When Two Elephants Fight

Part 2, The Messiah!

Mr Sithole ruined my whole day by what he said since it was the only thing l could think about. I was so angry at him for  embarrassing me like that in front of everyone but l was also angry at myself for not realising it sooner that am better off as an orphan than to say that both of my parents are alive. "Come to think of it registering my father as dead can bring me more advantages. What good will l get from saying he is alive anyway? Absolutely nothing! But what good will come of his death? Absolutely everything! With him being dead l can receive new uniforms from donors, have my fees paid and l wont have to be send back home for outstanding fees arrears and l if l get lucky, l will even be send   as far as university by these donors". These were the thoughts that were running through my mind and shamelessly l was even entertaining them. I liked the idea of going to university, study medicine and become a doctor. My dream was to become a doctor and help sick people. And if l go by what Mr Sithole said, then chances are that l will get donors to sponsor my education till university. After all l wasnt committing any fraud. Mr Sithole was the one who made this revelation that not knowing where my father is and him being so absent is just as good as him being dead. So l was just following what he said. From that day l promised myself that l will never consider my father as alive and if those donors come again l will stand up first before  Mr Sithole reminds me about my dead-alive father.

I went home partially excited that day. Yes partially, because part of me still wanted to believe that my father will show up one day, carry me in his arms and confess how much he missed me and then promise never to leave me and my mother again. Although my fantasies were too far-fetched, l still wanted to believe they will come true one day.

I got home to find my mother cleaning the house while singing joyfully. I was shocked to see such a sight. My mother has never been home before sunset and l always came back from school before she comes from her piece jobs. She always juggle both working on our small piece of land and working on other people's fields for money. In our field she usually grew tomatoes, wheat and maize and she said she works  so hard because apart from our upkeep the tomatoes she grew needed pesticides and fertilizer which she couldnt afford so at times she would work for people in exchange for fertilisers and pesticides. She was my inspiration and the reason why l wanted to study hard and be a doctor. I wanted  to earn a good salary and give her the best life money could ever buy. She wouldn't have to work for other peole anymore if l just manage to study hard and further in order to obtain higher qualifications. And one way of doing that was for me to embrace the title of being an orphan and make use of the benefits that comes with such unfortunate labels.

I asked my mother why she was home so early and if she was okay. I was very worried because it was normal to see my mother all grumpy and shouting at me than see her sing so joyfully. My mother was always a moody person and if ever l commit a single mistake she would beat the hell out of me. Her way of discipline was so intense that at times l would sustain injuries or cuts. Luckily l knew her so well not to piss her off so l was seldom on her wrong side. She was singing the song " Makanaka Jesu" and even dancing! That got me more worried. She looked like she won the lotto or something. When she had calmed down that's when she broke the news to me. She had met a messiah! All our problems will be a thing of the past and according to this messiah we were going to live the lives we deserved. By the way, my father was said to be a teacher somewhere in another province and he was living there with his new family. And by living the lives we deserve that messiah of a person meant l was to live like a teacher's child! This sounded too good to be true. I could already imagine myself in a complete new school uniform, school shoes, bag and evrything. Bringing bread with butter and juice to school and have some pocket money. That was the life other teacher's children lived. The very thought of these things made me smile with happiness. But then, if all this happened, then what will l say at school about my father whom l was planning on registering as dead? Or should l say whom l had already claimed dead? I just brushed off the thought and then asked my mother everything about the messiah who made her so happy. Thats when she told me about a certain lawyer who came to visit one of my mother's employers. She was  Mr Mugari's sister and Mr Mugari was the farm owner where my mother used to work part time. Everyone in our area knew my mother's story and how she was dumped for a more educated woman so l guess the employer told his sister who offered to help my mother get justice. I was so happy to hear such news and judging by the look on my mother's face this must have been the miracle she had been praying for. All she could talk of  was how she would enjoy seeing my father's face when she got "justice". That was the first time to hear my mother talk about my father. And she was referring to him as " that dog". Her words were pregnant with bitterness and she seemed like someone preparing for a revenge mission.

She then told me that the messiah was going back to her place in Mutare the following day and she offered to go with her and help her with all the necessary procedures to apply for maintenance. She left for Mutare the following day and l was left at home alone.

Being home alone wasnt so scary during the day because l will be at school the whole day and l was used to it as my mother was always busy and would come home only after sunset. But the nights were the scariest. We did not have close relatives where l could have gone and my mother had reckoned l was old enough to take care of myself since l was already twelve years by then. At night l would imagine all sorts of horror  and then scare myself to death. The fact that l had read the "Zidyavanhu Mugomo" story at school wasn't doing any justice to my fear. I found myself imagining Zidyavanhu coming to devour 8me alive. I would then shudder with terror and couldn't even sleep.

The following day at school l avoided horror stories and opted for a neutral novel instead. I went to the library and borrowed Oliver Twist by Charles  Dickens. At night l also couldn't sleep asking myself what if someone comes to kidnap me and use me for illegal activities like what Fagin did to Oliver. I just told myself that it was better if l dont read books. Unfortunately l couldnt stay away from books as they were my only companions. I had no friends and had no intentions of making any friend either or any desire to have one since the books gave me all the company that l need. I would cry, laugh, get angry and jump with joy while reading the books depending on what am reading. To me this was more than having a friend who only sticks to me when they want to copy my homework and then behind my back gossip about what l was told by Mr Sithole that my father is as good as dead. I spent my days at school and my nights in fear of the unknown and my mother took longer than expected. She intially said she will be away for only three days but she came back after a week. All my worry was swept away when she told me that everything went well and   the coming monthend we will be receiving maintenance fee and she wont have to work for anyone again. This was the greatest news l have ever heard. I felt sorry for her because of how hard she worked and if this maintenance thing was going to stop her from working herself to death like she used to then indeed that woman was a messiah.