THE WEEKEND TO MONDAY
748 Words
*Mr. Kato in jail. Brian free. 128k in the house. Rent due in 3 days.*
They didn’t sleep.
Brian’s text was still on Jimmy’s phone: `This is just round 1.`
"So we don’t go out," Jessica said. "We stay inside."
"And how do we make 22k?" Alex asked. "By staring at the walls?"
Jimmy loaded his old club into the bag. The one he used back in the village.
"One of us stays. Two of us hustle. Night only."
*Saturday Night. The Trap*
10pm. Jimmy + Alex on the boda.
No deliveries. Just riding. Looking for Brian.
"Why are we looking for him?" Alex asked.
"Because he’s looking for us," Jimmy said. "Better we see him first."
1am. Katwe. Empty.
Then headlights. One boda. No plate.
Brian.
He saw them. Gunned it.
Jimmy chased.
3 blocks. 4 turns. Brian cut into an alley.
Dead end.
Jimmy stopped. "Get off," he told Alex.
Brian got off too. Held a pipe.
"You think jail scares me?" Brian said. "Mr. Kato will be out Monday.
And when he is, he wants your hands."
Jimmy didn’t talk. He swung.
Club vs pipe.
Metal on metal.
Brian was bigger. But Jimmy was angry.
One hit to Brian’s knee. Brian dropped.
"Tell Mr. Kato we’re not scared," Jimmy said.
He kicked Brian’s boda and rode off.
They didn’t know if Brian would get up.
*Sunday. No Peace.*
No hustle. Too risky.
They stayed home. Counted money. 128k.
Jessica cooked. No one ate.
At 6pm, stones hit their roof.
At 8pm, someone knocked and ran.
Brian was sending messages.
*Day 28. Monday. Court Day.*
*Rent due in 2 days. 22k short. Mr. Kato out on bail today.*
*8:00am. Buganda Road Court.*
Hassan was in a suit. Expensive.
His lawyer too.
Mr. Kato was there. New suit. Sunglasses. 3 lawyers.
And Brian. Arm in a sling. Smiling.
Jimmy’s stomach dropped.
Judge walked in. Old woman. Tired eyes.
*The Case: The State vs Kato + 2 others*
Charges: Forgery, Extortion, Illegal Detention.
Hassan’s lawyer went first. Land papers. Witness statements.
Sula’s affidavit. The Dubai son’s claim.
Then Mr. Kato’s lawyer stood.
"My client is a businessman. These boys owe him money.
They set him up. The wire was illegal. The arrest was entrapment."
He pointed at Jimmy. "This boy is a criminal. He assaulted my client’s associate on Saturday."
Brian stood up. Showed his sling.
Judge looked at Jimmy. "Is this true?"
Jimmy stood. "He came to hurt us, your honor."
"Sit down," the judge said.
2 hours of talking.
At 11:30am, the judge banged her gavel.
"Mr. Kato is granted bail. 5M.
Case adjourned to next month.
The 50k in evidence will remain with court until ruling."
Mr. Kato smiled. Walked out. Free.
Bail. 5M. He paid it like it was nothing.
*11:45am. Outside Court.*
Mr. Kato walked past Jimmy.
Stopped.
"Friday," he said quietly. "Container 14. 6pm.
Bring 1.2M. Or I take the girl, the boda, and your hands.
Court can’t save you now."
He walked away with Brian.
Hassan came over. "I’m sorry. We’ll appeal.
But it takes time."
"How much time?" Alex asked.
"Months," Hassan said.
Months they didn’t have.
*2:00pm. Back Home. The Math.*
128k.
Need 150k for rent by Wednesday.
Short 22k.
Need 1.2M by Friday.
Impossible.
Jessica was quiet. "What do we do?"
"We run," Alex said.
"Where?" Jimmy asked. "He’ll find us."
His phone rang. Unknown.
"Hello?"
"Jimmy?" Woman’s voice. Mrs. Kato.
"Yes madam."
"My husband is home," she said. "He’s angry.
He told me to tell you... he’s not taking money anymore.
He’s taking payment."
Click.
*6:00pm. The Decision*
They sat in silence.
Option 1: Run. Leave Kampala. Start over. Lose everything.
Option 2: Pay. Sell the boda. Still not enough.
Option 3: Fight.
Jimmy stood up. "We fight."
"With what?" Alex asked.
"With what we have," Jimmy said. "Us."
He looked at Jessica. "Pack one bag. Just in case."
He looked at Alex. "Tonight we hustle. All night.
Target: 22k. For rent. We buy 2 more days."
Alex nodded.
*10:00pm. Monday Night. Final Hustle.*
Rain again.
They took every delivery. Risked every road.
By 3am: 11k.
By 5am: 19k.
One more trip.
A man called from Ndeeba. "Pick me. 5k."
They went.
At 5:30am, at the pickup point...
Brian.
With 3 other men.
"Morning," Brian said. "Mr. Kato says no more warnings."
They had pipes. Knives.
Jimmy looked at Alex.
Alex looked at Jimmy.
No boda. No escape.
Brian raised his pipe. "Hands first."
Jimmy stepped forward.
- Writer
