DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY.

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Chapter 1. Mrs. Pondamali tacked her son into bed and sung him a lullaby. She loved her son with every fibre of her being. Once upon a time, she had loved her husband George Pondamali as much as she had come to love their 13 year old Lubesha Pondamali but now her love was undivided as only her son got all of it. The love she once had for her husband had vanished. How? You may wonder. Love doesn't just vanish overnight, does it? The answer is biased but in Janet's case, her love for George hadn't vanished overnight, no. It had gradually faded away until all she felt for her husband of 15 years was hatred. Once upon a time, yes, once upon a time again cause all the sweet memories Janet had of her husband and her were now nothing but farfetched fantasies. Once upon a time, they'd led a simple but beautiful life back in Zambia's Lusaka City where they struggled to make ends meet as even having three meals a day was a challenge but she wasn't complaining. Lubesha came along two years after their marriage and both George and her vowed to give him the best in life. Their son had just clocked nine years when the call from Kampala came. "Uncle's calling me?" George had been baffled to see the call from his uncle who owned a news agency in Uganda. "Which uncle?" enquired Janet who was serving her husband and son supper. "Uncle Maybin," replied George flatly. "The one who hit the jackpot when he married that rich Ugandan woman. He rarely calls, you know." "That's the more reason you should pick his call, sweetheart." "Alright," George excused himself and went to the bedroom where he picked the call from. "Uncle." "George Pondamali," came the response from the other end of the line. "How have you been?" "Am alive so I can't complain. I won't lie though, am baffled to receive a call from you.. You are the only relative I know and here I was thinking you've forgotten about me. But I have family now...Janet and Lubesha are my true family." "Don't talk like that," said an emotional Maybin from Kampala. Maybin's brother had been George's father. It's really a tragic story how both George's parents had perished in a house fire years ago, leaving George under the care of his unmarried and promiscuous uncle Maybin. Maybin loved to travel and it had been during one of his many trips that he had scooped himself a wealthy widow in Kampala whom he managed to charm and later marry. "I've just been making plans for you, George. As I speak to you right now, I have a job offer for you. At my company." "Are you telling the truth?" "I wouldn't bluff about such a serious matter. Your unemployed status has been bugging me a lot lately seeing as you're into journalism, I thought I could hire you as a reporter at my company. My wife is on board so it's all up to you to get yours on board too." "Janet will be thrilled! Thank you so much, uncle Maybin. This opportunity means the world to me!" When he was off the phone, George went to his wife and son while humming a happy tune. He was all smiles as he sat. "Judging from your huge grin," began Janet who was admiring her husband, "your uncle had great news for you." In response, George spoke to Lubesha. "How would you like to leave Zambia, son?" "I wouldn't like to leave this country because its home, Dad. I have friends here." "Your opinion will change.." George turned to Janet and told her about his uncle's offer. Janet was astonished. This was the best news she'd heard in ages. "George, God has finally answered all our prayers. Relocating will be difficult but as long as we can give Lubesha a better future, I don't mind." "You hear that, son?" George said to his son. "Daddy will have a job and will be able to buy you that bicycle that you've been so wanting. And there are kids your age in Uganda so I promise you'll love it there." Lubesha wasn't happy but his parents had brought him up to obey his elders so he said, "If my parents think moving out of Zambia is the best for everyone, who am I to disobey them?" George and Janet shook their heads in unison and without further adieu, begun eating. Gloomily, Lubesha started eating too. A few days later, Janet paid her sister Juliet a visit. The second Juliet saw her sister, she frowned. "What have you come to ask for this time around, huh Janet? Didn't I just give you money to buy mealie meal the other day?" "Hello to you too, sis. Can I at least take a seat?" Juliet who was seated on a swing eating fruits rolled her eyes. "As if I have any choice." Juliet and Janet were siblings..they shared the same mother and father but for some reason Juliet didn't like Janet very much. Both their parents were late and their death had been the final hit on the two girls' estranged relationship. Janet loved her sister but it was the obnoxious and selfish Juliet who made things difficult. Juliet was so selfish that she believed Janet had come along to steal her parents' love. "I wanted to be their only child," Juliet had