Missed the beginning of Simon and Sandra’s wild weekend? [Catch up on Part 2 here] before diving in.

Birthday celebrations were never a big part of home when Simon was growing up. It was merely a simple greeting of “Happy Birthday,” and that was it.

There was never an elaborate, party-kind of event for him and his siblings, and over time, he had made do with this.

While in boarding school, he had seen how the other students celebrated birthdays. The tradition of pouring water on the birthday celebrant—a tradition he had experienced a lot as his birthday fell during the school term—was one he had come to deeply love and appreciate. It so happened that he was always more excited for his birthday at school than at home.

After University, there was a return to the non-excessive celebration. Here, the occasional “HBD” on Facebook became the new tradition.

He had actually shared this with Sandra on their second date.

It was a dinner date at a restaurant in Kampala, and while eating, the waiters pulled off one of the most beautiful birthday dances for one of the diners. Sandra was clearly smitten by what she was seeing, and as you can guess, Simon, well… he continued eating his food as though nothing special was happening. Shocked by his reaction, Sandra had asked him why, which led to this exact explanation.

“Did you say Bungee Jumping?” Simon typed back, slowly.

“Yesssss! I am so excited! 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽”

“Um…” (At this point, the WhatsApp dots kept blinking as he struggled with what to write.)

“Yeah! So after everything you told me about how birthdays were never a big thing for you, I really want to make this one memorable for you! 🎂💐🎁🎈 Do you know how lucky I am that you were born? ❤️❤️❤️ Your birthday is really a special day!” she replied before Simon could put his thoughts into text.

And boy, was it a deeply romantic response. It was the kind of message that gives you a warm feeling in the heart and makes your toes curl just a little bit.

“Jinja it is! How can I say no after such a sweet message!”

Love is a powerful feeling.

The plan for the day was simple. Sandra was in charge of the schedule, and Simon’s only role was to drive them to Jinja. His car was a white, 1998 four-door RAV4. In the days leading up to the birthday, Simon had psyched himself up and reminded himself that he was an adult.

What is mere jumping? he kept asking himself. Just jumping?

He had spent hours at his laptop, researching the physics of bungee cords, calculating weight ratios, and reading safety testimonials.

Jumping is simply accelerated descent! You fall, the cord stretches, physics does its job, and you come back up. People do it every day.

By the morning of the birthday, he was ready. Or at least, he was pretending to be.

Their meeting point was Sandra’s apartment in Najjera.

That day, she wore baggy African print trousers with a black crop top, topped off with a playful hat. She looked beautiful, ready for the road trip. It was the very first time they were taking such a long trip together, so, being the planner she was, she had come fully prepared.

As soon as she came down the stairs and saw Simon, the first surprise of the day was set in motion: a choreographed birthday dance, done in the exact same manner as the waiters at the restaurant on their second date. In the place of traditional drums, she had brought along a small tambourine.

HAAAPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SIIIMON!

DEAR SIMON,

HAAAPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SIIIMON!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAAAPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SIIIMON!

For all his life, Simon was sure he never minded not being celebrated. But at this moment, looking at the girl he loved throwing all caution to the wind, singing and dancing for him in the open, it softened him.

Yes, there was quite some anxiety about the jumping, but the sincerity of Sandra made life feel so beautiful.

He got out of the car and hugged her tightly.

I am so lucky, he thought to himself.

Except, it didn’t stay in his head. The words slipped past his lips before his brain could intercept them.

“I am so lucky,” he said out loud. He caught himself immediately, his eyes lighting up in surprise when he heard his own voice. It was supposed to be a silent thought in his mind. But as he looked at her, he realized he didn’t actually mind that she had heard it.

She hugged him back, tightly. That was the first beautiful moment of the day. The trip to Jinja was now officially in motion.

From Najjera through Namugongo, they were soon on Jinja Road, and the conversation was flowing beautifully.

“Okay, I just have to ask, were you not scared you’d wake up your neighbors with that tambourine?”

