Chapter 3
The lecture hall has a hundred students currently and we are in the middle of a
lecture, when one of the doors opens. I focus my eyes at the opening door and one
of the students enters. Michael Rukweza, one of the worst students, this university
has ever offered me! He gets to my lectures late; he is stubborn and passes silly
comments during lectures if he is not late. And today, he arrives when the lecture
has three minutes left for it to end! I mean, what's the fuss, he could have just
aborted the whole lecture...
"well, ladies and gentlemen, let's call it a wrap for today. We will meet again on
tomorrow. Your assignments have been marked; you will get the manuscripts from
the class wrap and please read for the upcoming in class. Dismissed" i say as i
conclude my lecture. The students shuffle noisily as they walk out of the lecture
hall. I, on the other hand pack my books and things into my box file. I exit the
lecture hall as soon as the students clear out and i head straight to my office,
where i busy myself.
As i am still marking, there is a loud knock on the door.
"Come in" i respond. Michael walks in, headsets dangling from his neck and his
colorful satchel dangling from his back.
"How may i assist you Mr Rukweza?" I ask, whilst continuing with my marking.
"Good morning ma'am. I came to query the marks for the previous assignment...."
he says with an attitude and I cut him short.
"Did you check with the other students who did better? If not, then we have
absolutely nothing to talk about." I respond and this time i raise my face to look at
him challengingly.
"but i am positive that i deserve more than i got here. You marked my paper with an
intention to make me fail." He says rudely.
"that's a very strong accusation to make Mr Rukweza. In the first place, i am on a
job and i am here to make your lives better not worse which means that i would
never make you fail intentionally, it is only you who makes yourself fail by writing
nonsense on your manuscript, forgetting that the same manuscript will determine
your future!" i respond, my voice low and venomous. There is silence in the room
and finally Michael decides to break the silence.
"Then point out to me, where I went wrong because according to me, i wrote what
is correct and the information I have here is justified by the internet." He responds.
"My red pen is your guidance; I don't go further than its red ink, unless otherwise.
The internet on the other hand has a lot of false information, be careful of what you
gather from it Mr Rukweza." I respond.
"i really think, you are just using clever terms to get at me for whatever thing i have
or haven't done but all this comes at a cost. It weighs down on my Parents'
finances. I really can't afford to fail my studies, especially not at this stage!"
Michael says angrily.
"i think what you need is help. So get off your high horse of pride and ask help
from other students or the lecturer. I am pretty sure you will never go wrong." i
respond coolly. A malicious smile plastered on my lips.
"Then help me!" he responds rather rudely, casing my little malicious smile to
widen. This only means that the little thick headed idiot is cornered and i am not
going to let him command his way through things. He needs to know that i am the
lecturer and my help comes as an extended hand of sympathy and he should not
take advantage of it as if it's part of my job description.
"I think your school fees only goes as far as me standing in front of you at the
Economics lecture hall and not you commanding me to help you." I respond.
"I can even pay you to help me. I just want to pass this module and move on!" he
says to me.
"I don't want your money. The University pays me more than I can spend." I
respond dismissively and i turn my attention back to my paper work.
"Please, Professor Red, I need this degree more than anything else." He pleads and I
smile maliciously, as I turn my attention from the paperwork that I am doing to the
individual standing in front of me.
"Look Mr Rukweza, the only person who can bring change to your studies is you.
You have to do away with that stinking attitude of yours, get off your high horse of
pride and come back to earth, where the rest of us are. You will have the chance to
go live your life at cloud nine but right now is not that time nor the place. You need
to actively interact with other students and circle your mistakes so that you could
correct them." I respond.
"When can I come for consultations?" he asks. His voice low in shame.
"As soon as you can, depending on how much you want to pass this module and
become a success in life" I respond.
"Can we start today?" he asks.
"Unfortunately today, I have a lot of lectures to attend to and besides I am a bit
busy. Try coming tomorrow. Tell the other students who did not understand the
previous topic, to also come. In the meantime, you will have to associate with the
other students, especially the ones who got a seventy percent and above." I
respond.
"Yes ma'am." He responds, nodding his head in agreement.
"I think we are done here. Have yourself a good afternoon" I say as I return back to
my work. Michael walks out of the office and he closes the door softly behind me. In
the process an involuntary lazy smile forms at the corners of my mouth. It's more
or a less a 'Mission Accomplished type of smile'. I am only glad that he has realized
that the problem is with him not with my marking or anything else.
I spend the remaining thirty minutes in my office, marking the assignments. When
finally the time lapses, I push back my chair, reach out for my hand bag where I
get my purse, take out some money that I will spend on lunch. I lock my office door
and I head straight for the staff canteen.
The staff canteen is a bit empty, since most lecturers are still making their way
towards the staff canteen from different corners of the university. I order the daily
usual, which is sadza and bones. I know it's a heavy meal for a woman, but I am
not used to these light meals. I want something solid. A meal that will keep me full
till the end of the day. I sit at an empty table at the back, isolated from the rest of
the lecturers. I barely have allies in this University. The only friend that I have is
Vimbai and she barely comes to the staff canteen because she will be occupied
during lunch time, running the restaurant. I really think, I should join her more
often at the school of Hotel and Catering's restaurant because I really feel like an
outcast in here, with all these lecturers, sitting in groups and I sitting all alone…..
None the less, I did not come here to make friends.
I eat my meal slowly as I watch the canteen fill up with highly educated people. The
more the canteen fills, the more the hollow stomach feeling I have increases. They
will gossip about me as I walk out! What the hell was I thinking by coming to sit at
the back! I should have sat nearer to the door, or I should have packed home-made
lunch and not bothered myself by coming to this gruesome place!
Thomas walks into the canteen. He is dressed in a white shirt, black tie with white
dots and a black slim fit trousers. He has a black arm sling, which is holding his
left hand in place. I bet the golf stick did a number on him! He walks to the serving
area and gets what he wants. When he turns to the area where, the tables are, he
scan the tables with his eyes and our eyes meet! I look away, my heart pounding
heavily in my chest. Thomas walks towards my table, with each step that he takes,
my heart beats faster and harder. My head gets dizzy and I sweat involuntarily.
When he is two tables away from mine, he takes a left turn and goes to a table
where six male lecturers are. I exhale in relief and I turn to my plate.
