April 2007

Chapter FourteenMorgan Mushega walked into the prefect’s common room first thing in the morning and found Aida Namatovu sipping on a cup of tea and reading a textbook on some subject he didn’t quite catch. Morgan ignored her as he retrieved a soda from the fridge. Aida watched him opening it. “What, you’ve never seen a person open a soda before?” Morgan enquired.“No, I was just wondering when you were going to stop ignoring me.”“I’m not ignoring you.”“Well, you’ve been doing a very good imitation of it.” Morgan sighed and then took a sip of his soda. “Look, Aida, we’re two very different people who have to do the same job. Some things have gotten in the way, but I think we should concentrate on doing our duties and ignore our animosities towards one another.”

Chapter TwelveIn Alexandria, later in the afternoon, Maureen Mukasa found Cassandra Kamani seated alone in their room. “What’s your problem?” Maureen wanted to know.“Nothing.”“So, why the long face?”“I’m fine.”“Right, and I’m Mother Theresa. Hey, this’ Maureen your talking to. I know your moods and this’ not one of your good ones. So, what’s bothering you?”“Why can’t guys stick to one girl? Why must they be greedy?”“Okay, from your outburst, I guess you’re having problems with Kamal?”“It’s all those girls that are all over him! Why does he pay attention to them? He must be having a thing with one of them.” Maureen sighed, “Oh boy. Cassandra, Kamal’s one of the best-looking guys in the school. Girls have been chasing him long before you two started going out together. He’s constantly rejected them because he’s always been into you. So why would he start having a fling with any of them now that he’s with you?

Chapter TenEvening came and students were getting ready for night prep. Anthony looked at his friend who silently got his books as he headed out of their cubicle. Anthony stopped him with a hand on his arm. “What’s your problem?” James looked at the hand then at Anthony, “Nothing.”“Then, what’s with the attitude?”“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“I don’t see you the whole day and now it’s like something is bothering you.”“Because I felt like being alone and I have nothing to say means that I have a problem?”“Yes.”“Think what you want. I’m off to prep.” Anthony watched his friend go and shrugged, deciding to take his word for it…for now.

Worries! They are constantly around us. They are the unexpected birth of a child. One that we hadn't planned for but always turns out to be a blessing. In every situation of worry, pain, hardship, or tribulation, there is a lesson to be learned. My way might not be the best to deal with any of these things but it's not a constant way either. I have learnt that in wallowing I lose myself, in thinking, I submerge me into rivers of endless failures simply because I never stopped to be still. Negligence only causes myriads of illnesses of that same formerly unwanted but possibly blessing infant. It is in believing in the Him that we do not see and trusting in the grace that He gives that brings peace. Even if it is for a little time (because we are all human and we do lose that place now and again) we see the blessing that is life in Him. My problems are not bigger than me, my future is not mine to see, and my past has never been anyone's to judge.

Chapter EightEvening came and students made their way to the main hall. It was movie night. No one needed to be chased out of the dormitories because movie night was more popular than dance night. For many it wasn’t popular for the films shown but for the darkness it accorded. Only the senior ones, a handful of the Senior Twos and the low status students in the school hierarchy actually watched whatever was showing.For the first half-hour everyone paid attention to the screen, they all enjoyed the music videos but once they were over most people went about their business.The main hall filled up as students took their places. Boys sat on one side and girls sat on the other. That soon changed when the lights went off. The entertainment begun and most of the prefects went through the motions of monitoring but they too did as the people they were monitoring, discreetly of course.

You've seen them, or maybe you're one of them. The men who think they own the world, the women who feel the world owes them. I call them the knights because of the way they take over the nightspots for their very own.
Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Kampala

Chapter SixWednesday afternoon after classes, The Dudes was sitting at their usual spot by the basketball courts. Kaye spotted Suzanne Aseya walking towards the swimming pool at the other side of the football field. He got up and followed her.Alex grinned and said, “Things are really serious with those two. So what’s up with you and Laura?” César Kamani shrugged, “The usual, why?”“I don’t know,” said Alex, “It’s just that lately you’ve been a little distant with her.” César sighed, “You’re right. It’s just that lately I find myself getting irritated by her.”“Why? You two seem so tight.” Danston interjected.“That’s the thing, I was hoping that we could be tighter but all she wants from me is sex.”“So? Man, most guys would love to be in your shoes!” Theo pointed out. César made a dismissive gesture, “You guys wouldn’t understand.”

One of the strangest posts of mine by far, but here goes.Been going through my small anime collection and came across what I felt at the time, was the saddest song I ever heard. It was the ending theme to FMA, called Kesenai Tsumi by Nana Kitade. The entire song was in Japanese, and get this, its a pop track. The title loosely translates to Unerasable Sin. I can't help but be fascinated by the Japanese language whenever I come across it. It always seemed to me quite emotive and expressive. In a strange way, listening to it, I always felt Japanese was a language of images. In a way, I felt they spoke of pictures. Hard to explain, but when someone would speak of a place, even with the subtitles, I felt I could see the pink cherry blossoms falling slowly in the wind. I'd see large gardens and tall temples. It was the strangest thingAnyway, I looked up a translation to Unerasable Sin

Chapter FiveThere was the usual commotion in Ouagadougou before lights-out as the boys prepared for bed. There was still some excitement after the dance. Some of the boys were heard complaining about how the dance had bored them because there hadn’t been anything special about it. “That’s because you had no byanas to kaboozi and dance with,” someone said to the laughter of the whole dorm. The boys felt it prudent not to respond because it would spark off a series of taunts that could be rather scathing. The prefects came in with their usual superiority and made sure that everyone was in their beds, then switched off the lights. It was eleven thirty.Midnight came and went, as did one o’clock. César tossed and turned in his bed restlessly waiting for the time he could go to Danston’s room. “Eh, relax,” whispered Alex from the bed above, “It’s almost time; damn, one would think that you’ve never had a chow before.” There were chuckles from Theo and Kaye.