told herself several times. Now she was married to a wealthy man whom she had given two kids. The underprivileged Janet sat beside her sister and said, "I didn't come to ask for anything." "That's new. Now you know you're not my favourite person so you better tell me what you want." "Fine," Janet shyly put her hands on her laps with a sigh. "George found a job as a reporter...in Kampala. I came to inform you that him, Lubesha and I will be relocating to Uganda in a month's time." "Good for you. Is that all?" Juliet couldn't help feeling jealous as she always found pleasure in Janet's pitiful state and learning her sister was finally going to have a taste of the finer things in life, she was infuriated. "Why do you hate me this much, sis?" "Here we go again," groaned Juliet who crunched an Apple into her big mouth. "Janet, I've told you times without number that what I have for you is natural hatred so nothing you say or do will change anything. Now go, gerrout!" A teary eyed Janet stood and gave her sister a forceful hug before dashing out of the compound. At least she had tried to bond with her sister, she consoled herself as she hailed for a bus. The Pondamali family moved to Kampala a month later where as promised, George found a job waiting for him. After working for a year, the Pondamali's started enjoying the finer things in life. Lubesha went to a good private school and the family stayed in a nice house that suit them well. But the problems started after George worked for three years. He now owned a car and had bought one for his wife but he started chasing skirts. It was easy for Janet to decipher from George's new mannerism that he was cheating on her. He started coming home late and on some nights, he never even came home. When Janet confronted him about the latter, this is what he said to her, "I provide you with everything you need so you whining just shows how ungrateful you are. Show some gratitude, Janet!" George's bad behaviour went on for a year and to be honest, Janet was getting fade up. One night, she waited for Lubesha to go to bed and then she sat in the living room clad in her gown, waiting for George to turn up. Hopefully. He did turn up but only after midnight. She opened the door after he knocked and could smell alcohol from his breath but at least he didn't look drunk. "My food," he hissed. Shaking her head, Janet gestured towards the dining table where George begrudgingly sat. She sat opposite him. He was halfway through his food when she said, "Why have you changed so drastically, George?" He spared her one hell of a scornful glance. "Because people change. I have money now and wanna enjoy my life so you just play the role of a good wife and quit nagging me. You don't work after all so all you should do is take care of my son and I and quit complaining!" That hurt Janet to the core but she swallowed the lump that had developed in her throat. "Bad company ruins good behaviour," she lamented. "Meaning?" fumed George. "Nothing," she shrugged. "If being rich means one has to develop stinky behaviour, I'd rather be poor for the rest of my life!" "You ungrateful wretch!" George leaped to his feet and for the first time in their marriage, laid a hand on his wife by slapping the living daylights out of her. "Its because of uncle Maybin that we are even where we are today so I won't have you indirectly insult him!" with that, he retired to bed but not without angrily kicking anything and everything in his way. Janet sat at the dining table holding on to her cheek, not believing what had just happened. That had been the beginning of her hatred for George. George hit her six times more during the course of the next several months and though Janet tried so hard to hide the bruises, people did notice. Lubesha especially. "Does Dad hit you, mum?" the boy abruptly asked his mother one day. "No.." she shook her head. "Don't mind the bruises, your mama's just clumsy." Lubesha didn't buy the lie. "Why don't you just leave him already?" he asked Janet another day when he came back from school. His parents had had a ferocious altercation the previous night which Lubesha had witnessed. The fight had been over meat. George had wanted meat for supper and was pissed when he found fish instead. He picked a bone with Janet, called her names, they quarreled and he beat her. "Are you sure you are ready to leave all this?" Janet asked her son as she massaged her sore cheek with a bag of ice. "Are you ready to go back to living in poverty?" "If that means you'll get to enjoy your life again, yes. This is how much I love you, mum. All these riches, I didn't grow up with them. And am 13 now so I am no longer young...spouses are getting killed everyday, mother. I wouldn't forgive myself if you were to become a victim." Hearing her son utter those words was relieving to Janet. She had long since fallen out of love with George and had only stayed in this abusive marriage for her son's sake but if the son was willing to walk away, so was she. . . To be continued after the comments..