As I am still, mischievous laughter erupts from a certain table and I raise my eyes
to see where the laughter is coming from. I scan the room with my eyes trying to
locate the exact source of the laughter. And there it is, the table that Thomas is
sitting at with some of the male lecturers. Again the whole table erupts in laughter,
in the process making noise like lousy school boys. I roll my eyes in annoyance. I
mean, how could these highly educated nerdy idiots act like this? How then should
the students act if the lecturers are going to act like this! This whole thing is
pathetic. I return my attention back to my plate and I finish off what's left of the
meal and I stand up and walk towards the exit to leave my plate. As I walk past the
table where Thomas is sitting, laughter erupts and some of the men whistle. My
heart beats in my ears. Are these idiots talking about me? I quicken my pace and I
can feel myself losing my step. As soon as I walk past, one of the male lecturers
says:
"Eey Professor Red! Red baby!" my heart beats harder and I can literally feel it in
my ears! I turn my back to find a grown man standing on his chair, his hands
cupped over his mouth, so as to amplify the sound of his voice. I stare coldly at
him, try by all means to discourage whatever foolish deed that he has in mind. The
whole canteen has now fallen awkwardly silent as they all want to hear the free
drama that this idiot is trying to spark and most of the lecturers are most probably
eager to see how I will react. I inhale slowly as I try to remain calm.
"I heard that you are dishing it out these days. Don't you want to give it to me too?
I have a libido for days!" he says and the whole canteen erupts in laughter. I ball up
one of my fists and I inhale again as a way to resist temptation.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue, or you are just too shy to show your sluttish
side in public? Or you fear that I have a machine gun that can deform that tight
pussy?" the room bursts in laughter again. Tears tickle my eyes, my noise twitches
and itches and at the same time, the large ball of emotion forms in my throat. I
turn my back and I walk away. Trying by all means to stay as calm as possible.
"Come on Red! What do you say? Should I come?" he asks sarcastically and again
all the lecturers burst out in laughter. I feel light headed.
"Ncooh! She is the coy type. She is shy in public. Should I come to your office and
screw your brains out. We will do it on that three sitter sofa of yours, just the way
you like it. I will make you moan and come like it's your last day on earth!" he says
and the room bursts out in laughter. Right now I can feel the anger in me rising. I
go and leave my plate and I wash my hands by the sink in the canteen and still, the
idiot is still making fun of me. I turn my back and walk towards their table, tears
clouding my eyes.
"Can you stop making fun of me!" I say to him, my voice breaking with emotion, at
the same time, tears trickle uncontrollably from my eyes.
"You're already crying before I even touch you!" he says, causing the whole room to
burst in laughter.In the process fuelling the fumes of the anger building up in me. I
wipe the tears with the back of my hand and I charge at him like a mad person.
The first thing I do is to punch him hard in the testicles and as he gets off the chair
groaning in pain, I attack his face with fists, until some of the male lecturers pull
away from him. I wriggle out of their tight grip. Among the crowd of people
watching this whole drama unfold, is Thomas, the source of all the misery that I
am going through right now. I charge at him and the first thing I do, is to attack
the arm that is held by the sling. I attack it with my fists, until I am again
manhandled by the security guards, who take me out of the canteen.
From the canteen, I race to my office where I lock myself inside shying away from
the whole world. I cry, until my head hurts. And finally, I take out a cigarette and I
smoke. A thousand thoughts colliding against each other in my overheating brain.
Memories of my childhood creep in. particularly, the ones of my teenage years….as
soon as I stepped into the fence of that boarding school at thirteen years, most
male students and teachers had their eyes on me, drooling lustfully on my under
developed body. I was a goal to them. A goal that they had to attain. I became a bet
and each time, I would turn down each and every offer. Whenever I did, the boys
would make fun of me, the teacher who would have approached me with their lust
would make sure that I would never pass their subjects. The male prefects would
punish me if I refused to be their girlfriend. When they realized that I was not
barging, rumors of me being a lesbian spread around the school but none of them
had any evidence to support their claims. Now that I am a grown independent
woman, the past shadows the present….. Thomas couldn't face the rejection such
that he ended up spreading our sexual encounters to every jack and Jill! It really
makes me feel used!.... there is a knock at my door and before I tell the person to
enter, the door flies open. Vimbai and Chiedza enter the office, both of them looking
concerned.
"Red, are you okay?" Vimbai asks as she takes a seat opposite me. Worry written
all over her face.
"I am fine physically, but not emotionally." I respond a I continue to smoke my
cigarette.
"What happened?" Chiedza asks.
"It's Thomas" I respond faintly, as tears cloud my eyes and emotion blocks my
voice.
"What did he do?" Vimbai asks
"Thomas told those gossipers about our sexual encounters and they were making
fun of me, which made me bash one of them up." I respond. Vimbai and Chiedza
burst into laughter.
"It's not funny. I was man handled by the canteen security guards. The next thing
you know, I will be trending on the internet." I scold them.
"But I think you put that idiot Paul in his place. He is such a pain in the ass!
Always saying silly things about women. He thinks we are things that he can use
and discard or things that he can make fun of, flirt around with and walk away
Scott free!" Chiedza responds.
"But again, it's going to cost you Miss Professor." Vimbai responds coolly.
"i know, but i had to do something about it. The shit head was making fun of me,
in a room filled with people who hate me to the core and so i had to make a lasting
impression." I respond defensively.
"So much for being Charles Manyuchi's twin sister" Vimbai scolds and we both
burst into laughter but she keeps a straight face.
"Look Red, this incident is going to cause unnecessary trouble. You will be called
for a disciplinary hearing, hence they will unearth more than the fighting because
one thing for sure they will want to know the root cause of the matter. All your
adult games with Thomas will be exposed officially." Vimbai reasons
"We will cross that bridge when we get there. Right now let's flow with the day.
Tomorrow is another day" Chiedza says.
"Tomorrow might be the last day you see Red and Paul in this University, unless
otherwise." Vimbai says as she shifts uncomfortably on her chair, arms folded
across her chest.
"Look, Vimbai, let's not blow things out of proportion. Red is a great asset to this
University and they will not discard of her that easily. Of course she might get
some stern warnings and all but they will not send her packing." Chiedza responds.
"Chiedza lets not try to sugar coat things and make Red feel better about the
unprofessional way she acted. For now she should be preparing statements to
defend herself." Vimbai responds.
"If it comes to that, i can get myself out of that. Just don't stress about me. Okay" i
say to Vimbai as I take her hand into mine.
"If this was a Friday, we would all go drinking. I would like to celebrate the downfall
of Paul Chirisa!" Chiedza says as she does a small victory dance. I can see that she
was a victim of Paul's schemish ways.
"Well, unfortunately today is a Monday and we are all busy. Red has bunked a
lecture, you Chiedza on the other hand are not receiving the guests and the phone
calls. You two!" she warns and we burst into girlish laughter. For a minute today's
incident and the emotional pain of being used eases out of my mind and I enjoy
myself. Chiedza then decides to leave as she has to attend to a few things by the
receptionist, since she is the secretary. Vimbai helps me to pack my things and I
call it a day.
