It’s approaching seven in the evening. You
are taking a walk to clear your head. You could use some form of unfamiliarity.
You take an unfamiliar street. Amid the hustle and bustle, it is difficult to
mind your own business. Children shriek and hurl vulgar (adult-rated) insults
at one another. You mutter watoto wa siukuizi under your breath, because
you are now too old.
Then you spot an oddity, a peculiar sight.
You know what that sight means – it means the grim reaper visited a family. How
do you know it? The bereaved family takes out a speaker, plays some sombre
gospel songs, and places the picture of the deceased close by. The family wants
you to know that death has visited them, and that they may (or may not, that’s
the way things are done) need some financial assistance.
As you walk by, you look at the deceased’s
picture and the family that has gathered around. Your only concern is how the
deceased met his death. Was it a long illness bravely born? Was it an accident?
Was it thugs? Did he die suddenly? Then you begin thinking about your own
mortality.
But one of the deceased family members
confronts you. She forcefully wants you to be empathetic and respond in kind by
parting with your hard-earned cash. It is nauseating, that level of
entitlement. You ignore her and walk on. She is not done with you and shouts:
“Ata wewe utakufa!!!” where did that come
from? Really? Was it even necessary? She says it as though she is never used to
being rejected or ignored. Or she had signed a pact with God that whoever she
talks to parts with something. The nerve!! Benevolence is not compulsory.
In anger at her statement, you respond in
kind ‘pia wewe utakufa!’She adds more insults that put to question whether she
was actually bereaved or not. You walk on.
