She Is A Man

CHAPTER 5

Kate was woken up the following morning by the sounds of broken pieces of glass being swept by the househelp.She constantly shook her head,looked at Kate sleeping on the floor and continued cleaning. she took the pillows scattered on the floor and dusted them off.She threw them in a large basket she dragged with her collecting dirty laundries.

The basket had small wheel like those of a trolley, making it easier for her to drag.She took the broom and started sweeping making sure it was noisy enough to wake up Kate. She cleared her throat severally and continued cleaning. Kate opened his Eyes, but didn't bother to wake up from the floor."I can hear you just fine! you don't need to make sounds." He sounded like a broken cassette ,as if he had a bunch of sweets stuffed on his throat.

"Am sorry ma'am I didn't mean to disturb you but its morning already ,it will soon be noon." She took a few steps back as of she was afraid of him."You are the ma'am,are you blind? can't you see am not a woman?" He didn't sound angry he was too exhausted to be angry."Am sorry sir." she bent her knees as if she wanted to kneel down.

"Go and make me coffee, black without sugar and milk." He dismissed her with his hands still lying on the floor. "Yes,sir." She dropped her things and went rushing out .Kate dragged himself to sit upright.He looked the distance between himself and the bathroom and placed his hands on his head as if he was lost.he dropped himself on the floor again making an exhausted face.He laid there for a couple of minutes and finally managed to drag himself to the bathroom.

His father was at the dining waiting for breakfast,his wife came from the kitchen holding a kettle filled with hot tea.She poured some for him and sat next to him."Good morning hun,kindly take your breakfast."She served him toasted bread and smokies on the the side.

"Thank you darling,he winked at her and they both smiled ,wiping her blushing face." Join me please." his eyes watery from the steam of the hot tea he was serving.

"Have you seen Kate? he should be here with us." his mum searched around the place to see if she could spot him.

"No hun,I haven't.He must be still sleeping in his room." He placed the kettle he was holding on the table slowly. looked at her list watch and back at him,with her eyebrows raised ."what?"his dad asked with his hands half raised.He sipped a his tea and looked her."At this time of the day ,he is still sleeping? " she asked still looking at her watch.

"Yeah,its not like he has anything to do anyway,that kid has been through alot last night." He took another sip and continued eating as if he said nothing ."Ahhh, like what?" She crossed her hands together and looked at him straight on his face ,as if she was listening to a lecture.

"Well," He raised his shoulders and hesitantly and tried to evade the question. "well, what?" She insisted.He took a deep breath and dropped the folk he was holding down on the plate ,with a half bitten smokie on it.

"He lost his girlfriend last night." He looked at her and sighed."What do you mean? Nixie is dead?"She looked as if she was about to cry."No ,she left the country last night,her parents took her to Argentina to leave with her grandparents. "He continued eating." Poor Kate ,but she is going to be back right. " She crossed her legs and reached for her cup of tea.

"That's where the problem is." He looked at her still chewing."Which problem? " she asked and sipped her tea."They took her there because of Kate."He replied while trying to hold her hand. "What did that kid do?" She looked surprised with her eyes wide open."Nothing, that kid did nothing. Her parents said their daughter is bringing them shame by being with Kate." He looked around to see if Kate was around."How? " She held the back of her neck with her two hands

"Do you really not know why?" He looked at her and shook his head."But,that's not good reason to take her away!"She replied still holding her neck."This is a different society, have you forgotten we are Africans? " He replied while sipping his tea.

"Everyone knew him as a young girl, its not their fault to think they are ...you know..lesbians." She replied while shoving her shoulders."Exactly, can you imagine how things would have been ,if everyone came to know about his condition? "He whispered to her bending towards her.

" But that didn't fix things either,but its best this way,than being refeared to as a cursed child." she looked around to see who was listening. "Your right, the situation would have been worse." Sat upright and continued eating.

Kate was still in the bathroom, he was staring at himself in the mirror. He remembered a couple of memories he shared with Nixie. Like the one they went skiing ,they both kept tripping over each other.Everyone was watching and laughing, but that did seem to get to them.They were both happy ,with the both of them together, nothing else mattered.

They would pick themselves up only to fall again.The laughter was real ,and the smiles genuine.Kate found himself smiling .He yanked his hair and opened the shower. A few minute later,he came out in a white bathrobe. The house help Damaris, pushed the door open holding a cup of coffee. "Sorry sir ,it took me a while." She tried to hand him the coffee ,but Kate blocked it with his hand."I don't need it Damaris ,just take it back ,am going out."He took a pair of pants spread on the bed for him to ware and looked at her.

"Very well sir,I'll take my leave now." She took a turn and left quickly.He looked around for his shoe and spray.He fitted in his white muscle T-shirt ,black jeans and black sneakers. He stood in front of the mirror and sprayed himself.He smile at his reflection on the mirror and took his bike keys, ready to head out.