Snow Dust

The Meet Up

The rooster crowed, not with its usual swagger, but with a hushed reverence, marking the dawn of Michael's destiny. The sun peeked over the Kisii hills, painting the sky in bruised orange, mirroring the bittersweet emotions swirling within him. Today, the boy who walked miles to school with worn textbooks and bare feet embarked on a journey across Kenya, towards a future etched in steely grey skies and whispered dreams.

Mama's tear-streaked face, etched with pride and apprehension, lingered in his memory as he left the guava tree behind. Each step down the dusty path felt heavy, laden with the weight of unspoken blessings and the whispers of generations carried on the wind. In Kisii Town, the bus station buzzed with a frenetic energy that overwhelmed Michael. Towering matatus, painted in clashing colours, roared like impatient beasts, vying for passengers. The air crackled with a foreign electricity, a stark contrast to the gentle hum of cicadas back home.

He boarded the bus, the worn leather seat a throne overlooking a kaleidoscope of faces. Hawkers weaved through the aisle, their voices blending into a rhythmic chant, selling snacks and dreams in equal measure. As the bus roared to life, the familiar contours of Kisii bled into a blur of green hills and ochre plains. Every mile felt like a bridge burned, a step further away from the land he knew, yet closer to the horizon he craved.

Nairobi, at dusk, was a symphony of honking horns and neon lights. Skyscrapers, like steel giants, clawed at the twilight, their windows reflecting a multitude of dreams. The bus deposited him at a bustling marketplace, the fragrance of spices and street food replacing the scent of his mother's cooking fire. Michael, clutching his worn backpack, felt adrift in a sea of humanity, a small boat navigating a choppy ocean.

He found his way to the designated hotel, a modest oasis amidst the urban sprawl. Inside, a motley crew of teenagers milled about, a chorus of excited whispers and unfamiliar accents filling the air. He recognized them from the scholarship list, each face adorned with a nervous excitement mirroring his own. He met James, a wiry boy from Kakamega with a mischievous glint in his eyes, and Sarah, a towering Maasai girl whose smile radiated warmth.

Dinner was a cacophony of introductions and nervous laughter. Stories tumbled out, dreams whispered across plates of unfamiliar food. There was David, the aspiring engineer from Nakuru, and Mary, the budding lawyer from Mombasa. Each face, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a spark of hope against the backdrop of Kenyan poverty.

Later, under the soft glow of city lights, Michael found himself on the rooftop, sharing stories with Joan Anyango from Siaya County. Her laughter, like the rhythm of the lake waves she spoke of, calmed his jitters. Her eyes, reflecting the same uncertainty he felt, held a spark of determination that mirrored his own. They talked of futures painted in hues of anatomy labs and stethoscopes, of villages healed and lives saved.

The night bled into a restless dawn, the anticipation buzzing in the air like overexcited bees. With dawn, came the official ceremony, a swirl of dignitaries and speeches, of handshakes and certificates. Michael, holding the parchment with his name embossed in official script, felt the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. This wasn't just his future, it was the future he carried for his village, a beacon of hope amidst the whispering doubts.

As the last goodbyes were exchanged, and promises of keeping in touch hung heavy in the air, Michael boarded the train back to Kisii. The city lights grew smaller, replaced by the familiar constellations dotting the velvet sky. He closed his eyes, the rhythmic chugging of the train a lullaby to his dream. The whispers of the stone, now mingled with the whispers of asphalt and city lights, promised a future both daunting and exhilarating. Michael, the barefoot boy from Kisii, was on his way. And the snow, white and unknown, awaited him across the horizon.