Upon getting home, i prepare a light meal and i get busy. When one is feeling low,
concentration is hard. Even the vodka-tea was of absolutely one help. I really need
to do something that will lift my mood. Running will not do, reading will not
stabilize my mind and music will make it worse. I might as well go out and have
some fun. Maybe go to a club!! Yes that's it, a club will do!!
I stand up, race to my bedroom where i take a quick shower and i change into a
comfortable sleeveless black dress. A black Chinese-cut wig and a maroon lipstick
change my look. The thing is, i don't want to be recognized by the sinners who
parade as holy saints on Sunday or by the students and other lecturers from my
University. So i leave absolutely nothing that gives evidence of my real personality
and after that i drive straight to my favorite club.
I find some parking space and I park my car. I get into the club that is already
swarming with high class people who have come to let loose and ease from the
pressure of their work. I opt for a seat at the rear end of the club, where there is
less light and less people. I order something strong to drink and I drink my sorrows
away. I drink enough to be tipsy but not drunk. I do not want to sleep at this club.
I just want to have fun and when it's the wee hours of the night, I go back home.
There is still some work to do tomorrow morning.
"Is this seat occupied?" a deep masculine voice asks.
"No, not really." I respond absent minded, still concentrating on my drink. The man
settles next to me and orders his drink and he too drowns his sorrows with it or he
is celebrating something. No one except himself knows such detail.
"Isn't it rude of me to sit with a woman and not introduce myself" he says. This one
is a move that he is making and again it's a low key move! Can't men find better
catch phrases than these recycled statements that we have mastered by heart!
"My name is James Takawira" he says as he extends his hand to me. I take it and
shake it.
"Nice to meet you." I respond. Not bothering to tell him my name, I mean what's the
use. I will see him today and we will never get to meet in our lives so it's useless.
"So, what brings such a nice woman to a place like this?" he asks after a brief
silence.
"More or less the same reason that brought you here." I respond.
"Which is?" he questions.
"What brought you here yourself?" I question.
"I just wanted to get a breath of fresh air. I had one hell of a day today at work" he
responds.
"Same reason over here." I respond.
"You seem like a nice woman but I don't know your name." He says.
"I bet you just came here to have a nice drink, have some fun then drive back home
and not to come and fish for women in the night club. Which according to me, is
the worst possible place to meet someone you want to take seriously in your life." I
respond.
"Very analytical I see!" he responds.
"Look, I have to go. Busy life." I say as I stand up from the bar stool.
"You haven't told me your name." Takawira says as he gets hold of my hand lightly.
"Well, unfortunately I don't think that's necessary because the chances of us
meeting ever again are zero to none." I respond.
"Okay, can I have your number so that we can get to talk? You seem like a nice
person." He says.
"Nice try but then I don't dish out my numbers that easily. You are a nice guy
though" I say as I wriggle out of his grip and I walk away. When I am out of
earshot, I exhale in relief.
Upon getting home, I take off my dress. Remove my lipstick, the wig and the pins.
Finally I put on a comfortable nightdress and I get under the covers. In no time, the
alarm rings and I have to wake up and exercise!! Argh, this routine I chose is so
painful but worthwhile.
After the routine run, I get into the shower. In no time, I am out and running about
the whole bedroom, trying to get ready in time. After dressing up, I race down the
stair case, into the kitchen where I make myself a greasy breakfast and hot bush
tea with some milk. After eating, I brush my teeth and I drive off to the University.
The pressure in the University is mounting up, as we are all preparing for the
exams. When the University nears the examination times, the mood changes. The
students move with agency and a set direction in the corridors. Others spend the
nights reading and the consultation get more frequent. With more and more
students frequenting my officers. The most common face I see on a daily basis is
Michael. He now pesters me and even goes as far as buying me lunch so that he
can keep me in the office helping him to get the hang of things in my Economics
class.
There is silence in my office and only the clinking sound of keyboard keys being
pressed softly by fleshy fingers is being heard. I am answering my emails. All of
them are emails from students who need my help. It's usually the Masters Degree
students who send me emails, knock up my door or call me like I am the only
lecturer in the whole wide University who can help them attain their goals. But
what can I do, I get paid for the job so I will just have to flow with them.
There is a light knock on my door, which I immediately answer to without lifting my
face from the screen of the laptop.
"Good day Professor Red" Michael says.
"Afternoon, how are you?" I question. My face still concentrating solely on the
screen and my fingers still jabbing the keyboard mercilessly.
"I have come for the consultations. And unfortunately today, I am not the only
one." He says. Just that statement causes me to shift my attention from the laptop
to him. With him, are five more students. Four girls and one girl. With Michael
included, I have a whole congregation waiting to consult with me. I close my laptop
and I sit back on my chair.
"So, are we all here as degree students or there are some of you who are here for
the Masters consultations?" i question, as i remove my spectacles.
"We are all degree students. Final year" one girl says.
"Let's hope we are on the same topic here because, i have been covering these
topics with the other students. Monalisa Musambo has been organizing group
consultations, ever since the final year started, so if you were not attending then
your bad. Right now, i want the students who did not get the last topic in our
syllabus." I say to them.
"We are all here for the last topic." The other boy says.
"Good. At least we are on the same page. This topic will run for three days,
including today and we will have to call it a wrap. After this discussion, you must
not contact me or come for consultation because the other lecturers will think that
i am feeding you answers just so as to keep your results high. Please read hard,
pass with distinctions, make me, your parents and yourselves proud. You owe
yourselves the success. Now please make yourselves comfortable in the office so
that we can start. The sooner the better." I say to the students and i rummage
through my drawers looking for the handouts that i will give to them.
These consultations usually last longer than anticipated and today's consultation
was the longest. It took three hours. Finally the students leave my room and i settle
back on my chair comfortably. I check the time on my cell phone and its already
two o'clock. I forgot all about the tea Tuesday!!! Vimbai is going to be so angry with
me. Worse off, I did not communicate to tell her that i will not be able to make it! I
decide to call her and apologize.
"Hello Vimbai" i say, as soon as she picks up her phone.
"And then?!! Where have you been? I waited and waited and waited but you were
nowhere to be found. Your phone was ringing answered. Where were you?" she
inquires.
"i am very sorry. My phone was on silent and i lost track of time during my
consultations. I had the degree, final year students who did not understand a
certain topic and so i had to assist. I am very very sorry. I will make it up to you." I
respond.
