Unconditional episode 7 – 8
Unconditional
chapter 7
“Mummy, Mapalo is not in his room and the gate is open..I think he has run away.”
“Oh my God,” Thelma got out of bed and put on a wrapper and a coat… Let’s go and look for him..
“Please God, protect my baby.” She prayed.
They got in the car and checked the neighbourhood but found nothing.. “where can he be, my lord.. please help me… please.” Thelma cried…
Mapalo kept waking, he kicked an empty bottle and smiled.. He was care free, when he was tired he sat on a piece of log..It was now past twelve and he felt hungry…He saw a shop nearby, Mapalo got up from the log and went to the shop.. The shopkeeper was busy attending to the customers and he didn’t see Mapalo sneak into the shop… He picked a pack of crispy from the shelf, opened it and started eating. He didn’t like the flavour, he spit it out and threw the pack on the floor, he got another pack, when he was satisfied with the taste he continued eating..
” Hi little boy, who are you with.” a lady asked.. Mapalo looked at her and spit saliva on her shoes.. He ran to the other end of the shop and started throwing things on the floor..click click click click he made the sound as he threw the things on the floor….
“There is a little boy, throwing your things on the floor.” The woman reported.. The shopkeeper quickly went to check, he was so mad.. He grabbed Mapalo and shook him hærd…
“What do you think you are doing, are you crazy.” The shopkeeper yelled..
Mapalo, didn’t understand why the man was mad.. He didn’t like it when people yelled at him..He busted into tears, he looked around for a familiar face but couldn’t see anyone he knew… ” Mummy… Mummy… Mummy he cried..
The shopkeeper, stopped shaking him..he looked at Mapalo but Mapalo looked down to avoid eye contact… mummy…mummy… mummy..mummy. he kept saying over and over again..
The shopkeeper, got concerned..The boy didn’t answer any of his questions, all he did was repeat whatever he said… He got frustrated and asked Mapalo to get out of the shop… Mapalo sat outside and cried.. he wanted his mummy and sister.. The shopkeeper, looked outside and noticed that Mapalo was still there.. He felt sorry for the little boy, he went outside and took him back in the shop..
“Sit on this chair and don’t go anywhere understand.” The shopkeeper said.. sit..sit..sit..sit.. Mapalo repeated the words.. The shopkeeper gave him a plain paper and a pencil so as to keep him busy.. He asked his son to bring a short and a t.shirt for Mapalo.. Mapalo started writing words that he saw… The shopkeeper was impressed not even his grade seven son could spell the words Mapalo wrote..
Thelma was getting frustrated by the minute her son was no way to be seen and she had a terrible headache.. She parked the car at break point, she felt like crying but didn’t want to break down in front of her daughter.. why did things happen like this.. her illness, the divorce and now her only son.. “God help me find my boy.” She prayed silently..
“Mum, you look pale.. don’t worry we will find Mapalo.. God will keep him safe..” Favour assured her mother.. They prayed for awhile and hugged each other.. Everything will be fine.. Favour said..
Thelma and Favour checked all the shops at break point but couldn’t find Mapalo.. They where heading to the car when they stopped and asked a certain lady.. ” Have you seen a little boy, he is five years old, light in complexion and he is in his underwear.” Thelma and Favour explained at the same time..
“I saw him a few minutes ago, he was in a shop just across the road, as if you are going to UTH near the Morgue.”
“Thank you so much.” Thelma said. Favour was already heading to the car, her mother joined later and they drove off..
Mummy… Mummy..Mummy Mapalo shouted with joy when he saw his mother..He threw the paper on the floor and ran to his mother.. Thelma and Favour embraced Mapalo..they cried as they touched Mapalo…” Are you ok, sonny”
Thelma said as she inspected her son.. “Thank you Lord, thank Lord.”..She thanked the shopkeeper and they were about to leave when Mapalo let go of her mother’s hand and went to the shopkeeper and touched his trousers.. he smiled at the shopkeeper and waved then rushed back to his mother and sister…
“Sonny, you should never ever do that again, you scared me..” Thelma said as they drove to UTH to get Mapalo’s drugs..
“I will be back, Mapalo be a good boy and Favour take care of your brother am going to buy Mapalo’s medicine.” She k-ssed her children and left..
Thelma read the words on the door… “development unit” she had been to this office several times, she thought of the time when Mapalo was very young… Adam had refused to attend any appointment with her.. She visited so many hospitals in an attempt to understand what was really wrong with her son.. By the age of two years, Mapalo could not speak and he showed certain behaviours that she didn’t understand.. Doctor Zimba was always their for her, she was depressed when her son was diagnosed with Autism..she had no idea what that meant… All she knew was that it was a white man’s disease and she didn’t know how to handle it.. However, Dr Zimba explained everything and also introduced her to other parents who had children with autism…
“Thelma how are you, long time.. why don’t you attend the meetings” Micheal said.. her thoughts were interrupted .
“Mr Mwansa, how are you, am sorry I have been busy, how is junior and your wife.”
“They are fine and how is the family.”
“We are all fine.” She couldn’t tell Micheal about the divorce..
“Dr Zimba is out of town, she will be back next week.” Micheal said..
They walked out together, Thelma laughed at Michael’s jokes.. They talked and laughed… It felt good being with someone who understood her….
