The rain had been pounding the corrugated iron roof for
hours on end. It was well past closing time and the last of customers had left
the boutique. Ted had always loved the sound of rain drops landing on the roof.
The tap tapping of water permeated into his heart always. He closed his eyes,
leant back against his chair and let his thoughts drift like the rain water
flowingly softly along the iron sheet ridges and then gently landing on the
expectant soil. It was like kissing the girl of his dreams. For months, the
scorching sun had blistered the plains and the last and most hardy tufts of
grass had bowed to the searing heat. The never ending blinding clouds of dust
had over run each corner of Ongata Rongai and permeated every nook and cranny.
Ted had been working
at stylez boutique for a year now. A part time job he held and was very proud
of for not many university students had a part time gig. The remuneration was
not a jaw dropping six figure salary but Ted never really cared about it. He
loved clothes and was a fashion fanatic to boot. He drew immense satisfaction
from helping the female clientele try out different clothes and accessories and
every time a gratified customer waltzed out of the boutique and melted
somewhere amongst the sea of people he was left
exhilarated.
This evening Ted was very busy working the contents of the
till as he tried to balance the books before calling it a day. He was deeply
engrossed in his work and did not even notice that the rain had reduced to a
mere drizzle. A gentle rapping on the window startled him. For a minute he thoutthought
that he was mistaken but as we was about
to get back to work, the gentle rapping could be heardard; more
determined and with a pronounced sense of urgency this time.
It was gentle and calculated. “whoWho could this it be?
It is well past closing time.” He thought to himself as he rose from his desk
and walked lazily towards the window. As he glanced at the grandfather clock he
noticed it was half past seven:; Well past
closing time.
He drew the curtain slightly and alas! A tall beautiful lady
stood by the widow. She had a broad face and wide set eyes. She seemed to be
shouting as if to compete with the rain falling but he could only see her full
lips rounding, opening and closing. He could not get a single word she was
saying. All he saw was the full lips, the stunningly beautiful face and the
shiny pools of her eyes. Standing in the rain, her crumpled umbrella tightly clasped
in her hand and her drenched clothes pressing against her body, she was
definitely a damsel in distress. Noticing the futility of trying to communicate
with her through the toughened glass, he slowly opened the door. She stepped
in.
“I‘m sorry for disturbing you at this hour but I could not
help it. I know it is well past your closing time but my clothes are wet and I
desperately need a change of clothes.” She said this one word tripping over the
other with her milk stained teeth clattering.
“There is no need to apologize.” Ted found himself answering
without thinking. From somewhere within his jumbled brain, recognition struck
him. He had met the lady on several occasions when he had gone to deposit money
at the Kenya commercial bank - Rongai branch. They had also met on several
occasions at legend’s club. Every time they met it was just a hallo moment and
a fleeting smile moment.
The wind, seeming to bring with it all the rain the plains
had been craving for months threw the door wide open. He turned to close the
door at least to contain the attacks of Mother Nature. Turning around, she was
nowhere to be found. However, a gentle humming of Reuben Kigame’s Sweet Bunyore announced the ladies
presence at the lingerie section. The humming gave way to whistling and then a
mellow voice floated all over the boutique.
He sauntered slowly towards the angelic voice, his trained
eye registering every piece of well made garment dissolving into nothingness.
His blood was rapidly coursing through his veins. He could literally hear the
pumping of his heart against the drizzle landing on the mabati roof.
Even before he got to where she was, he saw her reflection
against the giant mirror fixed on the wall. She had changed into a fitting floral
dress that hugged her immaculate figure jealously. She was Hera and he was Zeus
at least for the moment. Without turning from the mirror, still admiring her
new look, in a husky voice she asked, “inanitoa
vipi.”
Clearing his throat to mask the anxiety in his voice he said
in what sounded like a far off whisper, “ iko
poa madam.”
She modeled towards him, standing a breath away from him,
raised her index finger and traced a soft line against his chin and said, “Okay Teddy bear, can you assist me zip up?” The
worlds trailed off in a song. She knew his name! He almost chocked. She turned
around and he reached for the zip with his trembling hands.
