A lovely sip for courage

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It a Saturday morning when Nkuia woke up from a deep sleep dressed in a hangover. He could not remember where he was drinking the previous night .He did not even know how he finished his last sip and not where he met Tanya. What was crystal clear in his mind is that he promised to buy her lunch at a restaurant in town. He was not a fan of drinking. He did drink for social purposes; to have courage to face reality of life. His drinking on Friday was to have enough courage to face Tanya’s resistance to make love till marriage. He was surprised for the tremendous magical work done by drinking. It did exactly what he intended. He congratulated himself for creative reasoning to use drinking to achieve a long waited goal. Beside him lie beautiful Tanya the girl he has never had courage and intelligence to face, to seduce and convince her to bed for long in a sober mind. He surprised to the tough minded girl child. Tanya was there lying by her right but her chest up exposing her nakedness. Sleeping in a position that suggested that ‘I am secure and free world’ ruled by freedom and peace. He tried to recall very hard how he managed to convince the ever resistant Tanya to end up in his bed. He thanked his God for bringing an idea of a drink to his mind. He sat on the edge of his bed thinking what had happened, what will happen and how can he survive the consequences. ‘May be Tanya’s parent are now searching for her everywhere and may be reported to police’ he thought in silence. The night has just past by few hours in the morning. He checked his was wrist watch it was 8.30 in the morning. The rays of the sun reached them through the window. The light in the room was on and the bed room door was half open. ‘May be someone has peeped on them while they were asleep already’ He thought. It reminded him of how he was disorganized he was when they came home and into the room. He didn’t remember eating anything but he touched his stomach slightly he was satisfied. He was not hungry. ‘We must have eaten something before drinking or after drinking’ he told himself. He concludes even the main door and the gate are open by then. He appreciates a drink for its magical but again he blames it for tempering with his logical thinking. He appreciates the fact that benefits outweigh losses. He lied on his back on the bed looking up vacantly at the ceiling not knowing how to react. He felt swift-sweet-magical breath reaching his left ear from Tanya. A lovely sweet and nice diffused reaching his nose. It was a pleasing one. He thin minded remembered the warmth the Tanya’s body provided him and how healing to him it seemed Tanya’s treatment gave him wonderful world he was in now. He could not smell a hard drink they took because they were both under its influence. As If he had forgotten to check whether he was naked or not he woke up quickly. He looked at lower waist. He was naked. He wore only a towel. He turned his eyes to Tanya. She was still asleep. She moved to turn a bit to herself comfortable in a sleep. Her small and erecting breasts met Nkuia’s eyes. Between them was a stain of blood. This speaks out how his girl was clean before him soiling. Tanya was in an Eve suit. She covered her waist slightly. Under the sheet she was as she came to this world of shame and harsh weather. All her clothes were on the only chair in the room. She had nothing to worry at all as her parents are away from home for business. She knew how to sweet talk the domestic workers not to betray her. She knew the happiness she was enjoying. She thanked God for being a women and being beautiful. She loved him and he is what she had in her heart. He has been in her heart for long and now here he is hers. She shares him with no any other girl. He is everything she in needs in whole world. She was even prepared to tell her parent the truth incase their affair is leaked to her parent. She wore courage of a modern girl. Nkuia was eighteen now. This was his second love affair in his life. He started with Mr. and Mrs. Morgan house maid, Blessing. She used to play with her hide-and-seek game together with Tanya. They enjoyed the game. Tanya was still innocent by then. Blessing and Nkuia will choose a place to hide. Where it is hard for Tanya find them. They blindfolded Tanya and they disappeared where the two agreed to practice to make love. Blessing had experience with older boys in the slum. She taught him how to go about it. He was quick to learn and soon became an expert but had no courage to face other girls as he was lured to it by Blessing. This affected him almost all his life. He thought every girl was an easy showing like Blessing. Blessing was four years older than Nkuia. She was exposed child. She loved young well off Nkuia because he was smart and taken care of than slum boys. Slum life forced her to grow old in deeds than her age mate in the city suburbs. He was brought in an affluent and religious family that is strict to certain values in the society. Mr. and Mrs. Kare wished their son to grow in religious virtues. Tanya was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. She was over secured from her young age. Sometimes Tanya got tired after playing and she went off to sleep. Blessing and Nkuia were left alone to all the needed. It was difficult for adult to suspect them because it the girl who was old than boy. They were wrong. Blessing ceased to work for Morgan family after four years. Tanya now grew into a