Just how much?

 I'm with my friend and confidant, we meet another of our friend who informs us of a possible party, in one of the ever fresh smelling men hostels, Mr  N. Its funny how campus never changes us village fellows or is it just a problem with us! 

My friend and confidant, Madam M, who always dragged me along her choir practices in a mega church around the city, yet I belonged to the humble most Christian Union, had joined another league of rich kids. They used to have their own union in a posh church located right inside the school, guys who always said their name loudly, shouted and clapped at anything, especially at the end of the announcement clip. These guys had started to corrupt my friend and confidant's mind, to live large, but the village could catch up with her here and there. Her father was a teacher anyway. That's better than most of us whose parents were peasant farmers, and maybe single. The rich kids could go home anytime, their relatives could pick them with cars, to me that was sinful, you know, poverty was humility lol or vice versa. 

Out of the influence, Madam M suggested that we get the birthday boy a gift. And she suggested the best gift is a Cologne, whatever that was. So where are those suits sold? No its a perfume and we can get it from any supermarket. Off we strolled towards the then Nakumatt lifestyle. We knew with our savings from Helb, we could spare 200 and surprise a brother, after all its the thought that counts right? 

There was a tendency to hold birthday parties for lovers, or lovers to be because few of those things made it through four years. So this party had been organized by the birthday boy's girlfriend. Did theirs make it through? 

We entered Nakumatt and asked the ever ready to help attendants to show us where that particular bottle of fragrance is. Reason being it was not on the shelves where they put usual everybody's choice of sprays and perfumes. We were directed to a special column, preceded by a clear mirror so that you only push it to remove the product if you are ready to buy it. These are the vessels of honour, special treasures, our friend, Mr N, would be excited.  

Ladies and gentlemen we walked out of the supermarket, heads bowed down, back to consoling metal beds of campus hostels, never turning up for the party. We were not invited after all! 

The cologne named 'BOSS' is not for every Tom, Jane and Ronny,  its for the properly employed perhaps driving gentlemen, and living in an apartment off Thika Road. It costs Kshs 6000. 

Our budget, we bought biscuits on our way back with our 200!