month given that he purchased groceries for them.

" Finally!" Meshach exclaimed as he touched different types of food.

" We can have delicious food." Taonga added and everyone couldn't agree more.

When they took their baths, for the first time in a long time did they use bathing soap and lotion that made them smell fresh and so inviting. They had a sweet fragrance, not that they had a bad odour but they never had lotion resulting to the use of bathing soap or cooking oil as a replacement of lotion. Unlike other days, this one was completely different from the others. They had food to eat and groceries to use , their faces had broad smiles and heartfelt laughter.

Zuba prepared the delicious dinner consisting of a cozy, classic beef stew filled with tender beef, carrots and potatoes. To go with the beef stew, she prepared fried rice while her siblings watched her eagerly. Her parents were chatting to themselves with earnest smiles and they would laugh here and there as her father's voice boomed with laughter while their mothers melodious voice was similar to that of Zuba's.

As soon as Zuba finished cooking, Taonga rolled out a woven straw yellow reed mat while Meshach carried water in a jar with a dish to wash their hands. Zuba knelt down as she had the dish and water jar that Meshach had brought as her father washed his hands including her mother. This was another way of respecting your elders by kneeling when giving them food. Meshach gave a short prayer and as though a whistle had been blown to signal the start of an eating competition, Taonga and Meshach shovelled down the food.

" Can you two behave yourselves, where are you rushing to? You are not been chased by anyone." This time, their mother spoke with a soft motherly gaze causing them to eat slowly as everyone devoured their meal.

The dark night had arrived as the crickets stridulated. Others found these sounds to be irritating but as for Zuba, it was music to her ears. She loved nature and she found this to be so calming and it brought tranquility to her deeply troubled soul. As everyone chatted away, she could not help but think about what had transpired during the day. From sleeping on empty stomachs to eating a lot of food.

Their father told them different folk stories like every other night. When he finished narrating, he would ask them the moral of the story and that's how they learnt certain vital details about their culture. When they noticed that Zuba was oblivious to what was happening , her mother decided to put her on the spotlight.

" Zuba, what kind of a man do you want to get married to?" her mother asked while wiggling her eyebrows.

" Am not thinking of getting married anytime soon." she replied in a serious tone and gaze.

" Zuba, I also need nieces and nephews to babysit." Taonga said with her beautiful wide smile and Meshach couldn't agree more.

She sat there quietly thinking about what her mother had said. At nine pm, everyone retired to bed in order to have strength for the next day. After everyone slept, Zuba kept tossing and turning as she couldn't find sleep. Did she want to get married anytime soon? She needed to find a job to carter for their needs. She thought back to John, how was he faring? why was she even thinking about him. It wasn't a secret that she was smitten by him but why was he invading her thoughts at that time of the night.

She tried closing her eyes and she saw him. He's beautiful dark blue eyes , long black hair while it was cut in the sides and tied into a man bun, his five o'clock shadow and jawline were perfect. His well built up body that was visible in his crisp suit looking smart and collected. He had the body of an athlete, workouts must be part of his everyday routine. His smile would make women drop their panties and unknowingly have a heart attack. Is that even possible? He was every woman's dream and desire because he would be considered an accomplishment in one's life. He was the true definition of perfection in and out. His height was the right one as he proudly stood at six feet five inches and not forgetting his demeanor, it gave out a dangerous aura but she did not feel intimidated by him.

She wondered how their kids would look, would they be a replica of him or herself? When did she even start thinking of kids? With John for that matter. She smiled to herself as these thoughts kept on running through her mind. She saw his smile for the last time before she succumbed to the darkness.