"I can't stay angry at you but i will have to punish you. You will have to buy me
something nice, a three course meal will do." Vimbai says to me.
"Do you want to empty my purse? It's not yet pay day!" i respond defensively.
"Pay for your sins mademoiselle Red. Thank you for agreeing. I will send you the meal i
want and the restaurant i want. Love you so much, continue doing this and i will
travel to Victoria Falls with your money." She says excitedly
"remind me not to repeat this mistake again. I already feel pity for my poor purse." I
respond.
"Ahh, why should I remind you? I want to spend your money. Look Red, I have to
go. I have to collect the kids from school." Vimbai says over the phone.
"So much for being a parent. Have a good day and please don't forget to greet the
monkeys for me. Tell them I miss them so much." I respond.
"I miss your money even more" she says and we both burst into laughter.
"goodbye." I say to her and we hang up. I collect my staff, clean the office, water the
pot plants, close the windows and I lock the door and I drive straight home. The
traffic is a bit thick, so I wait for a very long time, until at last; the traffic paves way
for me to pass. Upon getting home, I kick off my shoes and head upstairs to shower
and change into comfortable clothes. Then I start cooking, whilst reading my novel.
After supper, I wash the dishes and I start working but my concentration seems to
be off the hook. I need to relax my brain in a public sphere, away from home. The
only place I know of is the club.
After changing, I drive straight to the club and I settle back at my usual dark
corner. Today, I strangely feel like dancing but I came alone and I can't dance
alone. So I will have to just sit and drink, whilst I watch the lovers going up and
about their business.
"Is someone sitting here?" a deep male voice questions.
"No" I respond. Not wanting to entertain the individual. I am not here to shop for
fuck boys or heart break. I have no time for that. I am too old for those kinds of
games.
"Good evening miss anonymous. It's Mr Takawira." He says and a smile strangely
creeps onto my lips.
"Good day Mr Takawira" I respond.
"So, what must I call you? Because one thing for sure, I cant keep calling you
'anonymous" he says to me.
"tell me, do you usually come here this often or you just came to find out whether
or not I am available today?." I question, in the process shying away from the
question at hand.
"To tell the truth, both your reasons are correct. So are you going to tell me your
name or I will have to dig it out by myself?" I ask.
"So, this is what you do to every woman who sounds appealing to you?" I inquire.
"No. I am very much single and I have never got interested in any woman the way I
am interested in you" he responds.
"So do you get interested in any woman who does not disclose her personal
information?" I question.
"no." He responds.
"Why does it sound like you are lying?" I question.
"I am not lying, I am being for real. Something about you really magnates me to
you" he says.
"As if I am a piece of metal. You know what, you men should learn to call a sped a
sped not the cousin of a shovel. Don't tell me you are attracted by something in me,
tell me that you like me if you do because one thing for sure you can't love me
without knowing me." I say to him.
"I have been caught Red handed." He responds.
"but something about the decision you are taking sounds irrational. I mean, how
could you get attracted to a woman you know nothing about? I may be ugly or
married for all you know." I respond.
"And this means that you are none of the above." He responds.
"Says you and your analysis but doesn't it bother you why i don't tell you my
name?" i question.
"You are most probably, a lady with stiff principles." He says.
"And you are most probably a man with a fast thinking capacity." I respond.
"So, are you going to tell me your name?" he asks yet again.
"Are you married?" i question. Not wanting to fall into the same trap again.
"No, not anymore." He responds.
"i would have been amazed. A man staying in one marriage for a very long time
without cheating or divorcing his wife! That would be news to write about in the
papers. So tell me, Mr Takawira, now that you are divorced, you want to shove your
penis up every vagina that you meet. That's so wrong!" i reprimand him.
"First things first, i am not married, i am widowed and secondly, i have not had any
relationship nor indulged since the day my wife died. It's been twelve years now.
And that's a very long time to grieve someone. I think i should move on with my life
now. Life has to go on." He says. His voice thick and heavy with emotion.
"I am sorry to hear that." I respond as i take his hand into mine. This i do so that i
could atone for the shame I am feeling inside. I mean, I judged someone and yet he
turned out as the complete idiot. Mr Takawira exhales audibly and he looks
towards my direction.
"I wish I could know you better." He says.
"Just don't say, you feel like you've known me for a lifetime because you have not
yet seen the real me." I respond.
"Why do you build such a strong defense line? Because one thing for sure you
sound like a woman who has seen and heard it all." He says.
"I can't particularly say that but I have had my fair share of drama and dilemma
even though I have dated only two men in my life. Now, enough about the drama in
my life, how old are you?" I say.
"I am forty eight. And you, how old are you?" he questions, still holding on to my
hand for dear life.
"That's a topic for another day. Thank you for the time we spent in each other's
company. I have to go." I say as I stand up. Before I get off the chair, Takawira
pulls my hand.
"Don't leave me." he says though it comes out as more of a whisper.
"I have work tomorrow and so I can't afford to stay up late." I say to him.
"Just spend one more hour with me, the drinks will be on me." he says to me.
"Won't I be asked to pay for them?" I question, my eye brow arched up wards in
question. Even though i know that he is not going to be able to see my face.
"I am not that type of man. No come on, let's have a few more drinks and you can
go home." He says to me.
"All men shield themselves and say they are good men yet they are hiding bigger
and deadlier devils in themselves." I say to him as I resume my sit next to him.
"Not this man. What you get is what you see. So tell me, what do you want to
drink?" he questions as he takes my hand into his and locks or fingers together as
if we are a couple.
"Vodka. I would like some vodka. Raw and undiluted." I say to him.
"Vodka! A woman drinking undiluted vodka!?" he says.
"What's wrong about a woman who drinks vodka? If you want to get to know me
better, buy me that vodka. If not, then its fine, I will investigate you instead and I
will leave this place without you knowing what lipstick I am wearing." I respond.
"Won't you get drunk and fail to drive yourself home?" he asks. His tone filled with
amusement.
"You said its only just a few drinks and so I will have only that. One thing for sure,
I don't want to have a hangover tomorrow morning or to drive when I am drunk. I
still want to live my life." I say to him.
We order our drinks and we get to kindle up more conversation. Laughing and
getting to know each other better. Well, it's more like me, getting to know him
better because i am not telling him anything about me. I want to be an anonymous
person. As time ticks by, i can feel the vodka kicking into my system, slowly but
surely. As we are still talking, we both fall into an awkward silence. From the little
light that is at this side of the club, i can see that his eyes are staring at me. his
hand holds on to my hand a little tighter. We stay like this for some time and i can
feel my heart racing, my temperature rising slowly but surely and the vodka is
making me feel aroused. This is the problem with alcohol! You have absolutely no
self control. That secret side of yours just comes out in the open for every idiot to
see. And now, I am feeling aroused by a complete stranger who might be rotting
with all types of sexually transmitted diseases for all i know!
