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Miano handed him a note but instead of leaving the handcart pusher just stood there smiling sheepishly. Suddenly, he was not in a hurry to go for more work until his colleague pulled him away. "Did you come here to embarrass the Registrar and turn this place to a money exchange market?" the man shouted. His looked visibly angry and told them that the time for admissions was over. Konyeki knew he had to act or his dream would go down the drain.
After gathering enough courage, Konyeki stepped forward to apologize about the incident. He pleaded with the Registrar to accommodate him as he dearly needed to study. He explained how they had travelled from far and had nothing to do with the "hooligan cart pushers." The Registrar who all along was biting and licking his lips in anger changed his attitude. Even the stone-hearted Miano who always considered Konyeki to be a meek boy and had minimal regard for his actions was amused. "Boy I am not fully convinced, but you seem quite convincing like a marketer. I will consider your explanation so come back tomorrow to know my verdict". The Registrar crackled in a hoarse voice. He then dismissed father and son unceremoniously after instructing them to keep their luggage in his office. Konyeki viewed this as some blessing and vowed to convince the Registrar to admit him. Konyeki was relieved that Miano did not shout "waste of time" as he often did when dismissing an idea.
The following day Konyeki went back to the Registrar's office. His prayer was that everything would go well. His father had flatly refused to accompany him and threatened to halt the University plans if there was another unpleasant incident. Konyeki was fortunate to get to the Registrar's office without any incident. His first remark question was "where is your cheque?" Konyeki handed the cheque to the Registrar who scrutinized it like a specimen while holding it at the edge of his fingers as if it was burning him. Konyeki was relieved when the Registrar began taking him through the registration process without mentioning the incidents of the previous day. He knew God had heard his prayers to help him join the University. Soon the Registrar called some boys to help Konyeki in carrying his luggage to the hostel. The shock was that it was old and neglected, despite the fame of the institution. The paint was peeling off the dirty wall. Some students who saw Konyeki the previous day together with handcart pushers started teasing him by saying "good morning handcart." The students carrying his luggage dropped it on a dirty veranda and told him "go into the barracks and find an empty bed." Konyeki felt like an unwanted child and lost like the biblical Israelites in the wilderness as his new school mates were hostile to him. He slowly gathered his luggage and tugged it to the hall of residence.
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