Chapter 60

A month later, Jacob received a letter from Lisa. Jacob was thrilled when he opened the letter and saw his London General Certificate of Education and the primary school certificate of the Republic of Uganda.

As he looked at the documents, his mind walked over the day he told his grandfather about Lisa and his stay at Kabwegyere's home. 

"Grandpa, there is a lady in Mbale who is carrying my child." He had started to explain. 

"Is that so?" Old Kasamani's eyes glittered with interest. "Tell me about her!" 

"Before I arrived here, I worked at their house as a domestic servant. Her parents were so nice to me and treated me in the same way they did to their children," Jacob said and paused. "But this lady called Lisa was in love with me." 

"They must have been good people," Old Kasamani said, "And the girl must have been overwhelmed with love. It's natural for young people to fall in love." 

"Everything was okay until she became pregnant, and her parents threw me out of their house." 

"Oh what a jinx!" Old Kasamani remarked. "They should have understood their daughter was in love."

"They never did, and I left even without collecting my certificates for the exams I did while there." Jacob said sadly, "So I've nothing to show I ever went to school." 

"Then you'll have to write to her requesting her to post your documents. You need them here. Do you remember their postal address?" The old man had suggested. 

"Yes. I wrote it somewhere. I'll do as you have suggested."

And so it was that Jacob wrote her a letter a few weeks back requesting her to search his room and post him the certificates. He had assured her that he still loved her and hoped they would one day meet if he travelled to Uganda. He knew he had to give her the assurance of his love so as to make her send the certificate. 

As Jacob's mind snapped from the past and saw the documents he now held in his hands, he was sure things would now go well for him. In her replies, Lisa claimed she was heavily pregnant and looked forward to hearing from him in the future.

She also said her father had threatened to throw her out of their home, but her mother had prevailed upon him to let her stay. 

What made Jacob realize he was a lucky man was when Lisa explained that her father had threatened to go and burn Jacob's things that very night Jacob left but her mother had asked him to do it in the morning.

That very night, so Lisa's letter said, she had gone and taken his clothes and documents and hid them in her room. When he wrote to her, the documents were under lock and key in her room. 

Now armed with the documents, Jacob began sending applications to companies in Nairobi and Mombasa. His hope as he waited for the outcome of the applications was that one would come in the affirmative. 

Meanwhile, Jacob became accustomed to life in the village. He made friends easily with most young men. And life in the village was full of interesting events.

There were many social gatherings. Jacob was kept busy attending such gatherings; if it was not the funeral of a kinsman then it would be a dance organized by the youths or some other celebration.

But whatever the case, Jacob would first seek his grandfather's approval before attending such an occasion. In cases like a funeral, the old man and little Josephine would be at his side. 

He sought the old man's approval because he knew the homes that were safe for his grandson to visit.

"I know most of these people in the village and especially the young men," said his grandfather.

And Old Kasamani would always say as a reminder, "Some of them are good. Others are just as bad as their grandfathers used to be. Whenever you receive an invitation, just let me know first which home it comes from." 

In this way, Jacob avoided going into the homes of those men his grandfather thought would cause harm to him. With time, he became quite popular in their village.

He had become used to the people but was quite aware that some friends wanted to take advantage of his position as the only heir to Old Kasamani's property. 

He had also returned to Kakamega to collect the land title deed, which showed him as the sole owner of the thirty acres of land his grandfather previously owned. His luck began to smile again when he received a letter from Mombasa stating that he was required to attend an interview at the offices of Transocean Company in Kisumu. 

After the interview in Kisumu, Jacob began to believe he would get the job. Kisumu was near Musanda, and his grandfather seemed to like the idea.

"You can even be coming home for the weekend and leave very early on Monday for work." Old Kasamani tried to comfort him when Jacob reported about the Transocean interview.

"It'll still be good if we are near each other, Grandpa." 

That was what they thought until Jacob's letter of appointment arrived by post on a rainy and cold evening three weeks later. The letter simply said he had been appointed as a clerk and was required to report to the Human Resources Manager of the Transocean company in Mombasa with immediate effect. 

It also came as a surprise when he saw the letter heads of the company; it was a Ugandan company with operations in Kenya, Mombasa, being a major branch. Jacob was quite excited at the appointment as a clerk and the journey to Mombasa. He decided to inform his grandfather almost immediately after he read the letter. 

"Grandpa," he began cheerfully, "I've been offered the job. But it is in Mombasa and not Kisumu." 

Old Kasamani's face fell. He realized the grandson he had met and became used to would be going to be away from him. "Mombasa! Why not work in Kisumu?"

"I also don't understand." 

"But couldn't they just let you work in Kisumu? Or even Mumias if they have offices there because it is nearer home. I had become so much used to you and now you are going to leave me." A sad note appeared in the old man's voice. 

"But what can I do when a job offer has come? People say jobs are hard to come by. Unless you know someone in high places, you can't get a job."

"You're right, my grandson," Old Kasamani said. "But you're lucky indeed. It's only this Mombasa thing that is worrisome." 

"I'll have to go, Grandpa. I'm still a young man who has to work for a living. Of course I appreciate the land you have given me, but I have to go." 

The old man became thoughtful for a while as he reflected on what the young man had said. Then, a smile suddenly appeared on his face. "You're right, Jacob! You still have to work to earn a living. And you never know where your fortune lies. Who knows? You could even try to look for your father in Mombasa. I don't know what he does these days, but this could be the godsend opportunity to find him." 

Jacob's face lit up with excitement when he heard his grandfather's words and the opportunity to look for his father. Mombasa was a large town, but he would always try to look for him. Perhaps, he began to reassure himself that they could even meet in town. 

Then his mind became alert when he heard the old man continue talking, "And I don't doubt your ability to succeed once you reach Mombasa. I hear it's quite a friendly town whose inhabitants are well known for their kindness. It is quite unlike Nairobi, where the majority of the people are self-centered. You'll make it, Jacob." 

Old Kasamani went to his bedroom and came out a few minutes later holding a roll of bills. Then he gave them to his grandson, saying, "Have this. It should be able to take care of you until you earn your first salary. Find yourself a cheap room and pay rent."

"Thank you, Grandpa!"

"You can even leave tomorrow. But be very careful in Mombasa," Old Kasamani warned. "I've heard that people get swallowed by the town; they go to Mombasa and never look back. They enjoy the glamorous life of Mombasa once they reach there and no longer wish to return to their homes in the village; our countryside. Remember, I am now the caretaker of your home. Your roots and assets are here. Don't forget to come and visit me whenever you get the opportunity." 

That night, Jacob slept in his bed quite a satisfied man. He had already made the decision to go and work in Mombasa as he also tried to look for his father whom he had never met in years.

It was quite a challenge, he told himself, but it was worth trying. But his grandfather had given a warning against being dazzled by the bright town lights and disappearing into the city jungle.

Then he fell asleep with a smile on his lips.