The Last Fight (2)

By LAWRENCE CHITERI
Published November 21, 2009

Deep in the mind of Macho, only one item reigned; he knew very well that there was going to be an ordination ceremony. He knew too, that the ordination ceremony was going to take place the following day; what he did not know is that, there would be any ceremony on the eve of that ordination. Therefore, he was shocked when he entered the Bishop’s residence, only to be confronted by a multitude of people.

Macho had sought audience with Bishop, earlier in the day, and he had been expressly invited to a dinner meeting with the Bishop, and his close associates. He thus came in prepared, to meet up to six or seven people at the most. His mission was to make his point to the Bishop, regarding his impending ordination into priesthood.

Macho was shocked but not surprised. He knew very well, the kind of person Bishop could be, so he steeled himself aptly against the backdrop of this moment, and moved further in, with unflinching confidence. Macho took his time to let the chilling shock, in the group of more than 20 people, sink. He looked them in the eyes, and saw genuine apathy.

Macho was not dressed in a manner likely to suggest that, he was coming to any dinner party. His hair was unkempt, he wore tattered short trousers, a faded T- shirt, and tired flip-flops. In Macho’s right hand, was a small polythene paper bag, wrinkled from overuse, with some scanty clothing in it. This was in summary the height of irony of situation.

When everyone had digested the scenery, surrounding Macho’s entry, he finds his voice and speaks, “I did not know you would be waiting this late, and in such numbers.  Oh my God!” There were sudden sighs, and murmurs, followed by disturbed glances.

Bishop was at a loss for words, and remained transfixed at the head of the table. Just as the reaction began to ebb, Macho raised his voice again, “Yet I am sorry, so very sorry. I came.…err….err…. packed!” and with this grisly announcement, he hurled the polythene paper bag he was carrying, directly in front of him.

Everyone in the room begins to mumble something; they are visibly disappointed, and frustrated. Presently, Hasho, Bishop’s daughter, dashes in, stops in her tracks, looks at the harem of guests in this room, and then her eyes fall on Macho. She looks him from head to toe, and then rushes toward him. She holds his hands, and enquires, ”the tie, the shirt, and the suit, where are they?

There is dead silence from Macho, who looks straight into Hasho’s eyes. Hasho is undaunted; she holds Macho’s hands, and attempts to lead him further in. “But it still, is your party. Welcome Macho!” She says. The other guests impulsively join in, with a resounding, “Welcome Macho!”

Macho meticulously disengages his hand from Hasho’s, steps back, and faces the crowed with a firm and resolute announcement, “I do not want to be a priest….” This was least expected; many people wondered if Macho was not out of his head. For some reason, they did not imagine anyone would stand out in the public glare of people, and go against the Bishop.

The thought of Bishop getting to be defied stunned everyone who knew him. He becomes deeply enraged, and is rearing to strike. His followers knowing him well, and wanting to be noticed as being solidly for him, line up to condemn Macho. “What?” they bellow in unison.

They take turns to express their distaste at Macho’s announcement, “Who does he think he is? Look at this lost soul….and he has been accorded preferential treatment all along….ingrate….devil’s advocate.” Unprintable epithets greet Macho, flying from every corner of the house. They punctuate these by urging him to change his mind. Yet an adamant Macho had it all fixed; they had underrated his resolve, and it was Bishop’s turn to express his feelings; and in characteristic fashion, he orders Macho, “Macho come here, and stand at attention!” Everyone stops speaking, except for the hand gestures that urge Macho to comply.

Suddenly there is a loud blast, followed by some moment of confusion and commotion in a corner; seemingly one of the sisters has fainted, and fallen down. Instead of complying with Bishop’s demand, Macho rushes to the assistance of the fainted sister. Nobody bothers about her at all, Bishop still keeps his order, “I said come here and stand at attention!” Macho holds the hand of sister lifts her up onto her feet, and then responds to Bishop, “Can’t you see that, sister needs attention?”

When Macho realizes that sister is stable on her feet, he moves towards Bishop, who now fully charged, barks at him, “Let me tell you something. You will be here tomorrow eight o’clock on the dot, and you will be ordained priest. I do not care whether you like it or not!” After Bishop moves away from Macho, he reacts very passionately. “I am blind, dirty, weak….all of us are. I will not be ordained priest!” The crowd still urges him, as he walks towards the door.

One or two people go after him, and hold him by the shoulder; he turns angrier than before, and with finality declares, “I will not be there. I wouldn’t if I tried.” Bishop rises above the din in equal anger, and shouts back, “Macho!” Macho with rare boldness shouts back, “I shall not change my mind. Not for anything!” Bishop has decided to handle the issue more physically. He rushes towards macho, holds him by the shoulder, and turns him towards himself, shakes him roughly and….

To continued.

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