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Chapter 3

During the next year, Jabari helped Tenmei pursue his educational goals. Tenmei worked for months, studying to take the exams that would earn him the ability to apply to universities. Weeks later, he received his certificate and after a large celebration dinner, he immediately began sending out his applications.

A month later, Tenmei came running into the house yelling and waving a large envelope, "BABA! BABA! IT'S HERE! I WAS ACCEPTED! BABA!"

Jabari came from the back of the house, nearly colliding with Tenmei, "Let me see! Let me see!" he said quickly as he took the papers from the younger man. "Aljuru! This says you received a full scholarship!!" he cried as he looked up at him.

Tenmei nodded so fast he made himself dizzy, "They must have been really impressed with my portfolio."

Jabari laughed, "Of course they were! I am very proud of you, Aljuru."

"Well, I owe it all to you, baba. You saved me, took me in, cared for me, encouraged me, taught me. I can't thank you enough. I only hope I can repay you one day."

"Having you as a son is more than enough."

*****

Over the next six years, Tenmei relentlessly studied and worked to hold top marks in all his classes. Occasionally, Jabari had to argue him into taking breaks to eat and sleep, but not too often.

There were times where Tenmei was struck by vague images in his mind and his baba would find him nearly buried beneath sheets of paper and painted canvas. There were several faces of people he could almost grasp, but theme most reoccurring was a man's face. He was mostly hidden behind the brim of a hat and Tenmei never could get enough detail to recognize him should they ever meet face to face. It was almost as if the memory were being viewed through frosted glass. A few times though, Tenmei was struck by the most beautiful ocean colored eyes he'd ever seen. At first glance, they seemed hard and unforgiving, but when he looked closer... there was a kindness inside that he knew went to the man's soul.

The two men also found themselves arguing over Tenmei's love life. Or as Jabari said, lack of love life. Jabari often invited friends with daughters Tenmei's age, over for dinner. Tenmei was always polite but straightforward, with both the fathers and daughters, about his desire to remain single.

"Tenmei...." Jabari began one night after yet another unsuccessful attempt at match making. "There was absolutely nothing wrong with that girl. She is beautiful, talented, intelligent AND she comes from a very wealthy family. Why couldn't you just go on one little date?"

Tenmei let his head fall over back of his chair as he groaned, "Baaabaaaa, please! You have to stop. I have no interest in dating, even less in marriage."

"But why, Aljuru? You would make a wonderful husband. I will not be around forever, you know? You need someone. Not to mention, I need grandchildren before I am no old to properly spoil them!"

Tenmei raised his head, giving Jabari a dead eyed glare, "And here I thought you loved me as a son, yet all you wish to do is breed me like a prized stallion."

He let his head fall back again and slouched in the chair lifelessly. Hierophant Green appeared, floating between them. "Hierophant, shoot me." Tenmei declared, slapping a hand over his chest, "Right here, right through my broken heart!"

Jabari chuckled and shook his head, softly muttering, "Drama queen." under his breath.

Hierophant seemed confused, looking repeatedly between its user and Jabari, before creating a single emerald. The stand tossed the emerald at Tenmei in a manner that almost didn't qualify as half-hearted.

What Tenmei missed in his dramatic performance, was said emerald growing as it sailed through the air.

Jabari covered his mouth to muffle his gasp, and eventual laughter, as the now melon sized emerald landed exactly in the spot requested and burst like a water balloon, covering Tenmei in ice cold, glowing green...slime.

Tenmei screamed and dropped all semblance of being a polite young man as he shot out of the chair, creatively cursing in 3 different languages. He promptly slipped in the slime on the floor and fell flat on his ass.

"HIEROPHANT GREEN!!!!"

Jabari laughed until he cried watching the boy struggle to escape the slippery mess.

Hierophant watched from his hiding spot under the back of Jabari's jacket, making quiet little chittering noises that sounded a lot like snickering.

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I did try to do some research on the Egyptian educational system, really. However, the sites that looked most promising were not in English (DUH!) and Google translate said🖕when I tried for translation.

So, if any of this is inaccurate, and I'm sure it is, please forgive me.