WE BELONG TOGETHER

*Chapter Five*

There is only one bus that plies our route at around 5-5:30 am to town. It is called Nyaugenya bus. If you miss it you are done! Opting for the probox which is usually filled as if people were bags of cabbages! You are bundled up with luggage there's no difference.

We catch the bus in time and man! When schools close, so many people are going to the city and they prefer doing it immediately before the fare hikes.

It is full to the brim so we stand. We hold the metal!

''Be careful with your luggage, we are not responsible if anyone looses their belonging.'' The conductor yells and I clasp my little luggage more to myself. I have a small phone and I am not ready to loose it. It will keep me in the know while in communication with my dad.

If we are lucky, we will get to Nairobi early. Vin whispers in my ears but I don't respond to her. I am anxious and partly scared. I have never travelled that far.

I close my eyes and put my cousin and I in a prayer.

Our Father who art in heaven, Reach us safely to our destination. Bless and protect our families, the people who are travelling travel with us. Remove every obstacle that may try to deter our journey.

Cover us all under the precious blood of the Lamb. Guide us, Oh Lord, My God. Be present as we go on our way. In Jesus' mighty name, I declare we are covered, protected and saved! Amen and Amen!

I open my eyes and watch around. I notice there are very tall buildings in the town. I am busy motioning Vin to see everything and I sense that I am annoying when she literally pretends not to be listening.

The bus comes to a stop and I feel dizzy. We alight slowly and everyone scatter, to wherever they are going to. Vin has been to town a number of times so she knows exactly where we should be boarding the bus from.

We go to the stage and the vehicles are labelled Nyamira Express, I guess they go without stopping hence the name Express on them.

We board the bus which should be leaving at exactly seven. Fare is seven hundred each and it pains me how expensive that sounds but then again Nairobi is far, it isn't like coming from the village to town.

We are enroute the city, Vin who looks so tired starts sleeping before we start the journey. I am still anxious but a bit excited so trust me I will not sleep. I wanna be alert all the way until I get to the city but as they say. Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.

'I've always envied people who sleep easily. Their brains must be cleaner, the floorboards of the skull well swept, all the little monsters closed up in a steamer trunk at the foot of the bed.' So I drift easily into a deep sleep.

When I wake up we are in Keroka a place where I can see foodstuff sold by the road side until I am tempted to alight. I only know it is Keroka because Vin is awake too and she tells me the place is called Keroka

Avocado, sugar cane, bananas, and maize among others are some of the foodstuff sold here. The bus is moving very fast but due to the fact that I have never travelled, I feel really tired and hope we get there sooner.

Two hours later we are in Narok. The bus stops and I feel a tinge of disappointment

''Are we already in the city?'' I ask Vin and she smiles.

''Not yet Lynn, we have like 4-5 hrs drive.'' She says and I feel nauseated. I widen my eyes at her.

''Really Vin? Going to heaven or something?'' She shrugs and laughs heartily at my question.