Dale was the leader of our group, the one everyone looked up to. As the football team captain, he was confident, strong, and always ready to take charge. He was passionate about the game, and I was his star striker—the one he could always count on to score when it mattered most. We had built a bond on the field, a trust that went beyond just being teammates. Dale admired my dedication in football, and in return, I admired his leadership. He was fiercely protective of me, and he didn’t hesitate to support the fundraiser when he heard about my situation. For Dale, loyalty was everything, and when it came to helping a friend, he was always there.
Muss was different from the rest of us. He was a mama’s boy through and through, and he didn’t try to hide it. His mother was his world, and he respected her more than anyone. Muss lived in Gilgil, close to Koelel, and since I traveled from Nairobi, he took me under his wing. He treated me like a brother, always looking out for me and making sure I was okay. Muss was quiet, thoughtful, and had a heart of gold. He wasn’t the type to get involved in wild schemes, but when I asked him for help with the fundraiser, he didn’t hesitate. He understood my struggles and, in his own calm way, supported me through everything. His loyalty and kindness were constants in my life, and I knew I could always count on him.
The excitement started to fade, replaced by anxiety. Why? I didn’t have that kind of money. I was barely scraping by with the little pocket money my
We met up one night after lights out, huddled together in our dormitory, whispering about how we could raise the money. Teddy suggested we throw a party—charge a small fee for entry and use the profits to fund my trip. Olal was all for it, saying he could DJ the party and make it a night to remember. Dale offered to get us some snacks and drinks from the school, and Muss, ever the practical one, agreed to handle the logistics.
It wasn’t long before we had a plan in place. The excitement of pulling off a secret fundraiser in the middle of a military school added to the thrill. We were doing something forbidden, something risky, but it felt right.