Deliberately.
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#IKnowAGuy Season IV
The Real ***kboys of Nairobi,
Episode 3A: The Preacher's Wife
#TRFNrb
Disclaimer: This story may trigger emotions for some harm is outrightly intended. Similarity of names and situation purely coincidental.
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When they almost get to the pastor, several people other people join the cue. Some are even jumping the cue. They are very patient.
Finally it's their turn. The pastor is tired, but has handshake obligations. His tired face smiles.
Small pleasantries.
Woman: We wanted to ask you to say a prayer quick for us.
Pastor: OK. Anything in particular?
The man is not talking.
The pastor is weary from 2 services. He asks if he can ask an associate pastor to do the dedication.
He also doesn’t like to be bothered by menial things.
He asks them to give him a few minutes to just finish something at his office.
They take about fifteen minutes domeing, but the couple is patient.
They come out, pastor just wanting to leave.
They wave at him smiling.
Ehe.
Even the pastor is shook. Coz the Range Rover Sport those days was the mother of all cars.
Wakakuja, they say prayers of dedication, bless the car, the owners of the car, the manufactures, kila mtu.
'Pastor, my husband and I are blessed. We just want to bless you and your family, too.'
She goes into her bag, chomoas some car keys from her purse and says, we could have sold this car but we thought maybe not.
Akawaambia the car is insured and already serviced, and when you are ready we can do the transfer on the logbook. Almost new Toyota Mark X. Ze new model.
Pastor na Bibi hawaamini.
They are shook, excited at the same time. Received with dhenks.
‘This is 15,000.00. This will help fuel for this month, as I am sure you did not have such a plan.’
Bibi ya pastor sasa ni machozi ana produce.
They exchange numbers. Pastor asks them their names. Jackie, and Mike.
Jackie: That’s not necessary. We do not like attention. Msiseme jina zetu.
Sunday ikafika. Services zimeshika. Pastor na testimony.
Of course he doesn't say who it is. People clap, dance and jump. They even pray for the couple that they'll be blessed even more.
Waka stretch hands waka dediket gari ya Pastor.
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In the back of his mind, the pastor really wants to know who this is and what is it they do, and how can they tap into that generosity towards Church projects and programs.
Pastor is doesn't speak much, but this investigation is on.
She deliberately goes out and forms a special genuine friendship with Jackie.
She tells Jackie, she really admires her and how her family is, and how they look so together. Jackie on the other hand says, she'd love Cate's life, with all the drama that is there.
Cate can’t believe how humble Jackie is.
They bond properly; especially because they are both stay at home mums. They hang out for a good while.
Cate asks, Jackie says she's a giver.
And she felt the pastor's family might use a car.
They bond over being wives of busy men. Both building kingdoms, even though different.
She insists.
Maid, not housie, tells her, ‘Mzee ametoka na mama hasikii vizuri. Yuko upstairs, lakini amelala.’
Maid refuses, ‘Ai, hapana. Atanikasirikia. Mpigie simu kwanza.’
Cate removes her phone in the living room while her tea is being poured. She calls Jackie. She can hear Jackie’s phone ring from upstairs. Haichukuliwi.
She gets up, and goes to the door. At the door, there are several suitcases packed as if for travel. She looks at the maid.
She gestures to her with her finger on her lips, whispers a quick, ‘Shhh!’
When she gets to the gate, the guard tells her to wait.
The maid is running after her, with bananas and apples. She rolls down her window. She hands over the fruits, alafu the maid says, ‘Pastor, aki jaribu upigie Mama simu.'
Cate asks, ‘Mary, si uniambie ni nini inaendelea?’
Maid: Mimi ni mfaninyi kazi tu. Sipendi kuingilia nyumba ya watu. Lakini wewe muongeleshe. Akikuambia, sawa.’
Cate, now very concerned, looks back as the Maid heads back to the house.
She waves at her, but Jackie just stares. Not even attempting to hide.
Cate akaskia ako na symptoms za corona.
She drives away, heavily disturbed. She drives to the Church and speaks to husband about it.
Cate is sure she saw what she saw. Cate tells him not to call Mike first.
That same night, Mary the maid calls Cate, and tells her not to tell Jackie that she had said anything to her. 'Sitaki kupoteza hii kazi.'
They sit and talk awkwardly for 3 hours. Cate finally asks, about that day.
They keep quiet.
She calls the waiter, asks for a pack of cigarettes, an ashtray, and some really expensive whiskey on the rocks.
CATE.
IS.
SHOCKED!
Her mouth is open wide, as Jackie lights up to smoke. She's staring.
Haya. Jackie removes her sweater, and shows Cate body marks that she claims were procured from Mike. She distinguishes the drugs spots and the beating spots.
Cate. Cannot. Believe. It.
But she had decided she would henceforth pursue this relationship with Jackie with great caution.
She says she really loves the guy, and she has really loved him. Lakini she can’t take it anymore. She feels this 6-year-old marriage has ended.
Cate defences are up. She jumps into full bibi ya pastor mode.
She takes the cigarettes and whisky from her and tells her, she needs to let go of the sin.
Jackie akamshow, ‘Smoking, drugs and alcohol has been my only way to deal with the devil himself.’
Cate anamwangalia tu.
Jackie says, ‘I know what you are thinking. That I am a rebellious woman? Right? Please note, I have a great gift of discernment. Like you won’t believe.’
