HIS AFRICAN QUEEN

Chapter 1

One year later.........

My alarm went off and all I can think about is, not this shit again. I woke up lazily and stretched for a few minutes praying that I don't have to work but alas I have bills to pay. My room is full of sunlight from the large window facing the east and that just annoys the hell out of me. I make my bed and quickly pick out an outfit for the day. I walk to the bathroom to turn on the shower and surprise, surprise  no water.

"Fuck"

"This is not happening again. That fricking  useless water company"

I rush to check the time on my phone as I have never seen the need of a wall clock. It's 7:40am, I have to be at work by 8:30am,plus add a 15min walk to work. I try to do the calculations in my head and I can already tell that I'll be late.

I rush to the kitchen to heat some water to make my much needed morning coffee as well as fill the electric kettle with water so that I can have some warm bath water.

" This is getting really annoying, can't they just give us notice anytime we won't get water. Is that seriously too much to ask?"

Who am I kidding they could care less about us and our problems. As long as they get paid they don't give a fuck. I pour the hot water into a bucket and add some cold water, to get it to my desired temperature. Neither too hot nor too cold . I take the bucket to the bathroom and take a quick shower. Wearing just a short towel, I walk to the kitchen to pick my coffee and immediately start drinking it on my way to my small bedroom.

After quickly getting dressed, I hurriedly leave the house. I always pack my work bag the night before and place it near the door to save on time. I wear my earphones and start my  long walk to work. Am not listening to anything in particular and most times they're silent but I wear them because I don't want to be disturbed.

One thing you should know about Africans is that ,they will always greet you and try to have some sort of conversation with you. And sometimes it's a good thing but most times it's just  annoying. I am not up for that anyway and I don't feel like putting a fake smile or even engaging in small talk. I just want to be left alone .

I remember one thing Marcus loved about my country was the people ,how they were warm and nice to him and always willing to help. He used to say in the US everyone is out for themselves and they don't care about other people. They just mind their own business and I can't help but wish that could be the case here.

I don't want to remember him or the emotional pain he put me through but the more I try to forget about him, the more miserable I get. You know that pain you feel when a part of your body is cut out? that is what I feel every time I think about him .He hurt me. He really hurt me. I gave him my heart, something I have never done by the way and he stomped all over it and threw it back in pieces for me to repair.

Never again.

I get to work ready for my 10 hour shift.

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My shift starts out fine but later turns to one of the worst shifts ever. One of the patients insulted me and when I tried to defend myself it escalated.

I work at a public hospital as a laboratory technologist and so far its great. Who am I kidding, am miserable not by my job but by my life in general. I got this job after I got back from the US which was a miracle. Working at a public hospital in my country is stressful and tiring but the pay is good.

The patients are too many because the services are cheaper than in a private hospital. Most people don't have insurance as they are too expensive and also they are not well off financially, so they opt for a public hospital. The problem is ,the patients are so many but the staff are few and that makes work more difficult and stressful.

One patient approached me while I called out the names of the patients whose samples were done. Thinking it was a friendly approach, I smiled at her but she was glaring at me.

" I gave my sample at 8am in the morning and now it's 2pm , I haven't gotten my results. What's happening in there? Are you guys actually working or your just on your phones?" She asked angrily.

" Mam, we are doing our best,  when your sample has been reported you will be informed. Kindly take a seat" I tried explaining in a calming voice but I was not calm at all and the smile on my face has long disappeared.

That was clearly a bad idea because She stepped forward and stood directly in front of me , raising her index finger to point at me.

" Usiniambie chenye nitafanya ,wewe ni mtoto na unafaa kuniheshimu" ( don't tell me what to do, you are a child and you're supposed to respect me.)

" Pole mum ,tafadhali keti kwa kiti kidogo tu, niende niangalie kama wamemaliza" ( sorry mum, please take a seat and I will go check if they are done with your sample)

She take her seat reluctantly after muttering kid's these days have no respect at all. I just walk away and rolling my eyes.

I have always read book written in French or German and I decided why not teach you guys some Kiswahili.
Enjoy