#1 koni | when I met Maya

Whom am I kidding? I needed that job and I could not even be bothered to prepare? For how long Koni? My stomach began grumbling. I was so hungry; I was literally following any passing food with my eyes. This was no time to feel shame. 

I scanned the area and spotted a target, a lady by the chips stand.

 

"Hello there, how are you?" She did not reply.

"Oh, sorry I didn't quite realize you were addressing me," she said smiling, "I'm fine, how about you?"

 

This lady looked corporate. She was dressed in a grey skirt and a black coat on top of a neatly ironed white blouse. She even had a bowtie, a grey bowtie. She looked young, early twenties-ish maybe or perhaps she just had money. She had this graceful body and thick, black shiny hair.

 

"I'm hu-hungry," I said amid a lousy yawn. 

 

She giggled. It did not quite dawn on her instantly that I was not joking. On realizing this, she was taken aback but tried not to show it.

"Well, I can buy you some chips if you want."

"Oh, thank you." I sat on one of the plastic seats at the parlor.

"No problem." We sat in silence for a little while.

"So, you came here just for the food?"

"No, the interview actually."

"I know that, I mean to me. Not in a bad way but did you just approach me for the food?"

"Pretty much," I nodded. She went silent again, then went on.

"So, you are not even going to ask me my name?"

"I was going to after I finished eating."

"Oh…"

"What is your name?"

"I am Maya, Maya Sakufu."

"I see," my mouth was full at this point, "I love how you are dressed. The bowtie was a lovely touch." 

I knew she wanted to hear that, that is why I said it... Okay, maybe I did like her dressing a little, and her face, maybe. Anyway, that complement slightly disoriented her. I swear she blushed.

"Thank you so much, Maya. I would have collapsed on the way home were it not for the chips. You have a lovely name by the way, almost as lovely as your bowtie," I said smiling.

"You're welcome," she said smiling. 

"Great! I have a long walk back and as such, I need to hit the road," I extended my arm for a greeting. She brought hers too.

"Hey look,” I went on, “I don't mean to pry but those coins…” She handed me the balance from the chips vendor.

“Thank you," I said.

After some distance, I looked back to see the expression on her face. Good riddance, she probably thought but then she was still staring at me, smiling. What a strange woman. Still, I was not using this money on a matatu.

A shortcut here and a shortcut there and after a long fast walk I heard someone call my name. I was almost reaching home at this point so I did not mind slowing down, besides, it was Petro. Turns out he had not reached his place too. Now Petro was so much worse off, he made me feel good about myself. His place was further to town. His clothes were more wrinkled than mine and his shoes, other than having no polish, were also torn. In fact, he did not even have their chicken's respect. Okay, I might have exaggerated that last bit. Anyway, every time I prayed, I thanked God I was not Petro.

So, that evening we walked together back home and we finally exchanged numbers before branching at my place.

I could tell the dogs already knew I was approaching from their candid barking. Just another day right? From the distance, I could note disapproving looks from my father but that was okay, I expected that. I looked at my mother but she did not even raise her face to acknowledge my return. I felt hurt but only for a moment because I was so hungry when I got home. Chips is no food!

I proceeded to greet them both on my way to the kitchen to find myself some food after which I jumped onto the chores that awaited me. Soon the day was done. The rest of the days went by with no big unveiling.

December was fast approaching and my siblings would come back to torment me with their successes. Would they come back to find the same old Koni? Wait, that girl did not ask for my name!