Jacob was tired, Chipata had long lost its appeal to him. The city of Chipata moved at such a slow pace for him and he needed to feel like there were opportunities for him but he had hit his ceiling and needed a change.
It started with his journey to the beating heart of Zambia, Lusaka. As a farewell gift, his best friend Samson got him a bottle filled to the brim with Uncle John’s special whiskey. “I don’t know what the future holds but may this bottle celebrate with you as you begin to touch your dreams,” Samson said. Hugging his dearest friend, goodbye.
On the bus, Jacob felt more anxious than he thought he would, he kept staring outside the window and on the clock hanging behind the driver’s seat. The more he stared the faster the car seemed to travel but time hardly moved judging by the clock, he decided to pour himself a shot of Uncle John’s, to help the jitters.
The taste electrified Jacob with its warm electric tangy feel coursing past his throat till he felt it sit comfortably in his belly. That was the start of 4 quick shots in succession until his heart and body aligned to the excitement of his dreams. He looked up and around for the first time since the bus started off, everyone looked busy and preoccupied so Jacob decided to keep his excitement to himself as he stared out the window imagining the joy that awaited him in Lusaka.
“Iwe! Caman get up!”
Jacob stirred himself wondering where he was and who was shouting so loud. The man was walking away when Jacob noticed he was still in the bus, alone. Uncle John’s worked a little too well, Jacob thought. Carrying his bag, Jacob sheepishly followed the man outside the bus, to inhale that famous Lusaka air.
With no luggage to have unpacked and the sun still high in the sky Jacob went sightseeing, I have arrived, Jacob thought. Looking at the busy people, rushing to and from. In his excitement he had forgotten to pay attention to the traffic
“You want to die?” hooted oncoming traffic. The loop on Jacobs bag got tagged pulling him backwards away from an oncoming black Toyota Hiace bus cruising away in the constant traffic. Jacob looked at his savior with tears in his eyes,
“Lets not stand here, they might succeed at killing you” His savior chuckled. She had the biggest hair Jacob had ever seen and a laugh that made him feel better about himself.
“Thank you, Lusaka truly is beautiful.” Jacob said. Mesmerized by her infectious nature that grounded him to a complete stop. She was funny, unrelenting and passionate, Jacob spent his first day in Lusaka completely infatuated with a girl he knew was out of his league. It had gotten late and Jacob remembered after he had escorted Melisa that he had left his phone off and neglected to tell anyone he had arrived.
“… true story she saved my life mwana, I even forgot to tell the family here that I’ve made it safely. She confused your boy…” Jacob laughed. Informing Samson over the contents of an eventful first time in Lusaka.
“I hope she makes you happy, buti don’t forget why you’re in the beating heart of the Mother land. You have a talent you owe yourself the opportunity to do everything you can to make those dreams come true” Samson said. Creating an awkward silence on the line as Jacob took everything he had just be told.
“Yes mum, I understand.” Jacob laughed. Looking at his mother’s library with all its certificates and reading material. “But seriously the reason you’re there is school, its either your dream waits, or you focus on both, which means no distractions” Samson continued.
“My mum is going to give me the talk already why are you so uptight?” Jacob retorted. “You’re my best friend, I won’t have anyone to bother so I’m just making sure you don’t have fun without me” Samson sighed.
The distance will strain our friendship, mum was right, Jacob thought after the call had ended. He walked round the strange house holding an envelope too afraid to forget it in a strange house. Samson was right, I’ve been dreaming about this for a while now and if I go with their plan I have to take school seriously and still chase this dream. Samson paced round the house as he thought of a strategy before his mum came home from work.
“Welcome Jacob” was taped to his bedroom door, and the inside showed a dedication to Jacob that surprised even him. With her busy schedule she never missed an opportunity to be a great mum leaving him the first paper he ever wrote, she highlighted something in red ink that caught Jacob’s eye;
When I grow up I want my words to be read by everyone in the world, so they can feel butterflys flatter in there tummy and drums beat in there chests as we change the world
Jacob smiled to himself knowing like everything else in his life his mum had already expected this and helped him make the choice, even when she wasn’t there. Jacob opened the envelope and signed his name against the acceptance letter.
“Welcome to the University Of Zambia…” The letter began. Jacob skipped all the reading and went directly to the part saying “sign here”, thinking, This is the start of the Zambian dream, where dreams go die.
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