I saw it all!...Part 2- Truth at a price

I must confess I sometimes enjoyed the "Aunty" moments though it was a forced cheering responsibility bestowed on me: when she would walk from the bathroom into my mama's closet and fit her clothes and jewelry and make me sit and judge her outlook. Her house chores were usually done by two pm,leaving her an entire afternoon of "modelling" and catwalk (hers reminded me of chicken walk as she always had her arms spread out like chicken wings). Perhaps she had dreams to fly too! She would unwrap her towel, remain stuck naked and grease herself with mama's body lotion from hair (literally) to heel. She smelled good...just like mama! She would then fit into mama's clothes,one by one and use me as her mirror "how do I look?" she'd ask. "Like my mama." I'd reply, impatiently swinging my legs back on forth from the parents' chair offered to me. She would then frostily warn me, "If you ever tell anyone, you will see!" I always doubted if this was a legal endeavor. She was always digging into my mother's wardrobe and my play time while threatening me too!

So on this day; being a Friday,dad zoomed in unannounced on his Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle; the fastest and noisiest machine I'd seen moving in this little town on the slopes of Mount Kenya. It was slightly after two pm...too early an hour for him to be home; the catwalk hour! "Aunty" was still closeted in my mama's wardrobe when dad arrived. Being the agile athlete that he was, a few strides and he was in the house,before she could escape. He dashed for his bedroom as if to put out some fire and locked the door. Everything went silent momentarily before I heard sounds of doors opening and closing and suddenly a thud outside my dad's bedroom window : Aunty, finally fulfilling her dream to fly!

Well, I couldn't vouch for her bad manners since she gave me no reason to. Besides,that room wasn't her place and she looked nothing close to my naturally vivacious mother. Everything in this room, including my mother's items belonged to my father. Only him. And woe betide anyone who tried to mess with his belongings.

I stared up at him in the forlorn hope of approval. My father was embarrassed by the contretemps. He found my sentiments trite and annoying; but he knew it was true-this wasn't the first time he'd inquired about his room smelling of mama's body lotion.I won't simply shrug my shoulder's to refute knowledge of the catwalk and run out of the house to play. He looked at me somewhat askance with his eyebrow raised in anger " Where was she again?" In response, I walked in past him into the bedroom and to my mother's closet and answered "Here. She wears mama's clothes and lotion everyday" I responded.

So dad slipped into his Friday t-shirt and jeans and called out for Aunty. He asked her to pick her favorite dress from mama's closet and the lotion too. "Take that and pack your bags, we are going for a ride.Then turning to me he said " And you little girl, grow up,keep your mouth shut and take care of your sisters till I get back."

And so Aunty had a ride to the bus stop to board a night bus back to her village; with my mother's (perhaps favorite) dress and body lotion as her souvenirs. Dad rode back to party with his friends at a neighboring pub,while I; I was left behind to grow up,shut up and be "Aunty" to my sisters. It was the longest Friday of my life. Feel my feelings? I since have learned how to keep secrets because nilikiona (I saw it all!).