Best decision

hmm..i am with you in any decision you make

Is better you leave before its too late

Next ep

Next ep

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 2. After tacking her son into bed that night, Janet decided it was high time she started packing. She had a feeling George wasn't going to show up that night so she utilized the silence and begun packing. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with her life after walking away from marriage but she was certain of one thing, she and Lubesha were going back to Zambia the next day. After packing for over an hour, she felt her neck ache so she massaged it for a while then retired to bed. She was surprisingly dead tired. When morning came, Janet woke up early, took a bath and got dressed. Lubesha did the same too. "Are you ready, Lubesha?" chorused Janet from her room. "Yes I am!" came the response from Lubesha's room. "You know today's your last day at that school, right?" Janet asked her son as they strapped their seatbelts on later in the car. He spared her a glance. "I know. This is different from when we were leaving Zambia for this country, mum. Am doing this wholeheartedly so am more than ready." "We'll be fine," she caressed his face. "I got us." Lubesha patted his mum's loving hand. "I know." The drive to Lubesha's school was awkward and silent. Janet pulled up in the parking lot and took a deep breath. "Let me go have a chat with your headmistress while you bid all your friends goodbye." "Okay." Janet knew the school like the back of her hand so she went straight to the headmistress' office and knocked. She was told to go in. "Mrs. Pondamali!" the headmistress was thrilled to see Janet. After all Lubesha who was now doing his eighth grade at that school was one of the brightest students the headmistress had come across so seeing his mum in her office was refreshing. Janet sat after she was offered a seat and she went down to business. "But why would you ask for a transfer, Mrs. Pondamali? Isn't the school any good?" "It's not the school's fault, ma'am. This is just something personal." The headmistress sighed before shrugging. "We'll certainly miss your boy." "He'll miss you too." After being granted the transfer form which had so many praises for Lubesha, Janet made her way to his classroom. She politely asked the teacher who was in class at that particular moment to summon Lubesha. "Let me just complete the day," pleaded Lubesha once he was outside with Janet. "Today's my last day, mum." Janet understood where her son was coming from so she embraced him. "Okay...let me go finish packing back home. You just hop on a bus once class is done today, okay?" "Deal." She pecked his cheek. "Mummy loves you." Lubesha was a bit embarrassed but he replied, "Sonny loves you too." Janet giggled before taking to her heel and heading to her car. She drove straight home and as she drove into the driveway, she inwardly cussed. George was home. Slowly and dreading to go into the house, Janet still managed to put her fear aside and go in. She was no longer afraid of George, she comforted herself. The living room was unoccupied and she guessed where he could possibly be, this made her cuss inwardly. As expected, she found George doing nothing in particular. "Hi." He ignored her and waited for her to stand before the mirror, taking off her earrings. "Why are your bags packed?" asked George without preamble. Janet didn't flinch. "Because am leaving this house." "Alone, I guess?" "Am taking my son with me, George. He wants to come with." George leaned against the wall and laughed. All this was somehow funny to him. "And what makes you so sure I'll let you go?" Losing her patience, Janet stood right in front of him and boldly said, "Your actions have acted as my motivation. You clearly don't give a damn about our son and I so am leaving you for good, George." She turned to continue packing. Where he stood, George shook his head in disbelief. How did his wife gain such guts? He wondered. But that didn't matter..He wasn't going to let neither she nor Lubesha leave the house. Over my dead body, he thought. "You better start unpacking before-" "Before what, huh George? Before you beat me to a pulp? Well guess what, ain't nobody afraid of you anymore!" "You're tempting me, Janet." She clicked her tongue and went about her business. "You know I hate being disobeyed," said an angry George through gritted teeth. He yanked his wife by her hair and slammed her head against the wardrobe. And then he gave her a couple of rapid slaps. Janet tasted blood. The searing pain wasn't helping matters any how. And she decided that she was fade up. She was sick and tired of George treating her like a doormat so it was high time she stood up for herself. In