Takawira leans towards me. His body gets so close to mine that i can feel his warm
breath on my skin. He comes even closer and kisses me lightly at first, to test my
reaction and i do the sole mistake of squeezing his hand. Just that moves gives him
the green light to go ahead and kiss me even further and this causes the hairs on
my body to stand on their ends. This feeling!! Takawira tightens his grip on my
hand and his other hand comes into contact with the skin on my knees and i
shiver involuntary. Takawira lets his hand move slowly towards my woman hood
and when he gets there, he teases it with his fingers, causing me to gasp for some
air but i could not moan since our lips where still lock on each other. He teases my
woman hood so much that i tighten my grip on his other hand. From nowhere, he
pulls his hand away from my womanhood but i hold it before it leaves my skirt.
"Please" i whisper almost inaudibly.
"We need a room. Come, let's go upstairs" he whispers into my ear. We immediately
stand up, with him walking behind me as a way of trying to hide his erection. He
leads us to a room upstairs and when we get there, he switches on the light, but i
instead turn it off as soon as it went on.
"Let's do it when the lights are off" i say to him as I come closer to him. We start
kissing once again. As we do so, Takawira reaches for the zip of my dress from the
behind and he undoes it, whilst i undo his belt and I unbutton his trousers. We do
this process slowly but surely, until at last we are stark neck. I can feel his thick
and rigid manhood. Takawira pushes me to the bed and i lay on my back. I can
hear him tearing something plastic-like. Most probably a condom. Finally he crawls
on the bed, until he has leveled with my head. He kisses me passionately, whilst
his other hand is fingering me slowly but deeply. I moan in his mouth as he goes
on and on with this process. He finally stops and his kisses drop lower to my neck
and he seizes my neck with passionate hungry kisses, at the same time one of his
hands is moving teasingly on my skin. Making my need for him spike higher and
higher. Where his fingers, i feel shock waves, making my blood race. My hands grip
the sheets as Takawira continues to explore every single inch of my body with his
hands. From the throat he drops a little lower to my breasts. He takes one of them
into his mouth and he sucks on it, causing me to moan loudly. His tongue circles
the tits, causing them to go hard and rigid. His other hand also slowly circles the
other tit. He takes squeezes the tit between the thumb and the index finger. His
mouth on the other hand pleasures my breast.
He further goes down. Leaving a trail of wet kisses. He takes my thighs between his
arms, such that each arm is locking in a thigh. His head goes in between my legs
and he pleasures me with his tongue. I hold onto his head for dear life as
uncontrollable moans escape from my mouth. His tongue moves in and out
rhythmically, increasing in pace, causing my moans to get louder. My body stiffens
as an orgasm nears and Takawira increases his speed. I moan louder and i hold
onto his head for dear life as the orgasm strikes. In the process making me shake
uncontrollably.
The wet kisses resume again. This time, they are heading for an upwards direction.
Finally they reach my mouth and he attacks me hungrily with a slow passionate
kiss. As he is still kissing me, he arches his back, creating space between our
bodies. I can feel him guiding his thick and rigid manhood to the entrance of my
womanhood. He pushes it in slowly and i gasp for air and a loud moan escapes
from my throat. It's more like a scream of pleasure.
He starts thrusting slowly but surely, his space increases with each thrust and so
does his breathing. He constantly kisses my body. But now he is focused on the
thrusting. I scream uncontrollably as pleasure builds up in my body and I have my
second orgasm. Takawira suddenly stops thrusting and we exchange sides. He lays
on his back and i go on top of him.
He thrusts in an upwards direction, whilst his hands squeeze and pleasure my
breasts. My hips move in rhythm, also aiding his effort and my hands are resting
on his hairy chest. I throw my head back as pleasure ripples through my body and
Takawira goes on and on, thrusting into me like there is no tomorrow. Takawira
makes me change positions. I sit on his manhood whilst facing the direction of his
feet. He pulls my body backwards, such that. My head is lying on his chest just
near his shoulders. Takawira continues to thrust into me, in an upwards direction.
I moan in absolute pleasure. His hands other hand holds my breast and the other
goes down to my woman hood and he starts rubbing the clitoris as he continues to
thrust harder and harder. I scream and moan in pleasure. As the pleasure mounts
up, we both tense our bodies and Takawira's thrusts become faster and deeper,
causing me to moan ion pleasure. My climax hits first and for the third time i
shake uncontrollably as my orgasm strikes. Takawira groans louder, each groan
louder than the other and finally, he ejaculates. Shaking uncontrollably, whilst
cursing continuously.
The room is filled with silence. And we are both breathing loud and audibly. Slowly
but surely, we are calming down. We bask in the afterglow of love making, our
bodies drenched in sweat. I can feel Takawira's manhood deflating inside of me.
Finally he eases me off his body and he walks away, most probably into the
bathroom, causing me to quickly dress up before he comes. Even though it's in the
dark, i can make out my clothing on the floor. Finally Takawira comes back and
lays on the bed, thinking he will find me there.
"Thank you for the night well spent, but i have to get going." I say to him as i am
sitting at the edge of the bed.
"Why don't you spend the night? Please spend the night with me. Please. I want to
see you in the light of day." He says to me, as he gets hold of one of my hands and
he intertwines our fingers together.
"I wish I could but I can't. See you tomorrow." I say to him as I pull my hand free
from his and I head out of the door to the deem light of the hall way. I head straight
to the car park, where I get into my car and drive off. When I get home, I take a
long hot shower and after that I immediately retire to the comfort of my bed as I am
thoroughly worn out.
...the routine of meeting at the club and making love like crazy teenagers
happens for three continuous nights. I am starting to really enjoy being the secret
lover. It always keeps Takawira on his toes. He doesn't have my number nor have
any idea how i look in reality. It always keeps him curious and I on the other hand
am taking my time to slowly think about whether or not, I can call this an official
relationship. At least i am not being manipulated by someone's looks. If this whole
thing fails, it will be easier for both of us to move on. I will take it like, he was some
jigalore who was doing his job and he will take it like I was some whore who gave
him free services. At the end of the day, we both move on with our lives....There is a
loud knock on my office that startles me and even before I could answer, the
individual enters. It's Chiedza.
"Good morning" Chiedza says in a sing-song voice. She is sounding very happy
today. Of course she is happy and jovial most of the times but not as she is today.
"And then, what's with the mood?" I question in alarm.