girl he saw as good to fall in love with. They were neighbors. He watched her grow. He loved her but he didn’t know where to start. The two used to place but Tanya play was different from that of Blessing. Tanya preferred to discuss while seated. Not like Blessing who liked a play that includes runs up and down. Sometimes Blessing allowed Nkuia to come closer but Tanya did not allow their bodies touching apart from hands shaking and exchanging things carried. She proved difficult to him. Tanya grew in elegant school going girl. She learnt to make friends. Nkuia was her boy friend now but she could not anything beyond talks and discussion. He grew a man and he wanted to show and be shown love. He was influenced by his peer group to stealing drink. This was where he learnt secret to drink. Tanya loved him but she loved him most when he intoxicated. One day when he was drunk he came to see Tanya. She laughed a lot than ever. She even tapped him on the shoulder. Mr. and Mrs. Kare were at home. Tanya knew the drunkenness will land his boy into problem with his parent. She decided to hide him in her room tell morning and she went to sleep with the house maid. He learnt that Tanya loved him but she is just tough to let him to taste honey. He did not like drunk but if it is what will make his girl in has to for the sake. He drink to gain courage to face and be funny to let laugh more has demand it. “Is reason why girl like bad boys?” he said to himself. He was to be a bad boy to win this affluent with astonishing beauty girl. ‘Have to drunk to please her’ he decided to himself. He prayed for is parent to remain in the dark about it. He was a good to socialize with in the neighborhood because of his well mannered in character and religiously background and well built. He was told black with broad chest what Tanya love most in him but he no courage to ask her exactly what he want. She hates a boy beating about the bush. Tanya was the child of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. Blessing ceased to work for Morgan’s family and also stop molesting Tanya’s boy friend. She left Tanya to grow him. Tanya had begun walking to school alone to and fro. She had good time to walk with boy on their way home. Blessing went back to the slum begin a marriage life. Tanya attended a royal academy, a school for the blessed in the community. It was a private school only for the rich. Her boy friend Nkuia was first born in their family with three young sisters. His parents could afford the tuition for four of them at royal academy. Nkuia attended royal academy on a catholic mission scholarship. His parents are serving in the parish. The three sisters attended a mission and older one inspiring to a Nun. Tanya’s eyes meets Nkuia’s shortly and both of them lacked words to express to one another when Tanya learnt his boyfriend wanted more than just friendship. She did not know how to tell him yes. She was ready cooperate if he tried to force in some way but tell him ok was hard to her. Is this why she like him when he is drunk? They used to wave hands at a distance. It showed there chemistry between them. She loved Nkuia very much that was a secret in her but he was too soft in asking. ‘He should a bit rough and more demanding at least apply a little force’ she said to herself. Her boyfriend had loved her too and he was careful not hurt her. He lacked courage to demand it. Neither did he have words to tell Tanya how much he loved her, what he want from and what is the right. Sometimes they found themselves lacking something to talk about. This silence irritates Tanya and she finds herself an excuse to leave. ‘If a boy lacks words what is need for her there?’ she speaks to herself in silence. He was not boring when he stolen a drink. He becomes nice and funny. That is now when Nkuia remembers his magical drink. He loved to hide in his girlfriends’ place when drunk. That is when she is more loving and caring. She loved him when he approaches her while drunk. She opens to nicely. She tries hard to care for him after all they are friends, neighbors and schoolmate and still they needed more relationship. Nkuia had another challenge to him Tanya was bright in school and she won several awards. Her boy friend had never won even the third place award. This made many boys shy off from her. She had given a special place in her heart because she knew him well even weakness. A tough woman always earns natural respect from? She works her own to lure them or she goes for those tougher than. For some they go weakness so that they control may be. This was the situation with Tanya. By the time Nkuia was done with senior high school, Tanya was in the second junior. Her boy did not qualify straight to university. He went for a middle college for higher National diploma after volunteering in DICECE for sometimes. He was very careful for mission to know what is doing with Tanya for fear of losing scholarship. He done in two years and he got a scholarship to Makerere University the Oldest University in East African. Nkuia’s love for Tanya grew every time. He thought when he as alone. He wanted to marry her. She is to be the mother of his children. He valued her very much. She was the pride of his heart and a nurse to his ever-love-sick- heart. He occasionally thanked the working power of drink that made it possible to together with Tanya. He loved her more than any other girl in the world. A statement he learn from his friend. He was advised to use it to flirter Tanya. She knew he borrowed