CHOMBO

AN EXCERPT THEREOF
BY FEDERICO ANDERSON

“Kenyatta really is writing his myth.” Khalid nodded. “I was just talking shit.” He turned to me. “I told you I read his book right?” I shook my head. He hadn’t told me and I was surprised. “Yeah I read it, I read the whole thing. I got to admit, it’s deep. He really says some shit. And it’s all on that like C. S. Lewis type of logical connections, building a long complicated argument. It’s well done!”

“C.S. Lewis who wrote children’s books?” Keith asked.

“Yes sweetheart,” Khalid talked down, to redeem himself.

“But he was also a philosopher, like a practical theologian, real interesting stuff. Brilliant really! Too Christian centered for me, but anyway, Ken’s book reminded me of The Abolition of Man. You read that Rick, right? Remember how he starts off with a little green grammar book and from it, he started a series of arguments that lead to the like, the decay of the western world and shit?”

“How does he do that?”

“He starts by describing some aspects of the book, and in describing these aspects, he divines the assumptions that the editors must have made in order to have composed the book in that way. Then from that, he draws another argument about certain new ideas and blah, blah, blah. Before you know it, this grammar book represents everything that’s wrong in the world.

“Anyway, That’s what Ken’s book was like. It starts with the assertion that ‘candy is junk,’ that we all teach our kids and ends in human hypocrisy and white supremacy.” He giggled and shook his head. “It’s a wild ride! The way he does it is interesting.” He broke off laughing then sat quietly smiling to himself.

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