23/03/2024
My day with the Guest of Honor.
The year is 1995. I was in class six. I had just ditched the school soccer team for drama club. The decision was informed by the frequent trips out of school by the drama club. I wanted to travel. I joined the school dance team. Our first assignment was to entertain the guests during the forthcoming Annual prize giving. The Guest of Honor was Hon Mathini. I didn't exactly know who he was and what position he had in the education sector. The Dance teacher gave me a vivid description of the main Man. He was tall and chocolate skinned. My main role was to pick the guest of honor from the podium and dance with him. You all know the song in Kikuyu. " Tugutuma na Sammy Tugutuma na Sammy atugirire mugeni" . This translates that they will send me to collect the guest of Honor. I was to get the guest as i danced and come with him still dancing. Round my waist was a sisal skirt and a tin with pebbles round my right ankle.
And we practiced for a whole week. It was perfect. I was the right person for the job.
The day came. The guests arrived in convoys and the atmosphere was packed with excitement. The dance was the first presentation. We were behind the guests tent. Ready for the jig. Panic set up on me. Anxiety filled my whole body. I felt numb. I requested to be excused from the role. But who would listen. Our trainer encouraged me. I felt a little better. They made the greatest mistake. To failed to show me the guest of Honor.
The dance team left for the stage. I could still feel very nervous. and my part came. They called me for the main jig. My moves evaporated. I literally walked to the guests' podium. My eyes were misty and watery. I could not even locate the guest of honor. I would hear the rest of the dance team members singing from very far. My ears also decided not to co-operate. I picked a man who resembled the description i had all the time. Soo many things happened within a flash of a second. One Mr Kinyua who was in charge of the drama Club grabbed me by the hand and hurriedly took me behind the tent. I believe this where the saying "Tuonane nyuma ya tent" started. I had the hardest slap of my lifetime. I saw all the denominations of kenyan coins. I think the slap brought together the lips, the cheeks, the nose and the mouth. I would feel a very swollen face.
Fast forward. I had picked the wrong Guest of Honor. I later heard that there was a girl who saved the day by stepping up.
I have never set my foot in any dance affiliated activity till now. I even dance with my heart.
And that's how my dance career was killed.
