GROWING PAINS

The interview went well. Infact, it went so well, it lasted whole day. But, am not hired. Yeah, it's complicated. But no sweat, no one ever died of ' no-hire-ance'.

The last time I had a job opportunity, it was a gig in Kasese. I was going to cover a one week conference. The pay promised to be good and everything was going well till I asked for permission to go. Okay, maybe not permission as such. Am at a stage where am slowly easing away from that. These days, I say it like it is: I tell them what they need to know when am halfway where I need to be. It works most times, not this time however. here's how it went down with my big sister;

me :Am going to Kasese for a week (walking away)

her: No you're not. (popping another nut in her mouth, eyes never leaving the tv)

me : Eh- eh, it's work and it's official.

her: How are you going to get there, where will you stay, do you know these people?

me: It's all sorted. I don't even need to know them, I just want their money.

her: No.

me: But am grown up! I can do what I want! (immature whining voice. gone is the adult of a few minutes earlier)

her: Rosette,(in a know-it all- voice) I've lived more than you. The world's full of conmen, waa, waa, waa, waa, waa (at this point am not listening)

me : I don't care. If they steal me, it's my body. my mistakes, my... (she's bloody walking out on me!)

her: Ask mummy.

me: but you're my guardian!!!

By this time I'm yelling but she' still popping those bloody nuts. cool as a cucumber. AAARGHH!!!!

The whole thing degenerated from there. she called my mum and fed her some kind of serial killer story. By the time my mum called, she was panicked; she'd received word that a certain serial killer had lured me to Kasese and I was going, come hell or high water (I'm kidding about the serial killer but the story she'd got was almost as twisted). To cut a long story short, I didn't go.

This Thursday, I have another gig in Kyenjojo. I told sister dearest last week, and then again yesterday. from her reaction, you could have sworn kasese never happened. she asked a few info- seeking questions, gave me upkeep and gave me 'permission' for want of a better word. I wonder what happened to change her approach to my life.