GOSSIPS GET EMBARASSED(Ssentongo Hassan) Being a fun loving person, I do not miss any plot that holidays or even school life can offer. I usually leave mesmerized by the hype in the entertainment they offer. However, there are a few which leave me clearly disgusted.

On this teenage awards event, everything from the audience, drinks, costly food to the music was compelling enough. Not even the loathsome “Hollywood look-likes” with whom we attended could outweigh the former. The problem was brought by three “college lookalikes” seated just behind me.

One of the infamous Kampala master of ceremonies called up on any female comrade who would not mind “co-emceeing” with him. One skimpily dressed lass shot to the podium like the powers of evil had worn her. She was so confident of herself and rightly so because she was smart. Before our new MC could say a word, the “three musketeers” sparked off a ruckus. “Oh my gosh, that’s Lovinsa!” one of them shouted. Before the three could fully digest their shock, our new MC introduced herself as Trina. “Eeh, as she can pose! She’s not Trina. Not even anyone in her clan lineage has that name,” they muttered. “Not even their neighbors!”

Faraway on the podium, our Trina had won the revelers’ hearts so much that she felt like a star each minute. Her brown designer shades were glittering and one could see her brown eyes glowing inside. She wore such a long weave one could only imagine how much artificial hair had been donated to enhance her look. Her tank top bared her navel all the way to a pair of shorts so short that three quarters of her thighs were out. The high heels gave her more height, more confidence and more visibility. Be the judge!

“I am from Horizon campus,” she said when asked which school she goes to. That only added insult to injury for the “three musketeers”, who roared with disgust or should I call it envy. First they commenced by questioning how the hell she had made it to the top class event. “Loovi lives in a ghetto; oba how did she come to Lugogo?” one exclaimed. “It even rained heavily this morning,” the other added. “She must have swam!”

Not aware of the virtual back biting, Trina kept shouting, “Eeh, are you guys having fun? If you are not then come up and dance with Michael Ross!” “It’s probably the first time she has seen Michael Ross, Loovi!” Musketeer II roared with laughter. “That’s not her real accent either. She has had a week’s practice. When she starts to speak, you can curse!” Musketeer III added.

At that moment, the annoying trio became a little interesting. They raised their voices so that everyone could hear their conversation. Slowly the attention supposed to be for Trina was taken up by the trio - genius! They started lamenting about how she had borrowed shoes from one of them a week earlier and failed to get transport to return them. “That is the blouse Stella lost when she was still in Sunsas High,” musketeer three mumbled. “By the way, do you know that chick is dense? She was chopped from four schools in her O level and now from Sunsas High! She hasn’t the slightest bit of brains,” another quipped.

Their envy rose to anger. “She’s even a whore; do you know how many boys she has slept with?” Musketeer II asked. “I am not sure but I can sum up 17! “And she has no taste; she likes only ghetto boys,” Musketeer III mumbled. In no time, Trina had been stripped naked by whoever was hearing because they detailed all the sins she had committed in the past.

At the climax of the interesting scene, Trina was awarded a juicy part time job at one of the town’s teenage MC companies. That sent the trio into outright anger because one of them broke her bottle of Fanta soda Berry as she digested the shock, causing chaos as everyone cursed the loud mouths. Since it was a Fanta-sponsored event, poor musketeer was whisked away, pale like a dove, to face charges; breaking a bottle, wetting the floor, disorganizing the crowd... (The list was endless).

The charges must have been fatal because she was thrown out and her seat remained vacant all through. The other two survivors prayed to God for mercy in order for Trina to at least break her heels and splash “her stuff” on the floor. The two ended the day ruefully embarrassed and shrunken to atom size. They stayed confined in their corner as if it could give them shelter even when revellers took to the dance floor. Although Trina – I mean Lovinsa – was stripped naked, the gossip girls also heard their beat of the drum. If there was one thing I found out that day, it is that gossip can be costly!

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