the struggle to free herself from George's strong grip, Janet managed to take off one of her high heeled shoes and using the heel of the shoe, she hit George's head. No, she dug into his head. "Holy crap!" screamed George, backing off. Blood was running down the side of his face. "I've had it with your abusive ways!" she was uncontrollably crying as she unplugged the heel from his head just for her to plunge it into his head again. "That's for treating me like a mop!" and again.."That's for laying your filthy hands on me..." She was frantic and kept on hitting George's head. When she finally came to her senses, it was too late. "George? George!" Janet cowered into a corner where she wept for a good thirty minutes. George was unconscious and she needed nobody to spell out to her that she had just committed murder. "But I didn't mean to," she cried aloud. 'Oh don't be stupid,' scolded her inner voice. 'Who's gonna buy that bullcrap story of yours if and when you narrate what happened here? You'll be arrested and prosecuted for murder, Janet. This is the end of you. You'll spend the rest of your miserable life behind bars!' "No I won't," she stood, wiping her tears and heading to the bedside drawer where she pulled out bottles of anti depressants, pain killers and sedatives. She had bought all those pills when George started stressing her with his unruly behaviour and now the pills would come in handy. I am a coward, she thought as she threw several pills into her mouth. Am so sorry, Lubesha. Mummy's sorry. She drank a total of 113 pills. That would do the trick. Janet sat beside George's corpse and hugged it..It was at that juncture that she realised she still loved him. A giddy Lubesha Pondamali dispatched from a public bus and trekked home. Both his parents' cars were in the parking lot so he figured they were both around. "What hard luck we have, couldn't Dad have spent just one more day wherever he goes?" he groaned. "Gosh..I wonder how mum and I will leave with Dad around. Lord help us." The second Lubesha stepped foot into the house, he felt a weird vibe course through him. Something wasn't right somewhere. "Mum? Am home!" "Lubesha? Am in the bedroom!" Lubesha shrugged and headed to the bedroom but froze in the doorway upon seeing the ugly sight laid before him. His father was laying in a pool of blood on his mother's laps while his mother's gaze was all over the place. She looked so weak. And the empty pill bottles spoke volumes. "What- what happened here?" his voice was a whisper. "I ended it all, son. Come here, mama wants to have a talk with you." He was shaking as he walked over to where both his parents were. "Mum." Janet tightly hugged him. "I am so sorry, Lubesha. You'll have to get all the money you can find from one of your father's jackets in the wardrobe...there's money in one of my drawers too. Take the money and run, Lubesha! Go to Zambia and look for my sister, your aunt Juliet." "The one who likes neither of us very much? There's no way am leaving here without you, mother. What did you do?" he picked an empty pill bottle. "What have you done, mother?" "It's too late.." She was beginning to feel weak and drowsy. And it was damn hot in the room that she begun perspiring. "I love you so much...and I hereby bless you. You'll lead a prosperous life, son. You'll live long and bear children who'll leave an imprint on this earth. Your children and their children will be known across the country. But if you want that to come to pass, you have to go. Now!" "That don't matter, mum. Am taking you to the hospital." He was sniffing as he tried to carry his mother who was quite too heavy for him. With all his might, Lubesha managed to drag a weak Janet to the hallway where she frantically shook her head. "It's too late.." The sweat was overwhelmingly too much. Lubesha crouched down before his mum and hugged her like there was no tomorrow. "Why are you doing this to me, mother? You know you're all I have. Why?" Her son's tears were breaking her heart but there was nothing she could do. "Be strong, Lubesha Pondamali. Be strong." with those words, Janet breathed her last. No words can describe the pain Lubesha felt at that moment but even though his mother was dead, he had to honour her last wish so he left her there in the hallway and went to look for money from the places she had mentioned before dying. Lubesha pocketed all the Ugandan shillings he could find and stepped out of the house with nothing but a small travelling bag. Lusaka city was still very far from Kampala but he was going to get there. He said to himself. "Mum stayed in that marriage because of me, I won't let her death go in vain. She sacrificed so much for me and the least I can do is find my way to aunt Juliet's house..."

