John (not his real name) and I have known each other for like 6 years. This being the 6th year. We were brought together by the thirst to acquire the white man’s magic and use it to influence and affect our future lives. We did it successfully for four good years and now we are supposed to continue ad learn more of this magic to stand out. Another six years through the same institution. I feel good that we will be going through the same institution again because this guy is a good guy. This guy loves literature. This guy thinks beyond his nose. This guy tells you shit when you deserve shit. This guy laughs at your ass when he needs to. This guy hides nothing from you and many people love to hate that type of a guy. I like to have that type of a guy as a friend.
“Man. I think I have to play serious this year. I mean its not that I am not serious”.
Me: “I know that”
John: “people should know I am serious with in life. It’s a new year and I am growing older. It’s high time I try some serious relationship thing, don’t you think?
Me: “I don’t know man; I said the same thing to myself and see where I am. Toss a coin in the air and pick whatever you get”
John: “Did you do that?”
Me: “Nope but I hear it works”
So my friend turns out as the most joker. He is not a joker per se but he looks like a joker. He looks like he has no plan. He looks (I think I should use looked because he has changed since that talk). With the locks on his head now, all his critics think now he has completely lost it. People think John smokes and do weed. People think John is always high that even when he is, no one can tell the difference. John passes out as the complete contrast of what he is. He works hard, he has plans, and he is serious. I even think he tossed a coin in the air to his luckier side. The guy has achieved a lot in this short span of time. He is nearing his 20’s.
In short, John is not what people think he is. He just seems the bad guy. Blame it on his swagger but he isn’t what he looks and many of us have that kind of thing around us. An acquaintance of mine with his friends were discussing having lunch together and my name was brought to the table. Guess the reaction that came up. “Mokaya!! Are you out of your mind? That guy sees nothing good in anything. He even criticizes the sky.” (Heck! The sky is the ugliest creation of God) I didn’t say that by the way. I was the devil in the talk. I loved it when my acquaintance told me of that later on. I laughed it off. No! I actually had a good laugh about it. It’s good to hear what people genuinely think about you behind those smiles and ‘Hi’s’. I know I love to criticize but I do it part-time. I don’t hate the sky, I don’t hate on the roads or even flies. But I do like to hate once in a while. That doesn’t make me a hater, does it?
It’s not what it is always like. The guy sleeping in the gutter in the morning is not always homeless and lazy. The guy spending countless hours in the bar (I think that was pre-Mututho era) isn’t always a bad father or husband or bachelor. The guys with dreads are not always gangsters. The people with red eyes don’t always do drugs. But the guy making out and caught right in the act shouldn’t use those words, “It’s not what its like” No way! If you are caught in the act, either deny: though I don’t know how one can pull that one off or admit and get your ass kicked. (But it is advisable you deny as much as you can). It is what it’s like then or even worse.
For those of use being mistaken for something else, maybe its time we try and change that outlook. It’s a false identity. “Mokaya! That hater?” It would even be better if you said, “Mokaya, that short guy”
It’s been long!
© Jaqaya