CHASING THE CLOUD

(Lady laughing from a distance)... I remember that sound. One
that will never slip pass my memory. Its no other than the voice of
kayla. It seems like yesterday when my terrain she bade farewell.

Oh! Verbatim her words I recall "I don't feel you anymore. my heart
beats no more for you. hopeful pauper; waiting for you to get rich is
like expecting a spring from a desert".
Her mind was made up. My plea on deaf ears fell. oh! Kayla.

Lost in reverie, I felt someone tap my shoulder. I
resuscitated to the sight of a fair grey eyed being. Speechless, I
awaited my accoster's rendition. "Hi" she said sending me back and
forth to dream land. Hmm... (I always felt this way whenever I'm with
kayla). It took some minutes before I realized she was just greeting
and that a guy was beside her. She introduced the guy as 'Sam', her
fiance.

Her introduction caused a shimmer in my spine. Twa's as though cold
water was poured unexpectedly on me. 'I was just saying 'hi' before
leaving' she concluded, handing me an invitation card.

In a bid to fulfill all righteousness, I bade her farewell and
once again boarded a flight to reverie island.
The first time she left, I had hope she would return. But now its
evident, the prodigal daughter has found home away from home.
Resigned to fate, I stood up contemplating as to what could be done
with my life.

Lost in thought, I bumped into someone. However, this time
it turned out to be a fair blue- eyed lady as against the grey one who
took me down memory lane. promising myself "I won't lost again in the
cloud chasing game" unknown to me I had been unconsciously staring at
her.
"Are you ok?" She asked releasing me from pressing thoughts. I opened
my eyes and heaved a sigh of relief.

It took some minutes before I became conscious of my
present milieu. Lo and behold I was in a park. I looked around me and
my gaze fell back on those angelic eyes. Fully conscious, I looked
intently at her. I reckoned my stare was responsible for the blum
creeping up her cheek. She repeated her words and this time I
responded, "I'm okay, very much okay" I said.

She laughed and to me it sounded musical. "Ex- girlfriend?"
She said in an interrogative manner. "I didn't get that" I said
wearing a quizzical look. She repeated her statement but this time
with the addendum" the girl you were looking at, is she your
ex-girlfriend?" I responded in the affirmative and this paved way for
further questions.
"What are you doing at the park looking downtrodden?" I came to
reflect on my life. If kayla left me because I am poor then I should
do something about it.

She smiled at me and said "instead of you chasing
and longing after her, why don't you make her chase and long after
you". Interested, I asked 'how do mean?' What do you love doing? she
replied, answering my question with a question.
"Playing piano" I said, she then told me to cease the moment. She said
"Go out and do what you love doing. Play the piano to the world and
let the world see and know you for who you are." When you become the
world's best pianist you would have turned the table. Ladies will then
long and chase after you.

I thanked her and promised to do what she had said. "Mackensie",
that's my name she added. Will I see you again? We never can tell she
said smiling as she took her leave.

...... It's been ten years now. I can't say I'm the world's best
pianist but I'm doing my best. And as for the table its been turned a
long time before now. Taking a walk round the park I recall my
encounter with the messiah who changed my life.

DERBY