14
783 Words
EVERYTHING SHE NEVER HAD
THIRTEEN (Unedited ?)
TUMAHOLE
They say the lord works in mysterious ways, Tumo has been slaving all over trying to gather coins to pay for Mmes' medical bills, and then out of the blue someone just decides to lay for the hospital bills, it's a weight lifted off his shoulder but he can't help think who might have payed them.
He knows going to confront his father about this is a bad idea because he blatantly refused to do it, but what if he did? He doesn't want to entertain the idea but it's at the back of his mind.
When he gets to the school premises, the first thing he does is go in search of Ntate 'Tomas, he's eighteen so he's legal enough to sign Mme out but he wants Ntate' Tomas to drive him there, he doesn't have a choice anyway, the house he has been helping build, they haven't paid them yet, that old man is taking advantage because majority of the builders were foreigners and young boys.
He doesn't want to dwell much on that, so instead he takes the news of his grandmother getting out of the hospital as good as it is. Ntate' Tomas agreed to take his to the hospital to get his grandmother. He's is specially fond of Tumo, he reminds him of his oldest son, the way he doest allow his situation to define him or drag him down. He knows most kids Tumos' age who dropped out of school and went go 'phanda' as they say it.
His only wish is that he keeps up like that, but mostly, he never does and do bad things in the name of 'go phanda'
***
He got accepted to study LLB Law in wits, he should be happy, he should be over the moon, but it's not happening, he's not happy because of the current situation Mme is in, it's been a few weeks since she's been out of the hospital and still, he hasn't had a single cent on him, sometimes he goes to bed hungry because he has to secrifice whatever food is left for Mme to eat because she has to take her medication.
Just as he dicideds to get some air, he sees a black range rover parking infront of their condo. He knows it too well, even if he tries. He can never forget it. He folds his arms and closes the door so that Mme doesn't hear anything.
"o batla fa?" that's the first thing he says when the man steps out of his car. (what are you doing here) the man looks at him and smiles.
"ooh son, it's always pleasant to see you don't you think?" the man says, Tumo just folds his arms and waits for him to say whatever he wants to say. "anyway, I came to tell you that I found out who paid for your grandmothers hospital bills" he says, unbuttoning his suit jacket.
Despite all else, this man has love for his son, he might not show it, but he does, and he knows that whatever he does will not make Tumo see him any different, especially with what he witnessed.
"okay. I know it wanst you so why bother coming here?" the man looks around before stepping forward.
"son, I know you need money. Money of which I have, just… come back home and we will pretend like nothing ever happened okay, I can pay for your grandmothers bills and we can be a happy family again, like how it was when your -"
"don't you dare bring my mother back into this, don't" he warns.
The man raises his arms up in surrender. "i won't, I promise" he says honestly.
They stare at each other until the man finally decides to back down.
"I'll take my leave, I hope you consider my offer" he says before he turns and gets in his car before it drives off, after the car turns, Maya appears looking at the direction the car went.
"hey, who was that?" she asks.
"no one" he says, trying to dismiss her, he doesn't want her to know who his father is, he's not ready for that.
"mmmh" she says, seeminglyost in thought.
"what is it?" He says. Taking her hand into his and taking them in the direction of the lake.
"it just looks a bit familiar that's all"
Tumo chuckles and says "cars look the same Maya"
Yes, cars are the same, but she could have sworn that, THAT specific car is overly too familiar
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Could the car be exactly the same as the one Maya thinks it it??
- Writer
