The Rebound Game

Seventeen

"Sasa Mum," I greet her in Swahili.
 (How are you?)

“Poa sana Kate. How are doing?"
 (I am fine)

 In the background, I can hear Andrew, my step dad, asking if he should make a right turn. I would have preferred to talk to her privately. Or in other words, to have her yell at me without an audience.

 "I am doing great mum. I am calling about the interview."

  "I thought Jessica said you just need to show up and Lucas will do his part? You are not like, freaking out, are you?" In a lower voice she adds, "Andrew, let's make a stop at Naivas first. I need to pick something."

 I take a deep breath and stare at the phone debating whether it would be rude to hang up.

  "Hello? Kate, are you still there?"

Well, I could hang up and take advantage of the poor reception that seems to be the issue in some areas in Narok.

“Mom, actually that's not it. I am not showing up at Care International tomorrow afternoon." I get straight to the point and surprise the both of us.

There is a momentary pause and for a second I think she must not have heard me.

  "Why? You forgot to pick an outfit? I specifically told Jessica to take you out for shopping. For someone so young, you spend most of your time indoors."

   How do I proceed?
         
“Mom I don't want to be an assistant project advisor."

  “You want to be the senior project advisor? We can make it happen. You just need to hang in there for a while."
         
This is ridiculous. She would rather twist my words than take no for an answer.

“No, why would I want to be the senior project advisor? I just don't want to work there, that's what I am trying to tell you."
       
"You want to work for Rufus?"

 This is pointless.
     
" Yes," I say halfheartedly. I would rather have her think I am taking up dad's offer than let her show up in my doorstep tomorrow morning ready to drive me personally to Nakuru.

 I will deal with dad later.
     
"Oh, that's nice I guess. Does your dad know about this? I could swear Rufus mentioned something about an undergraduate course you want to sign up for."

 I forgot about that. I replied his email after taking advice from Christian. The idiot that ghosted me.

" I have been thinking about it .I could enroll for post graduate and work part time. I wanted to tell you first before calling Jess."

 "Okay, say hi to Jess. She is such a sweetheart. I am at the entrance of the supermarket, talk you later honey."

"Alright, say hi to Andrew."

" I will, take care."

 Pheew,  that was one hell of a phone call.

 I send a quick text to Jess giving her the same excuse. I have a new message from an international number I don't recognize.

Hey there. How have you been? I lost my phone and thought I lost your forever.

 It's Christian. I must have deleted his number or something. So he still wants to pursue me after all. I interpret this as permission to pry all I want.

Ha-ha. Had too much to drink?

He replies immediately.

 No. Turns out my little girl dropped it at the playground.

It's time I knew about this young girl.

Tell me about her

 She is the loveliest seven year old. Her name is Zoe. She is a talented singer and most of her time is spent either playing the piano or helping her daddy fix things around the house. Also, she has a crush on my neighbor's kid. A boy called Liam.

 She sounds like a nice kid. At her age, I fought with boys and at some point I had to face the school head.

You must really love her. I don't suppose you approve of her choice in boys yet.

She is the best thing that ever happened to me. Of course no boy will ever be good enough for my little girl.

  Whoa, double standards. I roll my eyes and type anyway.

 Ha-ha, wait till she turns fourteen. With that attitude, looks like you are gonna assign her a bodyguard.
     
 Or have her homeschooled. I missed you
       
I can't help flirting back to keep the tone light.

Of course you did, I am amazing. How did you survive the past four days without me to brighten your day?
 
 I cried myself to sleep.

  He sends another text before I have a chance to reply. I must confess that I admire the confidence. I rarely double text. I only send paragraphs to close friends and members of my family with the exception of Alex. He only replies to the message bearing the fewest number of sentences.

Oops is that too much information?

The third text:

I suppose you don't mind. You must have experience counseling people who have worse problems than mine.
         
He definitely has a weird sense of humor.