Cycle of Life…

By Clifford Oluoch.

The two girls met outside Julie’s compound, the stone fenced Flat B of the recently renovated New Ngara Flats. They were almost the same height; same built, and looked the same age of 11. Julie, the neater and more presentable of the two was riding her old rickety bike and had ventured outside the gate. Rule number one had been broken.

“I am going to tell on you!” Julie’s younger sister, Wayua, shouted as Julie’s bike clattered outside the gate, making a continuous creaking noise that did not seem to bother Julie.

Julie had to brake hard using her legs on the ground to avoid hitting the girl who had suddenly appeared in from the thicket that was opposite the fence. Julie had seen the girl so many times before. She came from the neighbouring ‘kijiji’ (slum) and always joined in a group of children who hovered around Julie’s block of flats.

The slum was growing at an alarming rate. What started as innocent kiosks out to sell food had mushroomed to illegal residential which now housed families. The presence of Nairobi River just adjacent to the slum complicated security matters: quite often muggers hid under the bridge only to strike at unsuspecting victims. Hence Julie’s mothers strict instructions about not venturing outside the gate.

“Hi Julie,” the girl said in a clear voice and an inviting smile. She was alone, which was rare because the slum kids always walked in a horde.

“Hi,” Julie replied, surprised that the girl knew her name. Julie extended her hand and the two shook hands, the girl surprised at the gesture. Julie’s hands were soft and tender while the girl had rough hands.

“My name is Susan,” she said, her eyes firmly on Julie’s bike. She was dressed in tattered green quodroy trousers that had not only seen better days but was a bit too short for her.

“Do you want a ride?” Julie asked as she dismounted from the seat which definitely needed replacement. It was too hard and used to hurt Julie’s back.

Julie knew what the answer would be but before Susan could answer, Julie’s sister screamed from the balcony. And that girl could really scream.

“I am going to phone mom right away and tell her you are out of the gate playing with chokoras!” Julie ignored her sister’s tantrums. Threats, blackmails, coaxing, making up was part of their daily life. The two sisters could not stand each other, and neither could they stay away from each other for more than an hour. Their fights kept them extremely busy.

Susan hesitated before taking the plunge and mounting the bike. She fitted well and her nervousness was quite evident from the tightness with which she held the bar. Her refusal to put her feet on the pedals was further demonstration of her fear. Her eyes, however, had the determination of one who out to conquer the world.

“Confidence comes first. Focus on the road and not on the handle bar,” Julie instructed Susan.
Julie held the back seat of the bike to help Susan with the crucial stage of balancing. A group of curious ‘kijiji’ children gathered to witness the two girls take the baby steps of cycling – one as a learner the other one as an instructor. There were giggles and laughter from the group of the curious kijiji children as Susan tried her desperate best to at least ride 5 or so meters without falling.

“You can do it! Go Susan, go girl!” Julie’s shrilling and assurance gave Susan hope that she could really do it. After about 15 minutes of balance drills, falling down, getting up to resume, the two girls decided to take a break. The other kids waited to see whether they could be invited to join in the lessons but Julie had her hands full with Susan.

“Tomorrow is Christmas day,” Susan said, sweat dripping down her forehead. “I am going to wear my new dress!” The smile and joy on Susan’s face melted Julie’s heart. For the first time, Julie noticed Susan’s tattered clothes.

Another shout from Julie’s sister brought the two girls back to reality. “Julie, mom is on the phone and she wants to speak to you!” Julie obliged and head downcast walked towards the gate where her sister was proudly holding the house phone.

“Hi mom!”

“How many times have I told you not to go out of the gate?”

“Many time, mom!”

“So what are you doing outside the gate?”

Silence.

“I am talking to you!”

“Mom, I was teaching Susan how to ride a bike.”

Silence.

“And she says that tomorrow she will have a new Christmas dress.”

“Ok Julie, keep teaching her but make sure you don’t go far. I will see you in the evening!” Julie’s mum knew her daughter too well.

“Thank you mom. You are the best!”

Julie was elated. She handed the phone to her sister and managed to stick her tongue out. She was leading in the game. As Julie’s sister took to the stairs, Julie decided to follow her.

