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- Additional Information
69 10 am returned to the Old Man’s homestead empty handed like the prodigal son who had squandered all his inheritance only to return and beg for his father’s forgiveness. Only that there were some significant differences: Sam was not returning to his father’s home. He was not given a new robe to wear. He did not receive a ring for his finger or sandals for his feet. There was no fattened calf slaughtered to mark his arrival. There was no celebration. His grandmother did not have a chicken to slaughter for her prodigal son. Even Sam, himself, did not come home begging for forgiveness. His homecoming was marred with his brokenness because life at Bumbe Polytechnic had robbed him of his manhood. He had also lost his sense of balance. So, when he got home, he simply withdrew from everyone—the Old Man, his friends, his grandmother, even Ajema. Having lost faith in people, he reverted to his old life, of eating and brooding. Food became his comfort like most people nursing a depression. He ate and slept. That was it. Other times, when he was not indulging on food, he climbed up the gum tree, a place he had hidden many times—under its towering green. There, he remained from sun up to sun down brooding over his misfortunes, unless, of course, if it rained. Only then would he withdraw to his room and lock himself there. He would lower his body onto his bed, close his eyes, as though in wait for his grandmother’s calling at dusk for supper, and she often did; he would fall asleep only to awaken at night. In this manner, he festered in his aloneness for a very long time. A year later, when he had gained some sanity, Sam’s first impulse was to leave Mung’oma Village, again. Only this time, he was not going to school. Neither was he going to college. He was going away indefinitely. For a young man his age, change was good for him. The truth was that the village had become a desolate dump. Even his best friend, Achaga, had realized it and moved to Kakamega, a nearby S 70 town. He was working there; and, for Sam, to continue living in his village was simply absurd. With his mind made-up, the hardest part was breaking the news to the Old Man. At first, he did not have the gumption to do so. He wondered if he would approve. He brooded over the matter for days. In the end, after serious contemplation, he broke the news to him the night before his departure. It was better that way. They had just finished supper, and he was getting ready to go to bed when he told him. “Guga,” he began his conversation as delicately as he could. “You know ever since my return from Bumbe, I have not worked.” The Old Man whose back was buried in his chair and nearly dozing, after indulging incessantly on a hearty meal of Ugali, peanut butter kunde, and roasted chicken, bolted himself up. He shook sleep from his eyes as he raised his eyebrows to look at his grandson. He grunted noisily. Sam paused, stealing a glance at the Old Man and regarding his motions carefully. “Guga,” he began again. “I want to go to Kakamega to find a job. If I continue to stay here, my life will never change.” The Old Man grunted. Sam paused and looked at him again, but in silence. Finally, he added: “I have no job or future here. I have nothing!” “I see,” the Old Man said. “And when do you plan on leaving?” “Tomorrow!” “Where will you stay?” “With a friend!” “Does this friend have a name?” “Of course yes, Achaga!” “I see!” the Old Man mumbled. He reclined against the flat firm panel of the chair, burying his head into its soft cushion until he was sitting in a comfortable position. Then, he closed his eyes. He did not add a word about his grandson’s impending departure. Sam stood there watching him for a few seconds, as his lower and upper eyelids gently locked. All along, he had hoped the Old Man would add a word, but he never did. Disappointed, Sam walked away. That night, the Old Man did not pray for Sam’s departure. [3.93.173.205] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 06:37 GMT) 71 The next morning, Sam...