Young Love doesn’t know ‘No’ — Part 3

Simon thought he had escaped the crocodile snap, but the River Nile has other plans.

Read Part 2 of the story here.

The journey to Jinja. Image created by Canva AI.

Simon was born on 8th April, 1997. Growing up, his family never made much of birthdays. It was only when he started school that he realized just how special it was to celebrate these milestones. Consequently, school time became his favorite time for a birthday.

On that day, the other students would sing for him, some would create artwork on paper, and the climax of the day was the tradition of pouring water on him, a ritual he had grown to like.

One day, he asked his mother why they never celebrated birthdays at home. “Being alive is the biggest celebration!” she had answered.

He never asked about it again.

It so happened that most of his close friends after university didn’t value birthdays much either. His friend Janine usually sent a well-crafted message, a skill she had perfected working at **Lapatutu Writing Creations, **but that was usually where the celebration ended.

So, it was a thing of beauty when Sandra mentioned an elaborate plan to celebrate his special day.

He was overjoyed at the thought; he was excited. There was just one problem: the venue for the celebration was directly linked to his deepest fears.

Sandra was the definition of adventurous. As the Administrator at Pearl-C Daycare, she viewed life with the same sense of wonder as the little children she worked with. To her, seeing animals was like watching cartoons come to life.

At times, love has the funniest way of bringing two very different people together. Simon and Sandra were the definition of opposites. Simon was the kind of man who enjoyed a controlled environment, while Sandra lived for the thrill of life. But love, a force greater than their personalities, had brought them together.

“Baby, thank you so much for such a wonderful surprise,” he replied.

“But Jinja and bungee jumping? Isn’t that too expensive, sweetheart?” He tried to gently dissuade her from the idea.

“Oh, trust me, it is quite expensive. I can’t even lie,” she responded, but the three dots of her typing bubble kept dancing on the screen.

When he saw this, Simon thought he had won. He believed it was just a matter of saying he didn’t want something so costly. He waited patiently for the dots to turn to text, silently hoping she would complain about not having enough money.

Instead, she wrote: “But you know what honey, I am really celebrating you, and that is why I want to give you the very best. After all those stories you told me about your birthdays not being celebrated at home, I believe you deserve the best. It is what I am going to give you!”

It was a done deal. There was no way he could say no. Love had won again.

“Sweetheart that is the best message ever! Jinja, here we come!”

The day finally arrived. That year, it fell on a Wednesday. Both had planned ahead to take the day off to ensure the celebration happened on the actual date. Leading up to the trip, Simon had psyched himself up. He reminded himself that he was a man! He had survived many situations, so really, what was bungee jumping?

The trip to Jinja was meticulously planned by Sandra.

To add to the adventure, she proposed they use public means. They met at the Old Taxi Park and boarded a coaster to Jinja. Simon wore a specially made T-shirt with the words: ‘Be Calm. It’s my Birthday!’ Sandra wore blue jeans with a white t-shirt, a round hat, and sunglasses. Everything about her fashion that morning signaled “parte after parte.”

At about 8:42 AM, they set off. A romantic selection of music played in the background, for which Sandra was deeply thankful. The first song was Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s The Girl is Mine. Simon knew every word. He held her hand and began whispering:

“Every night, she walks right in my dreams,

Since I met her from the start,

I’m so proud I am the only one Who is special in her heart…”

She leaned onto his shoulder. In that moment, nothing was wrong with the world. There were no fears, no anxieties. It was perfect. They remained silent for a while, simply taking in each other’s presence.

As they approached Mukono, a favorite of Sandra’s came on: Essanyu Dagala by Irene Ntale.

She returned the favor, turning to him and singing:

“Nga enjuba bwe Vayo kumakya, nemulisa olunaku Ewange Ofuse etala, enjakila mubulamu…”

Simon was having the best birthday ever. The time with Sandra was magical. He watched her sing, looked into her eyes, and saw the truth behind her words. He was in love. He was certain.

“Thank you so much, sweetheart. You are a great singer!”

“Aaah, you are making me blush!”

“I am serious. That was very beautiful.”

“Everyone keeps telling me my voice is coarse.”

“Yeah, but that is what makes it unique.” “

Thank you, honey.”

“I love you!” He finally said it.

It was the first time those words had been spoken in their relationship. For many, it is a pivotal moment that stipulates the shift from good friends to committed lovers. She looked at him and held his hands again.

“I love you too, Simon.”

They both looked out to enjoy the sugarcane plantations of Lugazi. The breeze coming through the windows was perfect. Simon remembered the orange at the supermarket and the lights he had left on that drained his battery. He was thankful for that moment bringing him to Sandra. Time seemed to stand still.

As they reached Namawojolo, the coaster stopped at the market. For most travelers on this route, the Namawojolo stop is a must for roasted chicken.

No sooner had the coaster stopped than the vendors rushed to the windows.

“5,000 only, 5,000 only! Support me, customer!”

“Okay sweetheart, which part do you want?” Simon asked.

She remained silent.

“What? Should I choose for you?”

“Honey, I am very ashamed of what I am going to say, but I am afraid of this roadside chicken!” she said, covering her eyes.

“Aaaaaaah, did you say scared?”

“Yes! Its okay, you can laugh at me, but baby, the first time I came to Jinja on a school trip, and we stopped here and got this chicken. Just know that what happened to me 20 minutes later… I wouldn’t wish it on my enemy!”

They both laughed, and Simon was amazed at the ease with which she shared a fear. “Okay sweetheart, no chicken! I will protect you from that thing that happened to you!” he said, hugging her.

Maybe the solution was honesty.

As they approached Jinja town, he said to her, “I am really amazed at how easy it was for you to share such an embarrassing story.”

“I know. I guess I am getting really comfortable with you knowing the things that are embarrassing. The love has really kicked in,” she said with a smile.

“Okay, I am also going to tell you a story, but you need to promise me, no laughing!” “Umm, sorry sweetheart, I will most probably laugh…”

That was the answer he didn’t know he wanted to hear. He was now comfortable sharing his vulnerability.

At least, a part of it.

This story continues….