EVERYTHING SHE NEVER HAD

16

They say when it rains, it pours, both literally and figuratively. Just when he was starting to stress, God came through for him using Ntate 'Tomas, the old man has been nothing but kind, he offered him and Mme a backroom at his house, the one his used to stay in, it has been a few weeks they moved in here, because well… they couldn't stay at the school premises anymore because Mme couldn't do the work she used to do anymore, especially with her going in and out of the hospital like she has been doing lately.

He tried asking trying pleading with the school to take over the job Mme has been doing, but all they said was they couldn't pay him for it, as they did with Mme.

His seating outside on the stoop on the blazing sun lost in thoughts, he doesn't even notice Ntate'Tomas pull up with his bakkie.

"morwa" he calls out. But nothing. The old man just shakes his head and turns to the honey-brown eyes chubby girl next to him. (son)

"mogwera wa gago o rata go nagana go fitisa tekano watseba" Maya looks at him and smiles, agreeing with the man. (your friend likes to overthink too much)

"tla kere amararo ama bedi fela Leena Pele, oka ya go ditirela sengwe sa gonwa nyana ka Foo ntlong" (let me have a word or two with him, in the meanwhile, you can go make something to drink inside) Maya couldn't believe that there were still nice people around like Ntate'Tomas, he doesn't know Tumo but already his helped him every chance he could.

"thank you" she said before disappearing behind the house doors letting Ntate'Tomas have a word with Tumo.

Inside, she finds an old woman in the kitchen, she didn't know there would be anyone but then still, she didn't expect Ntate'Tomas to live alone, surely he has a wife right?

"ooh, ngiyaxolisa, ubab'Tomas uthe-" the old woman cuts her short with a big smile on her face.

"Gosiame ngwanake, oka kena" (it's fine my child, you can come in) she old woman ushered her inside to the couches. She scans around the house, she can see the big picture on the wall of Ntate'Tomas and the lady next to her and a young man, one she assumes is their son maybe.

"that's my boy, Keagile, such a bright young boy. He's married now and lives overseas, we see him once a year during Christmas holidays" the woman says, you can see and feel how proud she is of his son. Keagile…. Can't likes the name…

"what does it mean… the name I mean?" she old woman smiles and places a glass of juice and biscuits infront of them.

"you like it?" Maya nods her head yes. "it mean i built, after crying for so long, finally God answered my prayers and gave me a family, so it means I finally built my family"

She places a hand on under her chin and smiles, admiring the picture in front of her, this picture was taken the day their son left for university, they were the happiest parents on planet earth, they money they made from her husband Tomas working as a security guard at the school and transporting goods on weekends and the money she made from selling fruits at schools was not enough, but atleast it took their child to school, and thank the heavens he never forgot where he came from, he never pestered them about money, he was understanding, instead, he found a Job, a transporting Job and the money was enough to help him.

Meanwhile outside, Ntate'Tomas and Tumo have shifted, they took chairs to go sit under the Mango tree with the biggest shade ever, the shade would Make anyone fall asleep, a peaceful night sleep if you sit under it for long.

"morwa, for how long do you think you are going to stay home?" the man didn't beat around the bush, he dove straight to the point.

Instead of answering, Tumo shrugged his shoulders. "i know someone, who's looking for a driver, I told him about you and he wants to meet with you tomorrow, can you do it?"

He quickly rose to his feet, not believing his words, "ka ntate?" (really? " He asked, the old man chuckled and nodded his head a couple of times.

" the money is enough to help pay for your grandmothers hospital bills, you don't have to stress too much, but I'm only doing this one ine condition " the old man said, Tumo slowly sat down, he would take anything, literally just as long as he has money to pay for Mmes' bills, that's all he wants, Only God knows the sacrifice the old woman has done for him, if it means riskyin his future to save her, he would, in a heartbeat.

"next year you are going to school, no excuses about it"

"yes, yes, yes, God yes, deal" He agreed, and the man means it, he believes a real man never goes back on his word, and he hopes Tumo is like that, he would hate it the boy lost himself like some of the people he knows who did, like his son.