The Body

Technical University of Kenya

Journalism and Media Studies

Creative Writing

Task: Write About Your Body

Dr. Omwoha

Abdullatif Ahmed Omar

ACJI/05607/2013S 

I can’t remember the last time I saw her because I didn’t imagine it being my last, however I do recall the last day I was to see her. I had saved about three thousand Kenyan shillings to treat her out, being young that was one colossal achievement. I resisted all temptation to spend even a penny of the cash, in fact the day before my mother asked me if I had some money I lend her, but I said I didn’t. I could tell she knew I was lying. That’s just how important the girl was. Sadly, she called me in tears and said, “My father won’t let me out”. I told her it’s alright because I knew it was not her fault even though deep down I was disheartened. “We could always meet some other time”, I said, “There is no need to cry”, I added. Four years down the line I still haven’t seen her yet. Check your tenses. When you decide to use past, follow through with it

We met in primary school, seven years earlier, I was a class ahead but her class could be matched by none. Her sophistication, her elegance, she finessed her way into everything. I don’t know how to describe her beauty but think of the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen and then remove her flaws, and you will be there! If there is any truth to the phrase love at first sight this was it. Unfortunately, when she passed right next to me I froze. I could not move a muscle. Yes ladies and gentlemen, the girl of my dreams caused my body to betray me.

This was the beginning of a series of bodily malfunction. Every time she passed by /sat next to me I had some sort of glitch, like a virus in my system. That would be the time I suddenly lost words or my lips got instantly dry, damn it lips. My legs were like, “Yoh, bro I ain’t goin’ nowhere”. Now that I think about it I’m glad that we were still young and innocent, I can’t imagine other parts of my body malfunctioning, it could have been hard for me to take it, or even give it.

Now apparently I was too busy chickening out to notice that other boys were already making advances on her. Yes, kids do that. In fact there was this particular kid who was either super rich or just super generous. Probably both. He would collect all the girls and just buy them treats. Some days he would just come with chocolates and start handing them out, you know like a Kenyan politician looking for votes. A lot of casual language used here. I will take it with the thought that it’s the style you adapted so that your story can be interesting

All said, she was not gullible. Amidst all the attention and the gifts she got I still felt she ranked me higher. With everyone else she talked normally to and played with but with me she just stared. Long deep stares all from across the room. Every time I caught her staring there was this Lionel Ritchie song that played in my head.

I look at you
You look at me
You can't tell me you ain't feeling butterflies
It's obvious,
We have some chemistry…

This is when it hit me, maybe she felt the same way. So as any boy in my situation would have done I decided to man up. Let the reader know what song played in your head. You could quote one most important/sentimental line

It was a Friday. I chose Friday to launch my attack because I looked good in games kit. I cleaned up well and headed to her classroom. I asked myself “what’s the worst that can happen.” It was rhetorical but my head got me answers. She had a reputation of slapping guys who crossed her line, she had an arsenal of vocabulary and not to mention the oldest trick in the book of reporting to the teacher. With my wisdom I got into her classroom and had small talk with everyone except her. This time it was my head that failed me. How smooth.

Now my excuse was that there were too many people, there was a time we had the entire school to ourselves and I couldn’t even say hi. I don’t know if it was my stomach’s fault or my pancreas I just know I didn’t have the guts.

Well eventually I did grow some… and today I consider my body immune, until we meet again.