You should have call Emergency Number nah

Just wow!

So speechless reali painful

Lubesha, God is your strength

poor comments

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . .  . Chapter 3. ..LUBESHA.. Life ain't nothing but a rollercoaster of emotions. At times it can be fun, lovable, easy while at others it can be messy, dark and sorrowful so I'm gladly settling for the latter as no words can define how heartbroken I felt as I stood outside my parents' house premises. Looking back, it was almost impossible to grasp the bitter truth that both of them lay dead on the cold floor inside that beautiful house I'd not so long ago called home. I know this is going to sound savage for a 13 year old boy to say but am gonna say it anyway. Whoever said that men don't or shouldn't cry, whichever is which, should be castrated for saying such bullshit! The pain I felt at that moment was so intense that I stood at the gate for over an hour, doing nothing but shedding tears. And then I remembered mum had said I had to leave as soon as possible so I tried to move but couldn't. I was shaking. How would I get to Zambia, alone? "Grandpa Maybin stays right here in Kampala," I thought out loud but shook my head a millisecond later. Going to ask that man for any assistance would be a disgrace to mum's memory. If she were in her grave already, she'd probably turn. If there was one man she had hated while she was still alive, it was Grandpa Maybin. According to her, I'd eavesdropped on some of her fights with Dad, Grandpa Maybin was a bad influence on Dad and thus was the genesis of all our problems. But I have to move from here, I thought and took a few steps away from the gate. Without thinking twice, I turned and ran back into the house where I threw myself at mum's lifeless body. "I can't do this, mother. I miss you so much...please come back..come back to your Lubesha." the tears flowed freely. Both mum and dad were dead so you'd wonder why I was only hurt by mum's death, right? Well, if Dad hadn't changed his attitute to bad ever since we relocated to Uganda, I'd have certainly missed him. I cried for over fifteen minutes until it dawned on me that no amount of tears I shed was going to bring back either of my parents so I stood and wiped my tears. It was time to go to Zambia...only heaven knew how I was going to get there. I grabbed my small travelling bag which contained all the necessary documents I needed to travel and left the house. I somehow managed to get on a bus going from Kampala to Lusaka though it'd pass through Nairobi, Dar-Es-Salaam to Mpika to Lusaka. The journey would take days, this I knew. But what to do with the little money that I had in my possession? The drive from Kampala to Nairobi took so many hours that I even lost count. The bus came to a stop in Nairobi where people got out to ease themselves and buy some refreshments and snacks. I got out too to take a piss and grab me some water to drink. I was hungry but was short on cash so only water would do. I was literally forcing myself to practice forced fasting. An hour after the bus had hit the road again, a fat woman who was seated beside me said to me in Swahili, "Ninekuwa niliona umefanya tu tangu sisi kushoto Kampala, je, kitu cha kula, mtoto(I've noticed you've only had water since we left Kampala, would you like something to eat, child)?" I had spent four years in Uganda so I knew how to speak Swahili. I replied, "Hapana asante (no thank you)" "Usiwe shy...here, na baadhi ya(Don't be shy...here, have some)." she was handing me a burger which I wanted to politely decline but my stomach betrayed me by rumbling. The woman assuringly smiled at me while nodding her head so I gratefully took the burger. "Asante." Next she handed me a soft drink which I appreciably took. As I ate, I was looking at everything and everywhere but at her. "Where are your parents, mtoto?" she abruptly asked me, catching me unaware such that I almost choked on the drink. "They are both dead," my tone was flat. "Oh my," she gasped. "I am so sorry..what can I do to help?" "You've already done more than enough by giving me this food. Lesa amipaale (God bless you)." "Pardon?" My smile came naturally. "I said God bless you...only I said it in my mother tongue Bemba." "Asante(thank you)... God bless you too, child." The woman told me some cheerful stories such that I was saddened many many hours later when she dropped off in Dar-Es-Salaam but not without giving me some food first. "Take care, mtoto. May the Lord cast his blessed hand upon you." "Amen." Tears stung as the bus left for Mbala. God, life is