HIM

CHAPTER 14

What a warm and wonderful Sunday morning! I thought as I drew the curtains in my window. Maybe it was a confirmation of the Swahili proverb; 'A good day is seen in the morning .'
I went to the bathroom and washed my face,brushed my teeth then went to the sitting room. Oh! Mum wasn't awake yet, I pouted. Then an idea struck me!
"Mmm...so what do we have in here smelling so good? " I heard someone ask behind me.
"Don't come any nearer than that," I waved her off. "In fact go sit yourself I'll serve you when am done. "
"Wow! I can see someone is really trying hard to get approval to my café! " she joked as she went away.
I laughed at that as I tossed the last piece of pancake into the plate. I chose to prepare them because it's the easiest thing to cook for breakfast, I mean it's basically a few steps; plus, pancakes are way too sweet. Then I carried the plate, a flask and headed to the sitting room where mum was seated. As I went back to pick the cups and sugar, I heard her ask, "Hey Linn, what's in your flask today? "
How did she see that?
" I thought I'd try something new! I hope you'll love it, " I answered back cheerfully.
"Oh, let's see that then. "
Actually it was ginger tea, I didn't want to switch from coffee to plain tea.
"Wow! You make lovely pancakes! " she commented.
"Thank you, " I smiled. "What about the tea? " I asked wondering if she felt any good about it.
"It's a really good switch, it tastes fine. I like it. "
"Thank you again, " I said.
We then went on to chat about food over the whole breakfast session. Practically, my mother was a better cook than I, but I had an advantage of always trying so I wasn't so bad either.
"Let's do something interesting today," mum shot up at the end of the meal.
"And what could that be? " I asked.
"A thorough cleaning, " she answered.
Whoa! Who said thorough cleanings were interesting? Anyway...
"OK, let's do it then. I'll be starting with the kitchen, " I told her.
"Anywhere you want to do is fine, so long as it comes out sparkling. "
We all went different directions, I to the kitchen as she went to her room.
Cleaning the kitchen wasn't the best thing, it was tough work:all kitchen units, clean. Utensils,well arranged. Fridge, I switched it off. Work table, clean. Sink, clean. Kitchen window and door, clean. Kitchen floor, clean.
Well, I was done with that but felt like I had been cleaning the whole house, it was tiresome.
I even 'managed' to break one glass, I guess mum never heard it.
As I made my way to the bathroom, where I chose to clean next, I heard mum singing along to a song being played in the system.
"So you know how to sing as well? "I joked.
She just smiled as she continued dusting the surfaces in the sitting room.
We scrubbed, dusted and mopped every corner inside the house. Then the verandas and windows and doors.
Mum changed the curtains too. Well, it wasn't interesting doing all that but it was satisfying taking in the new look. No laundry was to be done today because everyone was tired.
"Am going to sort out my room Linn then we can settle on cooking lunch, OK? "
"OK, I'll sort out mine too meanwhile. "
That wasn't hard because I've always maintained neatness in my room. I found a doll mum bought me when I was four, I had hidden it because my cousin wanted to play with it. I never took it out afterwards till I forgot its existence. I also came across Jamie's drawing of me when I was about the same age I guess. It wasn't a perfect drawing because he was on the start of it, but I always loved it because I didn't know how to draw even anything sketchy. I smiled and kept it away before memories could cloud my head completely. I also happened to find my bank, I opened it and checked the sum collected. Not much really, but enough for a phone which I had to purchase...Today Flen was coming to pick me up.
I cleared up everything, then went to Mama's room. A number of boxes were on the floor.
"The boxes, what are they containing? " I asked.
"It's good you asked because it took me time arranging them, so I don't want them messed up. They're mostly your belongings when you were kids. "
"Jamie's and mine too, right? " I asked.
"Yeah, his drawings, toys, shoes and clothes," she clarified.
Then I saw a framed family photo on the bed. We were all smiling ,I holding a doll in one hand while Jamie held my other hand. Mum and Dad stood behind us, smiling. I stared at the photo for so long then finally asked, "Mum, do you wish things would go back to these? " pointing at the photo.
She didn't say anything, just piled the boxes away neatly, zipped up the suitcases and came and stood me up from the bed and spread it.
"Let's go make lunch, "she said.
That reduced the tension a bit, but I felt guilty asking that innocent question. I did not want to say sorry either, because I just wanted to forget I even asked it. We cooked rice and greens, ate, set the dishes in the dishwasher, then we sat down to watch the TV.
Mum woke me up, I didn't even know I had fallen asleep.
"You said Flen asked you for a walk around, what time was it? " she asked.
"He's to pick me up at three, " I answered as I stretched.
"Then you should consider getting ready because it's two already. "
"Sure, I will. Am going to get myself a phone as well, " I told her.
"Ooh, you have enough money for that? " she asked.
"Yeah, I found my piggy bank today, it'll be enough. "
I went to my room, picked my towel and went to shower. I never take much time in dressing,so in fifteen minutes I was in my blue trousers, black top and black shoes.
"I'd advise you take a sweater with you, it might get cold later in the afternoon, " mum said as I entered the sitting room.
I went back and took the gray sweater. So I was only carrying my sweater, money and a handkerchief. Simple.
We watched for a while before a knock was heard on the door.
"That's him I guess, so go and take care of yourself, OK? "
"I will Mum, don't worry, " I assured her.
I made my way to the door and was met by Flen looking so good in his blue khaki trousers and a grey T-shirt plus a nice Adidas footwear. Well, am not good at descriptions but he was good, trust me.
"I thought I'd find you still dressing up, " he teased.
"Am all dressed up as you can see."
"So, we leave? Your mom? "
"She's in the living room watching TV, " I replied.
"Uhmm... Let me say hi to her first maybe, " he mumbled.
"Go on, I'll be waiting here. "
Three minutes later, he was out.
"Shall we? " he asked motioning to the gate.
"I'll follow your lead, Mr. "
"No, you'll walk on my side. "