Fast Life

It was already morning with sun straight above, that means it was noon but picked my phone to confirm and shocked as I peeped my screen which had multiple missed calls in it. It kept me curious to who since, it's been over two years of nothing new in my life happening. I immediately called back, "Hello", "um, is this Trevor. I'm calling from the Kenya Tour Services. I was referred to you by your sister Ashley to help assist a group of tourists and fellow researchers for a three month camping and tour trip for an exploration in South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia. Your sister insisted since you have the capability to drive long distances and a good reputation in environmental changes and adaptation. More information you'll receive in your email if you could send me your address. Kind Regards Mohammed from KTS", I heard what he said but couldn't put it in my head that it was True. I called my sister to confirm which she said yes and quoted," Don't be stupid and let this one go this time". My sister has been helping me when I was at my youth. Though she got tired of talking with me because by the end of our talk I'll borrow money and ask for a job which I end up not being interested in. After confirming I lied down back on my bed with disbelief written all over my face. I looked back at last night and said thank you God. I quickly looked for Mohammed's number and sent him my email. Some minutes passed as I took my shower and routine exercise and a smoke of cannabis. Picked my laptop checked up my email. It was a three and a half month journey. With a week in each destination. Though driving is for Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia. We'll drive to Dar es Salaam then fly with South Africa Airways to and fro South Africa. No hotels all shelter is on camp sites all around. It was somehow like what I needed. It was next week Sunday which was just four days away.

Mohammed called me to come pick the car and take it for service and maintenance advices since it was a new experience, it was one of them in Safari parks a Toyota Land cruiser. It's funny how the name is so accurate to how much power it has on dry land. The KTS also instructed me to pick the tourists at the airport and take them to Ole Sereni for the three days left. Surprisingly they left me to get used to the car, so I had three days of joy riding. The expenses that the service took left me with some money which I asked if I should return which Mohammed told me to use it to fill the car with essentials. Somehow, I felt like My sister had something more than just organizing work for me, but that was their personal stuff and since it got me a job I wouldn't careless, still though I Love my sister. We grew up as two and we're followed by my small sister and brother. So, I guess I put a brake on my life, switched up my gear and started going at a slower pace to face my problems logically. I was at YOLO kinda lifestyle.

I was preparing myself mentally, looking at interesting facts about the places. Also had a chance to sit with my fellow researchers from Kenya and the Environmental tourists at a board room in Ole Sereni. We were looking at the problems and creating solutions that can grow by itself to better the environment. We had the tourists who were more of a family group. There was Peter and Mary who were the oldest, their two daughters and three sons. The daughters were the same age as us, namley Nina and Angie or Angela for long and Billy, Griffin and Charles were on a highschool project. Their parents are our proud sponsors for everything. In the researchers group there was Kay, Christine, Malcolm, Felix, Georgina and I Trevor. They all seemed cheerful and Jolly which I wanted because I know I don't talk much and can't communicate unless spoken to. Peter asked for my Driving license and approved. He also complemented my C.V that I guess Mohammed had shown him. "Trevor after this trip I want to help you but you'll have to tell me what you want to do. Not only for you, the whole group we are moving with to help Kenya then East Africa then Africa itself. Are you interested?, Are you hungry enough?, He spoke with straight eyes and his German accent makes it seem more serious than it is. I nodded and he told me speak it out for the world to know it too. I shouted it though he realized my voice is naturally low. They offered us to eat supper in this hotel beautifully decorated and the colours at night was amazing. I excused myself to smoke a cigarette. I looked up and said I will achieve what you've blessed me with life to do. A light whisper came from behind and I turned to see, "Um it was Georgina right", I asked her, "Yes nice you remembered". She was a bit taller than the rest including Mr.Peter, She had hazel pupils and a vanilla on chocolate kinda tone. In simple words she was cute because of the dimples that came with her simile. We had a chat as I finished my cigarette. She's quite an interesting character and she's the more talkative than the rest. We walked back in when I noticed the nice smell wasn't from the hotel but from her. I stretched my effort by complimenting her. She gave a light smile and sat at her place for dinner.

