African Wolf

Chapter 1

Cassie

Looking around at the empty apartment, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness.  Although new and great things were in my future this was my home for the last few years, my safe space, the place I could be myself.  It wasn’t ours, we only rented it, but it truly had become my home.  

“Are you almost ready?” my brother Josh asked me quietly, he always spoke so softly.  At over 6 foot and built like a muscle machine, you would expect him to be rough, but in fact it’s the complete opposite, he is my gentle giant.    I on the other hand am quite petite, the only thing we have in common is our green eyes, the same as what my mom’s were.  When we laugh everyone says our eyes sparkle.  

“Yeah, let’s go!” I take one last look as Josh grabs my bags and heads downstairs to the taxi.  

Five years ago my parents were travelling back from visiting friends when their car was hit by a drunk driver.  The driver was arrested, but as he came from a very rich, very influential family, he managed to get off with a slap on the wrist.  My brothers and I on the other hand were left orphaned and penniless.  Although my parents were amazing to us, incredibly loving, they were not particularly good at planning or saving.  Josh is actually a twin, our brother Jonathan was born with severe difficulties, when my parents died, we had to place him in a home as we were unable to take care of him, it was one of the most difficult decisions we ever had to make.  I cried for weeks after it, I am not sure if I ever will forgive myself.  

Josh was only 19 at the time and I was 17, luckily he was considered an adult, so he had the option of looking after me, I am so grateful that I didn’t go into a home. We barely had time to mourn our parents, the reality of life was right in front of us.  

We sold off as many of the items from our house that we could, we both got jobs and got loans to study.  We knew we wanted to make something of ourselves, we had to support ourselves as well as Jonathan.  These special homes do not come cheap.  

Josh worked full time in a hardware store owned by one of my dad’s friends, at night he went to Silwood Kitchens, one of the best culinary schools in the world.  I got a job as a waitress in a bar, it wasn’t the best place to work, but the tips were great.  Lot’s of the men try to hit on me, but I am not interested.  It’s weird but I have never been interested in anyone, I know that I am attracted to men, but none that I have ever met.  Sometimes I think I am A-s****l, destined to be alone.  It’s strange but Josh is the same, he thinks he is gay but has never met anyone he is actually attracted to.  So many men and women have asked him out, but he always declines.  Josh is built like a G-d, he definitely gets way more attention than me.  When I tell him that he just flashes his golden smile.  Although it should annoy me, it doesn’t no matter what he does I can never get cross with him.  

I decided to become a special needs teacher, specialising in helping students with severe dyslexia.  I think growing up with Jonathan taught me that so many people have obstacles, at least I could help remove a few.  

As we were both working and studying, it took us a bit longer to get our qualifications.  Josh had already qualified and was working in a local restaurant in our area, it wasn’t great but it paid the bills.  A few weeks ago I was paging through the classifieds when something caught my eye.  A family, running a private game reserve outside of Johannesburg, were looking for two employees.  They wanted a culinary chef to run their Kitchen, which served meals, packed lunches and snacks for drives, the other job was a teacher for their son who was 7 years old.  Their son seemed to have some learning difficulties, the school in the area did not provide enough support for him so they wanted to give him private lessons.  Both jobs included meals, accommodation and medical.  

As soon as Josh came home from work I showed him the advert.  At the moment, with Jonathan's cost and our loan repayments, we were barely able to survive.  We never went out, bought only the basics for ourselves.  If we took this job, we could save and still cover our costs.  We knew we would be leaving him, but he was happy and well taken care of.  We could fly home often and visit him.  The salaries were amazing, and it meant Josh and I could stay near each other.  We immediately applied for the jobs, Hettie and her husband Peter were so warm and friendly on the video call.  They explained that Chris, their son, had quite severe dyslexia and had not learned to read yet, the local school would not take him till he could read.  He came on the video call and immediately I adored him.  He had the cutest freckles around his nose and the biggest, cheekiest smile and I had ever seen.  I could see that he was going to be a handful, but I didn’t mind.  Ther reserve was quite new, and run by Hettie, her husband and his two brothers.  They were busy at the time, but trusted them to hire the correct Chef.  As soon as they started talking to Josh, you could see there was a rapport.  Josh could win anyone over.  We agreed on a few things and they offered us the jobs on the spot.  Josh and I decided to splurge and get Chinese Take Aways to celebrate.  It tasted so good.  I couldn’t remember the last time we didn’t have something homemade and cheap.  

Sitting in the taxi, I felt soft tears roll down my cheek, for the first time in a long time I felt like I could breathe. I looked over at Josh, he looked at me, wiped my tears and pulled me in for a big brotherly hug.  I am not sure why I was crying, relieved that we finally had decent jobs, sadness to be leaving Jonnie, I wasn’t sure.  I just snuggled up into my big brother's arms and allowed sleep to overtake me.