The Textbook Proposal

Put Up Or Shut Up! [Edited 1]

Malcolm's POV:

The past two years have been crazy. I've had to juggle both school and work. As a business major I've been working towards my MBA. My life was finally on track. Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa was cool because it was all that I knew. I had the love and support of my family and plenty of great friends. Now that I am on my own I was working towards my dream. I would eventually join my grandfather's company.

During summer vacations I often worked at my grandfather's factory. So I'm pretty familiar with the ends and outs of the business. I looked forward to working there. Not because of who I am but because I have earned the right to work there. I was no-longer the little boy who's last name is Tanaka I'm now a grown man. A man who is ready to make my family and myself proud.

If two years ago you told me my dreams were fruitless then I would have laughed. But it is true that things changed drastically as they often do. And in most cases it is because of a woman. Well for most men a woman is usually involved. Xhosa Malan, I know your probably saying why do guys always blame their problems on their girl but its true this girl was the root of all my problems. After, I met her my life was utter bliss for a few months and then it became a living nightmare.

Like most men I was suckered in by a pretty face and a banging body. I'm a man what can I say! She was beautiful and I fell in love not over night but gradually. At first it was just lust. I had known the girl for two months and I couldn't control myself. She said and did all of the right things. I fell for her innocent act hook line and sinker. As for my mom well she wasn't impressed.

She didn't like Xhosa and she wasn't afraid to tell her. Usually, those arguments ended with me defending Xhosa and my father trying to calm down my mother. Needless to say there was no peace in my home. Xhosa was tearing what was once a close knit family apart but I was too blind and too dumb to see it.

It was the first time I'd seen my mom act like that. She avoided my phone calls and ignored Xhosa whenever they were in the same room together. Normally, she didn't act like that towards the girls that I brought home. Even though I only brought home two of my ex-girlfriends. Family is precious to me and I do not let just anyone meet them. Only a select group of people have met my family and even fewer knew that we had money.

Even though we have money my parents still work full time jobs and instilled in their children the same work ethics. When I turned 14 they made me get my first job. Sure it was only delivering news papers but from that moment on I learned responsibility, time management, as well as money management. Of course I lost hours of sleep but it was worth it.

My parents taught my siblings and I that even though we have money we should also be self reliant. Able to make our own money so we can better appreciate what we have. Looking back now I should have listened to my mom. She's always right. I didn't know where I went wrong with Xhosa. Maybe I gave her too much?

I truly believed that she wanted to be in a committed relationship with me and that she fully supported my dreams as I supported hers. I always had her back. When she participated in that beauty pageant and didn't win. I stood by her side and encouraged her to try again. The next pageant she entered she actually won. I was proud of her and I happily waited in the audience with her family cheering her on every step of the way.

I was a faithful, patient, and understanding boyfriend. I thought that she was just as invested in us but I was proven wrong. Boy, was I wrong! She wasn't faithful. Not only did she cheat on me but she got pregnant. I could have forgiven her but she disrespected my mother. She showed up at my mom's job and caused a scene. Because I wouldn't return any of her calls or meet her. I needed some time to think things over but she didn't understand. She didn't respect my request for space.