The Bodyguard – Episode 24

The Bodyguard – Episode 24

By Tisa Phiri

…Ackim..

“Uncle Will.!” Maya called me as I worked in the garden. I was always working around the house, sitting idle was making me feel bored. I always wanted my mind kept busy. James , Dr Mwaba’s hubby told me he would help me get a job in the mine. He was in management so he said it won’t be so much of a problem. He even suggested I got some new identification doc-ments to help me start over.

I was still feeling lost but lately I had dreams of being in some kind of military. Dr Mwaba even thought it could be true since the dreams and visions persisted.

“Am here Maya!” I responded when she called for the third time. she came running..

“hey what’s up? ” I asked her wiping the sweat on my forehead.

She came close and whispered.. “Uncle Will, that neighbour is here again ..”

I let a laugh there was a girl from the neighbour who always came over to chat with me. For some reason Maya never liked her. she said she wasn’t a good person and that I was to be with the lady she met in town.

“I hate Jane Uncle please chase her ” she whispered.

“she’s in the front yard looking for you..”

I giggled as I washed my hands.

“come on Maya she’s not that bad” l told her holding her as we went to the house.

” besides she’s just a friend” i added.

” I didnt say am going to be her boyfriend..”

“Good then” she shrugged holding me,

“otherwise, I want when I meet that coloured girl you should be free to be with her.”

I smilled and patted her back, her insistance on pairing me with a stranger was so overwhelming .

I even wondered why she felt so obliged to her bet. she couldn’t even say the name of the lady.

All she said when I asked her was.. “well, I will ask her the next time i meet her and I will I can promise you just be patient ” she assured me confidently.

“Hey Jane” I called out as i walked to our neighbour. I was surprised she was all dressed up that morning..

“Hey Will” she smiled widely..

” how are you ?”

“Great, was just working in the garden..”

“Well then, i came to pick you up, remember i asked you to esc-rt me to get some things in town today.”

“Oh sorry, I forgot” I apologised and I saw Maya peep from the window from the corner of my eye. she made a face at me and I knew she wanted me to refuse.

“Well, prepare yourself then” Jane responded

” will come pick you up later.”

I felt bad to get back on my promise so I reluctantly agreed.

Some minutes later I took a bath and changed into my usual dress code, a pair of jeans and a stripped v neck t shirt. Said bye to Maya who frowned with a sad face.

“Am going with you, since today is a weekend” she added grabbing her small bag..

“I can’t remain alone with the maid Uncle” she pleaded.

” dad and mom are working and Mwamba is away for some school projects.”

I smiled at her, It was hærd to say no to her silly face. I asked Jane if it was okay for Maya to tag along and she agreed though Maya whispered in my ears that Jane was pissed..

I let a small laugh and ignored her as we walked to town. It was a few metres from home.

We went round in circles of the small town centre. Jane got all the things she wanted as I patiently beared the burden. shoping with women was really a hærd thing to do.

Jane was a teacher at some secondary school, she had recently graduated from the university of Zambia and told me she was teaching at Chingola secondary. she was fairly looking and in all honesty I wasn’t looking past our mare friendsh¡p. she was easy to talk to and I liked her cheerful personality. besides, she was the only friend I knew in the neighbourhood or maybe I just say everywhere else since i couldnt remember anything about my past life.

I sat down in some internet cafe as the two girls Jane and Maya went to the next shop trying on some clothes.

I sighed in relief as I remained behind after protesting going into the boutique with them.

I watched some people browse on the internet as i chatted with the guy who worked there. He was explaining about the system and their operations as i listened in attentively like i wanted to learn something, it was better than shopping with the girls.

Just then a beautiful coloured girl casually dressed in a flayerd skirt and a sleeveless green top that matched her fine skin walked in. she had this vibe that made me wince, but I stayed calm.

She talked to the guy at the counter and I watched her walk to a computer. she connected her phone to the PC and carried on working as i watched in silence.