tough. I'd gotten used to that woman on the few days that we'd spent on the bus and now she was gone..just like my parents. To cut a long journey short, I arrived in Lusaka after five days...that is from Kampala to Lusaka. It was close to midnight when we arrived. Everybody got off the bus but me. I was rigid in my seat while holding on tight to my bag when the conductor came to talk to me. "We've arrived so am afraid you'll have to get off the bus." I looked at him with pleading eyes. "Can't I spend the night here? I only have a vague idea of my destination and the way it's really late am afraid I won't make it. And the money I have won't be enough for me to book a taxi." "That ain't my problem, boy! You can sleep at the station for all I care but just get out!" His harsh tone forced me to my feet. I was dead tired and sleepy but I got off the bus and started roaming the streets of Lusaka. I was clutching tight to my bag while looking over my shoulder when I felt a painful smack in my face and then a tackle swept me off my feet. I tasted dirt as I hit the ground and before I knew it, my travelling bag was snatched from me. I watched the tall figure run off with my bag in his possession. Well he was just wasting his time as there was nothing valuable in the bag cause even the little cash I had was stashed in one of the pockets of my cargo shorts. I couldn't call out to him and tell him there was nothing to benefit him in that bag lest he gets frustrated and kill me so I stood and ran off without an ounce of a clue as to where I was running to. As I ran, I almost ran into two kids my age who were running in the opposite direction. "Where are you running to?" asked the male kid. "Run back to where you are coming from, boy!" The female one was breathless as she said, "You better listen to him!" And so I joined them without even knowing where we were running to or what or who we were running from. I heard the siren minutes later as a police car cruised towards the direction we were headed. Then it pulled up with a loud screech and three policemen disembarked...everything else after that happened so fast. The policemen were chasing us and the next thing I knew, the three of us were caught. "You little rascals," snarled policeman 1 who looked the most fierce of them all. "You thought we'd never catch you, huh?" "I-" I tried to speak but was forced to keep quiet when policeman 2 slapped me hard across the face. This one seemed to be annoyed at the universe for some reason cause his face was a scowl. The two kids and I were brutally shoved into the police vehicle and driven to the police station where we were thrown into a cell. Policeman 1 stood by the cell as he smirked and lit a cigarette. "Stealing money from people and committing all sorts of petty crimes all in the name of being street kids, huh? Disgusting!" he spat at my feet. "Well, by the time we are through with you, you'll be afraid of even picking money you find tossed on the ground in the streets!" Okay there was a mix up here so I fought my phobia and spoke. "Sir, you've got it all wrong..I don't- don't even know these kids..I just ran across them while running away from someone who stole my bag. Am not a street kid, sir." "Nice try, boy! Am too old to buy such cheap tricks so try that with someone else!" "He's telling the truth," said the female kid. "Zelipa!" the boy scolded. "Don't involve yourself!" "No, George, we can let him pay for our sins!" George? Why did the boy have to bear my Dad's name? The policeman rolled his eyes and repeated, "Nice try." with that, he walked away. The following morning, a policewoman passed by our cells and with the aid of George and Zelipa, I explained my predicament to her and much to my surprise, she believed us. "Am releasing you on only one condition though," she calmly said. "I'll have to take you to your aunt's place and she has to confirm first that she knows you." "No problem," I told her while wondering if I'd remember the place. I did remember the place after making her drive in circles for a while and once at aunt's, the woman hooted. Aunt Juliet herself came to see who was at the gate. The policewoman and I got out of the car and aunt froze for a while after seeing me but she gained composure sooner than expected. "Hi..are you Mrs. Juliet Musongo?" "Um, yes." she crossed her arms and gave us a bad eye. The policewoman cleared her throat. "Do you know this boy?" Aunt eyed me from head to toe before shaking her head. "Am afraid not...In fact, I've never set eyes on him in my entire life! Who is he and what business does he have here anyway?"

