Note:
These are the events that follow Chapter ten of BUDS.
Dejen pulled the 50k note out of his 60k change, folding his bill book. He sipped the last of his daquiri, standing up just as his waitress returned..
"I don't work Fridays", she wiped his table with a smile.
"Oh!" Dejen caught on. "Okay I'll be back", he cleared his smile as soon as he turned.
He wasn't sure he would. This was just a random bar he'd chosen to drown his sorrows. He'd lost everything. Ukasha was gone, he was second guessing ending things with Sherise, & now that he was changing schools, he wasn't going to be seeing Steve nor Bryan. He got into his car to drive back home to Muyenga.
Enroute, he noticed a limping barefoot man in a soiled beige shirt & jeans. Scarcely anyone driving or walking past paid him any attention. He steered past taking a closer look, noticing he was bleeding from his face so he pulled over & got out..
"Hey? What's wrong? he placed a hand on Joseph's shoulder, getting a slow swat.
Joseph limped past but Dejen rushed forward to stand in front of him again
"Hey??"
"Leave me", Joseph mumbled, vainly shoving him out of his way.
"You're hurt. Let me take you to a clinic.."
"Oyo mubbi!" (That's a thief), a man yelled from across the street.
"Balabika bamukute abba" (they must've caught him in the act), the one next to him added.
Dejen paid them no attention as he didn't understand luganda, helping Joseph into the back seat, pulling over at the nearest clinic.
As a nurse tended to Joseph's wounds, Dejen walked out to buy a tshirt, trouser, & sandles.
"How is he?" he returned.
"He'll be fine. The swelling will eventually subside", she wrapped her kit & walked out.
"Here", Dejen handed over the black polythene bag.
Joseph looked through & then at him..
"Can you walk out a bit?"
"Sure", Dejen nodded.
He writhed as he got up from the bed, taking his time to slide his dirty ones off. The trouser was easier but he found the neck of the shirt a little tight, it hurt his face as he tried.
Dejen grew impatient & with a knock opened the door just as Joseph zipped the trouser. Then he put on the sandles..
"How're you feeling?" Dejen approached.
"I'll be fine.."
"What happened to you?", he pulled a chair to sit.
"Thieves robbed me", Joseph sniffled.
"I'm so sorry. What's your name?"
"Jo..", he hesitated. He had been warned. "John".
"I'm Dejen. Where were you robbed?"
"Konge", he lied again, a neighbourhood close to Lukuli.
"Ok where do you stay?"
"Muyenga", a third lie.
"Where in Muyenga? I also hut there...", Dejen perked up.
Joseph darted sideways
"Actually, I've lost my keys"
"Okay then you can stay at my place. We can figure things out tomorrow", Dejen stood up.
Joseph was now scared of entering any guy's house but he was short of options. Gaba, his parents home, was nearer than his school hostel yet still, a long trek. He had no money left & his entire body was aching.
"Okay", he agreed, deciding to sit in the back again.
"Btw dont you think we should inform the police first..", Dejen hit the gas.
"No its long gone", Joseph shifted to the window.
He got deep in thought, a stray tear rolling down his cheek. He quickly wiped it, looking at the driver's mirror but Dejen had looked away faster.
As they pulled up home, Joseph was dazzled by the impressive mansion, twice the size of his parent's house. Security cameras, military guards, it was clear to him Dejen was not from an ordinary family.
