Mangled Shoes

Untitled Part 28

That morning, Kamma was the first to wake up; the early bird did indeed catch the worm. Their meal was about to be served as their parents had spent the night!

Eggs, vetkoek, and boerewors pair well with coffee. The misbehaving visitors were getting ready to go. Deborah looked at her cousin Unovara, who was still fast asleep when she got up. When she was quiet and not pestering, she had such a serene appearance. Even yet, it appeared as though dancers "walked it as they talked it." She leaped over Boy-Boy and hurdled over Sukoo, who was snoring loudly and in an out-of-style way. Her legs wobbled as she finally got to the other side of their sleeping arrangements.

With bags under her eyes, the suicidally depressed Deborah walked over to the fireplace. It appeared to be a challenging and drawn-out voyage. She appeared horrifyingly bruised. She was shocked to see Uncle Rueben, Uncle John, Aunt Ruth, Mrs. Mahultze, Uncle Samuel, and Grandmama and Kamma already gathered around the fireplace. They all had such a homey, familial vibe to them.

There was a family intervention going on. It was nine o'clock, and her vintage, balloon-inflated Uncle John was already tipsy on Coke and Brandewyn, his idea of classical. The interventions were related to what had happened the night before. That was plainly reactionary in the eyes of his mother, who was egalitarian and pastoral.

But it was Deborah who had to give her uncle her apology. What specifically did they apologize for that they must have been insane for? "A child could be taller than his father, but never older than his father." An African proverb.

Deborah just lay there, obliging.

"Good morning, mom, uncle's, aunt's..."

The elders were silent.

"Hey Kamma you're up early."

"Hey, cousin. I heard we had eggs for breakfast this morning."

"Here, have some coffee." He had an utmost sweet spirit yet remained comically unconscious.

Deborah took a deep, meaningful glance at her cousin. It was clear to her that even after carrying out her subtle and quiet plan, it would be some time before she saw her family again. Nothing remained here for her. She looked innocent and devout, but she required a lot of fine-tuning. Deborah had this burning desire to transform, make better decisions, choose a new family, and start over.

Despite her youth, she was so pitiful. If her family lost her because of an attempted suicide, they would be cursed. Little did they know she was an undiscovered Renaissance woman.

She walked out as if she were cut off from everyone. returned to the sitting room area. Deborah put her purse outside the window. It was time to hit the road and head to Windhoek.

She could slip out and pretend she was going to use the bush privy by wearing her bag on the opposite side. Then she gathered up her bags and walked... She called her friend Goom.

*Mobile vibrates*

Goom's phone was trembling as he woke up. "Deborah, you missed 37 calls," the screen said.

Then there was a phone vibration.

"Yeah, Deborah, what's up, Ama'gange?" Why do you force me to wake up since it's so important?"

"God, I'm in need of a favor," Deborah said.

Once more, here we go. Oh no!" Goom uttered it with a tone that verged on irritation.

"I'm running away from home; I mean the village."