THE LEAF

THE LEAF(3)

Chapter Three

  Junkie, as most of us young Kenyans informally called it, was packed to capacity this Saturday. The boys and I were in the lobby getting some snacks before the movie. I personally never enjoyed watching movies, it was all just acting at the end of the day. Sean bought like four hotdogs, I was really stupid enough to think he was going to share them. He never ceased to surprise me that fat lad. He shredded down all four of them. The movie was still ten minutes away from starting and he'd already started snacking. I just got some plain chips and a cold apple juice. A person is defined by a lot of things they do but the things they eat are one of the major determinants. You could always tell who a person was by what they ate, my food choices are unique displaying my authenticity.

  The theatre was full of high-school kids and we were like the only group of boys there. Most of the boys  who came were accompanied by their girlfriends. Nobody was actually watching the movie really, just us. Well I have a terrible concentration span so I ended up zoning out anyways. I found myself at our old house at my birthday party. Everyone was there, sparkly candles lit up on a fudge cake. Applause all over, music played indistinctly in the background as people sang me happy birthday. Behind me, mum and dad hugged me as I blew the candles. This was nirvana to me, a happy family. Then I heard a voice calling me continuously.

"Joe, Joe, Joe."

"What?"

"It's over."

"My birthday party?"

"No you twat, the movie, you slept through the whole thing, you shouldn't be allowed into movie theatres."

It was Xavier, he was disappointed.

"Lemme go wash up in the bathroom, I'll catch you guys at KFC, yeah?"

  My vision was still blurry as I made my way to the bathroom. The bathroom smelled of fresh lavender and it was brightly lit. I splashed cold water over my face a couple of times and I was finally fresh again. A sudden craving for gum made me walk into Carrefour. While I skimmed through the variety of sweets a familiar looking hand did the same beside mine. I followed the path of her hand from her fingers, up her forearm, to her shoulder and finally her face. It was Kairah! She wore a sky blue ruched dress that went high above her knees, white and pink Jordan Ones, her braided hair complemented with Jamaican-flagged beads. Her eyes highlighted with traces of mascara, she looked amazing. She got more beautiful by the second.

"Hey there, you could've told me you were coming to Junkie today," she said.

"Uuh...I'm sorry I just don't ask girls out on dates when I don't know them well... not that there's any problem with that, I just..."

"It's okay, I understand," she chuckled.

"Well in that case, do you wanna accompany me to KFC?"

"I was actually just going there, the girls are waiting for me there."

"I came with the guys too. Maybe we could all eat together."

  It was like we were on a group double date, or some dating reality show. Cole was with Velo, Mikey with Ayan, Xavier with Zamari, Sean with Danielle and Kairah with me. Crispy spicy chicken complemented to our joyous laughter as we supped on cold drinks. Frosty ice cream completed the course as every group discussed whatever in low romantic tones as some even held hands. Cole and Velo weren't even in the restaurant anymore.

  And Kairah? Kairah was amazing. I found out that she had a great sense of humour, one of my top green lights. We shared our childhood stories, our future plans, our greatest fears. I watched her supple lips move up and down as she spoke, her matchless teeth as she smiled. I loved everything about her. It was too good to be true in the end though as her dad called her telling her she had to leave. It's always the pretty girl's dad who ruins the moment. That was my cue to leave too because there was no way I was fifth-wheeling this date.

  The two of us sauntered out of the mall attempting to extend our conversation wishing it would never end. Outside, her dad waited in the parking lot looking rather impatient and unamused, I wasn't going to greet him in that mood. Kairah hugged me tightly. Her soft breasts pressed against my chest, her braids brushed on my neck giving me this tingly feeling and as she said goodbye the vibration of her voice soothed me. Her scent was quite like mum's.  As she let go of me I held her hand and she loosely slipped it out of mine. I watched her comely ass bounce and jiggle as she walked away.

  Ayub picked me up soon after. I hopped into the car beside him. Ayub instantly presumed I had been with a girl.

"Deep in that ikus eh?" Ayub sniggered.

"Whatever the hell that means. I've just hung out with an angel."

"Just don't have too much sex kijana."

"What? No! This girl... she's beyond just sex Ayub, she's special."

"Yeah hopefully she's much better than your mother. Yeah...Salome told me that she left, I hope that's okay."

"Yeah don't worry about it Ayub, let's just not talk about it right now."

  I couldn't care less about Ayub finding out at the time. All I could think about was Kairah. I replayed the nostalgic moment in my head like it was my favourite part of a movie. Marvin Gaye's voice over the radio created an ambience of love. This may be true love, I don't know.

~scope

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