My bump says it all
As told to Brenda Wangwe.
Jolly pleasantries are making their way around Pregnant’s boardroom. Our person of focus calmly reclines on her seat and looks around quietly. She doesn’t seem anxious about unravelling what’s beneath her gentle bump; like the lady who knows that in Africa men go before, she lets Quincy take the cue.
Quincy takes the platform oiling it back to where it all began. He says he met Esther the year 2002 in Australia at a Kenyans-Living-in-Australia get-together and a friendship ensued. Then he was in the University of New Castle where he was studying Terrestrial Law as Esther took with her Law degree at the Wollongong University.
Quincy later on took off to the United States for a Master’s Degree in Endocrinology, the study of hormones. Esther later came back to Kenya. We began seeing her pretty face and her effortless and gentle authority in the KTN newsroom. Sure enough, there was a lull between their buddy-ship until Quincy was in Joseph Hellon’s house, and behold… Esther!
And a lot of water happened under the bridge: a volatile break up culminating to the trio announcing their ambition to redesign the Kenya’s political atmosphere, concerns from disillusioned Christians, shuttling from cell to cell amidst high security, and a media that could not out-give the mass. The trio’s names were dancing on almost everyone’s lips.
Well, like every other sizzling news, it sizzled out… until the three walked into Pregnant’s office with special news.
When exactly did they get married? ‘No, it was not while Quincy was under incarceration. I knew that many people would object my decision— despite us being consenting adults. So our pastor, Hellon—who is certified by the Kenya Government to oversee a marriage union, married us at an ambassador’s house,’ articulates Esther.
‘Which was a safe option,’ says Quincy.
‘Being a no man’s land…’ explains Hellon.
Back to our subject, “I’m six months pregnant/ Esther says with a little smile, shifting to find the most comfortable position in the seat.
How did she know she was expectant? She says she just got the hunch a week later. A home-kit confirmed it and the doctor’s report cemented it.
She declines a soft-drink asking for water instead an indication that junk has become a no-no. Quincy playfully confirms that reporting, ‘Hey I found this girl hooked to junk food. But for her well being and that of the baby, we have had to fight to have her eat the nutritious traditiona food—the likes of red ugali, liver, fish and kienyeji vegetables. I keep a time table to ensure she gets her much needed food’
‘Oh he overfed me,’ laughs Esther, ‘I added a whole 3kgs in a month-the doctor had to ask me to shed off a good part of it.’ She goes on to make it loud that Quincy has been the master keeper of the tabs: Her vitamins tablets, resting pattern, water intake, her tummy butter, her beauty appointments, to mention a few.
‘She seems to have caught up with me,’ her husband teases, ‘Nowadays, I find her doing it before I mention it.’
Special speak
‘I met my mum at the hospital the other day when I was going for my clinic and she said “na kuzaa ni uchungu! (Labour is painful),” recounts the former KTN business news anchor smiling. ‘She can’t wait to say hello to her grandchild,’ says Esther.
As for Quincy, there is never-ending supply of food from up-country (Quincy is apparently Kenyan). He says his family loves Esther to pieces and are more than keen to have the latest member their clan showing up.
Esther attests that her hubby is everything in the world but a few things have remained rocket science for him. ‘For a long time he has been dropping clothes on the floor, pulling the covers to himself, putting a lot of pepper in the food and waking me up at 3am to catch up! He sleeps early. I’m a late sleeper, which leaves me wondering… can we talk about that when the sun is up?’
‘With the day bombarded with business and back-to-back political endeavours, 3am is the best time for me to ask my wife little special guestions like why she likes to paint her toe nails purple… so… well… because when Esther also wants to know something, she will stop nothing, until she gets it out of you.’
‘Oh but for the clothes and pepper, he has really improved,’ consoles Esther before adding, ‘And he keeps buying pillows!’
‘She usually shoves off the pillows from and props herself all of them—we just never have enough.’ Quincy defends.
A little shy moment: ‘I had a running stomach during my 22nd week. The constant visits to the cloak room were not very becoming. Then the gas. It can happen whenever or wherever,’ she mutters.
Esther: When the baby kicked.
Quincy: What about when you first saw the baby playing on the monitor.
Esther: Yeah. There are many bests!
She says she loves being pregnant. ‘I’m glad pregnancy is nine months. It prepares you psychologically,’ Esther says.
For Quincy, something he can’t stop doing is ensuring Esther has a different look. He says whatever looks really nice on other women out there will definitely look better on his wife, so he gets it for her. His biggest career objective is to ensure that his wife is the happiest on the planet, he remarks. ‘I am glad I have her because she is submissive and is willing to learn more not forgetting that she stood by me against all odds. Only a mad man would turn against such woman,’ says the musician with an obviously bemused look.
True to the word, Esther’s parents were not very excited at their daughter’s move to get married. Esther and Quincy however say that should they see an olive branch waving in that homestead, they will run faster than Usain Bolt for the grand reconciliation.
Guest’s say
All the while, there has been that quiet guest—his face written: ‘intently listening’. I ask what he has to say about all the words that have been flying around the room. Hellon says he is more than happy for his dearest friends; running mate and prospective MP respectively.
“This guy (gesturing at Quincy) is not the person you have been hearing about on media. Go look for ‘that one’ elsewhere. The person you are looking at is an Alpha man. He is an expert in the kitchen, he will fix almost whichever vehicle, he has written great speeches. We went to the same primary school back in the village, and we are now doing music, business and Christian ministry together. He is brave, he birthed the master-plan to this political venture, and has been selfless enough to give me the mantle on a platter, saying I am the one who has ‘it’. I am in no doubt he will make a great father,” declares Hellon the Pastor, legendary saxophonist, pastor and 2012 presidential aspirant.
If you did not notice, the subject at hand has something synonymous the trio’s political base; PLACENTA. ‘Kenya is at a gestation period; to have a re-birth that Kenya wants; the angelic Kenya, one with the tenets of biblical principles, which are not out to discriminate on people from other faiths,’ Hellon articulates.
‘Koyo and I will be here soon!’ Hellon mutters with a great smile and sure nod.
And just like they came in, the three shuffle out in jolly banter, very eager to read their story.
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King or Queen: Not really keen on knowing. Either is great.
Baby names: Not until we lock eyes and bond with the baby.
House help arrangements: Not looking forward to that. If the service can be avoided, even better.
EDD: 21st December, 2010.
Prospective parent-baby relationship: Tight – to be with them as much as possible.
Favourite time:
Esther: The Kicks
Quincy: The scan that showed the baby waving.
Who is Quincy to Esther: Friend, teacher and husband
Who is Esther to Quincy: The epitome of the magma of my life. I don’t seem able to be without her; that’s why I drag her to wherever.
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