The Jake's explained the program and gave out multiple authorities according to what we expert in. We got to know each other better as we consumed our light dinner. I offered to drop off us who are at our homeland. Surprisingly we were all at our parents houses but struggling to get a breakthrough. I sparked my cigarette on the smooth Mombasa road highway as I arrived home. It was now only Friday and Saturday then I'm on journey, a break and also a breath of fresh air, that I actually needed.

It was almost 11:00 P.M on Saturday. Didn't imagine Sunday had reached, the day that my life changes, the day I fly with the Birds. I rolled up my Cannabis and smoked the whole night. I munched and when it was almost 3:00 A.M took time to do my last check up on the cruiser before we left. Did my quick lap and showered. First had to move to Utawala before picking the rest in Parklands and Westlands then to Ole sereni as we launch full-throttle on the southern bypass highway.

It was 5:00 A.M, nearly 10 hours away from Dar Es Salaam with two stops at Namanga and Arusha. Everyone was still in their sleep. It's like there bodies are awake but inside asleep. I put some chilled Reggae music at a soft volume. Dawn was breaking the darkness covering the sky, I had sped out since the road is well-built and a four lane empty with few trailers here and then. Georgina offered to sit at the passenger seat across me in the front area. It was 12 Seater 1989 Land-rover cruiser. She asked,("You seem happy or high?One of the two,Yeah I've been so impatient at night that I smoked all out, Hope you came with some, I guess you've read like 99% of my basic need"). We had small talk till a giggle from behind due to the last statement. It was Kay as she wiped her face wet wipes. "What, wish I didn't stay up. Have we reached the border yet?" She mummers. I told it's about an hour away. It went silent as the reggae beat was beating, flowing with wind entering through the small-spaced window, lifting Georgina's hair and I glimpsed a black and red shaded tattoo on the right side of her neck. It felt like I wasn't paying any attention before because she seemed prettier now. Her strip was slim and slunted over her shoulder almost falling. Her beauty was admiring with a glow on her skin and her smile light's up, I guess everything. I decided to stop for fuel and some light breakfast. Mostly didn't want to smoke cigarettes in the car.

We all we're presssed and rushed to the restrooms. To my surprise as I went to the labelled smoking zone, I found Mr.Peter there. I sat next to him and lit mine. "Couldn't tell that you smoke", I asked."I've been smoking probably longer than you and your young brothers and sisters", he replied. We all had a light laugh. I smoked one cigarette and went to pick my energy drink. I'm not a fan of eating food for breakfast. I went back quickly to the car picked my Cannabis roll and went behind the station's mall found a guard there, though him too was on a cigarette I asked him if he smokes this too which he told me to get comfortable and finish before the first buses to arrive. I finished and had a random-funny as hell conversation. I fist bumped him and went black. Mr. Peter was still smoking and her wife too had joined, though didn't expect less from a white family of Environmentalist. The same way they see us like monkeys is the same way we see them as weird. All the others were in tucked in their maasai sheets that I suppose they picked from the African shop in the mall.

When everybody was settling I asked Gina, that's her nickname, " I like your tattoo, what's it's meaning", She gave me a silent glance and just shyed away. I knew it came with pain and sorrow through her facial expression. We were now more lively contributing multiple factors according to the places we were passing.

