THE SHADOW OF LOVE

ACT 1. scene i

{

It's already eight o'clock in the evening in Kavinga east side street, there are no street lights around like in the west side . Mr. Githinji,Eva's father is seated on a small broken chair in his small living room almost the size of a toilet .There are only five things in the room:the chair he is siting on ,a three legged table ,a picture of Eva that he always looks at every time, a small bench and a radio. He doesn't seem to be very happy, its written all over his face but he continues to drink his tea . On the other side ,Eva arrives home from whatever place she goes to and looks very happy with her head phones on.She is approaching the living room door where her father is waiting.She opens the door.}

Mr. GITHINJI: You are late again?

EVA: what?

Mr. GITHINJI: I asked why you are late again this is the third time you've come late from school.Do you want tell me where you have been going after school?

{She removes her head phones from her head and looks at her father.}

EVA: Good evening dad.

{And just like that,she puts on her headphones,bangs the door and walks to her room. She removes her bag and the head phones and throws them on the floor .Her room definitely is a mess.There are clothes everywhere, compact discs scattered even on her bed, cramped sheets of paper overflowing in the trashcan and scattered on the floor ,big stereo speakers, guitar , portraits on the walls of various musicians,a few of Tasha the globally known hip hop artist who she describes as her idol, various clothes printed with graffiti of faces and names of various top musicians.She immediately switches the music on then her mother walks in looking calm but angry at Eva and begins to clear the mess.}

Mrs. GITHINJI : Why are you doing this to us? Every day you come late from school. You don't speak to anyone except the people you talk to late in the night on your phone .Do you ever take time to study? All the other students are home. Why can't you behave like Christine? You are of the same age, school together but each and every time you behave like you are the first one to ever listen to music.

EVA: Mum,must you always compare me to that imposter?

Mrs. GITHINJI: Yeah because Christine comes home early, does well in school ,she also performs her chores very well and on top of that, she does not have to make her parents angry daily.

EVA: You think just because she comes home early that makes her better than me? You are wrong mum because she and I are one and the same. She also loves music and has a good talent as well but is afraid to embrace her destiny.

Mrs. GITHINJI: Destiny you say? Do you know how many have gone down that path? Education is your only hope, your father and I didn't have the luxury to be educated. Our parents didn't know the importance of it and now your father struggles every day in the quarry to find your school fees and food. Do you see that picture he hanged on the wall? He has always wished and hoped that you will be the one to deliver us from this wretched east side and definitely its only through education that you can be able to do that.

EVA: No mum, it's not. I don't do well in school I have accepted that, but the fact that I can sing ,come on give me a break and let me sing.Stop comparing me with Christine.It's not fair.

Mrs. GITHINJI: She does well in her school work, she is obedient,tidy and not as ignorant as you.That is enough reason why I will always tell you to emulate her.

EVA: Whatever! But one day you will come to know I was right.
{Her mother places the clothes she picked from the floor on Eva's bed and walks out , Eva groans and angrily throws herself on the bed}

{Though Eva's parents were angry at her because of her behavior ,they still loved her and wanted the best for her .Its early in the morning ,Eva's mother is always an early riser its 5.00AM and she is already up preparing breakfast ,she then goes to wake ever and her siblings up.}

Mrs. GITHINJI: Hey Eve, wake up you don't want to be late.

EVA: Alright mum, am awake.

{She wakes up, wears her shirt which looks like a rag and it has graffiti everywhere , her skirt is very short you may think she is going to cheer-leading training but her socks were the worst they were down to the ankle, and the shoes have no shoe lases .She does not look like a student. She walks out of her room ,doesn't bother to take breakfast and walks out of the gate .Christine is waiting for her, she is a brown short girl and definitely looks like a student ,she is wearing a well ironed shirt which unlike that of Eva has no graffiti .Generally ,she looks presentable with her shoes well polished and tied.As soon as their eyes meet they both lough.

alright guys hope you enjoyed the first act.
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