O m g how cn a human being be this less considerate the Lord ur strength

This your aunt is an animal

Hey, come, yes you , go get me pawpaw in that store.

So sad 4 lubesha, their lovely family was torned by his foolish father. His survival is another journey without a direction nor location.

Janeth shouldn't have listened to the voice of deceit after the not intentional murder and then suicide. Even thought that pain-hearted julieth can be trusted. Another journey 4 lubesha.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . .  . Chapter 4. Of course Juliet knew Lubesha too well. Now who in their right mind would forget their nephew after not seeing him for a few years only? She knew that was her nephew standing beside that policewoman just as she knew he was a double orphan now. The news of his parents' death, her sister's death, had been all over the news. But what did she care? Nature was finally doing her a huge favour and seeing Lubesha just infuriated her deep within cause here she was thinking she was finally rid of that plague called Janet and now her stupid son shows up at her(Juliet's) doorstep? May lightning strike me dead if am going to acknowledge this stray dog as my nephew, she thought. God knows how he even managed to travel this far alone! The policewoman looked from Lubesha to Juliet and asked, "You sure you don't know him?" "What part of I don't know this boy don't you understand, madam?" "But how does he know your name, Mrs. Musongo?" "How am I to know?" said Juliet with a shrug. "He might be a crazy stalker for all we know." "Really? He's only 13!" "I don't care...You know what, I think you've overstayed your welcome. Kindly leave cause I was doing something before you two popped up here." Where he stood, Lubesha couldn't believe a human being with a heart in them could be as heartless as to deny knowing their only nephew. Who does that, like seriously? Anyway, that's Juliet for you. "Aunty, it's me. It's Lubesha, your young sister's son! Mum is dead, aunt. Your sister is dead back in Kampala!" "Whoever sent you," warned Juliet while pointing an accusing finger at Lubesha. "Tell them you didn't find me! And for the record, I don't have any sister!" she faced the policewoman. "Why don't you take this boy back to whichever hole you dug him from ai?" "You heard the woman, Lubesha. She says she doesn't know you and remember you and I have an agreement, right? With this sad development at hand, am afraid I'll have to take you back to the cells." "No.." his voice was a whisper. "Auntie Juliet, please. If my mother had wronged you in any way, I apologise on her behalf but please just take me in cause I have nowhere else to go." Juliet faced the other way and the policewoman felt it, Lubesha was telling the truth. If people were to get awards for being wicked, she thought, this bitch right here would scoop the biggest prize. With a heavy heart and fighting the tears that threatened to escape her eyes, she held Lubesha by the hand and opened the door for him. The boy kept on pleading with his aunt but of course his pleas fell on deaf ears. As she opened her own door, the policewoman opened her mouth to say something hurtful to Juliet but she decided this wasn't her fight so she closed her mouth. "What's going on here?" Juliet cussed when she saw her husband Donald pack right behind the police vehicle and ask what was going on while sticking his head out the window. "Uncle!" shouted Lubesha who leaped out of the car and rushed to his uncle's car. Donald opened the door and hugged Lubesha like he were his long lost son. "How did you get here, son? I've been dead worried about you!" "It's a long story, uncle. I'll tell you everything later. Meanwhile," he pointed a polite finger at the policewoman. "She needs confirmation to say am related to you and that I am no street kid nor thief." "God forbid! I'd have to be dead for you to become any of those awful things." Donald stood while holding on to Lubesha's hand and said, "He's my nephew." This earned him one of the ugliest glares from Juliet who angrily stomped her feet before dashing into the house. "I apologise for my wife's unruly behaviour." "It's fine." Donald went with the policewoman to the police station where he signed some papers and then he later went home with Lubesha. "Over my dead body is that stray dog staying in my house, Donald!" yelled Juliet later in the evening. She and her husband were having a heated argument over Lubesha staying with them. "Are you even listening to yourself, Juliet?" Donald patiently asked her while walking up to her in front of the mirror where she stood applying some anti-acne ointment on her face. "This is your sister's son we are talking about! We shouldn't even be having this conversation for Christ's sake." "I still don't want him here, period!" "Imagine it was either of our children going through this. How would you feel if you died and people treat our Amos and Alice as you're treating Lubesha?" She laughed, all in a bid to mock him. "First of all, dead people have got no feelings and secondly, we'll all die one day. Janet killed herself to worsen matters so why should I carry the burden of raising her child?" "If I knew you were this heartless," Donald sternly said and gripped Juliet's shoulder. "I wouldn't have married you! That aside, this is my house and being the head of the family, I say Lubesha is gonna stay here henceforth." "Suit yourself, Mr. Head of the family." Donald Musongo worked as a surgeon at UTH so he earned enough money to sustain his family and afford the four bedroomed house they lived in. One bedroom belonged to his wife and him, while the other to their 12 year old daughter Alice, the other to their 14 year old son Amos and the other was a guestroom intended for guests only. Seeing as he didn't consider Lubesha a guest, Donald led him to Amos' spacious room. "This is where you'll be sleeping, my dear." "Thanks." "You're welcome." Since he had already had dinner, Lubesha decided to drop himself on the bed and take his much needed nap only for Amos to come roll him off the bed. Lubesha hit the ground with a dull thud and was instantly awake. "What do you think you're doing? Sleeping in my bed, ha! I don't share my bed with no one so I don't give a damn whether you're aunt Janet's son or Dad took pity on you because that's what he does best...all I know is you shouldn't be sleeping in my bed! Be warned. Who knows maybe you even brought lice with you or bed bugs or something?" Lubesha said no word and just listened to his cousin degrade him. Amos got under the sheets