We had chats and light snacks and had reached Namanga the Kenyan - Tanzanian border. Lucky it was slightly before lunch hour, not much traffic and especially our cruiser had weight due to the equipments we had carried. They finished the check up and I paid the load's fine. Decided to get more cigarettes as I smoked one. They started arriving one-by-one. Georgina and her friends including the German sisters with some traditional beads and necklaces. Georgina brought me one."This is yours, somehow I picked a black and white lion with a Kenyan beaded hand band. We settled in and I picked off with 7 hours to go, it was 10:37 A.M. the sun bright with now a better view of Mt.Kilimanjaro. Now I could go faster than before since Tanzania's traffic and roads are safer. The air felt different or just excitement boosted with adrenaline rush clouding my head with that feeling, that's satisfaction or happiness. We all have this moment at least once a month, a feeling that is stored like an instant memory which you'll be replaying every bad day you have. Looked back they all had switched seats leaving Mr. Peter behind with his wife. In fact they had dosed off. "Do you know how to roll", I asked Georgina which she replied yes. Told her to,"reach the glove compartment and get a red tin. There two, one is full the other half done. I asked Nina if they have a problem and she said, "they're used to it, we use it and had an Uncle on medicational use which helped him survive longer than expected"," There was this day like My dad tried it and ended up laughing during dinner", Nina's sister Angie shared a laugh."We all did" everyone focused on them. Gina actually surprised me on how she rolled similar to me, her fingers grinded it and just put it on paper and rolled. Couldn't have done it with one hand but wanted to move on time and couldn't slow till Arusha, also had to smoke before any town. She handed me one and told her roll for the others, I need all this. She laughed and continued flawlessly. Can't lie expected her to make cones. After we finished all the joints I could see the conversations from here are gonna be full of laughter.

A giggle came from Nina asking what type of Cannabis is this. I first asked is it higher than the one in Germany. She replied way too high. I started explaining how this wonderful higher conscioussnes product have different flavours. We have the Ethiopian Shush which is what we've smoked. It's one of the healthiest and purely grown nuturing THC contents up to 16% when wet and reaches 41% dried alone or some add honey. This strain alters your mind to rationality if you're paranoid sober, creativity and calmness is the dormant effect on everybody with higher conscioussnes connection to the mind. Everyone looked at me, it was such a funny incident because they were too high to understand but they got the it's high grade part. Munchies just kicked in. I Looked at Gina and asked her what you thinking about. She looked like her mind was in outer space. Since I was used to my good stash needed one more before Mr.Peter and her wife woke up. I just wanted an excuse to disturb Gina. They was something about that look I found similar, in fact I felt it. From the back laughters were all over with packets of crisps, sweet wrappers and Soda cans where being emptied. So she rolled up as I tried talking her back to happiness. I asked her what's your dream before the world closes. Surprisingly the smile I wanted came back as she started explaining," my dream is to live. Want to bring up the fact that our country's poverty is from the division of tribes and old against the youth. We have multiple empty lands owned by tycoons and the Government of Kenya that can be an expansion to create affordable homes and schools with a safe eco-friendly environment. Another fact is that we have the environment but need people from other countries to clean environment and show us they own us. Not saying that they're bad, it's because our youth have been exposed to harsh conditions which creates a rebel, later on when they get old they will do the same thing since no one saw their dreams they'll kill the next generation", She spoke my mind literally except the last part. I told her we are somehow on the same wavelength. I looked at her, in fact I was liking her more and more as we get to know each other. Mt.Kilimanjaro was now infront of us, we had arrived Arusha but wanted to got to the restaurant from past experiences ahead of Arusha a bit though stopped for fuel and drove to the "Kiwi restaurant". Wasn't hard to remember since it was big and stood out along the road. I parked at the far end parking spot. Told them I'll be eating fries and chicken as I had to drive to the petrol station back in Arusha town for maintenance. Did a quick service as I was smoking a cigarette. They finished and they advised me to buy brake fluid and Oil for longer distances without station's. Drove back to the rest, rolled a slim joint before heading to munch. I was high now, I won't smoke more for the road. Found the rest still waiting for their order with milkshakes. Picked mine and sat next to Georgina. She smelt me and whispered to my ear," that's bad should have called me", I thought she was stoned but she is one of a kind.

The food arrived we ate as it was now almost afternoon with the clock showing 3:40.P.M. Mr.Peter asked me what time are we gonna be in Dar-es-Salaam. Replied that by 9 or 10. "I'm gonna pick a 11 O'clock flight is that's a comfortable time?", Told him yes. We were to fly to South Africa leaving the car at the airport. Since Mr.Peter had connections there for equipments so the rest we will use in East Africa. Looked like everyone was full since a quarter chicken here is like a half and a half is almost full. At 4:20.P.M we were back on the road.