THE LEADER BOARD STORY

The news of Kennedy Murphy's death was one that had gone round the county and probably beyond. Ordinarily, there should have been rumours surrounding his death, but instead, the peoples bone of contention was his lifestyle.

Most of the residents of the county who knew Murphy or ever heard of him either refused to speak or gave unsubstantial information.

I needed to clear my head and have a drink so I headed to the bar.

“Hope to find something resourceful.” I said to myself as I pulled my coat from the coat rack and headed out.

The bar wasn't of any help. All the same I had to blend in.

“Murphy seems to be the talk of this town.” I said to the barista, trying to get his attention

“You new in town?’’ he asked raising a brow

“Um… yeah. Just came in two days ago, needed to clear my head but seems like that's not possible cause everywhere I go, it seems like he’s the order of the day.”

he snorted briefly before letting out a short laugh.

“Kennedy… was a good man. Knew him back in the days… came from a wealthy family… his father owned the second largest county in the farm, his mother was a housewife. We both worked on the farm, tending horses and sheep, sharing laughs and all… but everything changed when his father decided to take in the new woman”

“New woman? What happened to the old one?” I asked inquisitive. This was the only person giving me something- even though it wasn't as tangible as expected, at least it was something.

“Nothing… his father just decided to take a new woman… and they weren't married- by law or custom. The change hit Kennedy pretty hard. His life took a turn downwards ever since then. He was a despicable man.”

“Despicable?”

“He did indescribable things to people…apparently everyone in the county owed Murphy grealty and he took back on his own terms.”

“Wow… I’m sure the people must be elated”

“Elated would be an understatement dear-” he said as he wiped a glass and poured what he had been mixing into it

“-people are beyond that. Most people come in here to celebrate his death. Its like independence day all over again.” he pushed the glass over to me.

“I hadn't even placed an order”

“This one’s on the house.”he said, smiling

I stared at the glass, hoping to supposedly decipher the content of the glass. After what seemed like forever, I finally took a sip. It tasted good.

“What is this?”

“A magician never reveals his secrets” he said smiling cockily

“Even the name is a secret?” I asked smiling back

he let out his short laugh before leaving to attend to another customer.

As I took sips of the drink trying to savour every bit of the drink, I looked around, trying to eavesdrop on any conversation I could and get the best out of it. Unfortunately there was nothing as useful as what the barista had told me.

”So, hows your vacation going?” Cindy asked on the video call we had two days after I was at the bar.

“Well… considering that my job as a reporter is hanging on the balance if I don't get any story on the board after this “vacation” … its not going well.” I answered

“Kiara, you have two whole weeks to find something interesting to write about… you got this!” she replied

“Ok what do you have so far?” she asked trying to help

“Nothing substantial hon.” I said with a long sigh

“No scoop at all?”

“Well… there is something… unfortunately I got here at a time when there was some sort of calamity in the county. A certain “Kennedy Murphy” died . The story is so huge, it even made their news channel. People have been going on about it for days now.”

“Hon… that's amazing scoop… there's your story!!!” she exclaimed

“Its not that simple though. I've been trying to get information surrounding his death but people are more interested in talking about his lifestyle. That's not the kinda story that's gonna make the leader board!” I said, venting all my frustration at that point. I knew very well this was going nowhere. I wondered whatever it was I had ever done to Mr. Raymond to send me to such a place to get a story that would make the leader-board. I wasn't going to date that his crud of a son no matter what it was and I stood by it

“Calm down hon, its gonna be fine, you're gonna get that story and its gonna be no.1 on the leader-board. Have you tried looking the man up?”

“Yes… and it really doesn't say much… just talking about all the properties he owned, their worth and all that. That's practically all people have been saying about him” I said, reading out his bio-data from my laptop.

“The only additional information I could get was about his father and the reason why he tuned a new leaf”

I responded faintly, rubbing my temples, trying to think of something.

“Have you gone to see your mum?” she asked

“OMG!!! I almost forgot she lived here!” I exclaimed

“You're such a wonderful daughter. I'm sure she doesn't know you're in town.” she said rolling her eyes.

“I’ve been so caught up with this that I haven't even called.”

“Maybe she knows something about this guy… I mean she lives there now, doesn't she?”

“Yeah you're right.”

“Hon, I have to go… Paul’s here.”

“No problem… thanks for the help though.” I said as I finally.

I just sighed heavily as I pressed the button on the intercom to order food.

I stood in front of my mothers door with the vase I bought her as a gift

“I hope she likes flowers.” I hadn't seen this woman in almost five years and I couldn't believe this was how I was coming to “surprise” her after all these years.

I made a move to turn back and run back down the stairs but she had beat me to it by opening the door.

“Hi mom.” I said shyly

“Kiara… oh my… I wasn't expecting you here!” she said as she embraced me in a big warm hug.

She looked so frail and worried. I could tell that she was practically fighting for her life. The leukemia came like a thief in the night and stole practically everything she had- including her cheerful heart and vibrant smile. I could remember that day like it was just yesterday, when the housekeeper called and said that mom was rushed to the hospital because she fainted. I was so shocked but my shock didn't last as long as my anxiety to know the results. Two days later she called in to tell me that she had leukemia and it had reached its final stage. She sounded very hesitant so I knew there was more to the story. After what seemed like forever she broke down and started apologizing for not telling me sooner. I was pissed. “So if you couldn't tell me, who did you tell? I'm the only one you have mom… we only have each other!” I said as pissed as I could and ended the call. For two and a half years, I didn't care what ever happened to her until this point. The worry was what I didn't know about

“I got you this.” I said handing her the vase as I closed the door behind her.

“Thank you… I don't have a lot of flowers but thank you… it means a lot.” she said as she collected it and set it on a shabbily constructed shelf that was barely full. The apartment was practically ghosted. You could tell that whoever lived here was either dead or about to die.

There was a long silence.

“Do you want something honey?” she asked as she pointed to the cream sofa across her to sit

“Not thank you… I’m fine.” I said hesitantly

The long silence returned.

“When did you arrive?” she asked, breaking the ice

“Its been almost a week now. I’m sorry for not calling.”

“No its okay”

“So… this Murphy man… seems like a big person around here.”

“He sure is.” she replied with the worried expression on her face, this time more visible than the former.

“It seems the people are happy about his death” I pressed on

“It does” she said, focusing her gaze on everything except me.

“Heard his burial is soon. Are you attending?”

“It is. I… dunno” she said hesitantly

“Did you know anything about this man?” I said, trying to continue the conversation. She made a slight noise with her chair. I knew something was wrong cause that's what she does when shes nervous.

“Mom… I need this information. I’m about to get put off from my job if I demystify this story and the towns people aren't helping that's why I came here so please if you know something just tell me.”

“Kiara… I’m so sorry” she started.

“Sorry? Sorry for what?”

“I want you to forgive me first. Please forgive me… forgive me before I die… I cannot possibly bear the fact that I didn't make up with my daughter before I die.”

“Mom… you're not dying… forgive you for what?”

“Two days ago, Kennedy Murphy's lawyer came here and gave me a copy of his will.”

“Murphy's lawyer? Why?”

She picked a stack of papers from the table beside and handed them over to me.

“What does this have to do with me? Why are you handing these over to me?” I said as I collected it from her, still staring at her.

“In the will, Murphy demanded that his last offspring should read a eulogy on his burial day at the church and as he is being laid to rest.”

“So?” I asked praying that what she was about to say was nothing but a lie

“Kiara… that person is you… Murphy is your father.”