Chriss Huyu
New Lister
Part 1 here.
Tuendelee..
For those who remember drama festivals, there is that adrenaline rush that you get when your play is up next. I was up there backstage having a different kind of adrenaline rush which included all kinds of vivid images with Sheila. In terms of getting a part in the play, I was extremely lucky. There were those guys who had leading roles through out the play, which meant a lot of memorizing and preparation for their performances. Then there were those guys who had the role of being a part of a crowd on stage to clap and shout, but were very easily replaceable because, well, anybody can clap and shout on stage. And then there was my part which had only 3 lines. Easy enough to memorize, but also not easily replaceable like some crowd guys who were informed the night before, that "hauko kwa list!"
Our play started and we got on stage. I was part of the stage crowd for the earlier parts of the play while the lead roles did their thing, waiting for my part which came about 15 minutes into the play. What did I do during this time? Yes, I was looking for Sheila in the audience! I casually scanned through the area with a concentration of white blouses with ties, and Navy blue skirts, but no, she was not in sight. Where could she be? Oh, no biggie, I will look for her after the play. Let me concentrate on the play, coz somewhere along the line I think we stared at each other with one of the adjudicators, and I could see "why are you distracted?" written on his face.
And then I saw her. Straight throught the back door on the main field, there was Sheila with her (best) friend, surrounded by 3 jamaas from a different school. Oh shiet! Why do they look like they are enjoying the conversation? My internal dialogue went into overdrive. Why are they smiling??? If someone would have measured my adrenaline level at this instant moment, I would have been taken straight to hospital. And here I was standing helplessly on stage, pretty much there was nothing I could do. From here things just became a daze. Through the remaining time to my part.. Through my part.. Past my part to the end of the play.. In hindsight I think that my performance, or lack of, had something to do with us not winning the play. Sorry old classmates, my then young mind was distracted by thoughts of Sheila.
The play had ended, and even before the curtains were fully drawn, I had jumped backstage to remove the costume and engage in a quest to look for this girl. I went to the location I had seen them, simuoni. Through out the afternoon, I think I went through the crowded large field inch by inch looking for her, all in vain. Time eventually came for our bus to leave, and I think I was the last person to get on the bus, coz I just would not give up. I pandad the bus feeling down, and at this point I had no option than to give up. You can imagine the horror that, just as we are exiting the gate, I see her and her friend just next to the gate, involved in a conversation with now two guys.
We reach school. My young heart has sunk to the lowest levels and I'm even developing acidity. If I could go back in time, I would slap myself silly because, who develops such an obsession after such a brief encounter? I went straight to our school shop to buy writing pad, an envelope and stamps to write a letter to her. I ended up writing 3 foolscaps of the most cringe-worthy high-school nonsense (I would have gotten an award for cringe, tbh), and promptly dropped the letter in our school outbox. From there it is just waiting. After the festivals thing just cool down to the boring normal. Class, dining hall, dorm, repeat. School mail was read out at the dining hall on Thursday every fort night by the dh captain. I was not too hopeful about this coming Thursday because it was too soon, but I put my money on the Thursday during the next round of letters in 2 weeks.
Fast forward to Thursday mail day. Now, normally I didn't receive a lot of letters. So kawaida while the dh captain was on top of the table reading letters, me and akina Kevo were usually involved in silly banter really not paying attention. This day was different, I had huge hopes. I was constantly shushing this a-hole Kevo. After an annoyingly long list of name announcements (I didn't have a clue we received so many letters), oh the sweet sound of my name being announced. I stood up to pick my letter. I looked at the envelope and saw my name written in a girly handwriting. I think I also imagined some drawn hearts nearby. I smiled both inwardly and on the outside. THIS MUST BE SHEILA!
Ntaendelea..
Tuendelee..
For those who remember drama festivals, there is that adrenaline rush that you get when your play is up next. I was up there backstage having a different kind of adrenaline rush which included all kinds of vivid images with Sheila. In terms of getting a part in the play, I was extremely lucky. There were those guys who had leading roles through out the play, which meant a lot of memorizing and preparation for their performances. Then there were those guys who had the role of being a part of a crowd on stage to clap and shout, but were very easily replaceable because, well, anybody can clap and shout on stage. And then there was my part which had only 3 lines. Easy enough to memorize, but also not easily replaceable like some crowd guys who were informed the night before, that "hauko kwa list!"
Our play started and we got on stage. I was part of the stage crowd for the earlier parts of the play while the lead roles did their thing, waiting for my part which came about 15 minutes into the play. What did I do during this time? Yes, I was looking for Sheila in the audience! I casually scanned through the area with a concentration of white blouses with ties, and Navy blue skirts, but no, she was not in sight. Where could she be? Oh, no biggie, I will look for her after the play. Let me concentrate on the play, coz somewhere along the line I think we stared at each other with one of the adjudicators, and I could see "why are you distracted?" written on his face.
And then I saw her. Straight throught the back door on the main field, there was Sheila with her (best) friend, surrounded by 3 jamaas from a different school. Oh shiet! Why do they look like they are enjoying the conversation? My internal dialogue went into overdrive. Why are they smiling??? If someone would have measured my adrenaline level at this instant moment, I would have been taken straight to hospital. And here I was standing helplessly on stage, pretty much there was nothing I could do. From here things just became a daze. Through the remaining time to my part.. Through my part.. Past my part to the end of the play.. In hindsight I think that my performance, or lack of, had something to do with us not winning the play. Sorry old classmates, my then young mind was distracted by thoughts of Sheila.
The play had ended, and even before the curtains were fully drawn, I had jumped backstage to remove the costume and engage in a quest to look for this girl. I went to the location I had seen them, simuoni. Through out the afternoon, I think I went through the crowded large field inch by inch looking for her, all in vain. Time eventually came for our bus to leave, and I think I was the last person to get on the bus, coz I just would not give up. I pandad the bus feeling down, and at this point I had no option than to give up. You can imagine the horror that, just as we are exiting the gate, I see her and her friend just next to the gate, involved in a conversation with now two guys.
We reach school. My young heart has sunk to the lowest levels and I'm even developing acidity. If I could go back in time, I would slap myself silly because, who develops such an obsession after such a brief encounter? I went straight to our school shop to buy writing pad, an envelope and stamps to write a letter to her. I ended up writing 3 foolscaps of the most cringe-worthy high-school nonsense (I would have gotten an award for cringe, tbh), and promptly dropped the letter in our school outbox. From there it is just waiting. After the festivals thing just cool down to the boring normal. Class, dining hall, dorm, repeat. School mail was read out at the dining hall on Thursday every fort night by the dh captain. I was not too hopeful about this coming Thursday because it was too soon, but I put my money on the Thursday during the next round of letters in 2 weeks.
Fast forward to Thursday mail day. Now, normally I didn't receive a lot of letters. So kawaida while the dh captain was on top of the table reading letters, me and akina Kevo were usually involved in silly banter really not paying attention. This day was different, I had huge hopes. I was constantly shushing this a-hole Kevo. After an annoyingly long list of name announcements (I didn't have a clue we received so many letters), oh the sweet sound of my name being announced. I stood up to pick my letter. I looked at the envelope and saw my name written in a girly handwriting. I think I also imagined some drawn hearts nearby. I smiled both inwardly and on the outside. THIS MUST BE SHEILA!
Ntaendelea..