“Wait here for me, I am going to get water to drink,” Julie told the perspiring and elated Susan who was determined to learn how to ride.

“Okay,” Susan murmured as she protectively held the bike and shooed away the other kijiji kids.
Julie rushed past to the gate and took to the stair, the watchmen looking at her with suspicion. “Where is the bike?” he asked harshly. “Do you know those kijiji kids are thieves?” Julie ignored him, after all he also came from another kijiji so who was he to pass judgment on other kijiji kids?

Julie went straight to the fridge where she pulled out her ration of soda for the day. The housegirl noticed Julie in the house and also took up the issue of the bike.

“Where have you left the bike?” she asked Julie who was busy filling another bottle with water.

“It’s with Susan, my new friend from the kijiji!” Julie announced proudly as she walked out with her bag of goodies, a bottle of soda, a bottle of water and five biscuits. She found Susan alone waiting for her. The other kids on realizing that they would not get any ride, decided to go somewhere else and look for fun.
“Sorry for taking so long,” Julie apologized as she handed her friend a bottle of soda and the biscuits. Julie took water and one biscuit.

“Thank you very much,” Susan said as she gulped the ice cold soda. “Ahhh!” she exclaimed in deep satisfaction of one whose thirst had just been quenched.

The two girls, now rejuvenated with energy, enthusiasm and a bond of friendship embarked on the second session of their lesson with amazing vigour. Susan showed more sense of balance and she was able to ride longer distances without faltering. After about an hour of furious riding and hard knocks, Susan was able to ride confidently for almost 5 or so uninterrupted minutes.

“The rest is practice,” Julie assured her as Susan dismounted from the bike and Julie turned to tighten the bike’s chain.

“Meet me here tomorrow in the morning. I will have something for you,” the appreciative Susan told Julie. The two girls shook hands and each turned to go home and wait for the big day.

In the evening, Julie’s parents came with loads of shopping and Christmas presents. Julie’s eyes widened at the new mountain bike she had always dreamt of. She hugged both her parents and thanked them profusely. Julie’s younger sister got her expected full set of Barbie dolls. The two girls had also prepared something for their parents. For mum, they had bought her a necklace, earring and bracelet set. For dad, they got him a Chelsea FC towel, since he loved football. Both parents were very shocked about the thoughtfulness of their children.

“What will I do with two bikes mom?” Julie asked as she admired the gleaming red bike, full with all the regalia one needed for riding.

“You can give one of them away.”

Julie let out a loud whooping “YES!” She went round the bike one more time and gave it a hug. “You are beautiful,” she whispered to the bike.

Julie and family settled for the evening prayers and meal as they waited for the clock to strike midnight. They sang carols and joined their neighbours in exchanging cards and gifts. The spirit of Christmas always brought out the best in their neighbours.

That night, Julie did not sleep a wink. She turned and tossed in bed the whole night. Very early in the morning before taking breakfast or showering, Julie rode her new mountain bike to the gate and outside. She wished the watchman a merry Christmas. He responded with sadness, maybe he was angry that he was working on such a day.

Susan was waiting for her. She was wearing her new sparkling white dress. She looked like an angel.
“Merry Christmas,” Susan told Julie. She gave Julie a hug and a small hand made card and a plastic paper bag which she told Julie to open. Inside was an old medium sized doll beautifully dressed. One eye was missing and the hair was unevenly spread. Bite marks could be seen on different parts of the doll.

“My mother got this doll for her 1st birthday,” Susan started as she turned the doll around and gave it a sad long look. “And she kept it for me. I got it on my 1st birthday.”

“But why give it away?” Julie asked. It was obvious that the doll was part and parcel of the Susan’s family.

“My mother said that I could give to anyone I like.” The two girls smiled as they admired the doll.

Julie dismounted from her new bike. “Take it, it’s yours! My mom said I could give away one of my bikes!”

“Merry Christmas Susan.”

“Merry Christmas Julie.”

Tears of joy served as a sign of goodbye as the two girls went back to their families to catch up with the rest of the day.

© 2007 Clifford Oluoch oluochcliff@yahoo.co.uk