Fool's Paradise

Chapter Four

They were late, everyone had been chased out of the dormitories and roll call had already been made, but nobody bothered with them as they made their entrance. The music was pumping out in vibrating rhythms and students were seriously working the dance floor singing “Fire!” along with The East African Bashment Crew.

The Dudes moved to one side of the main hall to where the boys stood. Several boys were already discussing which girl they were going to slow dance while others looked miserable as they were at the dance only because they had to be.

Laura Kempuga and Juliana Kagimba dragged The Dudes to the dance floor. Connie Mafabi, Imelda Ariko and Suzanne Aseya joined them. César grinned at Kaye who pretended not to notice. The music changed from hip-hop to Lingala and César moved to Kaye and urged him not to waste time, it was time he made a move on Suzanne because he knew that another boy was planning to do likewise.

Kaye danced one more song then told Suzanne that he was going out for some fresh air and asked her if she cared to join him. Suzanne beamed at him and agreed. Technically, students were not allowed to leave the main hall until the end of the dance unless you were an official but a few students got away with it because of their friendship with the officials and the teacher on duty didn’t fuss either if there was no incident, mainly out of laziness. The Dudes nudged and “high-fived” each other as Kaye and Suzanne left. Juliana watched César intently as they continued to dance.

Outside, Kaye stood awkwardly by Suzanne’s side fidgeting with his fingers. Suzanne said, “Kaye, why are so quiet? You can be quite talkative. Or is it me that’s the problem?” Kaye rushed to deny it but her wide grin stopped him; she was just teasing him.
Kaye was silent for a moment then blurted out, “Do you like me Suzanne, I mean really like me?” Suzanne laughed. “Now that’s the Kaye I know. Yes, I like you…I mean really like you.” Kaye stood there and looked at her with a very wide grin on his face. Suzanne giggled at his glee, feeling all nice and warm. She sought his hand and he held hers firmly giving it an occasional squeeze. They stood side-by-side in silence but very happy and content.

Back inside the music changed to Dionne Warwick’s “Whispers in the Dark” César took hold of Laura and pulled her close to him. After a few moments rubbing against each other Laura whispered into César’s ear, “I hope that later tonight you’ll be moving that way.”
“Don’t I always.” He held her even tighter as they drifted into a world of their own.

As Juliana danced, she watched Laura and César over Theo’s shoulder. She wondered what he saw in her. She was her friend and a nice person too, but basically, the girl was loose. Right now, she was hot for César, but what would happen when she tired of him and set her sights on somebody else? At least she would be there to offer consolation for she knew that César really liked Laura and he would be very unhappy.

Morgan held Aida in his arms. “Would you rather we stopped dancing?” Aida looked up at him puzzled and asked, “Why?”
“You’re so stiff. It’s like you wish you were somewhere else.”
“I wouldn’t have agreed to dance with you if I didn’t want to.”
“Then relax.”
“I am relaxed.”
“Wow, if that’s how you feel like when relaxed, I’d hate to see you tensed up.”
Aida pulled away and glared at him. “Well, if I’m not laid back enough for you then why don’t you find another dance partner?” With that, Aida turned on her heel and walked away in a huff. Morgan sighed, that girl needs to loosen up. He spotted Connie Mafabi standing alone and approached her for a dance to which she agreed.

Suzanne and Kaye joined the dancers and swayed cheek to cheek. Theo caught Alex’s attention over Juliana’s shoulder and gestured to the couple with his head. He turned and saw Kaye mouthing the words of Mario’s “Let Me Love You” to Suzanne who was gazing happily into his eyes. Wondering what he was looking at, his dance partner Imelda glanced over his shoulder and eyed the scene. She cackled and Alex asked what was so funny. “Look at them,” she said, “They look so stupid acting all gooey and stuff.”
“I happen to think that they look very good together.” The coldness of his tone silenced her.

The song ended and Alex turned and walked away. Danston was leaning against the wall shaking his head, “That wasn’t very nice leaving her on the dance floor like that.”
“I know but sometimes she annoys me. She’s always mouthing off about everyone as if she’s perfect herself. I don’t even know why I bother talking to her. The chick irritates me.” Danston decided to hold his council. Alex sighed, “Okay Danston, out with it.” Danston smiled, “She wants you to sleep with her.” Alex was incredulous, “What does Imelda’s bitchiness have to do with sex?”
“She’s not getting any that’s what. Her friends all around her are getting it but no one is making her any offers even if it’s for the satisfaction of saying no.”
“So, why doesn’t she come straight out and ask for it?” Danston was amused, “Come on Alex, you’re smarter than that. Would you do that? At least you’d hint around first. Besides, this is Uganda. As liberal as our teenies have become, there’s still a little bit of that feeling that girls shouldn’t do the asking because it might make them look desperate.” Alex chuckled, “Someone forgot to tell Laura that.”
“Besides,” Danston continued, “There’s a school of thought that believes abstinence is the way to go.”
“Yeah, I think I can relate to that.”

