Sister-in-Campus 15

J

oyce was back in campus again for another semester. It was the last semester for her first year. A lot of things needed to be done if she indeed needed to be considered for the second year. She had passed well in her first semester despite the challenges she had gone through. It was unimaginable to think that after all that she could afford to have no supplementary in her transcript. She owed all her success to Stacia and the rest of her crew Jim and Godfrey.

By now her pregnancy was becoming more pronounced than before and everywhere she passed students took time to study her like a piece of specimen discussing her with all manner of adjectives and phrases they could get. She was not used to it like it did not bother her much. Her pregnancy was kind of a blessing to her since it gave a diplomatic treatment wherever she went. She was untouchable in all aspects even to Jaymo and his bad friends. She did not like the way Godfrey treated her. He kept a distance in her in public but in the room he almost behaved like a husband.

“The only person who behaved like you do is none other Nicodemus” she told him one time.

“I fear for myself of what people might say about me and us”, he would reply.

“The only person who behaved like you do is none other Nicodemus” she told him one time. “I fear for myself of what people might say about me and us”, he would reply.

“Did Antonice ask you to campaign for her?”

“Isn't she a lady with red blood cells like us?”

“Who is this Antonice you are talking about?” Jim asked as he entered the Joyce‟s room.

“Just another devoted CU lady in the friend zone of Gabuzela a devoted Catho.” Joyce answered.

“Gabuzela hardly goes to church except when there is a big event like a fund raising” Godfrey added.

“Speaking of fund raising I wanna bet some teams and see what I get out of my fifty bob now in my mpesa” Jim said trying to divert their attention.

“Who told you I can help you enrich Mwindi with my hard earned cents” Godfrey asked him fiercely. Godfrey had always hated betting from the word go after he had of how people were looking their money to sportpesa and other getting firms.

“Who is Mwindi?” Joyce asked.

“He is the owner of Sportpesa” Jim answered.

“Is that his real name?” Joyce asked again.

“No it’s just that he is an Indian. I won't let that bloody Indian take away my one hundred shillings in my pocket. He drives a cool Mercedes worth 200 million shillings” Godfrey said.

“That is an overrated amount even if I don’t much about car prices Goddy.” She said. Just then Hazy entered with another male student. After greetings the other student saw Jim take out a newspaper page with betting data for Betika.

“Hey dude what’s up?” he asked Jim.

“I have some 50 bob I wanna make 2500 out of it” Jim said.

“By the way am Kelly, so I see you will miss it narrowly” he said.

“And am Jim. Is there a problem with my selection Kelly?” Jim asked inquisitively.

“Yeah since some teams here just keep losing whether home or away. Mmmh… I don't know much concerning this team here with a hard name but I will tell you for free give this team here Costa Rika goal goal. Then this team here their striker I have forgotten his name is nursing a knee injury give them a draw and then off course AIDS Arsenal is dying slowly…” Kelly finished talking and sat down next to Hazy.

“You don't insult Arsenal and come to sit next to me you son of a bitch.” Hazy said harshly.

“Didn't know you were such a fun of football” Joyce said to her in disbelief.

“I love Arsenal from the day they made me get 15000 and I was so broke” Hazy commented.

“Who gave you the odds?” Kelly asked.

“I didn't know about odds I just followed someone's advice and placed a bet blindly thought that boy who helped me lost his 2000 that day” Hazy answered. Just then Stacia who was sleeping on Joyce's bed woke up.

“Mmmh… roomie am going to place a bet today am going broke and my Kalos is offline.” Stacia said. Stacia woke up and hugged everyone except for Godfrey who preferred a handshake.

“Betting for arsenal is like sending money to someone you have not met face to face” Jim said trying to be sarcastic. A few of them laughed at his joke.

“Well cause of Arsenal I bought myself a fine dress, paid my exam fee and off course sent my mum a thousand bob through my dad” Hazy said with some finality.

Petro woke up feeling tired and hungry at the same time. He had slept on an hungry stomach since he was came to his house tired and just fell asleep. No one had bothered to wake him up for some strange reasons. He looked at his phone and saw it was already seven o'clock.

Today was going to be his second day not going to school over unpaid dues. He was among four teachers who had decided to boycott teaching at Gambogi Preparatory School. He knew if they continued to boycott, the manager would find their replacement as soon as possible. Form four leaves were being recruited to teach for just a thousand shillings just two thousand shillings less what a college graduate like him was getting. It would take quite some considerable amount of time or years before he gets employed by TSC. He stood up and went to his kitchen house to find something to eat. He was surprised to find his parents there talking as he expected to find them probably gone to the farm.

“Good morning” he greeted them.

“Good morning” they replied in unison.

“Aren't you not going to school today?” his mother asked him.

“They have refused to pay us and life is becoming very hard” Petro said.

“Then it wouldn't be good if you stayed here with us, you should get another school as soon as possible” his mother went on.

“Life wouldn't be so hard if you weren't chasing after pregnant daughters of pastors” his father said throwing him and his mother into anger.

“Dad that is so unfair of you to speak to me like that. That girl just attacked me out of the blues when I was going to the shop” Petro felt like going mad but he said that to control his anger.

“And what would be buying Always for?” his dad asked him another hard question.

“My husband please stop it! Have I not told you to watch how you address your son. Remember he is a senior teacher back at school and also a youth leader in church. He knows what to do with himself” his mother defended him. He felt happy about it. She was his lawyer when his dad was the magistrate.

“Dad can I speak with you for a moment under the tree?” Petro asked.

“Just take the cows to the field and do the fence first!” his father commended.

“Okay then” Petro said softly although deep inside him he was hurt.

“But first get some porridge and sweet potatoes to give you the energy since am sure you slept hungry last night.” His mother said as she passed him a cup of porridge and a plate of sweet potatoes. Just then his phone began to ring. He placed the items in his hands on a stool and excused himself to go out pick a call from Debra.

“My Petro, please come over now, the children said you stopped going to school.” Debra said over the phone and then she hang up before he could say anything. Just as he was going back to the house she called again.

“Will you Petro?” she asked sounding very serious.

“I will” Petro answered.

“What time?” she asked.

“Am not sure of the time but I will” he answered before dropping the call.

Back in the house his mother's curiosity was not to be ignored, “Who is it Petro?”

“Just a friend who wants me to go there” he replied hoping no more questions would follow over the same. His mother was very interrogative more than a policeman or a doctor.