Dear Red

Eight

Tuesday morning, I woke up at 6. After freshening up, I counted my savings. I would need about 3000 to hire a motorcycle that would wait for me at the nearest corner. The outfit choice was shorts and black tops. Obviously, I was not running into the chilly night wearing that so I chose a long sleeved cashmere sweater and jeans with a scarf to put on over the outfit. After that, I got to work on my cover story. I texted Suzan asking how she was

Suzan: I'm BUSY. Court all day and then drinks with friends @ 7. I'm preparing an appeal so I can't stop by today.

I spent the day with Alex watching a serie. At some point, while we salted popcorn, I was tempted to tell him I was escaping tonight. The moment passed when I realized it would be cruel to make him lie like that and then worry about me while I was gone. Ignorance has always been bliss.

I cooked dinner and served. It was half past 7. The food was like sawdust in my mouth. I barely paid attention to the conversation. We finished at eight. Alex cleaned up. "Dad, let me help you lock up," I offered. He reached into his pocket and handed me a ring of keys. On it were his car keys and the house keys. 

"You kids have been very helpful since mum left. Thank you," he said. The guilt clawed my gut. I couldn't do more than nod and smile. "Put them in the top drawer of my dresser after." I locked up and went to the parents' room. Dad was taking a shower. I went to the dresser, intending to remove the house keys from the ring he had given me. My mum's key ring sat there. I replaced my dad's keys and took my mum's. After all, she wasn't on the continent. I said good night to Alex and my dad and hurriedly got dressed. 

It was approaching half past eight. I left through my bedroom window, leaving my door locked. In the dark compound, I used a torch to pick my way to a big guava tree that was close to the fence. Holding the torch between my teeth, I did my best to climb up quickly. If my dad had glanced out of his window, my life would be over! 

He didn't. 

I walked on the branch, tossed my sandals over the fence and then the torch. In the dark, fear liquidated my insides and I trembled. I felt the branch crack and dived over the fence. I rolled in grass on the other side and got to my feet. I stashed the torch in a nearby hedge, put on my sandals and sprinted to the stage. The motorcycle rider, Musa was lying on his motor cycle, chewing a blade of grass and gazing at the sky. 

"Musa! Hurry up and let's go. We're late!" I told him. He sat up and I boosted myself up behind him. Thankfully, he stepped on it and we soared off. It was 8:40. I put my arms around his waist and sent prayers up into the brightly lit night sky. At exactly 9, the Kabira Country Club sign post came into view. Motorcycles were not allowed in. I paid Musa and sprinted in while unzipping my jeans. I rolled up my sweater, scarf and jeans and stashed them in the safest place I could find. I ran while correcting my jewelry; four bracelets, a silver necklace and hoops. 

The V.I.P lounge was out on a lawn with paper lamps. There were chairs surrounding a huge flaming grill. A platform had been set up with lighting and instruments. The jazz band that had been playing was leaving the stage. To the left, I spotted Melissa, Rachel and Esther warming up. I hurried to them. Melissa and Rachel smiled when I came. Esther looked relieved. "We go on now," Melissa said as our song started. I stepped onto the platform behind Esther. Show time.

After performing, I enjoyed pork chops, fish fillet and a soda. Our presentation appeared on a local entertainment show on TV. I got home at half past 10 and used my torch to guide me as I unlocked the gate. I walked in through the front door and went to my room. Alex was watching music videos in his room. I took a shower and went to bed at eleven.

I sat at a restaurant at half past noon, waiting for Ken to arrive. He had called asking to meet for lunch and he was late. I was busy texting and glanced up to see him crossing the road wearing his Pearl's Anthem shirt, jeans and a blazer. I kept my eye on him as he pushed open the restaurant doors. Almost every female's eyes rose to him as he crossed the room to me, which gave me a secret pride. He sat down and put an expensive smart phone on the table along with the keys to his Forester.