The only thing Mokwele wanted when he and the others resumed work after the thirty minute break was to see the indicators of the clock move to six, close for the day and go home. He continued to stare at the big clock on the wall in front of him. Dalila, his friend, noticed he was restless and decided to probe into the cause of his restlessness.

“Mokwele?”

“Yes?”

“Let me in.”

“Into what?”

“It is unlike you.”

“How do you mean?”

“For God’s sake would you stop playing dump! You are acting as if a passenger ship had descended from Kirinyaga, our beloved shinning mountain and waiting for you at River Tana to take you and your wife to the waterfalls.”

“Dalila, my Dalila, how delicious of you to be able read into my thought! Life is not about hopelessness and anguish; not with the blue-white sky out there with its romantic invitation anyway.”

“Mumbi is blessed this day.” Dalila said.

“She has always been blessed, but this day her blessing surpasses all blessings. Why is the time so slow today of all days when the sky is beckoning to the hearts of humanity to forget their pains and sorrows and appreciate Kenya where nature is assembled?”

“In another five minutes you would be in the open arms of the beauty called Kenya.”

“You, is your boyfriend not taking you out?”

“The only thing he sees are the dark cloud and moving roads.”

“Remind him when you get home that even Nyasaye rested when this beautiful country was created. Aah, it is six!” He dropped what he was doing and dashed into the changing room, he came out in jeans trouser, a T-shirt and a jacket on top.

In another forty-five minutes he was home. His face still beamed with the effect the mystical colour of the sky had on his consciousness. Before he would open the door to his room, he allowed his eyes to gaze into the distant sky and the animals playing around regardless of whatever the problems the world had. Why cannot the peace of the sky, the peace of the animals be inculcated by humans so that there will be peace everywhere in the world, especially this country of ours? This is not the time for wondering, he told himself, this moment is for joy, for happiness, for beauty. For romance. He opened the door and went in.

His wife was in the room. She wore white saffron tied round her neck that extended to her knees. Mokwele just stood there admiring her and thanking God for this woman. He went to her.

“Mumbi, I remember that day as if it is today when I went to Kikuyu to take you as my wife…”

“Umh…”

“I knew that there is something about Kenya that is good and will ever be good and beautiful. You are good and beautiful, my Mumbi.”

They made love. And the blue sky and its white patches was their bed.

© Eberekpe Whyte

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