"Uncle Terrence, I need you to run a few errands for me today, and I'm hoping to get a response as soon as possible!" Chipo transformed into a serious boss in a matter of seconds.
Terrence sat respectfully as he listened to whatever orders his mistress had for him, seeing the familiar expression and tone.
"Until further notice, the inn will be closed. That is until the renovations are completed and a new menu is introduced. So, now I want you to acquire...."
Chipo began to make a list of the tasks she needed Terrence to complete. It was much easier for him to conduct these errands because he was a man, as opposed to a woman.
Women were still inferior, and men normally looked down on women, and Chipo didn't want to be stuck in a circumstance that would add another man to her list of individuals she despised.
Chipo needed to find a dependable builder who would truly listen to her ideas for the inn in order for the renovations to be completed.
All of these ideas would be limited by the amount of money she had at the moment, but this wasn't a problem because she was confident that if she got into a bind, Madam Tapiwa would be there to save the day.
Uncle Terrence left the office gracefully after receiving all the instructions before rushing out of the inn.
Terrence had been residing in Guche for a few years and was well acquainted with many individuals.
So, hiring a builder was considerably easier because he had a drinking buddy who was in the business.
Because of the difficulties they had been experiencing, there was no horse carriage for him to utilize, so he walked.
It was quite a distance from the inn to the house of the builder he knew, so he took his time getting there.
Terrence smiled faintly before knocking on the gate, looking at the small house enclosed by a wooden fence.
He knocked for a while but received no response, which irritated him, so he began to call for this friend, "Ba Kuda, are you there?"
Terrence kept calling, and he did it three times but didn't receive a response. Seeing this, he eventually unlocked the gate and walked inside.
Gari, despite being in his forties, lived alone. Gari's wife died several years ago, and unlike other men who enjoy polygamous relationships, he was devoted to his wife.
It got to the point where after she died; he didn't even consider remarrying or being with someone else who wasn't her.
Fortunately, he fathered two sons with his wife before she left them. They didn't like building like their father, so they moved to Karoba, where they are now working and establishing a better future for themselves.
Because finding work can be difficult at times, Gari is usually unoccupied and spends most of his time drinking, and Terrence was worried that the man had overdrunk and was probably sleeping some place.
When Terrence entered the yard, everything seemed to be shouting that there was no one at home, which was unfortunate because he didn't want to return empty-handed.
Terrence walked out of the yard, a sulky frown on his face, and began to ponder where he was going next. And while he was wandering and contemplating, he heard his name called, "Brother Terrence!"
When he heard a familiar voice calling out to him, Terrence came to a halt and spun around to get a better look and make sure his ears weren't playing tricks on him.
And when he did, Terrence noticed a familiar face, someone, he had been looking for, and exclaimed, "Ba Kuda, there you are! I've been looking for you for a while!" he said happily when he saw Gari, the man he had been seeking for.
Terrence's opposite was a man in his fifties with a bent back, small eyes, and a dark skin tone.
Gari was a short man with a fiery temper, but to those who knew him well, he was a passionate man whom most men should look up to.
"Haha, I'm just getting here. I'm coming from Ruze village because I had stuff, I needed to do there!" Gari responded as he approached Terrence, closing the gap between them.
Terrence was relieved and happy to see Gari sober and thinking well; 'It would have been a tremendous tragedy if I had discovered him intoxicated.'
"All well, then. I need to talk to you about business now that you're back. Do you have any free time?" Terrence didn't want to wait any longer because the man had arrived.
They can catch up at any time, but business comes first.
"Sure, please let's get to the house," Gari exclaimed as soon as he heard business.
He was anxious to get his hands dirty and earn a few coins to treat himself to some beer after not working for several months.
Terrence's eyes brightened up when he heard this and followed Gari to his residence.
Gari unlocked the front door before urging Terrence to enter as well.
Gari was a gentleman; he first offered his friend a seat before retiring for a bit and reappearing later with a jug of water and wooden cups.
"Hehe, since we're going to be talking business, let's get some water. It won't be professional if we get drunk before we accomplish anything," Gari jokingly said as he poured water into the wooden cups.
Terrence nodded in agreement when he heard that, "We really shouldn't, and if I drink, the young lady will kill me!"
Gari flung his head back, tears flowing down his face, and said, "I don't even want to think about how angry she will be if that ever happens."
Terrence shivered with terror as well, knowing how angry Chipo could be and not wanting to be the source of her rage for once. "Hehe, try it if you want, but leave me out of it."
"You, dear friend, are a coward. Anyway, let's get down to business. So, what brings you here today?"