Driven

I’m running through a maize plantation on the outskirts of Nakuru town, not after a wild animal; in a break from tradition, I’m disappearing from a scene. I pause for a moment to listen… no heavy police boots crushing the fallen leaves. I’m safe. I hadn’t expected him to come after me, but did not want to take any chances. The thought of being arrested and bundled to court had completely nerved me; I couldn’t stand seeing myself before a judge, charged with… What! Why did I even think of running away? … anyway, damage’s already done, no need to go back and apologize, I don’t think my presence will comfort the hysterical girl, or the guy trying to calm her... I walk to the end of the plantation and peer out. The coast is clear. I thumb a bus home.

My driving instructor was a little too friendly. Every morning, on the first training lap, he would stop at a kiosk and order a packet of milk and a rock cake on my account. Satisfied he would then spit into his palms, rub them together then grab the wheel to drive off to a lonely road… “your turn”

Two weeks later, it was my turn to read out loud the road signs that filled a stretched out wallpaper. A policeman stood slightly to the left, ready to point them out. After having been in the queue for over an hour and witnessed so many folks kicked out, I was nervous and the first sign he pointed out, only a faint croak came out. “Kids.. eeh Children crossing” Gradually, I found my voice. “Go back to the room!”… It sounded like a bark, but I needed to hear it, anyway it sounded. I had passed the first part of the driving test.

The second part was the road test. We were divided into groups of four. I ended up with two other guys and a girl. We climbed into the back of a pick up truck, the test vehicle. The girl was to go first and she skilfully eased the truck out of the traffic inspectorate station and onto the highway. She did well. Satisfied, the policeman ordered her to the back, and called out the next guy. She was thrilled as she clambered to the back. She had passed. All she needed to do now was to enjoy the rest of the ride and collect her interim licence at the station.

The guy had problems with the gear. The vehicle jerked a couple of times before coming to a stop at an intersection. The policeman engaged him in some animated talk and from the look of it; they were not getting to know each other, he was being asked to put on hold his driving ambitions. The door opened and the poor guy crossed over to the side of the road, to wait for a bus. “Next”

I had seen the policeman at the station, but now suddenly looking at him made the driver’s cabin look tiny. His huge frame was slightly turned to look at me as I slid into the cabin. I wondered how my shaky hand was ever going to work the gear without grabbing his leg. I reached for the handbrake… “Forgotten something?”…. “Sorry officer” I reached for the safety belt only to find out the clip was missing. I left the belt lying across my middle and made an attempt at a sheepish smile. He had got me on that one and I was going to make him feel proud.

There was no need for borrowed tricks from the instructor; my hands were sweaty already and as I fumbled for the gear, his 2-way crackled. For a moment, he paused to listen. “What are you waiting for?”... Time for niceties was over. The vehicle lurched, but somehow managed to stay on the road. It suddenly looked like a three lane highway. I was into my third gear when I noticed a vehicle behind me flashing its lights. Was I really on the right lane? The pickup’s rear view mirrors were all the way up the bonnet, not good for the close up view I had been used to and so I stuck my head out. “What do you think you are you doing?” I twisted back but not before confirming that it was a massive truck and that it was closing in on us fast! The loud honk echoed the message around the cabin. I switched lanes and bang! Maize!