"Well, you won't believe it but you got a second job in a very popular company here
in Harare. It's a consultancy job!!" she says as she pops her eyes out to emphasise
the gravity of the matter at hand.
"Unfortunately, I did not apply for any consultancy jobs. It must be some mistake."
I say to her.
"Come on, what are friends for if they can't help each other!" she says.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" I ask in confusion.
"Well, this company is in need of someone who can do consultancy work for them.
They are starting on a new project. One might say they are branching into a new
business altogether, tourism. And so they want an Economist to come and help
them do whatever it is that you economists do. And so i sent your application letter
and also your curriculum virtue since I had it. Luckily they accepted you for the job
and they want you for some interview on Monday." She says excitedly.
"You did what?" I question, my eyes popped out in alarm.
"I applied for you and you were called for the interviews. You will be earning good
morning for just going there for an hour or two and dishing out your educated
advice. Now be a good friend and say thank you." She says, a proud smile plastered
on her lips.
"This is going to be really hard. Next time please consult with me before you throw
applications on my behalf." I say to her.
"You are welcome. Here is the response letter. It came by mail and so I had to print
it. If you get this job, please buy me something big and worthy. Have a good day
and please practice for the interview. Don't embarrass me." Chiedza says as she
puts the printed letter on my desk and exits my office. Closing the door lightly
behind her. I am left alone in my office, amazed and shocked. I mean a consultancy
job in a company! These big companies always want someone who has had some
experience before and yet I have never had any ground experience except for the
time, when I was doing my attachment. After that, I was learning continuously!
What a messy situation.
After work, i get home and grab something solid to eat. I take a long hot shower
and after that i prepare to go to the club to relieve my over-heating brain from all
this thinking. I sit at my usual place, waiting for Takawira to come like always he
comes and sits next to me.
"Good evening miss beautiful" he says after planting a kiss on my cheek.
"Good evening Mr. Takawira." I respond.
"So, what are you having today?" he asks.
"The usual" i respond.
"okay." He says as he also orders his own drink. We immediately ignite the
conversations and the laughter awakens from its chambers and we have a really
good time. Today the goal is to have fun and walk away from this bar for a very long
time. I have no intention of being the bar type of woman. Temptations are always
high in this place and the club contrasts heavily with my religion. So I will have to
say my goodbyes to Takawira.
"What would you do if you found out that I was a married woman?" I ask randomly
in the middle of a conversation.
"Is that a question or statement?" he asks.
"What do you think it is?" i ask, raising my eyebrow in question. Though i know he
won't even see this gesture.
"From the way you are saying it. It's a statement." He responds.
"Very analytic. I see." I respond and after that we have little conversation and as
again in the middle of the conversation, i say.
"This will be the last time we see each other. I am not coming back to this place." I
say to him and he goes silent. For a short while he is silent.
"Am I going to see you again?" he asks his voice low and raspy.
"no." I respond. And he goes silent. He goes very silent and finally he says.
"so, we should live the moment and enjoy for the very last time." He says as he gets
hold of my hand. he holds it tightly. My heart breaks a little when he does this. I
don't want to put an end to this secret relationship but on the other hand i have to
put an end on this type of life before it becomes a habit.
We enjoy the last of our time whilst drinking and making conversation and after
that we head to the room upstairs to have our last session and then we walk our
separate ways... as soon as we enter the room, Takawira attacks me with a kiss as
his hands touch the exposed parts of my skin. He unzips my dress from behind as
he kisses me passionately; I also extend the favor and help him out of his own
clothes until at last we are both naked. Standing opposite each other, skin to skin
and kissing like it's the end of the world. Well in our case, today is the end of the
road. Takawira's hand strays to my womanhood. He lets it slide slowly across my
skin from the ear, slowly down to the neck, to the breasts and slowly but surely it
goes to my womanhood. He teases my womanhood with his fingers, making me
shiver involuntarily. His fingers rub my womanhood slowly, increasing the speed
with each stroke and this causes me to moan even as his lips devour mine. He
finally stops and picks me up, makes me wrap my long legs around his waist, my
hands balancing on his shoulders. One of his hands is balancing me by holding my
thigh whilst the other directs his stiff manhood into me. I gasp like a fish out of
water as he eases me onto his stiff manhood. When he is finally in, he starts
thrusting upwards, being aided by my up and down movements. I hold onto his
shoulders for dear life and i moan loudly as he thrusts on and on, increasing pace.
The pleasure building up, slowly but surely.
As he is still thrusting, he suddenly stops and he walks to the bed where he lays
me by my back and he starts thrusting, whilst planting kisses on my neck. He
moves his hips in a rhythmic way. Increasing the speed of his thrusts until he is
finally thrusting hard and fast into me. I hold his buttocks tightly. Digging my
fingers into their tense flesh. My orgasm strikes and i shiver uncontrollably as the
juices. Takawira continues to thrust into me like there is absolutely no tomorrow,
he thrusts harder and harder and faster. He suddenly grabs my waists and he
suddenly shifts my position. I am now on top of his warm and sweaty body. His
hands hold my waist as he continues to thrust up wards into me. I scream in
pleasure. We go on and on, the pleasure building up like a storm. Takawira makes
me shift my position, such that I face his toes and he pounds into me mercilessly,
atoning for all the time he won't see me. He cups my breasts into his hands and he
squeezes them.
He thrusts harder and harder. Suddenly he stops and he shifts positions yet again.
He makes me kneel on my knees and hands as he penetrates me from behind,
holding on to my waist for dear life. The harder and faster he thrusts, the louder i
moan as pleasure ripples through my body. I can feel my orgasm nearing and its
building up. He thrusts harder and faster, his pace increasing. I scream out most
of the vulgar words i know until at last the juices in my body explode and i shiver
uncontrollably as an orgasm hits me. Takawira continues to thrust into my and
suddenly he stops and turns me to face him and he kisses me passionately, a little
roughly. He again resumes his thrusting as i am facing upwards, laying on my
back and he standing on his two feet on the floor. He thrusts harder and faster,
until at last, I feel his body tightening, he groans as his ejaculation gets near. His
groans get louder and finally he shakes uncontrollably as his semen explodes
inside me. His body comes crushing on top of mine as he releases his seed inside
me. His breathing is heavy and I can feel his heart drilling through his ribs.
We stay like this for quite a long time, until our breathing becomes normal.
Takawira eases out of me and he walks into the bathroom. He comes bath after a
few minutes with wet wipes which he uses to wipe my womanhood and he lay
together naked. He pulls me into his embrace, letting my head rest on his sweaty
chest.
"So this is the end of the road?" he asks, his voice heavy with emotion.
"yes." I respond.
