The Dream Chasers by Claudette Oduor

Author:Claudette Oduor [Oduor, Claudette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Chasers, tribe, Love, Claudette, violence, 2007, Oduor, Kenya, Dream, election
Publisher: Master Publishing
Published: 2011-10-26T21:00:00+00:00

[Six]

I CHANGED OUT OF THE dress that offended Baba and sat out the back with Chinika, beneath a baobab, grating coconuts. I cracked the shells, pried out the coconut, and handed it to Chinika who worked it on the mbuzi. Coconut husks fell at my feet, spun in the grass, tripped on baobab roots, and fell on their sides.

“Did your mother really try to stab you?” Chinika asked.

“I provoked her.”

Chinika shook her head. “I’m sad for your mother,” she said. “But really, I’m sadder for myself. At least your mother’s mind is asleep in a safe house. Mine keeps me awake each night.”

“You also have to live with Baba. That’s enough to make anyone sad.”

Chinika nodded. “I had so many dreams once. Baba told me to stop dreaming because, if I dreamt too much, my fossil would be discovered in a mudslide of dreams I could never lift. ‘Those who dream too much can’t fall asleep at night,’ he said. Now I have ailing ulcer dreams that ooze the pus of regret.”

I looked at Chinika as she spoke, spotted a rogue tear sprout from its sleep and sprinkle across her lap.

“Did you start working?” I asked.

“I had a few businesses here and there. Baba closed them. He said no wife of his shall disrespect his name by breaking her back working.”

“Chinika, what did you go to the secretarial college for? Did they teach you courses called ‘How to Be Terrified of Men’ and ‘How to Give up Your Dreams for Men’?”

“Only the chewer of chilli peppers knows how the chilli peppers sting.”

“But I don’t need to chew the chilli peppers to know how they sting. I only have to look at your face.”

Chinika ignored me. “How is the university?”

“I’m on a semester break. Mama couldn’t afford the fees for this year. I will go in during the next, after she receives dividends for her shares.”

“I wish I too had shares. I wouldn’t put up with this anymore.”

In the morning, I found Chinika in the kitchen, brewing coffee.

“You’re up early,” she said.

“I thought I’d see Baba before he left for work.”

Chinika handed me a cup of coffee. I sat at the table, watching her put detergent in a pail and stir the water into a lather. She mopped the terrazzo kitchen floor with a rag.

Baba came into the kitchen. He had a suit on; its jacket was draped over his arm. The cuff links on his shirt glimmered in the shy morning sun.

“Morning,” he grunted, tightening his tie.

“Morning, Baba,” Chinika and I said.

“Baba, I was hoping to talk to you—”

“I’m late, Lulu. We’ll talk when I get back.”

“But I’m leaving.”

“Lulu, don’t talk back to me. I said I’m late.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and drank it, standing at the door. “My wife, Almasi and his family will join us for supper. You should spend your day cooking.”

“I’ll spend my day at the bank,” Chinika said slowly, looking down.

“At the bank? What for?”

She looked up. “I want to see if they can give me a loan … to restart my businesses.

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