It was a beautiful morning, one worthy of shopping; and so I took a walk down Second Street. The first shop I visited was the second heart store. I moved closer to read the labels of the hearts on display. Broken hearts on sale: Fragile, please handle with care. Angry, anxious and depressed hearts on offer: Buy one get one free; Pure hearts: Unavailable, please try next shop. The only thing I would have bought was unavailable; heartless, I left the store.
The next shop was the Second spouse store, and just like the first shop, all items were clearly labelled. Widows, widowers and divorcees on sale: Fragile, please handle with care. Lying, unfaithful and broke spouses on offer: Buy one, get two free. Rich, God-fearing, faithful and good looking spouses: Unavailable, Please try God. I left the store feeling lonelier than I had been.
Since it was lunchtime, I decided to visit the second food parlour that was across the road. All foods were priced and labelled. Overcooked food on sale: Please eat in moderation. Junk food on offer: Buy one plate get one free. Healthy and green foods: Unavailable, Please visit a farm near you. I left the parlour, feeling hungrier than I had been and decided to go home.
The taxis on the second bus park were clearly labelled. Not roadworthy taxis with unseasoned drivers: Fragile, pray before boarding. Over speeding and drunken drivers with police records: Pay half price, arrival not guaranteed. Law-abiding drivers with no police record – Unavailable. Please walk or fly. It was a long walk home from Second Street.
Read – Mid of Night – A Flash Fiction by Pinkett Wambui Muiruri, Kenya
