'LETTING GO' 09-0387

Monday is boring for most people probably due to the long weekend of merrymaking. As for me it is my best day because after indulging in all kinds of foods, I visit the gym and remind myself that my health is as important as any other thing in my life.

The gym in Daystar is located near the cafeteria, opposite Grace Hostels. Outside is crowd of people who have their eyes focused on the game of pool. Inside loud music can be heard from a distance which makes it hard to miss it.

The room is four cornered with dark coloured walls. The floor is worn, dirty and has mats thrown all over.

There are two offices that are used as stores for the various games played outside the gym. In one corner is the treadmill, stair case climber and the bike. On the other end are weights of all sizes. Next to the weights is water for those who get thirsty.

We begin the daily routine of warm ups before proceeding to other exercises. Men with big muscles are busy lifting the weights in turns while the ladies are doing less strenuous exercises. The room is well ventilated as the workout routine is sweaty. The gym is a good way of relaxing and burning extra calories. The next time you pass by, join in ‘letting go’ of the extras.

SUSAN by Linda Anemba 08-1003

       Susan is standing outside the white picket-fence gate of her house. Her white maisonette in a suburb estate has a designed, mahogany door. The upstairs and downstairs vertical sliding windows are open exposing plain pale-yellow curtains blowing in the wind. Her two front steps leads a cemented path to the gate dividing her carpet grass front lawn in two. Flowers have been planted on either side of the path and along the fence round the house. She has a round bird bath fountain on the right with birds splashing merrily.

      Susan looks rather disillusioned despite her upright poise in a fitting, elegant, light-pink chiffon dress; straight, knee-high with shoulder length sleeves, a v-neckline and a short closed back-slit. Her mind is so far into space that she does not notice a short stubby man approaching her. “Excuse me….Ms……Excuse me” he calls cheerfully.

      “Yes, can I help you?” answers Susan rather absent-minded as she turns to face him.

AN EARLY U-TURN BY TINNAH KIIO-09-0941

my sister woke me up early on Sunday morning interfering with my sweet sleep. I knelt on my bed pretending to say my morning prayers in a bid to extend my sleep. She left me behind and went ahead to have her breakfast."Where is Toto?"I heard my mother ask in a strong voice as her heavy footsteps headed towards our bedroom. Thank God this was the last time we had a fight over waking up to go to church.

She grabbed me from my bed as i shouted a loud amen to prove that i was praying but obviously she could not buy that. It was my habit anyway. After i was prepared, my sister was given our offerings but on the way i demanded for my share. She gave me five shillings of which i i used two to buy sweets. I had never liked going to church, and i didn't like my pastor. He always gave bad examples with me and never gave me gifts like other children.

I sat next to a young lady.As soon as the teacher stood, i got out my sweets."No, don't take that, children who love Jesus don't eat in church, bring them child I'll give them back to you at the end." The lady said in a low voice.I Surrendered them,"but who is Jesus?"I wondered. Within an hour the lesson was over. She carried me outside and told me very sweetly about Jesus and that he would love me if i would stop lying and eating in church. I accepted and since then life has never been the same.

THE HYRAX 09-1209 GACHUHO MARY WANJIRU

Hyraxes have stumpy toes with hoof like nails, four toes on each front foot and three on each back foot. The longer claw like nails on the inside toes of the back feet are used for grooming and scratching. The bottoms of the feet have a rubbery texture to assist in climbing steep rock surfaces and trees. It is said to be the elephant's nearest living relative. It looks like a robust, oversized guinea pig, or a rabbit with rounded ears and no tail. Rock hyraxes are very noisy and sociable. Adults make use of at least 21 different vocal signals. The most familiar signal is a high trill, and is given in response to perceived danger. Rock hyrax calls are referred to as “songs.” Hyrax songs can provide important biological information such as size, age social status, body weight, condition, and hormonal state of the singer, as determined by measuring their song length, patterns, complexity, and frequency. The rock hyrax spends approximately 95% of its time resting. This animal is found in Daystars University Athi-river campus.

