THE BROODER

25.

THE BROODER

25.

**ASHLEY**

" Nurse, please where's Thintiwe? It's been two days now. Please tell us, where she is."

After the C-section, nobody heard from the doctor or Thintiwe again. I saw them carry a crying baby away but I didn't see them carry out Thintiwe.

Nurse:" I don't know Ashley. You should concentrate on your own health. The doctor said something about your blood pressure and you need rest. You know you're in your last semester plus twins are more likely to come earlier than the due date. So my dear, don't worry yourself to Death and rest well"

With these said, she left me with more questions than answer.

Ruthie: Any luck?

" Noo, she just told me about my health."

Ashati: i hate to say this, but it is very possible that she didn't make it. The factory is famous for it's quack surgeries. We all know that. Over a dozen of brooders met their tragic end in my floor over these quack surgeries.

" Noo"

Ruthie:" she's right dear. The possibility is a ninety nine percent, Ash."

I leave them in the hall and pay Saga a visit. He's up immediately he saw me.

" Can I have a word with you?"

Saga:" sure, go on"

" Do you perhaps know what happened to Thintiwe? Since the surgery, we haven't been updated on her case."

Saga:" i don't know anything ash. I wasn't on duty that day plus they don't share any of these information with us."

" Saga, can you please do me a favour? For the sake of our precious sun that we share together? Please, snoop out information on Thintiwe, please."

Saga:"Fine, I will."

" Thank you so much. It means a lot to me. I just want closure. Thank you Baba ke Sun" he smiles and returns back to his post.

I know he'll give me a feedback soon. Somehow I feel my babies turning and it hurts a lot. I gently walk back to my bed and rest my body on the bed. The pain subsided after a little while but I still feel over swamped.

***RICHARD***

We enters his hut.

Sangoma:" Son of the River of Tokollo, welcome to my shrine."

" Thank you Great sanusi of our time"

Sangoma:" The purpose of your coming here is fruitless cause you are protected already. No man or woman born of man's scrotum can harm who his ancestors protects. The mark of the lion on your chest, is a convenant between you and your ancestors to protect you at all cost. You got the name "Death" from defeating all deadly incidents but you forgot that, it's not by your luck Mcebo. Your ancestors stood by you even when you should have died.

Go! and stood firm, for your ancestors are with you to the fullest."

On our way back from the sangoma's house, we saw a lion in the middle of the road. Jordans fetches his gun ready to shoot.

" Don't shoot it, Jordans. Keep the gun down. It is probably passing the road. It doesn't feel like it is ready to attack."

Jordans:" we can't wait till he attacks us man! This is a busy city not a village. There's no forest around to habit a lion. This is witchery of the highest order!"

The lion walks closer to my side of the car and looks me in the eye then it roars and went it's way.

Jordans:"This was scary bra D"

"You were terrified Jordans. I saw the little Jordans who would pee in his pants at every bully back in the home."

Jordans:" This is a bigger bully man. A real life lion in the city of jorhnesburg. How possible is that?"

" Check your pants Jo. I think you wet your pants " I laugh at him. I love teasing him when we were kids. I was just five years older than him but I took care of him like an elder brother will. He was my little brother Jo and I made it known in the home.

Jordans:" Common man, I'm a grown man and a three times father. Don't say that please "

" Does Amia know?"

Jordans:" know what? Please don't say a word bhuti."

" That you used to wet your pants?"

I tease him the more. I know he hates his younger version but it is fun to do so after a long time. I feel somehow relaxed and happy. Maybe it's because I know I have an underground gang fighting my war or the fact that I've unite with my family.

Jordans:" no man! I don't. You have no prove "

"Really? You're gonna deny it. I do have prove and it's me. Amia knows I don't lie. She will know the lying one"

Jordans:" can we just drop this pee talk? I hate it!"

'' Are you now ordering me Jordans?" I changed my tone to a serious one. I know how to get him.

Jordans:" No boss, you talk about anything you want"

I laugh at his reply. Typical Jordans.

Jordans:" I miss this you. The one that was carefree and treats me like his little brother."

I miss that one too. I've been so unfair to him and I know that. When I introduced him to the lifestyle, he jumped in calling me bhuti and was always in my face. I had to stop all that so I took him out one day on a road trip and spelled it all out to him. I told him that I was not his brother so he should man up and stop being a kid. Well he did, ten years later, he still did.

"I'm sorry about that. You are always going to be my little brother whether in this life or next. Things will go back to how it were before, I promise." He smiles and nods at me. I am a fulfilled man at last.

***ASHLEY***

I see Saga sneak in to my room and I get up to meet him. He probably has information on Thintiwe for me.

Saga:" I'm so sorry Ash...

SEE Y'ALL ON MONDAY. I DON'T WRITE SUNDAYS.

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before I became a writer, I am a reader first.