this phrase to flirter and she liked it. Tanya sat for her examination. The rumors circulated everywhere within the school and the village. It went like wild fire. ‘Tanya had a boyfriend. She is dating an old boy of royal academy’ they said. He planned to marry her before going abroad for further studies but it didn’t work. Nkuia meant everything to her in life because she had no sister or brother. “I love him and I won’t let him down. I will to succeed in all endeavors” she said to herself. A thought came to her mind. Maybe he is seeing another girl. “I will kill her if she dares to share my with me man”. She promised in a monologue thought as she return from the market. All her journeys were occupied by thoughts about the boy she loved in her life. He was the first and should be the last. “I will the mother his children. Maybe; four, five, six, eight or ten kids; boys and girls. We educate them to be responsible citizens” she thought. She almost knocked her mother at the door. She was still wrapped in this beautiful thought about life. She loved African family of many children but wondered why she was alone and only child of her parents. Many children were a source of labor and a pride. She wished to be blessed with more boys than girls and maybe her mother adopt one. In an African culture, child born before marriage belonged to the girl’s family. Mrs. Secret thoughts were the rumors roaming in the village come true and Tanya is pregnant before marriage so that she has a child to live with as Tanya joins her in-laws. The culture dictates such child belonged to them but blame the western culture for spoiling the mind of the people. That child belonged to the biological father. Her wish was against Nkuia’s religious oriented family. Mr. and Mrs. Kare hoped to marry in a religious way. They wished their son not to have a child out of marriage or even to get into sex activities before it as that was against the church teachings. Tanya wanted a child to her parent before tying a knot to with them in her absence. Tanya was told stories of her parent. How they met at a bar. Mrs. Morgan was a bar maid. Mr. Morgan was a successful businessman. He used to drink where Mrs. Morgan worked. He never finishes a day without a drink to suppress stresses of demanding customers and meeting crucial deadlines. He had a habit of drinking not too much. To Tanya the drinking her boyfriend to make happy was bad because her father too drink and was good father. Her mother Mrs. Morgan worked in a bar; her father bought a drink and there meet. Drinking for socialization was not bad. Mrs. Morgan was brought up in poor and humble ground. She was luck to marry a reach man businessman through a drink. Mrs. Morgan had no enough formal education because of school fees. She rushed to get a job to help her parents and her sisters and brother. She wished to get married to a rich and good man to bride price to her parents. She hoped to a good wife and caring mother. She didn’t want to work at a bar but was forced by circumstances. She was cute and humble. Every man wanted to use her but she told them reason why she worked in bar is not sell her body but to earn to help her family. This touched the heart of Mr. Morgan. She also attended secretarial classes after work. A lazy man will never appreciate a hard working person. Mr. Morgan was impressed with hard working Bliss who later became Mrs. Morgan. He knew how hard work pays and he was ready to help a hard working person. Bliss worked eight hours a day and attended her secretarial course in the evening and at night kept Mr. Morgan company after a drink till one day she told to abandon her bar job and concentrate on her family life and secretarial studies by Mr. Morgan. The signs of Tanya being in the womb showed up. The little she used to earn was shared between rent, family and fees. She was now relieved. Mr. Morgan was a good man. She introduced him to her parent. Mr. Morgan helped them a lot. The amount to her parent increased. Her sibling started going to school. Bliss now was bliss to the family. Mr. Morgan had money. He cleared her secretarial fees in one payment. Mr. Morgan was a blessing to her. He is the man she wanted in her life. She made sure every evening the beer is available at home for Mr. Morgan not to go the bar again as might see another beautiful girl there. She was enough for him. Tanya and Nkuia traveled to Kampala in style. They had agreed to live outside Makerere University campus and settle as a family. Nkuia had filled in his admission form to live out of the campus but Tanya filled her admission form as single as she was under close supervision of Morgans. Means of traveling determined who had a fat pocket. Nkuia was the first to set his journey by railway. It was the cheapest. Tanya traveled straight from Nairobi to Kampala by air two days after her husband to be. Who enjoyed the journey most is the one was who took more hours and able to view varied fauna flora. There were rumors living in the community that Mr. Morgan gun was shooting blunt bullets. I mean impotent. Tanya Biological father might be one of Bliss male friends she used to meet when she worked as bar maid. Backbiters tried to prove saying the Tanya would have had a brother or sister. A retired clinical officer said he once treated both Mr. and Mrs. Morgan in different occasions of syphilis and gonorrhea respectively. He suspects might be the reason why was not blessed with another child. Tanya loved her parents; she knew they have missed her