05/12/2025
News of morning!
I had gone to the local salon on a weekend afternoon and found two more customers ahead of me. The saloonist was already working on one as the other waited for her turn. I greeted them in the middle of their hot conversation as I took a plastic chair to sit on as I wait for my turn too.
Having no choice, I had to listen to their discussion. Kananu, the lady who the saloonist was currently working on, was bragging about how she had 'eaten' fare. The guy, who lived in the next town, was expecting Kananu to arrive that particular afternoon.
"Nirikuwa natafuta ndooh za saroni. Hakuna mahari naeda!" She continued bragging confidently. Suddenly her phone rang. Her confidence withered from her face. Kananu didn't pick her call. After an hour her phone rang a second time. "Herroo, niko stage ya matatu." She answered as she signalled the saloonist.
I suddenly saw the saloonist reach out for a basin and started shouting "Beba,beba! Tao mbao!" as she banged the basin repeatedly. The other lady waiting for her turn joined in as she whistled to add to the background noise.
"Kuna makelele ntakucall nkifika." Kananu ended the call as she high fived the saloonist and the other lady. Unfortunately for her the guy had trailed her and was outside the very salon we were in and he had watched the whole fake background noise mission. Angrily, he stormed the salon with a panga and began threatening the three ladies as he was breaking items in the salon.
I did not wait for the drama to unfold as I ran outside to safety. Turns out this was a third time Kananu had ' eaten' fare and it was the last time we saw her in that town. Rumour has it that she relocated to a far away town.