The land echoes honey and milk. Free shadows and crystal clear running water. An epitome, an abode for the runaway brides. The ones who believed the villages, better known as Shags were too little to accommodate them. Us. This is a place where history of our footprints is embedded.
A coin, a note and a wrinkle less cloth start getting baptized. “Hey, hii ni ya Chrisii.” Mind you all this started in January. Struggling the whole year to clown December and strife to make ends meet in January.
My time came. I didn’t have enough water for the baptism. But at least I made it home. Lucky enough for me, I am a frequent person when it comes to home. Not a visitor. At least not to everyone.
Chapati’s aroma confused the local airwaves while animal rights were canceled right and left. Choma, Chemsha and fry. Personally I was looking forward to a lot avocados.
The problem was avocados are the ‘thing’ now after collapse of coffee and exit of macadamia season. So my request wasn’t that welcomed especially after asking for the green ones. Everyone was shocked, “unajua hass vile iko na bei?” “Unafaa utoke Nairobi.” At first I was almost asking them, “Kwani Hesy wa Dandora amefika huku?”
At one time I was with a duthi guy and he stopped and parked his motorcycle in the middle of nowhere and was on phone for like ten minutes. The only good explanation he had for this was, “me huwa conscious sana na sheria.” And here I was fuming and had to pay to get late.
To make my point clear on avocados I had to eat everything with it. Chapo-avocado. Githeri, rice and others. I told them I was experimenting because my governor had seen potential in avocado market and needed a testament. My mom was quick to note, wewe umeleta hasara tu. Hii avocado hukuliwa na utaratibu. Saa hii ata broker hawafiki bei.” That’s how much the much neglected crop has changed.
Before leaving I visited my friend and to my dismay there was a warning on the path that leads to the shamba.”Take any other fruit for free except avocados. Nyinyi watu tunawajua.” I didn’t even try my luck. I left a dejected visitor.
Am sure merry making was fun but to be limited not to carry avocados was a mark we shall be quoting on phone calls until Easter. I had to withdraw all selfies I had taken near the avocados trees. Vile nilikuwa na orders. Aki Christmas.
