Ollie Savage

Chapter 3

Ollie and Caster continued working together, back and forth for a couple of years, but Caster never revealed his process to him. After Ollie met Deena at one of his private parties, he gradually stopped hanging out with Caster, dedicating more time to her until they finally lost contact. Ollie believes he has found a very smart and decent woman in Deena, a nineteen-year-old art student hoping to become a big artist one day.

Unlike him, she comes from a broken family, so she finds it hard trusting men. She doesn't like Ollie's hustle with Caster, as she feels it's a sure way to end up dead or in jail. To avoid losing her, he chooses her over his hustle. They date for a while before Ollie finally introduces her to his sister, Gloria.

"Deena, what a lovely name? Where are you from Deena," Gloria asks as Ollie leaves them to catch up, while he grabs some lunch.

"We are from Zambani as well, Sunnyside, but we relocated here when I was two years old."

"Oh wow, Sunnyside, you guys must be loaded?"

"No, not really."

"Ok, so who do you have in England then?"

"I have my father, stepmother and my younger sister, Linda. I also have uncles and aunties here."

"Oh, ok. You come from a small family then?"

"Actually not, I also have step siblings, but I guess Linda is the closest and most constant person in my life."

"You sound very English; do you speak any Chinga at all?"

"No, but I can understand some words, that's it."

"So, you are no good for my brother are you, Deena?"

"Well, he can teach me some, if he wants me well enough."

"What? You are no use to us then; our parents won't be able to communicate with you. What kind of Zambanian are you?"

"Aunty, play nice!"

"No, you are absolutely useless. What was he thinking bringing you to me? This is absolute nonsense. I want you both out of my house when he comes back. Rubbish people! What happened to Sarah? Couldn't he have found a nice white girlfriend if he wanted an English woman? What a disgrace this is," she stops her runt hearing Ollie knocking on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, your brother."

"Oh, hello brother, you're back already," she asks, as she opens the door and leans in for a kiss.

He goes straight to the kitchen where he puts the drinks in the freezer and places the pizza on the dining table. He goes back to the lounge only to find Deena with her arms folded and weeping. He looks at his sister who stands in the corner folding her arms and smiling, then looks at his girlfriend still weeping. She has broken her; this is the ugly shit called tradition.

New women joining the family get broken in, literally. Ollie bursts into laughter at first, filling the whole house with his hearty laugh. Deena looks at Ollie's face and realises she was stitched up; he knew this would happen. After years of seeing his brothers' wives broken in, now it was his turn. He walks over to his girlfriend and picks her up from the sofa, nestling her into his arms.

"I'm sorry Mama, whatever she said, she didn't mean it. It's just a horrible tradition that's all. It's over now, it's over, let's go eat. You have passed the worst phase, alright? It will only get easier in time Mama," he comforts her with the utmost respect, Mama.

"You need to apologise to Deena Sis, she didn't deserve that," he says, harshly pointing his finger at Gloria. This protectiveness tells Gloria he loves her, she is special. Gloria on the other hand, has instilled fear and imposed her authority over Deena.