There was a fracas at the back of the main hall. A drunken girl who was insisting on dancing but could barely stand was making a big fuss. Her friends were trying to control her but she wasn’t having it. Maureen Mukasa, in exasperation, turned on her heel and stormed off.
A short while later, the crowd that had gathered around her parted and César appeared, Maureen close behind, looking a little anxious. “Cassandra, stop it!” She looked at César through bleary-eyes as she struggled to stand straight. “Ach, leave me ’lone! Jus’ go ’way. You ’ways like spoiling my fun, go ’way!” César took a deep breath then gave her a slap that knocked her out cold. Her friends seized her before she hit the ground and pulled her to a corner. “Maureen,” César said as he noticed her next to him, “Watch over her and make sure she doesn’t get into trouble.” Maureen nodded grimly as César walked away.
“I don’t know what to do with that girl. She can’t hold her alcohol but she insists on drinking. If she gets caught and is sent home it’ll be me my parents will kill,” César remarked as he joined Laura.
“Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
“I can’t help worrying.”
“Relax, we have a long night ahead of us…you’ll be needing all your energy.”

On the other side of the main hall, Anthony found James standing alone, leaning on the wall. “Why aren’t you dancing?”
“I don’t feel like dancing,” replied James.
“Why?”
“Because I’m tired, I’ve been dancing from the moment we arrived.”
“I don’t understand you. We are at a dance that has phat jams and hot babes and all you can do is bore yourself by standing up against the wall.”
“Has it occurred to you that I just might be enjoying myself watching what is going on?”
“Why watch when you can be in the mix? Teenie, get with the program!”

The tempo of the music slowed down and Anthony took hold of James’ hand as he led him to the dance floor. James quickly snatched his hand away. “There’s no way I’m dancing a slow with you!”
“Don’t be stupid!” Anthony took hold of James’ hand once again, “Just follow me.” With much trepidation, James did as he was told. They crossed the dance floor and stopped in front of a group of girls that parted to reveal Maureen Mukasa. She smiled, “Hi James, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to ask me for a dance.”
“Huh?” was all James could say. Maureen’s smile widened. “Come on,” she said as she took hold of his hand and led him to the dance floor. Maureen wrapped her arms round James’ shoulders as he put his arms tentatively around her waist. “You’re shaking,” she said.
“Yes,” he croaked and felt his face grow hot.
“Relax, I won’t bite.” She took hold of his arms and wrapped them tighter around her waist. He felt his hormones raging inside of him and he tried to pull away but she wouldn’t let him. “Will you relax, it’s a natural reaction. Actually, I’m quite flattered.” James felt his face grow hotter and wished that the ground would open up to swallow him. From a short distance away, Anthony grinned and mentally patted himself on the back.

The entertainment minister announced the last dance. Everyone surged onto the dance floor and danced with an enthusiasm that seemed to know no bounds. By now, Cassandra had sobered up a little and her face was feeling sore. Damn her brother, he was always trying to control her life, she was sick of it. Maureen joined her looking pleased with herself. “What were you doing with that small boy,” Cassandra wanted to know.
“What small boy?” Maureen was all innocence. Cassandra rolled her eyes in exasperation, “I’m talking about James.” A wicked grin spread across Maureen’s face as she said, “Trust me, Cass, the boy isn’t small at all!”
“Get your mind out of the gutter, you know what I mean and you haven’t answered my question.”
“I was just getting to know him better.”
“Oh no, you’re planning on corrupting the poor boy. Mo, he’s only in Senior 2!”
“That’s only a class below us.”
“Yes, but S2 and S3, to us is light years apart!”
“Speak for yourself. Besides, I’m not corrupting him, I’m educating him.”
“With you, there isn’t much difference.”
“You’re just fuming because your brother caught you drunk.”
“Yeah, thanks to you!”
“What was I supposed to do? You were going bananas and fighting everyone. I warned you about drinking too much of that bungu,” Maureen admonished.
“Please,” Cassandra said, “I don’t need you to preach to me. If that idiot thinks he can ruin my night, he has another thing coming. Are we still on for later tonight?”
“Of course, Yona said to meet him by the biology labs at three.”
“Good!”

The girls were the first to leave, starting with the Senior Ones, then the Senior Twos and so on. Aida Namatovu stood at the door and ticked each girl’s name as she left the hall. César escorted Laura to the door when it was the Senior Fives’ turn. She whispered into his ear reminding him of their rendezvous later in the night. As César left her, Laura joined Connie who said, “You need to calm down, your vibrating with anticipation and you know how easily Aida’s suspicion is aroused.” Laura giggled at that, “Yeah well, what she needs is her libido aroused!”
“The ‘Ice Queen’? That will be the day!” The two girls walked out of the main hall arm in arm, giggling mischievously.

César watched Laura leave with Connie and thought that he must be the greatest lover that ever lived, and then he smiled to himself as he thought, yeah right! He knew that it was just wishful thinking. Aida watched César as he walked back to his friends. Morgan Mushega watched her watching César; she was always watching him.

Danston raised an inquiring eyebrow and César told him that he needed to use his room later in the night. “Change of plan I see. You always go to girls’ end. What’s up?” César replied, “Juliana told Laura that the Head Girl is on the lookout, and since girls almost never come to the boys’ end especially in the middle of the term, it would not occur to the prefects that Laura would do so.”
“Don’t be too sure about that,” Danston chipped in, “Aida’s like a hawk; she misses nothing.”
“True,” César agreed, “but right now Laura’s in her good graces and besides, things have been relatively quiet lately and security is a little lax.”
“Don’t worry; we’ve got your back,” Kaye said. Theo nodded his agreement and added, “And brother, you had better give us all the nauseating details.”
“I think I should write a book, ‘The Adventures of César Kamani…The Man Who Couldn’t Keep It Zipped Up’,” laughed Alex. César scowled at Alex. His friends laughed as they left the main hall. César wasn’t amused, his status as the school stud was becoming a strain.