ALPHAN THE PRESIDENT

CHAPTER 4

The sun had risen and the rays penetrated through the cracks of the simple mud made. It was a new day that brings alphan to the normal world. He felt lazy and since it was on a Saturday and it was not a weekday though he had to go to school for tuition till noon so he just laid his back on the bed.

Somebody knocked at the door gently he felt lazy to even open the door, the door was opened and it was aunt sari

"eh Derrick you better go to school"

He gave her a pale look

"she will be alright so I just suggest you should go to school"

"but aunt sari........................."

" no buts for now, you know it is with time you will grow up and become a doctor and you will be able to treat her whenever she becomes sick, just go to school"

Seems this had an effect on the big boy so he lazily rose up and went to was his face.

When he was ready he came back to bye "aunt sari I really don't want to become a doctor I want to become a president of this nation" he then dashed out.

Aunt sari was amused but just said nothing she remained silent.

At school alphan never concentrated on anything including the school work. He never behaved normal he seemed stressed. This was discovered by a fellow classmate called Leah. She was a tall girl almost the same size as was alphan but slimmer, silent girl in class but was known by everybody in the school because of her academic performance.

She approached alphan to enquire what was wrong during break time. Alphan was reluctant to tell her what was wrong. At first alphan was reluctant to tell her what was wrong. Leah had to insist and promise him that his secret was safe with her. Alphan swallowed a lump and told leah everything that had happened.

All this time alphan's eyes were dry while he told leah everything. She admired everything and liked his strength and how he tolerated the pain. Her eyes were now wet since even alphan would have cried on the heaviness of the matter as bi so was so important to him since his childhood. Leah had nothing else to do, she sympathized with alphan and had to excuse herself since in no time tears would be flowing don her cheeks

Since then they became great friends. They helped each other with assignments and would occasionally visit each other during weekends. Leahs family was well off materially. They owned a grinding machine and lived in a block house. Their friendship took no time before leahs parents discovered it and remained silent for some weeks. Till one fateful day her mother decided to let the cat out of the bag.

It was one evening when everybody was silent in the house. Due to this boredom leah switched on the television to catch up with a series she was always engrossed in. her mother took the remote and switched it off. There was a deep silence in the room before she broke the silence

"leah my daughter, I have seen your friendship with alphan. I know you are friends but please my daughter take care of boys of this generation"

She gave her mother a keen look as if she was concentrating

"we have come this long way as a family to gain our dignity. Please don't destroy our fortune through such actions"

"ok mom I have heard you, let me go and sleep good night"

"good night too"

Leah never wished to unfriend alphan for any reason. Their friendship lacked a definition though she loved him so much as a good friend. With time alphan discovered there was something wrong since leah would ask him to meet secretly to avoid her moms wrath. Though she knew this would last for long before alphan questions her why. Alphan kept all this to himself and kept dumb for all that time.

One day after school leah asked alphan to give her company since her parents had traveled for a long journey and she was bored alone at home. Alphan wouldn't refuse the request since leah had proved to be a good friend. But he had only one condition that he would not stay for long since bi so was still sick and his aunt would be stressed on his awareness.

At home they decided to do their homework. Since that was only constructive thing they would do. He had done most of his homework but leahs homework was undone though she had already written the questions using a ball point pen. Answers were always written using a pencil, alphan tried to take a pencil from his pocket but he had only a piece of paper severally washed but the contents were still visible. Immediately his face changed, he forgot about the homework and told leah about the paper and bo sos words when he found her sick.

Leah had to help by assisting him to make a call to that phone number. They made the call but there was no response. After several tries they heard a voice on the other side.

"hello..."

He never what to do. He had heard how to use a phone but he was never ready to use this one. He gathered courage then said

"hello...hello...hello.. bi so mgonjwa........"

[hello...hello...hello.. bi. So is sick]

He then gave leah the phone. He was now turning red. He was worried. She said nothing then hung up the phone. His veins were now visible and his eyes wet. He was confused, immediately tears started flowing from his eyes. Leah understood all these though she said nothing but give a sorry look. Bi so meant a lot to him but she couldn't help. She too started crying. He immediately made his way outside the house leaving his books and his plastic bag

She understood all these and knew he will come for them the next day so she took the books and kept them safely for his friend as she sobbed her too forgetting about the homework that was to be done.