“Yeah, I thought about it,” she said before laughing.

“And you still did it?”

“Trust me honey, looking at the expression on your face while I sang and danced, I would do it all over again!”

He turned to look at her and smiled in silence.

As they got to Mukono, she unveiled the next surprise of the day.

On their very first date after that famous “Orange moment” in the supermarket parking lot, they had met at a café in Kampala for coffee. That day, Simon had mentioned that he was a big fan of singing in the shower. Specifically, he had confessed that his favorite tracks to sing were songs from cartoon movies. The best of them all? A Whole New World from Aladdin by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle.

She asked to connect to the car’s Bluetooth for a moment. And then it played.

From the gentle tune of the intro, Simon already knew the song. He knew it word for word.

I can show you the world—shining, shimmering, splendid…

Tell me, Princess, now when did you last let your heart decide?

Sandra watched him sing. She had also secretly learned the track, and as soon as it came to Regina’s part, she harmonized right in:

A whole new world, a dazzling place I never knew…

But when I’m way up here, it’s crystal clear that now I’m in a whole new world with you.

There is something genuinely special about the person you love paying attention to the small details. In all these gestures, Sandra was showing Simon that right from the moment they met, she was actively listening. Learning what he loved. Simon was incredibly glad he had agreed to come to Jinja.

“You actually have a good voice, honey,” she said to him.

“Hahaha, I think you are just being sweet.”

“Well, yes, I am being sweet… but it’s also true,” she replied, laughing. “Here, take some water.”

“Thank you. By the way, I am also really enjoying this hard corn!”

“Yesss! I am with you there! I picked them from the Supermarket for our trip snacks, let me see… they are called Newman’s! This flavor is barbeque.”

“Who knew hard corn would have flavor? Excellent choice babes!”

“Um… I guess I just have a way of choosing nice things,” she said with a shy smile.

They were soon at Namawojolo—the unwritten, mandatory stopover for any proper Jinja trip. Here, roasted chicken, gonja, water, and soda are all served right at your car window. Instinctively, Simon parked the car as they got here.

“Okay sweetheart, which part of the roasted chicken do you want?” Simon asked.

Sandra remained silent.

“What? Should I choose for you?”

“Honey, I am very ashamed of what I am going to say, but I fear this roadside chicken!” she said, covering her eyes.

“Aaaaaaah, did you say fear?”

“Yes! It’s okay by the way, you can laugh at me, but… the first time I came to Jinja on a school trip, we stopped here and got this chicken. I was in P.5. Just know that what happened to my stomach 20 minutes later… I wouldn’t even wish it on Arsenal haters! But just know, that is where I am stopping with that story. Nothing more!”

The laughter they both shared after this confession was simply excessive.

And in that moment, Simon was amazed at the ease with which she shared her flaws. She didn’t hold back; she wasn’t trying to be perfect. She was just being entirely free with her fears.

“Okay sweetheart, no chicken! I will protect you from whatever happened to you in P.5!” he said, pulling her into a hug.

“Hurrah! You are my hero!” she cheered back.

As they finally approached Jinja town, he said to her, “I am really amazed at how easy it was for you to share such an embarrassing story.”

“I know. I guess I am getting really comfortable with you knowing the embarrassing bits,” she said with a warm smile. “Okay birthday boy, welcome to your greatest adventure!”

“Welcome, Simon and Sandra. Happy Birthday to you, Simon!

My name is Alex, and I am going to be your guide leading you up to the ramp. Sandra, as you requested over the phone, you two are having the couple’s jump—where you will be securely tied together before the free fall.”

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© An original Lapatutu Story.

After the smooth lovey-dovey drive to Jinja, we are heading straight to the edge of the platform. Simon’s mathematical formulas are completely useless against a 44-meter drop, especially when he’s tied to Sandra! As we can clearly see, love has completely melted his structured heart, and it doesn’t look like he is about to back down now. Or will he? 👉🏼 Click here to find out in Part 4.

This story runs every Wednesday! 🪂