"Can you please wait until I am asleep? I really hate to say goodbye to what i love
most." He says as he plants a kiss on my wig.
"But I will be gone by the morning." I say to him. Just those words cause him to
hold on to me tighter. We stay silent for a very long time. Both of us are silent. I
wait for him to fall asleep but he doesn't fall asleep. He keeps holding on to me,
constantly planting kisses on my wig. The exhaustion that I am feeling causes me
to slowly doze. My eyelids get heavier by each passing second until at last, the
fatigue gets the best of me and if all sleep.
I slowly open my eyes and the light that penetrates into my eyes makes me close
them again. I stretch myself with my eyes closed. The first thing that rings the
alarm bells is that I am naked!! What! Where am I?....I quickly open my eyes to see
where I am.... the light penetrates into my eyes, in the process making my head
dizzy. My vision becomes blurry for a moment and finally it clears. My eyes open to
meet a male face!! Where am i?...the memory of last night's events comes kicking
in....damn! I should have gone home not sleep here!
"and the beautiful woman is awake. Good morning beautiful" Takawira says.
"you should have woken me up!" I say to him as i pull the sheets to cover my naked
body. I get off the bed and I walk towards the scattered clothes on the floor. I pick
my underwear and dress and I get into the bathroom. I use the toilet, rinse my
mouth and i fix my messy wig with my fingers and after that I get out to face the
monument of a man laying half naked on the bed. He has light brown flawless skin.
A well defined physique with muscles of a basic exercise. Maybe a thrice a week
visit to gym. His head is bald and he has a behead that borders his chin. Big brown
eyes, a pointy nose and purple lips defined his face. Judging from the way he is
sitting on the bed, he is a very tall man but i am sure that we are almost the same
height.
"My imagination had painted a totally different picture from the one on ground. You
are truly a master piece." He says to me as he stands up from the bed and heads
towards my direction. I am seemingly stuck at the spot I am standing at. Words are
also failing to form in my head. He walks up to me and I stare at his well formed
legs. Most men usually have some legs and a bigger torso, but this man over here
has his body balanced out. Though his legs are a bit too hairy!
"So, will I ever see you again? I really hope I could." He says as he gets hold of my
hands and intertwines our fingers. This gesture would have been nice if I had no
rings on my fingers because it's very uncomfortable. I yank my hands out of his
grip and I push past him, pick up my shoes from the floor and i sit on the bed to
put them on.
"Well unfortunately this is the end of the road. We have to swallow the pill and live
our lives. Pretend I was a dream and now you have woken up to the reality. I am
something you can't have and will never handle, so save yourself the trouble" I say
to her.
"Please, just don't be the first woman to break my heart. You know how hard it will
be to move on especially after losing a beautiful woman like you?" he says to me as
he walks towards my direction.
"Look James Takawira, we were fuck-buddies and nothing else, so you can't say I
will heart break you! And to tell the honest truth, I think these sex games should
come to an end. I won't be coming to the club anymore. Welcome to reality!" I say
as i push past him and he gets hold of my hand and pulls me towards the length of
his body and he hungrily attacks me with a kiss. I push him away in anger, feeling
violated and I slap him hard across the face.
"Don't you dare try to manipulate a woman by forcing yourself onto her!" I say at
him as I pick my bag and exit the room. Leaving him stunned by my reaction. I get
to the car park, get into my car and I drive off. Upon getting home, I take a long hot
shower, prepare a greasy breakfast and I change into my overalls, with my large
reed hat, some gumboots and I go outside to my garden. I busy myself with pruning
my fruit trees, cultivating for them. After the fruit trees, i cultivate my flowers, the
herbs and lastly the vegetable garden in my back yard. I prune my hedge, mow my
lawn and finally i connect the sprinklers and let them do their job.
Mean while, I prepare some lunch for myself. I decide to cook sadza and beef stew.
As the meal is cooking, I decide to do my laundry whilst listening to some music.
When the laundry is done and the meal has been cooked, I settle down and have
my lunch. After the heavy lunch, I wash the dishes and take a bath in preparation
of the women's club today in the afternoon at the church, together with the highly
ranked saints. I really don't k now why I am doing this yet I know very well that
those women will want to tear me apart for my self-presentation and my marital
status. I decide to make a statement by putting on a white floral dress and white
heels, red lipstick becomes my final touch to the look and I drive off to the church
to fight the demons that parade as saints.
I park my car in the already full car park. Flashing with fancy beautiful cars. I walk
slowly into the conference room, where the ladies are. As soon as i approach the
entrance of the conference room, i stand still, my mind running up and about, my
heart drilling through my ribs. I inhale and exhale countless times, trying to calm
myself . I finally gather my courage and walk slowly towards the entrance, until at
last I am standing a stone throw away from the double door. My body still hiding at
the wall. I say a silent prayer and when I say my 'Amen', I gather the strength and i
walk into the room, where a number of women dressed to kill are sitting at round
tables in groups of five. As soon as I enter, the chatting quietens down and all the
women in the conference room turn to look at me as if I am some foreign specie
that just fell from the heavens mysteriously. There is a brief silence and the
whispers start. I feel my stomach tightening in fear of the judgement that I am
about to get. I scan the room with my eyes for some empty sits and I spot a few. As
I walk towards the seats that I had spotted, an elderly woman stands up and
blocks my way with here fat body.
"I am sorry my dear, this is a club for the married woman only and you come by
invitation." She says, whilst her eyes scan my body from head to toe as if i am so
filthy woman.
"Good day to you too. I also came by invitation. Trust me, it wasn't my sole
intention to come here but the head pastor's wife invited me. So can I please pass
you are blocking my way." I say to her in feminine pride. The woman looks at me
again and I push past her. I search for seats and almost in every table that I go;
people tell me that there are occupants. I end up settling at a table at the far end of
the room, near a big window, where four young women sit and i settle down with
them.
"Good afternoon ladies" I say to them as I take a seat.
"Good afternoon, they all respond monotonously." As they all set their eyes on me.
My eyes scan the room curiously to see the people in the room. The ladies i am
sitting with are strangely quiet or it's the fact that they have a new member
among them?
"Can I pour you some tea?" the middle aged woman sitting next to me says.
"No thank you. I feel a bit jittery and eating won't do me any justice" I respond.
"That's what happens when you are new but sooner or later you will feel free." She
responds. I flash a weak smile to iron out the matter at hand. I open my mouth to
say something when the head pastor's wife enters, carrying a large cake. She places
it on a table nearby and after that, she takes to the podium and starts speaking.
