Criminal Fate

The Illegitimate Child

After robbing Jack, Maria Njeri ran off to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. She stayed there for a while and helped her mother get treatment. She spent half of the money on her mother’s treatment and medication. She returned to Mombasa after one month. She hoped Jack would not still be around. He was a foreigner and his experience in Kenya must have made him hate the place. Besides, they lived in Mtwapa, one of the informal settlements in the outskirts of the city, and it was a little bit far from the beach.

On reaching Mombasa, she paid fee for her siblings so they could continue studying. She also decided to do a short course in hospitality to try her shot at a real career. She was passionate about hotel and hospitality ever since she was a young girl. She used the little money she was left with to open a small café that she would run on a part-time basis. She hoped for a better and decent life. She wanted something that would bring her a joy and fulfillment. And things did fall into place for her too. But not the way she wanted.

She began to get sickly and one day decided to visit a local clinic. There she was told she was six months pregnant. It hit her hard. She was not ready to bring a child into that cruel world. She was hoping to to have a family after she was well settled in life.

She went home meditating on how it happened. It must have been Jack’s. He was the only person she had slept with in a while. Mothering the child of the man she stole from would have brought guilt into her life. She broke into tears wondering what she would do. On reaching home, she spoke to her mother and broke the news to her. She however left out the part where she stole from the father of the child she was carrying.

“I’m not ready for a child mama. I don’t even have the means to meet the needs of rearing a child. Mombasa is not a good place to bring up a child, especially if you are a commoner.” Maria said to her mother as tears rolled down her face.

“Listen child, you can’t undo on what is already done. You should probably tell the father. He might be of some help.” Her mother replied.

“That’s just it mother. I can’t. I just can’t. It will not make things any better.” Maria said.

“Is there something you’re not telling me dear? You can tell me. I’m listening. I might be of some help you know.” Her mother said putting on a smile to ease Maria’s insecurities.

“I have my reasons mother. I’m sorry but I think I’m going to get rid of it!” Maria said in a sad tone.

Fortunately, Maria was convinced by her mother to keep the baby. Her mother assured her that the child would receive love and care from them all. Besides, even her siblings would always be there for her.

“Your father and I also got you before we decided to be together for good. We were young and innocent when we fell in love. Then you came along and brought us closer.” Maria’s mother said.

“That’s so sweet mother. Thanks for being there for me.” Maria said as she embraced her mother.

“Of course daughter. Thanks for being there for me too.” Her mother replied. “Don’t worry dear, God will provide?” She added.

Though Maria was not a religious person, she joined her mother in a short prayer. Her mother was a simple Christian and her deceased father was a firm Muslim. She had not affiliated herself to any religion but this time, things were getting out of hand and she hoped God would actually provide.

So Maria opted to keep the child hoping that all would turn out well. She cancelled her plans of furthering her studies and committed herself in the small café she had started. Six months later, Maria gave birth to a son and named him Hassan Abdi. She named him after her father. The child brought joy to her and her family.

Maria did her best to nature her child. With the help of her mother and siblings, she was doing well at the café. She was getting help with Hassan too, just as she was assured by her mother. Hassan was dark like his mother and had the eyes of his father. Only Maria knew how much Hassan resembled Jack, his father.

Every time she looked at Hassan, she saw Jack and guilt would strike her on remembering what she did. She however loved Hassan very much. She consoled herself by saying that Jack was as guilty as she was for trying to take advantage of her. She swore to never want any connection between Hassan and Jack. They were thousands of miles apart and Jack was not a good man. She hoped to one day tell her son the truth, or at least a twisted version of it.

Back in Canada, Jack Brown and his wife Olivia were still not sailing on the same boat. He spent many hours at work and liked to stay away from her as much as possible. He liked to spend time with his only brother Owen Brown. They would visit their friends and go to night clubs. Had he known he had a son, he would have been very glad. Maria was robbing him once more. She was robbing him the joy he so much needed, that of having a child.

Hassan grew up amongst his two uncles and two aunties. They were Maina, Fatma, Amina and Guyo. They followed Maria in that order. Guyo, the youngest, was Hassan’s closest friend since he had a lot of time to spare. They spent a lot of time playing. He was only five years older than Hassan. Fatma and Amina were girls in their early teens. They were also twins. Maina was twenty at the time Hassan was born. He was a very vibrant young man. He new that being the eldest male in the house he had to step into his father’s shoes in some way.

Maria, her mother and Musa ran the café together since they couldn’t afford to hire workers. The twin sisters used to help out as well when they were not in school. That left the two young boys with a lot of play time. As time passed, Guyo and Hassan grew closer and closer and did a lot of things together.

Mombasa was a big city with a lot of people and settlements. Being one of the oldest town in Kenya, it had a lot of historical sites. It also bordered the ocean so tourists were all over the city. It was also a hotbed of crime, immorality and gang related activities.

Guyo was a restless boy and he loved to jump around. He loved the city.  He used to steal some time and go adventure in the city. He got into trouble on several occasions for leaving Mtwapa and going to the beach unaccompanied.

Maria’s Mother was very insecure about the society in Mombasa. She and Maria wanted to protect the young ones from being corrupted and going astray. They however had many responsibilities that preoccupied them. They didn’t do enough to keep Guyo at bay.