After some minutes she stood straight and paid some money and turned to leave, my heart skipped but I didn’t have the gut to stand and talk to her. she seemed to be in a hurry.

I followed her like a stalker and watched as she went down to the road across the shops.

My inner voice told me to follow her as she walked behind the small path behind the shoprite warehouse at back door. The area had some trucks packed and a few people walked past the route which went down to the other side of the town.

I saw a shoddy looking guy walk past me and straight away headed towards her. I watched, he held her from behind as she tried to scre-m he put his hand on her mouth as she struggled to get free.

“What the hell!” I scre-med in,side and quickly ran to them closing the gap between us.

I charged forward and hit a blow on the guys head and he fall down letting go of the girl. she staggered and stood back as i tried to go after the guy who had quickly stood and ran fast to the other side..

“Are you ok lady ?” I asked concerned .

I saw her open her mouth in shock.

“Ackim? ” She asked looking really shocked and surprised..

“What are you doing here?” She asked me.

“What?” I responded

” Ackim?” I asked her.

“Do you know know who i am?” I asked her as she moved closer.

“Who are you?”

I saw her face frown.

“You are asking who I am, are you serious?” she shouted angrily.

I wanted to respond but Jane walked towards us.

“Will, whats happening here?” She asked me holding my hand like showing me off to the stranger.

I saw the lady I rescued look at our hands and her facial expression turned pale.

“Oh I see!” she exclaimed.

“so this is why you decided to disappear and fake your own death ?” she asked angrily and picked her phone.

I watched in shock as she walked away.

“Wait!” I tried to follow her but she rushed to the grey X5 packed at the end of the path.

“Come on Will ” Jane held me pulling me back

“let her go”

I pushed her aside..

“don’t you see that lady knows who I am?” I snapped furious..

“now I missed a Chance of learning something about myself because of you.”

I ran to the road but it was too late. she drove past the round about and I saw her car disppear on the other side of town.

I felt so disappointed as we went back to th boutique with Jane.

“fake my own death..?” I echoed her words.

“what did she mean?” I asked still lost.

Maya noticed I looked upset but I smiled and assured her i was ok.

Later at home Dr Mwaba told me I was supposed to ask the lady about my life. she also felt the person could be someone close to me and explained that from the way I explained her response she could notice the lady could be my wife or maybe girlfriend.

“No i don’t think so. am almost certain that girl is rich and I don’t think am someone from such back grounds.” I told her with a sigh

“no Doc that coloured girl is definately not my class.”

She smiled gently..

“It’s posible Will, by the way, did you say she’s a coloured ?”

“Yes i agreed..why? ”

“Well, could it be the same lady Maya talked to the other week? ”

“Mmmm I dont know for sure. Maya didn’t see her so am not sure shes the same person. I will ask her later and hear if her description matches the one I saw this afternoon.” I told her.

Maya jumped with joy when i asked her about the coloured girl.. “yes yes! She’s the one uncle” she said excited.

“tall with a lot of long silk hair.., ” “yeah” I nodded..

“And very beautiful” she added.

“That too Maya” i answered casually.

She told me it was her and she sat down next to me on the couch.

“Why didnt you call me to introduce you guys..?” She complained..

“well am sory little one everything happened so fast I didn’t get the chance to do that.”

I told Maya that the lady seemed to know Me and she was even more excited.

” I knew it!” she shouted..

“you guys are meant for each other, it’s destiny !” she exclaimed..

I smilled at her and didn’t get the rest of the things she was saying.

My mind wondered back to the scene in town earlier. I wondered who the girl was. Wishing painfully I had a chance to talk for some more minutes. Apparently she was the second person who seemed to know i who I was. my efforts to confront the guy I followed in river side had failed.

Some one from there even told me the George guy worked with some gang members who were dangerous.

I wasn’t scared though and I had been spying on his house since i came back from the police cells, hoping he would lead me to the truth about myself.

To be continued

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