The pretty nurse that crushed a giant

Photographs are an eternal moment in time immortalized on an image.

There are several things I remember from this photo. My mom wal a lifelong employee of the Nairobi City Council health department. Throughout her career, she was posted in several City Council (NCC) health centers across the city. I remember she loved night duty very much. (There were certainly many perks to it.)

I remember that starched appron and the nurses cap. (It was just a stiff piece of cloth held onto the hair with pins. But as little boy, I didn't know how it was held in place.)

My mom wore the ever fashionable ladies belt. One accessory that never lacked was her trusty handkerchief. She always tucked it on her belt, towards her hip. It always looked smart. (During her funeral, one friend of hers eulogized her that she copied her style because my mom was a very smart and neat lady.)

But the greatest quirk with my mom was that little, feminine watch riding high above her pretty wrist. She always wore one through out her life. (Of course after independence.)

Every time we went with her on public buses, she had this practice of folding the Kenya Bus Service (KBS) ticket and tucking it under her watch straps.  This KBS memory brings a nice anectode that will warm your hearts.

One December, my mum had to take us upcountry to the then Nyeri district (Nyeri county). Alongside her cousin, she had 5 excited, energetic little strapplings and a gigantic bag full of a months worth of clothing. And of course, her handbag. (My dad was at work then, and in those days, it wasn't common for men to walk around with their children lugging around tonnes of baggage.)

As we got onto the KBS, all 5 of us were excited with the adventure before us. A  uniformed conductor stood by the door bored stiff. He was a gigantic, black man, but a small brin. You couldn't tell this from his royale look untilehe opened his mouth. Seeing this coterie of children and two pretty ladies, he probably got a chance to kill his boredom.

'Mama, uko na watoto wengi', (lady, you have many kids eh?) 

The giant conductor said trying to vybe my mum.
I think having just come out of his twisted daydream, he was thinking aloud. He didn't know he had just vomited.
My mum had a legendary look that was sharper than the injections she administered. She shot

t back at the big bodied conductor. And like a boss, without any chills, the pretty lady replied,
'Ni wako?' (Are they yours?) 😊😁😎
Ouch! The guys life was crushed.

Pasqualina was a LEGEND! (1948 - 9th December, 2018)

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