Cocks were crowing amidst the approaching dawn. A silver shiny thread of light could be seen on the eastern horizon. While the neighbors were getting ready to wake up, we had been up all night. Eva, her two cousins, a neighbor and I couldn’t sleep. To be honest, I could use some sleep but it would seem insensitive to Eva. So we stayed up all night expecting any good news on the whereabouts of Freddy.
Freddy was her three years old son who did not return home last night. The last time we saw him was around four in the afternoon yesterday when we were watching TV. He said he was going out to play with his friends. It’s only after darkness encroached that his mum realized and went out to look for her. She came back after twenty minutes asking me to help in the search because he could not be found in the whole neighborhood.
Freddy had the general cuteness of little kids. He was brown, big eyes and playful. He demands money for sweets and “chips kuku” every time I arrive. I didn’t like his behavior of climbing up elder people when they are resting on the couch. He talks back arrogantly. I guess he knew his mum has a soft spot for him as an only child and would excuse any mischief he does.
I had a soft spot for his mum. I wouldn’t want to upset her so I pretended to like her son. Eva had him with an irresponsible Matatu tout who was not yet done with “enjoying life.” Despite childbirth, this Meru Mammacita still retained her exquisite physique and nice looks. Well, she uses makeup mostly to enhance her facial looks but the body was all hers. No artificial alterations, an African heavy machine.
Despite tiredness, we were ready to go for the search again. Last night we went to Inuka and Likoni police stations to report the missing child. We came back to Ujamaa village and searched the nearby areas until past midnight. We couldn’t sleep after, so we sat outside the house praying and hoping Freddy would show up miraculously. Eva, one of her cousins and I began going deeper into Shonda village to look for Freddy. We passed by where I lived, asked some neighbors and preceded. On the way, we asked for village elders and pleaded with mosques to announce on their loudspeakers about the missing child. We left our contacts with everyone we hoped could help. We reached Talentos and Shelly beaches but no one had seen Freddy. The second team; Eva’s cousin, the neighbor and a friend of hers who came this morning after hearing the bad news took to Shikaadabu route. They crossed the road and searched in Mwaweche to areas near Mtongwe. We kept contacting each other after intervals to see if there’s any good news.
Dusk was approaching and we had not gotten any hope of knowing where Freddy had lost to. I had only a queen cake and mineral water bought from a shop the whole day. I was hungry and tired of the search. I could see everyone else was. I wished I could escape Eva for about two hours where I’d go to my home to eat and rest. To be honest, I wasn’t so fond of the kid but I felt it’s my duty as a boyfriend to stand by Eva in this. What’s the worst that could happen if the boy didn’t show up? At least our bedroom time will have no interruptions from the little elf. He had this habit of knocking on his mum’s bedroom door just when we were winding up on foreplay. And if we pretended to be quiet asleep he would cry so loud that his mum would be thrown out of the mood.
Close to seven P.M. and we had not received a phone call from the village elders or Police stations giving us news about Freddy. We were not going to have a search tonight, it would be pointless. Many neighbors came and showed how sorry they were for Eva. Some were very talkative and stood in corners to talk about the misfortune. I wondered where they were during searches. Some guys were talking about uncovered pit holes that are increasing in Likoni Location which kids and drunkards could easily fall into. Some talked about members of cults who steal babies because they believe in human sacrifice. All gory stories and their voices could be heard even though they stood on far corners.
This made Eva lose hope. Two days and her son was nowhere to be found. Where was he? She kept asking, sometimes out loud. I had planned to give an excuse so that I could disappear for tonight but then I didn’t. I was tired, and it was less likely that she would forget her sadness and worry tonight for some romance. I was frustrated. I so much wanted to have our mild wrestling games with her tonight.
Exotic beauty gives men the “can’t get enough of her” feeling. Her brown shiny skin and sleepy brown eyes were a curse to any man committed to celibacy. She was tall and built but not fat. She had a flat stomach because she maintained herself. This Baby mama has a sexy stride with a confident look. She frolics in the nude when we are indoors. She is hotter than every ex I had. Tonight, she makes me wish there was a thing like “Calamity sex.” Eva Kaweria, the best I've ever had.
Eva’s boyfriend had her shoulder. As she was sobbing, I had her leaning on my chest, my left arm around her. I kept sniffing her hair while giving her comforting words. Maybe she felt my skin against hers, maybe she didn’t. But I still held her and kissed her forehead from time to time. I wanted to send a message without saying that it was okay. It will be okay, and I’m here for you. I held her tight and breathed to her ears but she kept crying in pain not knowing what to do. She didn’t know whether her son had been stolen or dead.
I decided I would be with her through this difficult time. If she needs to arrange an absentia funeral, rally for donations or whatever need be to make her believe her son is resting in peace so that we can live life and enjoy in peace. I will stick with her despite what the neighbors’ gossip in our absence. We lived among communities that largely condemned having a child out of wedlock. But they didn’t know that Baby mamas make perfect candidates for men who do not want responsibilities, especially financial ones. There is a community in these areas that would not marry a woman if there is no proof of babies. They would easily take girls who’ve sired babies outside wedlock because they know they can reproduce and bring babies for them. Others do the "Come we stay" and only get married after having babies. But there are others who see them as being irresponsible, promiscuous, sinners, and a pre-requisite for a “Complicated marriage” if ever they take them in. Eva had a good job and took good care of her son. She did not ask for any assistance from his biological father. Except for yesterday when she called to tell him that his son was lost, but he didn’t even bother to show up.
We slept at her couch. We were so tired and hungry. Even though she didn’t want to, she found herself waking up from it at seven in the morning. It must have been the power of my cuddle. We washed our faces and decided to head to Inuka police station then to Likoni police station. At the entrance of Likoni Police station, an older guy was holding Freddy by his hand taking him in. We stopped him and Eva held up her baby gratefully. She hugged and kissed him so many times. She was very happy to have found her baby. The guy said his name was Rajabu and he found Freddy two days ago stranded in Licodep area. There was a wedding band procession that ended at that hall. We figured out that Freddy followed the wedding band procession we heard outside two days ago while we were watching TV, Famously known as Simba Ropa here in Mombasa. And when the procession reached its destination, Freddy didn’t know his way back home and it was dark. Rajabu took him to Likoni Police station and reported. And he had been feeding Freddy and provided him with a place to sleep for two days. We wondered why the Police did not call us back, but Eva was just so glad to bring that up to the Police.
