Friday 1 September 2017

Broken

                                                      Image sourceLadiesfirstng.com
     At twenty-one, Ken already had a son--a bouncing baby boy. Clara was nineteen and was still in school when it happened in that moment that was still unclear except that she remembered Ken muttering "if you love me" and now as each day revealed to them bringing them closer to slow and tormenting bits of frustration, she realized that her actions were not a  proof of love and she was pained.

     Ken was not really a bad guy at least, but the future seemed to be vanishing away like the memories of having a well-prepared meal a little child would never want to lose. They had plans but they were not headed for those at least now. Ken was an honour row chemical engineering student, which would have been a thing particularly remarkable, and Clara was a sophomore nursing student. They met at church and became friends after a visit, just one visit; and after sharing experiences that were very similar, their friendship started off on a very casual note until she heard him say "if you love me" and as she ruminated that same scene, she was lost in it and the day of the incident became more silly. Love was not a test, it was not an act, it was just meant to be itself and nothing else but now they had tested it and the result seemed and was growing bigger than that little phrase "If you love me." From the discussions they had, Ken told her of his background; his irresponsible drunkard father, his late mother, and the fact that he was the only son. This was true for her too, she was the only and most responsible sister of three hoodlum brothers; their parents were dead and she was under the care of her aunt who had done everything within her power to see her through. Now everything chattered. She did not go home during the last holiday in a successful plan to hide her pregnancy, and now as it was, Ken could not afford anything again. He had dropped out from school to do menial jobs but ends did not meet. 
     A red Toyota Venza stopped by, the driver tapping the car horn repeatedly until Ken stopped and it was Ralph.  Ralph who told ken evil things--one of which had reduced him to his current condition and Ken was about to continue walking when he saw Ralph's outstretched arm handing him something that could only be money from the way it looked. Money! Ken was almost shouting out loud, and as if propelled by an unknown force he moved closer, he only recovered from the sudden rush after he grabbed the black cellophane and was on his knees saying thank you, Sir. to Ralph. Ralph beckoned on him and for the rest of their journey, they were into a discussion that ended in Ralph telling Ken that if he wanted to leave his current state, it was something very easy and it was to join the blue club. Ken thought of it for several days until he made up his mind "life was about sacrifice and only sacrifice guarantees that you were going to lose something for something.' he muttered to himself before picking up his phone to call Ralph. It was this Ralph who caused him this trouble by pressuring him into that ignoble act, "but now he was offering to help," He thought. They talked at length until Ralph said: "now you are a man".
     That morning at exactly 12 am, Ken sneaked out of his house, to join Ralph in a car completely different from the one he knew. It was clear to him even at night that it was different. They drove until they got to a place where they met other men Ken knew some of them. He had worked for them laying bricks during their projects, and there was Professor. Albert. Ken was shocked. The rules of the club were read to him and it ended in "remember you owe all you would have to us, and the only thing you have now which is your life? We take it the day you default. We do not believe in anything God, spirits, or the devil no! we give you all we have and in exchange, you do what we do." The man reading it was in a blue robe like the rest of them and after his emphatic sermon he asked Ken to cut his thumb and let the blood drop in the bowl below them, and immediately he did the loud bass voices echoed ''welcome to the realm of the blue." 
     The kind of visitors, the things he did and the way Ken lived changed from that day. Clara was very sure that there were many things she did not know and when Ken slapped her that morning for talking about the growing strangeness of his behaviour, she saw him for another time telling her "if you love me".
     
     

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