Vapes Story Time | Vapengin Jupiter

Vapes Story Time

Smoking Grandpa & The Herds Boy

Back in the days I used to be the family’s herds boy. Nattily dressed with worn-out short from the back. Let me tell you, my buttocks had seen better days, they were my eyes from behind. They had not heard of an underwear. I would sit down and leave small heaps of sand taking the shape of the two “sitting allowances”. The poor things were always dusty.

I was so smart and intelligent such that everyone around me liked me instantly. To be a reliable Herds Boy was a crown that many didn’t have. The cattle, goats and sheep were my best buddies. I spent most of the days in the thickets grazing them. We could communicate and understand each other. Except when I needed to take a nap in the bushes only to get up and not trace any of them. This was every herds boy nightmare only that it occurred when the sun was still bright.

Grandpa liked me so much as well for my efforts ensuring family wealth was taken care of. He would occasionally join me in the scorching heat of the sun. Deforestation had turned Karwigi Village to unforgiving desert and especially to me. I had no shoes, shoes were only read in history back then, so I would walk miles away barefoot in the hot sand. My feet texture had turned to durable “off-road tyres”. Cracks on them gave me a firm grip on the ground whenever I wanted turbo power to run in the line of duty as a herds boy.

I was still young but of age to attend early childhood education. The problem was hardships we faced at home. Grandpa joined me most of the time when I was out grazing. He was a heavy chain smoker. Sitting in the bushes away from the scorching sun you would think the thicket was burning only to find Grandpa with his traditional clay pipes smoking. His breathing was always with difficulty; making wheezing sound and dangerous coughing. I would sit next to him as he used to tell me sweet tales that kept me laughing and entertained. I had to bear with his tobacco smoke that at times choked me. He had now a permanent odor of tobacco. The tales were of fiction but very entertaining and educative.

At times Grandpa would be going through old newspaper probably two or more years since its printing. I couldn’t tell whether he was reading or viewing photos. He had not attended any formal school in life but this didn’t limit his wisdom. He had done ngumbaru, informal vernacular learning, so at least he would misspell his name or write it incorrectly. He would explain things so well you would think he’s a graduate.

Grandpa’s vice was only smoking. He had even planted his tobacco that he liked harvesting it fresh from the farm. He was an addict who was not to reform. His health was at risk; he had become so thin. He had dangerous coughs and his wheezing made me worried thinking the “sun would set before time”. He would daily smoke like four pages of his old newspapers until we would find he’s only left with less than a page of the whole newspaper leaving us with nothing to read. Not even the last piece of the newspaper would go to waste. He rolled tobacco with it and lick it to make it stick together and puff it.

I wish Grandpa was a little bit patient to witness the evolution of smoking. The new and safer way of smoking; VAPING. Yes, vapes are more safe with less health risks! Grandpa would be blowing clouds of smokes happily from vapes. His tales in the bushes would be more fun. His permanent tobacco odor would fade away. He would not suffer toxic tar accumulation in his airways from his traditional smoking. Vapes have eliminated most of the harmful substances found in tobacco while smoking.

I’m nostalgic visiting the fields we used to graze with Grandpa. Seeing the Mugumo trees which he had told me how elders carried their traditions under them to connect with Mwene Nyaga. Remembering the choking clouds of smoke that easily helped me locate Grandpa in the thickets. Grandpa how do you miss out on Vapes? But I got you big Grandpa!

I’m making this beautiful Clouds of Vape Smoke in these fields to remember you! This was the field of the Herds Boy and his smoking Grandpa. To Grandpa!