company. The will live to miss as she is a girl and will be married of. She sympathized with them as they have no any other child. She understood her culture well. Getting pregnant before married will help them have another child. The child will be brought up by grandparents and she walks into her marital home. Contrary to Nkuia religious family, sex before marriage is prohibited and illegitimate birth is not honored either. Life in Kampala was not bad for the couple enjoyed scholarship and support from the families back home. Nkuia had a supportive feather. He holds a diploma in education. He begun searching a part time job so that Tanya would not she contribute a lot. Tanya was pregnant then. It worried Nkuia a lot. He still has a year ahead to clear his studies. “What about if looses scholarship?” he asked himself. Tanya did not worried a lot because if she scholarship her parents are able to pay for her fees. She deferred her studies and return home to give birth. Her parent did not know how react to the news. Tanya had state early in her letter to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan that she is expecting and she apologized. She did not state who was responsible. Her parents understood. Mrs. Morgan had heard rumors that her daughter had affairs with Nkuia before they left for Kampala but she was not sure and so she had to hide it from her husband. Tanya Morgan in her letter begged for forgiveness and promised her father to continue with her studies after delivery. This touched her parents’ hearts. They I wished the child is born a boy to be call after grandfather. He will be named Morgan Junior When Tanya arrived in her village and she was received warm heartedly by Morgans at the airport. After a long rest she revealed who was responsible for her pregnancy. She was eight months pregnant. Immediately Mr. Morgan sent a messenger to call for Mr. Kare. He respected the call. He was told his will be a father soon. He did not believe what he heard. He thought he knew his son well. He did not even his son had started drinking and stopped even attending church services. His had joined the religion of his girlfriend the Traditional African religion. He had to swallow it hard despite of him not believing on the revealed news. Whether he liked it or not he is soon to be a grandfather. Tanya was a modern girl in some manner. She had delivered her intention to marry Nkuia to parent. Mr. Kare’s family was also informed. Mr. Kare pleaded understanding form Morgans family and promised to help where possible. The two families arrived at organizing an official marriage ceremony when two couples are around but Mr. Kare was very happy because the first born will not be to his family. They differed a bit on the type of ceremony. Morgans preferred civil marriage or traditional marriage but Kares liked religious one though they doubted the clergy accepting to conduct it. It then left to the couples to decide which way to go. The couples convince their parent to settle it at the government registry. That seemed a bridge between religious and cultural marriage. It accommodated the two families with diversity of believe and ideologies. The couples were proud to be citizen of good governance. The child was born three weeks before clocking exactly nine month period. Tanya was worried a little maybe her man will bring her problems as to why was not the date he expecting. She dismissed thought after the child is his and if he doubt he can go for DNA. This was her silent thought. She had a normal birth. The boy child weighed 3.50 kilograms. Morgans family were happy. They have a grandson who keeps the name of the family as girl child belonged to husband’s family. Kares family were not happy because are the losers. They blamed their son for pregnant a girl before marriage. It could have between problems when it comes to inheritance as girl was to inherit her husband. In case of Morgan inheritance could have landed in hands of other relatives. Now he is luck he a grandson. Chrismas day of 1967 was welcomed by the two families. A new family was formed immediately when Nkuia arrived from Uganda. This time on a plane and was received at the airport. He had saved enough from his part time job. He had Christmas prizes for his family and in-laws too. The two families went to register marriage before Christmas day. They agreed celebration be on 25th December. Villagers were invited and announcement made that Tanya and Nkuia are now wife and husband. The villagers missed the Traditional beer that was used to be served to bless such occasion after tying the knot. They understood religious influence played a role. Morgan junior was month when his mother tied a knot with his biological father and he is to breastfeed for another three month before leaving with grandmother and Tanya resumes her studies. The father was to as he has completed his university education. The thirst of university education has been quenched. Tanya was brown to almost a half cast of a white and black. Nkuia was dark like a deep dug pit. Morgan was dark skinned but lighter than his father. Drinking played a role in the formation families and settling social difference. Tanya’s parent met in a bar and courted while drinking. Drinking gave Nkuia courage to ask Tanya for it. Traditional beer was to be used to bless marriage if Christianity did not shift in. Drinking used to help Mr. Morgan to suppress stresses in life after hard work. If you have no friend try to befriend a bottle. Have one for the road.