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Entry 2
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Friday, 14 February 2014
11:50pm
Dear Jennifer,
I am worried about the safety of my husband. He has not returned home since he left yesterday and the kids have been all over me with questions. The first to ask me about him was my 10-year old Harriet. She has a soft spot for Georgie and whenever he disappears from home, she is always the first to ask. Today she had a light pyrexia and headache in the morning and when I sat at her bedside to give her some maramoja tablets to easen the pain, she aptly inquired, "Mama, did Baba really come back home yesterday?" I did not pick up a reply immediately. I wondered, what if I just tell her YES to pacify her fear and anxiety, would that not be helpful? But then, I remembered how she had previously turned ballistic when she realized that I had lied to her about her father's absence. So I held her right palm and replied calmly, "No, honey. But don't let it bother you, I know he'll be here soon."
She kept quiet. She pushed aside the drugs and coiled herself tightly in the duvet. I left to digest her reactions for a while and when I returned, the fever had disgracefully intensified. I had to call Georgie. He never picks up his calls though. But I kept pressing till he did.
"What's up with you, Woman? Did I not tell you I'll be in a meeting," he boomed on the phone.
"No, my lord. You didn't, but...," I tried to explain.
"I did! What's up?" he shouted again, firmly, controverting his presence in a meeting.
"Harriet is sick, and we need you," I made an ebbed reply, feeling resentful about his way of questioning.
"You need me? My daughter is sick and you're saying you need me!"
"I meant to say we need your driver and your car to take her to hospital, my lord."
"Okay. Mmm... let me inform him. He'll be there in a jiffy."
"Thank you. And... aren't you coming home, my lord? She asked about you. Harriet. She even refused to take maramoja."
"I said I'm in a meeting, OK? When I'm done, I'll be right back."
"OK." I released the call and went back to the kitchen to finish preparing the kids breakfast. But I kept moving about nervously between the kitchen and Harriet's bedroom till I heard a car-beep at the gate. I helped Harriet dress up herself and walked her to the car waiting outside, and, with the driver's hands on the horns, we sped off to Moderncare Private Hospital. The doctor diagnosed Harriet with Malaria, gave a prescription and we headed back home.
At around 11 o'clock, dear sister, I went about washing my husband's clothes. Everything was okay again, at least for a while, until my fingers reached out the gold ring from one of Georgie's coats' pocket. At such, I was hit by a hot wave of fear and discomfort. I examined the ring for a moment. One side of the ring had a weird lovely twist while the other side remained round. It then occurred to me that something must be wrong. For the fifteen years I have been married to Georgie, he has never hid anything from me that much. His negligent way of keeping off this secret ring proves that he does not know how to hide things. Maybe he is seeing someone else or he is up to something best known to himself.
I slid the ring onto my ring finger and, holy moley, it would not even fit onto it properly. I took it off and placed it into my skirt's pocket. I wanted to keep it away and observe his reactions when he came back home, but reminiscing his hot temper, I took it out, walked back into the house and placed it into the inner pocket of one of his other coats hanging in his wardrobe. I still wondered what he was up to with the jewel, and I swore to myself that whatever it was, I had to nip it in the bud.
15-year old Tony who spent his day in school also wanted to know the whereabouts of his father when he came home in the evening. I told him his dad said he would be back home tonight. I am wondering what I will tell them tomorrow supposing Georgie fails to show up again.
It is 12:45 am, and I bet everyone else in this vicinage has fallen asleep . Wait... the doorbell is ringing. This late! Who might that be? Perhaps it is my lah-di-dah hubby. Let me check it out... .