THE MODERN WIFE.by: MARGARET WANGUI 09-1397

A new wife was being welcomed at the husband's home in the usual traditional manner. As expected she gave a speech;

"My dear family, first I wish to thank you for welcoming me to my new home and family, secondly, my being here does not mean that I have come to change your way of life and your routine, No, I will never do that, never in a million years."

"What do you mean my child?" asked the father-in-law.
"What I mean dad is………… (looking at her in-laws);

Those who used to wash the dishes must carry on washing them.
Those who used to wash your clothes and clean should carry on doing it.
Those who cooked should not stop at my account, AND, most importantly,
Those who used to go to the shamba must continue doing so!!!

"So what are you here for?!!?" enquired the mother-in-law distastefully.

The new wife turned around and started dancing off her hips infront of the whole family saying she was there to entertain their son.

Be aware of those whom you take home to your parents..You may be forever shocked.

ROBBERY WITH A SMILE By Alex Mutuku 09-1153

ROBBERY WITH A SMILE
By Alex Mutuku 09-1153

With unemployment skyrocketing among the youth, the fear of being mugged is not the only reason you should think before walking out at night. The new threat to your money does not even approach with a menacingly hooded face hissing threats though clenched teeth. The new thug is friendly, even generous and will walk up to you with the smile of an angel.
This new ‘career’ has been embraced by most youths who have found that their college certificates with limping grades have no niche in the increasingly competitive job market spiced up by individuals pursuing their postgraduate studies while working. It leaves a lot to be desired when we see our young men and women who by all means trying to make ends meet engaging in this funny habit.
Making an appearance at most of the drinking joints in our major cities, you will spot these guys relaxing on different corners with several bottles and very welcoming at the spot of new entrants. It is only a fool or a stranger who can give in to their talks as they seem so persuasive with their diction of ‘sheng’ and English.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed .For men, once you are busy sipping the fruits of your hard earned labor and the drink has taken its toll, a lady with a wide suggestive smile usually makes an appearance and sings your praises of how handsome you are and how you look good on your attire. As you swim in this river of praises and your ego massaged, without your conscious they usually add some concoctions to your drink suspected to be used by surgeons to make patients undergoing surgery sedate. This gives them the right to steal your valuable goods and make a silent exit. Beware!

ONCE BITTEN.......BY TINNAH KIIO 09-0941

You might have found yourself asking me, "why don't you want to light the gas cooker?", or wondering,"why is she height phobic?" Here are the answers.

One Tuesday morning, at the age of four, though very young, i remember the day vividly. Mum and dad had left for work, and left me with our househelp. Although to date i thank her for helping bring me up, i also blame her for the many bad encounters that i had during those good old days.

After her normal house chores, she left with her boyfriend, mutuse, who came to visit her oftenly, i can't remember his look very well but he was usually in green suits, he looked like a game warden.Out of boredom i decided to climb a tree to cheer myself up,little did i know that there was a beehive. When i was almost at the top of the tree, i heard the buzz of bees.I had heard father tell a story of how they bit a woman to death in their home village and i could not wait for them to kill me too. I decided to come down holding the stem of the tree dear to avoid falling. The more they came closer to me the more i got scared, lost balance and unfortunately tripped and fell down with a thud.


My neighbor came to my rescue after hearing my loud cry and took me with her. She nursed my wounds and promised to cook me chapatis as an incentive to keep me quiet. She sat me beside the gas cooker as she prepared them. She gave me one to taste, i say, she was one of the sweetest i had come across then. I started forgeting my pain though my legs hurt very much when i moved them.

Tragedy did yet again strike when Mwende was removing the frying pan from the cooker. She under-estimated the heat of the pan handle and when she could not take it any longer she dropped the pan. I could not but scream as the hot oil dripped and ate my little legs.She quickly poured cold water on my legs and rushed me to the hospital where my mother worked.

I was hurriedly attended to and sedated, i left Mwende crying explaining the whole occurrence to my very furious mother,she understood Mwende's case, but Mutindi's.....she had to face the music.