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Thisstoryfirstappearedonthestorymojakenyawebsiteandwonamonthlyshortstorycontestin2013
THEMANWATCHINGOURHOUSEBYMAKENAONJERIKA
I.
Thenightmymotherfirstspokeofthedeathofhermother,wehadhadnoelectricityinZimmermanforfourdays.Thehurricanelamponthetablegaveheragiantheadonthewall.Shesaid,ThedayafterweburiedNjerica,wewereinthefarm,meandyourAuntBatha.Wewerediggingandthenwesawamanwalkingacrossourfields.
Withanopenpalmsheslicedthroughthesharpsmellofkerosenehangingoverourheadsandtookusbacktothatgreen,wetland,pregnantwiththemedicinalsmellofEucalyptus.TheblackandwhiteFriesiancowswhippedtheirtailsatpestilentfliesanddroppedhealthy,warmblobsofdung.NjericaliesinanunweededgraveatthecornerofmygrandfatherscompoundeveryJuneandDecember,ladencoffeetreesbendoverherhead,spottedredwithberries.
Hewasatallmanwithathinface.Inthatsunhisclothesseemedtobeburning.Wecalledhim.Muugaa,wesaid.Buthewentonwalkingacrossourlandtothemainroad,withoutsayinganythingtous.
Shewidenedhereyestolookcloselyattheman,standingtallandthin,rightthereinoursittingroom.WhowasthiswalkingonourfieldsthedayafterweputNjericainthesoil?
IleftBathainthefieldsandranhomeandaskedNtoMukindiaifthemanhadcometoourhomestead.IrantothemainroadandaskedeveryoneImet,haveyouseenthisman?Inthatvillagewithonlyoneroad,noonehadseenhim.
Mymotherdidntownasinglepairofshoesuntilshejoinedsecondaryschool.Sheraneverywhere:todelivermilktothedairyatsixameverymorning,toschoolbeforethebellstartedtollingandteachersstartedcaningpupilsbuttocksbackhomeforalunchofpoundedpotatoesandnyenifromschooltocutandcarrynapiergrassforthecows.
ThinkingofNjerica,hereyesbecomewetandglittery.Mybrotherwastooyoungtoseethis.Whenheaskedwhothemanwas,sheheldherselfasthoughshefeltawindwedidnt.
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Someonebewitchedyourgrandmother.Someonesentthatmantocomeseethatthejobwasfinished.
Herheadgrewasshemovedforwardtocatchamosquitobuzzingclosetomyface.Njericahaddiedofbreastcancer.Mybloodwasdarkredonmymotherspalm.
II.
Thepesticidesmyuncledrunkburneduphisinsidesandmadehimcry.Thedaymymothertoldusabouthissuicide,IsatontheconcretestepsoutsideourhouseafteranafternoondownpourredantsbuzzingelectricallyastheymarchedbytryingtoseethisunclesfaceinasufuriaIhadplacedundertheeavestocollectwater.Ihadmethimonlyonceatmygrandfathershomesteadandhadneverbeensenttohisownhomefortheschoolholidays.
Somemonthsbeforehisdeath,thissameunclehadburntdownhishouse.InthemorningbeforeshedrovetoNanyukiforthefamilyfundraisingtobuildanewhouse,Iheardmymothertalkingonhermobile.Batha,isthisnotthedevil?Howisitthateverytimeourbrotherharvestshiswheat,everytimehehasmoneyinhispocket,hisheadgoesbad?
Latermycousinwhohadattendedthefundraisingtoldmethatthegrownupshadcalledaholymantomyunclesfarm.ThisholymanwentroundthefarmprayingandshoutingversesfromtheBible,commandingdevilsinthenameofJesusChrist,andeverywherehepaused,hemadethemdig.Theyhadfoundstrangethingsburiedinmyunclesfarm.Catbonesandpotsfullofrottenliquidsandhumanhair.Strangethings.
Yousee,thereisacurseinmyfamilynooneknowswhereitcamefrom,butithaseatenallthemen.Eaten,thatshowmymothersaysit.Youtellme,Batha.Noneofourfatherssonshavesucceeded.Theygoteducationsameasusandthefarmsontop,butlook.
Yearslater,whenIwasalreadyinuniversityintheStates,shetoldmeofthelasttimeshesawhereldestbrother.HervoicecamethroughSkypeinpiecesandscreeches.Isawthathewasrunningaroundinhishead,lookingforhimself,butwhatcouldIdo?ItoldthemtogotochurchItoldthemtoprayItoldthemtoseekGod.Noonelistened.Lookwhathappened.
III.
IlostmyfaithasIwatchedPastorJohnWesleyglidingacrossthepodiumofGoodShepherdchurch,sweatingfromtheeffortofdeliveringtheWord.BighattedAfricanAmericanwomenshoutedhalleluias,amensandpreachpreacher.Abannerhangingfromtheblackedrafters
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wavedslightlyasthoughridingonthehotwavesofbelief.NoEXCUSEvember:Themonthofdestiny.Riseupandclaimtheinheritance.
Amen!TheshoutsclappedagainstmyearsandIbegantowriteonachurchpamphlet.Wordsandwordsaboutagirlrunningaroundinherhead,lookingforherself.
ButtheonlypoetrymymotherknowsisinthePsalmsofDavid.Diggingthroughherpursewithasquintforchurchoffering,sheasked,Mukami,whatdayisittoday?
MyfirstSundaybackinKenya.Arainydaythechalkysmellofwetsoilmademethirsty.Mypyjamaswerestillwarmfrombed.SheslappedherBibleonthetable,saidshewouldnthaveanatheistinherhouse,brokeacup.Mybrotherdidntmakeasoundintheadjoiningroom,hisbedroom.
Sheasked,Doyouatleastpray?
PerhapsifIhadsaidIprayed,shewouldnthavetoldmeabouttheman.Shesaid,Iknewit.Fromsixmonthsago,Iknewit,Mukami.DoyouremembermycousinBoronica?
ShedescribedthisBoronica,herplumpness,herdarkskin,hermanychildren,thetrickleofbloodthroughourfamilytree,butIrefusedtorecallthewoman.Outside,thevariousdenominationswithinakilometresradiusofourhousewereshoutingtheirsermonsateachotherovermegaloudspeakers.Mymotherpinchedherbrowwithconcentration:Boronicacalledmesixmonthsago.Shemetamanonthevillageroad.Amanshedoesnotknow.Hecalledherbyhername,Boronica,andaskeddoyouknowKaretiofNtoMukindia?Shedidnotknowhim,butheknewmeandyourgrandfather.HesaidtellKaretiIhaveamessageforher,aboutMukami.
Ishouldhavesaid,Shindwe!IshouldquotedPsalms23,butinsteadIsippedmytea,warminmypyjamas,andasked,Whatwasthemessage?
Icanstillheartheringofhercarkeysasshewentthroughthedoorandletitbangbehindherwithoutaword.Iwonsomethingthatday.Idid.
MakenaOnjerikaisaKenyanwriterwithanMFAinCreativeWritingfromNYU.