Cate just stares.
They sit in battle silence. Bill ikakuja.
Cate chomoas 200 bob in 50s, and puts it on the table. Jackie tells her, ‘It’s ok. I’ll pay.’
Cate akamrushia mdomo, ‘Hapana. Wacha tu. I can also pay for my own tea.’
Jackie: Are we fighting?
Kamenuka sasa.
Jackie: [Pissed off as well]. Oya, relax. Ni nini? Mbona umekasirika na sio wewe unakula mangumi. My friend?
Cate: Argh. Tulipe. I just want to go home.
Jackie anashangaa na huyu mama.
Jackie adds 500, akashow waiter, hiyo akamate nayo smokie pasua extra time akienda home.
She runs her StanChart card.
She doesn't want her stories. She gets home around 4pm, goes into her room, and locks herself up.
Sema #SafeIsSmart
Anakata ndimi. Rababosh na shetete zinatiririka ajab.
Tearing things in the heavens and trying to manifest them in the physical. She is like this for two hours, until her husband knocks on the door.
The Pastor is like, ai. Things don’t work like this. There are better ways.
Next day, Jackie tries to call. Cate analenga.
Next Sunday, the lovely couple is in Church. Jackie na Cate wanachekiana kwa 18.
After service Jackie goes and confronts Cate nyuma ya tent. Kwanza kabisa akamwita a female dog.
Cate: Look, me I can’t understand how you are leaving your husband. You can’t see how you are living your life is the cause of all this?
Jackie: How does my drinking help him swing a punch? Why is me being with my husband such a dear issue for you?
Jackie: So we can only be friends if I stay with him until I die?
Jackie tells her, ‘I told you. You are me. And I am you. The difference is just some six years ago. And you are not listening. Get that into your thick head.’
And the she turns and leaves.
She says, ‘I want to speak a woman here. Some of us women are a hindrance to other women receiving grace. Your calling is to be a friend. And a good friend at that.'
Over the weekend, she drives to her mentor’s house. Her mentor is like the wife of the archbishop or general overseer of a group of churches. They talk, and talk. She shares about Jackie without making mention. A ‘I have a friend’ kinda story.
Conviction kidogo.
She relaxes her stance.
She asks Jackie if they can hangout sometime during the week. Jackie akamshow akuje kwake. She says no, maybe a café or something like that.
Girls wakakutana pale Sarit. Tension iko juu.
And then she finally says, she was confused and was scared for her and did not know how to respond, and for that, she is sorry.
Jackie tells her haina noma. Ata isikusumbue sana. She really didn't expected judgement from Cate.
‘I don’t want this awkwardness anymore. If you are going to be my friend, just be my friend.’
Wakarudi default settings. Ubeste sasa inanoga kunoga.
She knows when she is in danger, and they even plan mitigation.
Cate starts to be comfortable with the fact that maybe Jackie can leave her husband, but she is still against divorce.
Haya.
After the week of seminars and talks, the couples will go for a retreat in Limuru for the weekend.
Cate invites bestie and husband.
They come reluctantly, day one.
On Friday, Mike comes but Jackie doesn’t show up.
Ala? Cate asks what’s up?
Mike says she isn't feeling well.
Cate calls but she does not answer. Usiku Cate chats Jackie.
But she says, at least, the talks are kinda getting through to him. Cate tells her, avumilie. All things work together. She urges her wakuje retreat.
Mrs. Pastor akaenda kuongelesha mens on behalf of the womens, and Pastor represents womens issues to men.
Next morning, Jackie and Mike don’t show up for breakfast. Apparently they checked out early. Simu nini, ati Jackie wasn’t feeling well.
Cate huyo mbio, akajipeleka hosi akawacha husband afunge sessions. Akifika akapata msichana anawekewa oxygen.
She confronts black man.
Guy says he has anger issues, and he has been stressed lately, and that he wants to get born again.
Jackie leaves hosi after a week. Counseling ikaanza imijet. They do it successfully for 6 weeks.
Counseling is not addressing the anger issues though, and they are all hepaing the violence part.
Cate gets the guts to ask what happened that night in Limuru. Jackie says she tried to be honest, and she opened up to the fact that she went to the doctor, and got procedure. She won’t ever have kids.
Coz when they went to their room, the guy was like we should get a child.
Man akajirusha kwa sakafu ya ofisi ya pastor akalia for long hours. Makamasi makamasi! Cate now says, that was such a drastic action, and she should have consulted nini nini.
They continue with counseling.
Mike starts to ask Cate what do for Jackie. Mara date, mara flowers, mara gifts, mara sijui what. Kwa process she develops a soft spot for Mike.
Especially, because Mike does not look one bit violent.
Pastor hashikanishi. Alafu Cate get’s frustrated.
Cate naye confides in Mike anamwambia vile angetaka pastor a-operate. But instead, Mike is the one who sends her flowers, the chocolates, and the earrings.
Mike shows up and tells her surprise is off, coz of a fight about money.
Cate feels so bad. She begs him to go home, and just sort things out.
He agrees. He goes to the room, picks his stuff and checks out.
Wakaenda, story story, when they get to her gate, as they are hugging goodbye.
Mike kisses Cate.
On the mouth.
And Cate does not resist.
AT.
ALL.
Ghafla bin vuu, Pastor turns in with the Mark X to get into the gate.
My friend.
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Part 2B Next Week.