THE VILLAGE BOY.

Scene Ten

{THEY SAT AND SLEPT ON THE BENCH OVER NIGHT. IN THE MORNING.}

Paul : {WOKE UP AND LOOKED AT WATCH. THEN CHECKED HIS SCHEDULE AND DISCERNED THAT HE HAD LECTURE AT 10:00 AM.}

Mr Khumalo : {HE WOKE UP TOO.} What's the matter? You seem to have something else worrying you.

Paul : I have a lecture at 10:00, and I don't think I will make it.

Mr Khumalo : You can go. I'll update you if there are any changes.

Paul : No. I'd rather stay here until she wake up.

Mr Khumalo : What about your lecture?

Paul : I'll call Professor Zackary to tell the lecturer that I can't make it.

Mr Khumalo : {PULL PAUL AND LET HIM LEAN ON HIS CHEST.}

Doctor : {COMES OUT OF THE SICK ROOM.}

Paul : Doc...

Doctor : Hi. Are you Miss Pale's relatives?

Paul : Yah. I'm her son and this is my teacher, Mr Khumalo.

Mr Khumalo : How is she?

Doctor : She is stable, but for how long? That I can't say. She's getting worse every hour.

Paul : Will she be alright?

Doctor : With the medication that we're using. She will be fine. But like I said, there's no guarantee how long will she be alright.

Paul : I just need some few months with her.

Mr Khumalo : Please Doc.

Doctor : I'll try my best.

Paul : Thanks Doc.

Doctor : {WALKING AWAY .}

Paul : Can we see her.

Doctor : {TURN AROUND.} What?

Paul : Can we see her, my mom.

Doctor : Yah sure. But don't make noise.

Mr Khumalo : Understood.

Paul : {RUSHING TO HIS MOTHER, AND HUGGED HER.} I'm glad you're okay mom. {WITH TEARS ON HIS FACE.}

Miss Pale : What's wrong my boy?

Paul : {LOOKS AT MR KHUMALO AND BACK AT HIS MOTHER.}

Mr Khumalo : You do know we gonna have to tell her sooner or later.

Paul : I'm telling her.

Mr Khumalo : Are you sure you want to do this?

Paul : Yah. I want what happened to me, to also happen to her.

Mr Khumalo : Okay, I'll be by your side to support you both.

Paul : We'll appreciate your support so much.

{THEY WALKED BACK TO MISS PALE.}

Paul : Mom... We got bad news.

Miss Pale : What's going on?

Paul : We spoke to the doctor.

Mr Khumalo : It's bad.

Miss Pale : You're scaring me.

Paul : The doctor said.... {STARTS CRYING.}

Miss Pale : What did the doctor say?

Paul : He said...

Miss Pale : What...? {STARTS CRYING TOO.}

Paul : He told us...

Mr Khumalo : ...that you may die any second.