Am I Being Watched?


 * I finally got some time off, and I was able to spend the New Year’s
 * holidays with my family. As many of you have probably
 * experienced, spending holidays with relatives can either be quite
 * enjoyable or excruciatingly maddening. I was looking forward to just
 * sleeping in, eating, and having a few drinks, but if you spend time
 * with my family, the last thing you get to do is relax.


 * They kept asking me questions about Kijuju, but the more I told them
 * about life here, especially in regards to recent events, the more they
 * started to look worried or angry. I can’t understand why. You tell
 * people about a few dead dogs and they think danger is lurking around
 * every corner. My mom was especially worried, and she just shook
 * her head and begged me not to go back to Kijuju. My father was no
 * better, and told me to listen to her before I made her worry
 * anymore. As much as I hate working, Kijuju is the only place that
 * offers work at a decent wage, and because I keep sending money
 * home, my family is able to enjoy a better life than they could
 * normally. Life ain’t easy out here in the sticks. There’s hardly any
 * work to be had here, and what jobs are available don’t even pay half
 * as well as the mine.


 * I tried to explain that to them, but they wouldn’t hear of it. I didn’t
 * even get to tell them about the blonde woman. She’s another reason
 * why I want to be in Kijuju, but they wouldn’t understand that either.


 * When I came back to Kijuju, part of me started to feel like my family
 * might have been right. The air was oppressive, if not downright
 * stifling. I hurried to the market to buy dinner, but I felt like someone
 * was watching me the entire time. I turned around and I saw the
 * butcher talking to a man with a turban. It didn’t look like they were
 * having a friendly chat, but more like they were discussing something
 * grave. All the while they kept casting furtive glances in my direction.


 * I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but the first time I found that
 * dog, the butcher was nearby. If my memory serves correctly, I’m
 * sure I’ve seen multiple dead animals in the vicinity of his shop.
 * Maybe he’s selling dog and cat meat as a delicacy. And you know
 * what? I’m fine with that. If that’s how he wants to make his money,
 * then he’s welcome to it. But what if it’s more than that? What if he’s
 * been spraying graffiti and putting up strange posters? What if he’s
 * starting a revolution or something? Unfortunately, there’s no one I
 * can tell here. Even if there were, they probably wouldn’t do anything
 * about it anyway.


 * I wonder what my girl thinks about this. (I know she’s not my girl yet,
 * but she will be!) I also want to know what you think, so please leave a
 * comment.