One More Night

Eve - which is also called 'kiro more', 'esigadde', 'penultimate night', etc etc - has always been my sort of thing. I love that one last full day before departing. I get high on the excitement that closure brings. And today I am in full 'kiro more' mode.

That oldie 'One more night' is playing over and over again through my laptop speakers. My suitcases and bags are spread all over the floor in different stages of packing. The book shelves are getting bare as I return books to different libraries and people. The wardrobe and drawers have been emptied of my what-nots. My last few contents in the shared fridge-freezer are defrosting for that last baking or giving away. My food cabinets were emptied this morning into heaps and bundles to give away. The shredder is working as I destroy written evidence of my presence, that is no longer wanted. End-term shredding reminds me of bonfire night in my primary school when fools burnt up their exercise books to mark the end of an academic year.

In previous years, I would climb up a chair firmly placed on a desk in order to scribble onto a corner of the ceiling 'Stella Nyanzi was here'. Right now I am rethinking this ritual of closure. I feel I am now too old to climb up another chair placed on the desk I have been working at all this while. I look at my children's pictures firmly pasted on the walls around me. These pictures have motivated me to keep working, stay the course, read longer, write more and be productive. I will bring the pictures down after all the other chores. I am looking forward to going back home to my people after three long months away. Tomorrow morning, I will be homebound. The excitement is killing me.

Stella Nyanzi