Lion of Soweto

Chapter 6

If Moyo thinks discussing with Audrey guarantees him access to Sheline's heart, the events that follow his last Morningside visit alter that notion. Staying true to her conservative upbringing, Sheline takes her time to know who she's dealing with. One unknown Bulawayo face won't just show up one day and bamboozle her with a marriage proposal.

The affair kicks-off with the exchange of WhatsApp messages, through which Sheline gets a hang of Moyo's family background, his status, friends and previous broken relationships.

"I've been unlucky with women," he texts. "Will you be the final bus stop?"

"Let's wait and see," Sheline replies.

Moyo makes it clear he was born with a cracked wooden spoon, a background Sheline has no qualms identifying with, having heard loads of such stories from church members, some of whom show up in her house.

While Moyo's at work, Sheline will send messages which get prompt replies. One of his colleagues, observing that he now pays more attention to his phone than before, throws repeated jibes:

"Something sweet is happening these days," Johnson says. "You're seeing a lady now uh?"

"You can say that again." Moyo flashes a smile, regaling him with stories of how he proposed to his sweetheart. "This one is special."

"I hope you'll keep her?"

"That's the plan."

When Sheline's queries require more insightful thoughts, Moyo will wait until after work before giving a reply, making a call in some cases. The evening-time hobby of watching TV gets a swap for attending to her probing texts, some of which necessitates looking up words from the dictionary – online and physical.

When interactions get tougher, Moyo will buzz Richard for guidance, tapping into his friend's repertoire of romantic words and hypnotic turn of phrases, many of them are so sweet Sheline have to read them over and again.

Eventually, his consistent and bias-free response to her queries crumbles the lady's resistance. Sheline begins to see him as someone who truly cares, a factor which overrides whatever he may be lacking in physical qualities.

"He's always polite and quick to apologise," Sheline says to Audrey regarding Moyo.

"Oh, okay." The old woman responds with a wry smile, finding her daughter's burgeoning interest fascinating.

"Did you ask about his family background?"

"I did, Ma. First thing."

Sheline steps up communication by being the first to call Moyo. Her first call gets Moyo's head whirring all night. Her voice, soft and tender, penetrates his ears, vibrating all ossicles therein. She now chats at will, using respectful language, expressing her opinions freely on whatever issue they may be discussing.

My mother will thank me when I take this girl home.

With the affair growing at snail speed after five weeks, despite their lively phone conversations, Moyo sees the need to quicken things up. "Let's go see a movie at the mall," Moyo invites her on a Saturday evening.

"Fine, come pick me up next Saturday."

"Next Saturday? What are you doing during the week?"

"Reading and stuff. That I'm not in school doesn't mean I have nothing to read."

"All right. See you on Saturday."

Garbed in one of his new t-shirts this bright Saturday evening, Moyo shows up in Morningside ready for the first outing with this lady who tickles him like no other. He parks outside the house, announcing his arrival through phone, seeing no need to check on Audrey.