Adam watched as Thelma and Micheal talked. His blood was boiling with rage.. He was meeting his girlfriend who was a student at Ridge way and when he saw Thelma with another man, he felt jealous.. He got out of his car and confronted Thelma and Micheal..
“What the heck are you doing flirting with a man, are you not shamed of yourself, Thelma let this sink in your skull.. you are mine and mine alone…So you left the kids so you could chill with your boyfriend..” Adam yelled.. He went and grabbed Michael’s collar… Stay away from my wife..do you hear me… Stay away from my wife..”
chapter 8
“Adam are you insane? Am not your wife or maybe you have forgotten..That you divorced me… Please take your tantrums elsewhere.. am in no mood of your drama..Let go of Micheal…” Thelma said in a calm voice…
“Oh because of this man, you now have guts to talk to me like that huh… Well Thelma I will hurt you so bad and you won’t even know what will hit you woman..” Adam stormed out and went to the car, he was burning with fiery.. How could Thelma move on so soon, he wanted her to be miserable and depressed… He made a fist and hit the steering wheel… Damnit Thelma..
“Micheal, am so sorry.” Said Thelma
“It’s ok I understand, why didn’t you tell me about the divorce, you need to talk to someone.. Am actually going through one, my wife left with another man.. So it’s just me and Junior.”he said has he brushed his hair with his hand..
Micheal was a male nurse who spent almost of his time at work and whenever he had a free time, he devoted it to being with his son. However, his wife couldn’t stand his long hours at work and for some reason she hated their son so much… One day when he got home from work, he found his two year old child who was diagnosed with down syndrome outside alone, he was crying and he looked for his wife but she was gone.. She had left him a note…” This is not what I bargained for, I hate your son and I can’t stand your presence… You are so broke and your civil servant pay can’t cater for my needs.. am in love with another man, he is more man than you can ever be.. Micheal couldn’t believe that the woman he had picked from the streets could do this to him…
“Thelma, God has a way of doing things.. don’t give up on him, he has your back.. here is my card maybe we can get together and talk.” Micheal said..
He removed his business card from his pocket and gave to Thelma.. Thelma got the card and put it in her purse. She had no intention of calling him or even text.. The last thing she needed was another man in her life.. What if he just made up the story about his wife, to get to her.
“You have a good day Mr Mwansa.” Thelma said..
“No call me Micheal, Mr Mwansa sounds too formal..” he smiled.. showing his left dimple.
Micheal watched as Thelma got in her car.. He waved at the children and left to attend to his patients..
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“Hey….hey..hey..!!!chi Nick, who the heck told you to get beef..” Jane scre-med..
Nick was shaken, he was sitted outside enjoying his first meal at 17:00 after working like a donkey while at least a donkey rested when it was tired.. He moved the plate of nshima and beef to his side..
“Madam.. these are left overs from yesterday..I haven’t eaten since morning..am sorry” Nick said with a mouth full of food..
Jane held her wa-ist and put her foot on Nick’s legs. She bent over and spit saliva in the beef.. She pulled his ears so hærd.. he left like they could leave his head..” Listen imbecile, you are not allowed to eat anything from my kitchen.. I pay you so buy your own food.. do you get what am saying.. next time you eat anything I will skin you alive.”
Jane got the plates and threw the food in the bin.. Nick watched as the food was thrown in the bin.. He wondered why Jane was so cruel.. They had enough food in the house and yet his boss couldn’t even spare left overs.. Tears rolled down his cheeks..his ears were still burning with pain.. God where are you, why have you forsaken me.. Is this how life is…do..I have to go trough pain .. Lord why me…
“Hey you, stop crying as if you are at a funeral..Get up and go and prepare dinner my husband will be home soon .” Jane said as she walked past Nick.. She sat in the living room and watched zeeworld..
Nick sang ” God will make a way” as he cooked.. He grilled some chicken, cooked pumpkin leaves and Nshima.. when he was done he served the meal..
“Madam am leaving now.” Jane didn’t even bother to look at Nick neither did she respond..
On his way home Nick passed through, his friend’s place to borrow Note books.. His parents had always told him that education could get him out of poverty.. Sometimes he felt like he could just quit and join one of the gangs..His salary was peanuts.. what could he do with a k500.. things were extremely expensive and he had to take care of his parents… He kept thinking and wondered what he could do.. Nick got the books and threw them in his backpack. When he got home he found alot of people outside his house.. His father was put in a wheelbarrow, Nick got off his bike and rushed to his mother’s side.. The mother was crying uncontrollable..
“Mother, what’s going on.” His mother couldn’t talk..
Nick went to the wheelbarrow.. his father was unconscious and was bleeding..He panicked and knelt besides him..Nick loved his parents so much and he didn’t imagine living without them..
“What happened to him?” Nick asked.
“He was involved in an accident, a car ran over him as he was begging on the road.. The driver ran away..Lucky he is still alive but we need to take him to the hospital as soon as possible…” One of the neighbours explained..
Nick got hold of the wheelbarrow and pushed like a mad man… Tears flowed as he pushed the wheelbarrow with each step he prayed that God could spare his father’s life…. After a while he arrived at Kamwala clinic, he was thirsty and tired..
“Please help me my father needs help.. please… .” Nick cried.. he watched as his father was taken to the emergency room..Nick sat on the floor and buried his face in his hands… He hated everything about life and why did bad things happen to him…. Men were taught to be strong but could he be.. He couldn’t stop the tears from falling….