***
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The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 3
Saturday, 15 February 20146:15PMDear Jennifer,I am seated in the backyard of my house as I make this entry into my journal. The orange flickers of the sinking sun falls on the round wooden table in front of me leaving a lustrous surface that seems hard to stop staring at. It reminds me of the first time I met Georgie back in Asembo when I came to visit you after completing my high school studies.I remember that it was evening and you had sent me to Akado Market to buy some fish for supper. I passed by a posho mill where a group of thuggish-looking boys stood by chatting merrily. One of them who appeared distinctively tall, mascular and black, came out of the group and barricaded my way. I tried to find my way off but he incessantly kept blocking all sides of the path. When I stopped right in front of him and cast my piercing looks onto his face, he asked rather politely in English, "I'm sorry, miss,
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 4
Sunday, 16 February 201411:45PMDear Jennifer,My husband has not yet come back from a fundraiser he attended in the afternoon after church. Perhaps he decided to spend the rest of his day at our home back in the boondock. I wonder why he never keeps me updated on his whereabouts, not even after a holy mass in town and a stressful afternoon.Georgie loves the church, though I would lie, to be sincere, to say it has ever had any spiritual impact on him. We have never been part of a specific congregation since he began his political career. We just keep maundering about from one group of believers to another.So today being a worship day, he told me in the morning that we were going to attend sermon at a local church back in Seme. Thirty minutes later, he changed his mind that we would first attend sermon at a church in Nyamasaria, and then he would leave us to attend a fundraiser at the
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 5
Monday, 17 February 201411:00PM.Dear Jennifer,You taught me that no metal is too hard to bend. You also taught me that the weakness of a man lies in his ego. Today, dear sister, I proved your teachings right.My husband came back home a few minutes after I had sent the kids off to school. I perceived that he was jittery with me for spoiling his speech on Sunday, and I would not take any chances of apologizing for granted. So I prepared his bathwater and made him breakfast as usual. After he had bathed and sat down to eat in the dining section, I served him tea with tears cascading my cheeks uncontrollably. Then I sat down opposite him, still heaving with emotions and crying helplessly.When he saw my tears and figured out my depth of grief, his looks quickly turned pallid. At this point, I knew he was touched and had to say something. He looked away from me and asked, "What is i
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 6
Tuesday, 18 February 201411:15pm.Dear Jennifer,My husband told me this morning before he left for job that he would be leaving for a one-week benchmarking trip to China with his executive the following week.What is funny about this trip is not the period it will take but the nitty-gritties of the benchmarking. I did not want to sound so snoopy, but I was tempted to ask how a small county in a developing country could benchmark with a developed country of the likes of China. I mean, what is even common between the two geographical units. Or perhaps my education inadequacy denies me a better understanding of economic concepts and development methods.That aside, I am still scrutinising the pieces of advice you gave me on phone in the course of the day. I wanted to know how to handle my husbands secretive and absolutist nature, and you told me three things.First,
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 7
Wednesday, 19 February 201411:30PM.Dear Jennifer,I am shocked by the latest developments regarding the strange gold ring. Just when I thought life would return to normal, something really fremd just occured.See, my husband left for work in the morning as usual, and I guess he took along with him his ring, 'cause it was nowhere to be found in his coats' pockets or trousers or anywhere in the house.At lunchtime, however, while lower primary school kids returned home from school, my Harriet came back with something in her palm."Mama, know what I have found?" she shouted happily and playfully."What is it, my baby?" I asked."Promise you won't snatch it away from me," she demanded."Um... Well, I promise. What is it?" I replied with a full deck of curiosity."A gold ring!" she exclaimed, stretching out her r
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 8
Thursday, 20 February 201410:53PM.Dear Jennifer,I woke up to some sad news today. Edith Alison, one of the two nurses who attended to me at Moderncare Private Hospital, has passed on. Her body was found dumped in a bush at Manyatta Estate. Her counterpart, Faith Earnington, who was with her at the time they left the hospital has written a statement at the police station in Manyatta.I called her to pass my condolences when I heard the sad news on radio in the morning. She told me that a gang attacked them yesterday evening, barely two kilometres from the hospital, and kidnapped Edith. They live on the same plot here in Milimani Estate and had boarded the same motorcycle home when they were attacked. She said her phone had died down, thus she could not call the police. But she went to the nearest police station and reported. The cops tried to locate the gang on their devices in vain. It seemed they had
