No More Tears

"You know perhaps I may not have been so clear when we were talking about jobs. People come here and then they work out ways of getting the jobs. It doesn't just come automatically. The first thing we need to do is..." "Is what? I asked him. "We need to get you papers." he replied. "But I have papers." I told him. "Don't you remember I invited you to my graduation for my Masters?" "Oh, yeah I know you graduated and all that, but Atieno, that's not what I am talking about! To do any work here, to get any employment even if it is cleaning bathrooms, you need papers. I am talking about gaining citizenship or resident status!" "Really?" I asked. "And how do I go about that? Is there an office that you need to take me to tomorrow so I can apply for these "papers'"? "Eh..." he hesitated a bit. And suddenly my discomfort was growing. "Edu, is there something you are not telling me?" He breathed deeply and then said... "Atieno, you have to get married quickly and that's the only way this thing is going to work!" "Married to whom? I haven't even met anybody! I have only been here a month!" A GRIPPING PLOT WITH TWISTS AND TURNS ABOUT A GIRL WHO IS TRYING TO GET MARRIED QUICKLY TO AVOID BEING DEPORTED FROM THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY. SPELLBINDING.