Teddy's day at the boutique

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.