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 9
Friday, 21 February 201411:03PM.Dear Jennifer,It has been another unusual day for me. I could not sit back and watch my marriage stoop on the precipice of failure, owing to a strange gold ring. My husband, the Georgie I knew, who was full of wisdom and love, is no longer the one I see. The one I see wanders back to the house from work, cold and shifty and unwilling to protect his marriage.So today I took a private walk outside our street to see a pastor I was well-acquainted with at Kona-kayona Estate. Since it rained heavily in the morning, I knew the area would be filled with trenches of dirty water and so I wore my gamboots and put on my cardigan and a pair of gloves to keep warm. I also wore a bucket hat to conceal my face a bit since I w
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 10
Saturday, 22 February 201410:58PM.Dear Jeniffer,I was disturbed by a few things and had to pay Faith a visit today. Saturday is her day off at Moderncare and so it was opportune for a visit. Since I did not want Georgie to know that I was visiting the nurse, I waited till he had left the house, then I threw myself into a pair of palazzo pants, a chiffon blouse, wedge heels and a pair of glasses, took my handbag and left. I walked down the street and straight to the plot where she lives.I found her seated in her portico preparing some beans for cooking. She welcomed me into the house and served me tea. We spoke about our families (she is engaged to an Indian) and what happened before I fainted the previous Sunday. But when I finally touched on Edith's demise, she turned bleak and somewhat shaken."Well, I'm sorry I brought up this conversation," I tried to rub it off.
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The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 22
Wednesday, 5th March 201411:15PMDear Jennifer,The police came to my house in the morning. They said they wanted to ask me a few questions about the man Tiger. But I told them I was not ready for an interrogation about anything. One of them insisted that it was important that I told them what I knew about Tiger for my own safety. He went ahead and asked me whether and how many times the man has been at my house."If there's anything you want to know about him, I think the best person to ask would be my husband," I replied. "Not that they do interact, but he is the head of this family and is answerable to anything.""Well that depends on whether you want him arrested or not," said one of the two male cops."Arrested!" I exclaimed. "Um... okay... whatever it is, get your batts outa here! Please." I was irritated. Did they think they would put me down with a threat? No, I
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 21
Tuesday, 4 March 201411:00PMDear Jennifer,After my husband left in the morning, I cleaned the house and went about washing his clothes. Later, I went out to see Faith and settle the dispute that was rising between us. I used a motorcycle.I found her seated at the porch of her house. At first, I thought she would be flared at me, but to my surprise, she amplected and welcomed me into her house.I felt suspicious. When she served me tea, I hesitated taking it. "Faith, why are you doing this? I was hoping to find you still vexed up with me the way you were when you appeared at my gate? Why are you now good and kind to me?""What, Your Excellence? What are you talking about?" she asked, completely taken aback."No. Please don't play false modesty, darling. You did show up at my gate and said my husband accosted you!"
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 20
Tuesday, 4th March 20148:45AMDear Jennifer,(Alert: This entry contains some amorous discriptions. However, care has been taken to avoid elements of offensive romantic candour)Georgie returned home at 2:00am today. I had already slept when he returned, and since we do not yet have another gatekeeper, he had to call me to open the gate. I have been trying to contact the gatekeeper since he last disappeared, but he does not answer my calls. He has decided to take the studs on his job. Maybe he is fed up with Tiger's threats or something unimaginable happened to him on the morning Tiger appeared at my porch. I am yet to investigate.When Georgie came into the house, I decided to take the wheels over our marriage muteness. I could feel that he was randy from the way he kept touching my breasts, and I badly wanted him too. But he was smelling horrible; the yucky freakish mixture of sweat and gri
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 19
Monday, 3 February 201411:03MP.Dear Jennifer,Georgie has not returned home since yesterday and I am beginning to think something might be wrong, considering how he left yesterday, acerbic and disintegrated in family matters. Really, where would he be in the middle of this fracas? If he does not take great care, then he might as well be a target for the cops, given his high profile connections with Tiger. Information has also reached me that he went out to frighten someone. Why would he do that on someone who has entrusted me with their life?I went out to buy the Bible from a bookshop. If it could be a protection against Tiger and his mischiefs, then it was nothing to give a flying puck. Sincerely speaking, dear sister, I am wearied and scared of seeing the mystical Tiger's face every day and listening to his threats and mockeries. Where the hell did my marriage start rolling downhill?
