Mind Speaks

Growing up… I remember when I was a little child, probably 8 or 10 years old. I used to think to myself, “Man, I cannot wait to grow up!” For a child like me, there were a million and one reasons as to why I wanted to be a big man. Chiefly because I was tired. My tired was tired. I was tired of the beatings, thrashings, slaps. My conversation with my mother would typically go like; Tolliiiiiie! Silence... Tolbert! (Whenever my first name is was used, this meant serious business) Yeeees. I would rush to the site of my next torture. “Who did this?”  She would ask.  I don't know (my default response - you could ask me whats my name and the same answer would come)  “You think am a fool?’ Silence! “Am talking to you and you are keeping quiet?” African mothers are notorious. Notorious for shifting goal posts. They tell you not to answer them today, tomorrow you’re keen enough not to answer and then you hear “ Wewe mtoto kichwa ngumu sana, nakuongelesha na unanya...