A bus woke me up before sunrise and I haven’t been able to go back to sleep since. It’s not the first time this has occurred but I will never get used to this.
Today marks one month since I left home and nine weeks since you were conceived. I have been in Kadoma for two weeks now. My phone was stolen upon my arrival here, so nobody knows where I am. Not that anybody cares anyway. It’s just you and I, my boy. Maybe God is watching over us but I wish he spoke to me just once. Does my filth put him off?
Mr. Mutiti had to take his daughter to the hospital before coming to the bus station, so we only got our first meal in the afternoon. He is a very kind man and I hope you grow up to be like him. I don’t know how we would have survived the past two weeks outside if he hadn’t brought me a blanket. He says his wife is quarrelsome and if she was more understanding he’d have taken me to his house. But I am not surprised. Caring men usually marry brutal women. But I trust that you will marry a good girl, son of mine.
Just before sunset, a young man was flogged by the hawkers. Someone said he was a thief and the crowd descended on him like an angry swarm of bees. If the police hadn’t arrived in time, he would have been killed. He was later found to be innocent but nobody apologized to him. Upon seeing all this, I ran into the public toilet and wept. Where is the justice? Even if he had stolen, should he be lynched for a fruit? Well, I am glad you are shielded from the cold and the evils of the world for now. I pray you never get to see what my eyes have seen today.
I call you my boy because something tells me I have a man inside of me. A man who shall bring me joy and put an end to my sorrow. A man who shall be more handsome than his father. That snake chewed me and spat me out. We don’t need him, dear Andrew. He shall see you one day and regret chasing me away from his house. You shall grow up to be great and nobody will ever take advantage of you. You are the reason I live on. Even on nights that I go to sleep hungry, I do not weep. The Earth is cursed but you are my blessing, the innocent fruit from the tree of desire. I will not let you down.
Tonight, we sleep at the station again. But don’t you worry, Mr. Mutiti said he is raising money for us to go to Harare. This ordeal will soon be a thing of the past. Hold on my boy. We have been on the go but soon we will find rest. This I promise you...
"the innocent fruit from the tree of desire. I will not let you down." This was my favorite line. I love the whole piece, bravo
When something gets me grinning and laughing (the part it reads something tells me i have a man inside of me) means it's beyond great. And your work is exceptional!!