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 18
Sunday, 2nd March 201411:00PMDear Jennifer,I thought Georgie would be back so I could find time with him to solve this impasse around Tiger, but he has not yet appeared. Faith called to say that the police have been looking for Tiger since the attack occurred.When I left Moderncare without answers, I took a motorbike ride to Star Mortuary where I heard most of the bodies were being transmitted. As I headed into the building, however, someone called my number. I took out the phone and checked; it was a landline number. I decided to pick up the call.“Hello… who’s calling, please?” I inquired.“Am I speaking to Mrs Linda Argwins?” asked a slim feminine voice.“Yes, you are. And who are you, please?” I replied.“Please come to Port Victoria Private
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 17
Sunday, 2nd March 2014,6:15PMDear Jennifer,GEORGIE returned home today. The kids – especially Harriet – were so delighted to see him back as safe as he had left. But I was on something else. I noticed that he was putting on the gold ring, and a strong repugnance against it suddenly struck my heart. As I hugged him, I felt something pushing me to hold his finger and pull off the ring, but I kept my knickers on.“Baba, Tiger came here and threatened me. He said he was going to be my father.” It was Harriet who opened up the conversation about Tiger when Georgie had already sat down in the house. I had not even thought about the approach to take in handling the gridlock. Georgie turned up his eyebrows and cast onto me looks that seemed to beg the question “did you tell the kids about him”? I nodded, as if I had read and understood the facial expression, and remaine
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 16
Saturday, 1st March 20146: 00PM.Dear Jennifer,Today was the day I felt like I was just entering a new world of things. When I opened Tiger’s notebook in the morning after having breakfast, I came across an order of writing I have never seen in my life. The title and subtitles of each page were written in meaningful English words, but the content consisted of a crazy jostle of the English alphabet and figures and another foreign alphabet I could not quite apprehend.The first page was titled “The burning ritual”. I strained my eyes through the content trying to see whether I could gather anything, but it all looked like computer-coded writing. I was just about to flip to the next page when I heard a knock at my bedroom’s door. I tossed the book under my pillow and went to the door. When I opened it, I met the grim looks of my little Harriet.“Baby, I told you not to come in. Have you fi
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 15
Friday, 28th February 201410:00PM.Dear Jennifer,Faith’s case was mentioned today and she was released on a five hundred thousand shillings cash bail (which I paid from my family’s account), and so I decided to pay her a visit for a small talk. My lawyer told me that she was a bit closed up about giving details and that I needed to find time with her and explain to her the importance of opening up for a court case.I found her watching news in her house - she looked weary and troubled. She welcomed me with a firm hug and great appreciation about my intervention in her case. After she had served me tea, I decided to start up the conversation.“Faith, my lawyer says you are hard on giving information,” I started, and poured some water to cool the bath, “You’re the like of my husband who clamps onto information like a kangaroo onto its child. Georgie has never been easy on opening up about anything,
The Wicked Gold Ring 1 (Linda's Diary) Entry 14
Thursday, 27 February 20146:00PMDear Jennifer,There is quite a lot happening with this man Tiger that I feel like I'm living in fantasy. When I woke up today, I found him calmly seated on a chair at the porch. Just ima... I could not even believe it myself. It was about 6:00AM and I had woken up as usual to prepare the kids for school when I caught the choking smell of cigar smoke. When I opened the main door to see who it was, for I thought it could be the gatekeeper due to his smoking habit, to my consternation, I found Tiger instead, seated untouched, smoking weed!I was stupefied and almost fainted, dear. Tiger himself was not even tingled a bit. He did not even turn himself to look at me."Holy shit! You scared me to death, you tosspot!" I indicated my frustration after regaining strength. He did not respond. "What are you doing at my porch this early, Tiger?"