"Good day ladies. Thank you for coming to today's gathering of the women's
club..." she says a lot of things. Saying a lot about her the club and its future
plans and after that, she tells us to interact briefly as we drink tea. I stand up and
head towards the tea room, together with the other women. The room fills with
women who are having their tea, as they eat their confectioneries. I help myself to
some cheese cake and i choose other things to add to my plate. The woman who
was sitting next to me in the conference room, walks up to me.
"You disappeared into the crowds as soon as we left the conference room. I was
looking all over for you." She says as she also picks up some scones and adds to
her plate.
"Well, I am sorry. I thought that you were going to come with the ladies you were
sitting with" I respond.
"it would be so rude of me to let a guest go unattended. One thing for sure, you are
new in the club but not to the church. I have seen you for three years. Pardon my
manners, my name is Ruth Moyo" she says to me.
"Nice to meet you." I say to her.
"And here comes trouble" she says to me as she gestures to the two women
approaching us.
"Please put on some thick skin, these two will come and poke you so hard, you will
burst out in anger." She whispers to my ear.
"ladies." One of them says as she stands close to me. the other one decides to get
between me and Ruth. How so rude!
"So, what do you do for a living my dear?" one of the women asks.
"Good day to you too ladies." I say to them.
"Oh, pardon our manners. How are you?" she says to me.
"I am good. How are you?" I respond.
"We are both good. The sun is shining the birds are chirping and the spirit of the
Lord has graced us. So tell me what do you do for a living?" she says again.
"I am an economics professor and you?" I say.
"Good. Well, I am an Accountant and she is a lawyer." She says to me.
"So, tell us. Which ring is the marriage ring since you have so many rings on both
your hands? Or you were married and divorced multiple times?" the other woman
asks, arching her eyebrow upward in question. A lazy malicious smile displayed on
her lips.
"Well, my dear the best thing to do is to mind your own business and keep your
speculations to yourself. Your opinions reflect your dirty brain and the uncouth
environment you come from. But for the benefit of your curiosity, I am not married
and I don't have a husband." I respond.
"Which means that you are in the wrong place because this club is for the married
women only." One of them retreats.
"Aren't we both women? We are, aren't we? The only difference between the two of
us is that you share your life with a man; in some unfortunate instances you might
have a cheating or abusive man for a husband. And besides, marriage is an option
and not a definition." I say to her, a lazy smile plastered on my lips
"everyone justifies themselves in the craftiest of manners but that does not change
the fact the fact that you still are unmarried and this club specifically wants high
ranked married women and you are none of the above." The other woman says,
causing them to agree with each other.
"And that is discrimination in the eyes of the Lord, dear saints. I will repeat myself
again~ marital status does not define a woman. A woman is a woman by design.
Besides the value of a woman to the club is defined by her mentality not by her
marital status." I say to them.
"i really don't trust women like you, beautified by makeup and fancy fashionable
clothes, shoes and expensive weaves so that you can woo our innocent husbands
into temptation!" the other one says venomously.
"married women are the greatest devils. They parade as married reserved women
yet they snoop around with other man. So relatively infidelity is not only a
temptation for the single but also that of the married. I think we are done here,
ladies have yourself a good time and don't scare away guests no matter how
threatening they seem. A shona woman should know how to treat guests~ i was
also taught by my grandmother." I say to them as i walk away from them with Ruth
walking next to me, shoulder to shoulder.
"That was a gesture of absolute professionalism. I really don't think i would have
handled things the way you did. These snakes made me cry on my first day!" she
says, causing me to giggle
"I see you are settling in well." A first turner voice says to me and it's the head
pastor's wife.
"i am trying my very best to settle in. As hard as it is." I respond.
"i knew you can do it. But then getting down to business, since there are two of
you, i will have to assign you to a particular duty to administer. Meet me at my
office soon after this." She says to us and she suddenly turns to everyone else and
says:
"Can I have everyone's attention please? Ladies we have a new member joining us
today. Most of you know her as Red. Please treat her well she will be joining us in
the club as a permanent member who is here to do the Lord's work together with
the rest of us. Red, welcome to the family. Feel free." She says. After that she
disappears into the crowds of women to chit-chat with the other women.
"It seems like you have found favor in the eyes of the pastor's wife." Ruth says.
"And I also found you some favor too, so i am a miracle to the both of us" i say to
her.
"You are already my sister. Can I have your number so that if i have any problems,
I will give you a call?. Please don't think of me as a desperate woman but these
women discriminate me so much, I fail to get along with them but in you, i found a
good friend. You are welcoming and loving." Ruth says to me.
"No, its fine. I personally don't have friends myself, so it's fine. Lets become friends
and set these other proud women alight with jealousy." I whisper to her ear and
she giggles girlishly as we make our way to an empty table. We laugh and joke
about a number of things as we drink our tea. After the tea, we make our way to
the preacher's wife's office where she is sorting out some papers, her office door
slightly open. I knock lightly and she tells us to come and in. We walk into the big
spacious, well decorated office that has pictures of the women's club and other
memorable events hanging from frames on the wall.
"Good afternoon ladies." The head pastor's wife says.
"Good afternoon" we both say monotonously.
"Not to waste most of your time, please settle down." She says as she waves us to
sit down at the two chairs that are tucked in front of her desk.
"Well ladies, I called you here so that you two can take charge of the youth in the
church, especially the ladies. I have noticed that most of the cases that happen to
the female youth happen just because they are not well educated about their
sexual reproductive health and the value that they carry in their bodies. Of course
the education sector speaks about it but we as the Church should also raise some
awareness about the issue at hand. So I really think that if the women's club has a
brunch that nurtures the female youth and puts them at a safe space such that
they talk about their problems and learn about how to deal with certain situations,
we can cover certain ground in preventing illegitimate pregnancies that have taken
a sudden spike. We might also help to nurture the female youth to be exemplary
women. I will put you two in charge. And then Red you can even help them to start
income generating projects that can keep them occupied and create employment for
them to some extent. Please don't disappoint me. I have invested my trust and faith
in you two despite the stiff objections that I have been getting from the other
women. I want the two of you to prove them wrong." She says to us.
"Yes ma'am" we both reply monotonously again.
"Without wasting any of your time, you are dismissed. Have yourselves a very good
day, meet each other again for tomorrow's women's meeting. When i will introduce
the two of you officially to the rest of the women. The church will also have to
create an office for the two of you. I will notify you about the changes in the course
of the week. Please leave your cell numbers here so that i can contact the two of
you." She says whilst offering us her thick diary where we write our cell numbers.
And after this we exit her office and we both heard straight to the car park. Ruth
and i go our separate ways. When I get home, I eat something light and i retire to
the comfort of my bed.
Chapter 4
I walk out of the large building located at the central business district of Harare, soon