after turning off the lights. Lubesha lay on the carpet beside the bed and recalled that once upon a time he too had owned his own bed. Not that he was bragging but his room was even much better than this one. On the cold floor, the boy missed both his parents and the life they'd once had...The tears came next. The poor orphan literally silently cried himself to sleep. In the morning, Lubesha was in the bathroom brushing his teeth when someone screamed behind him, in a bid to scare him. A startled Lubesha dropped his new toothbrush and this was funny to Alice who laughed so hard. "Gosh, you're such a coward, Lubesha! Anyway," she leaned against the doorframe. "Just came to inform you Dad said you should hurry up as we are going out." "Where to?" Alice shrugged. "I don't know." As Donald had learnt the previous day, Lubesha had no clothes and since he (Donald) was only going for work in the afternoon, he decided to take the kids out and buy them a couple of clothes. He asked Juliet to come with but she gave him an eye roll and told him she'd rather stay home than mingle with her enemy's son. Donald shook his head and beckoned to the kids, it was time to leave. In town, Donald bought clothes for all three of them but Lubesha got more clothes as he had less. Inside, Amos was dying with jealousy. It annoyed him to see his father spending so much on some stranger cause that's practically what Lubesha was to them. A stranger. At home, Amos waited for his father to leave for work and then decided it was the best time to bully Lubesha. "Bring your clothes here, " Amos ordered Lubesha who was seated on the floor doing nothing in particular. "Why do you want to see them? They are mine." "The nerve you have to answer me back..and who says I want to see them? My father bought those clothes with his money you punk so bring them clothes here!" Aunt Juliet was home and not wanting any drama, Lubesha quietly walked to the closet and took out the clothes. "There you go, Amos." Amos bent down and picked clothes that he liked most and it so happened that Lubesha liked those clothes most too but had no say in this. When Amos was done, only a few clothes were left. "There," He threw in most of his worn out clothes. "Those are the clothes that suit you best. You're an orphan so it's high time you started dressing and acting like one! Orphans wear rags, you hear me?" he packed the clothes in his closet and added. "Don't even think about snitching to Dad when he comes back cause I'll get even with you by snitching to mum and you know how much she loathes you." Amos kicked the pile of clothes as he walked out of the room. Lubesha looked up at the ceiling and wondered if being an orphan is a sin.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . .  . Chapter 5. She paced her bedroom back and forth wondering how next she was going to mistreat her nephew. If there was one thing Juliet hated about her husband, it was his authoritative nature. Gosh, she really wished she could somehow have him wrapped around her finger and make him dance to her tune but Donald was too good a husband so his love towards her made up for his bossy attitude which got on her very last nerve. It had been over two weeks since Lubesha had turned up at her doorstep and from the look of things, her family was stuck with him. Mistreating him was the best solution according to Juliet. Maybe one day he'd grow tired of being treated like a doormat and would just run away from her house and go become a street kid. Oh how much she awaited that day. But for now, she had work to do. Juliet yelled her maid's name and the scared maid rushed to the bedroom. "You called me, ma'am?" "No..it's your dead grandmother calling you from the grave cause she wants you to go keep her company by joining her. Apparently, you've overstayed your welcome on mother earth," she sarcastically snapped. "Of course I called you!" The maid just stood in the doorway with her head bowed, she was accustomed to her boss' unreasonable outbursts. Juliet said, "Am putting you on paid leave." The young lady couldn't believe her ears. Paid leave? "Really? Wow, thanks." "Let's just say today's your lucky day my dear so you can freshen up and knock off." "Thank you very much, madam." She was almost leaving but stopped to ask, "How long will I be on leave for?" Juliet smirked.."Only time will tell. My regards to your family." I'd have to be insane to pass regards from a mean woman like you..and loudly she said, "I'll surely pass them on." A few minutes after the maid left, Juliet yelled Lubesha's name. A breathless Lubesha stood before her within a minute and she eyed him like he was a piece of garbage. "Kneel down, idiot." And kneel he did. "Lubesha or whatever your name is, I've got good news for you. Henceforth, you'll be my maid. Ever heard of a male maid? No? Well, there's always a first time for everything. So right now, collect Amos' and Alice's dirty clothes and go wash." Lubesha knew better than to argue. "Yes, ma'am." "Good..now get out of my sight!" Janet had made sure Lubesha was washing his own clothes as soon as he turned 11 so the boy gratefully knew how to wash but as he sat outside looking at the pile of dirty clothes, he wished his mother had killed him too. Amos' clothes were beyond dirty! One would think he rolled in the mud or something. But aunt Juliet had ordered him to wash the clothes and when she says do something, Lubesha better do it if he didn't want no beating nor getting shouted at. The boy put water in a black basin, sprinkled enough washing powder and soaked all the bright coloured clothes, Amos' and Alice's mixed. He set to work. By the time Amos and Alice knocked off from school, Lubesha had been washing for over three hours while Juliet was inside the house taking a nap. Alice and Amos walked straight where Lubesha was seated by the tap washing. "Why are you washing our clothes?" asked a baffled Alice. "Aunt asked me to," replied Lubesha without looking at either of them. "What happened to the maid?" Alice pressed. "She's been given a leave, Alice." Alice who felt for her cousin said, "I know how to wash my clothes, Lubesha. And it is just wrong for a boy to be washing a girl's clothes so let me just go in and change and then I'll come wash the rest of my dirty clothes." "Didn't you hear what he said?" asked Amos hurriedly. "It's mum who said he washes them and you here saying you want to come help him? oh please...what, you have a crush on him now?" "Amos, am not in the mood. Please." "Whatever," Amos walked over to the big basin containing the clothes that Lubesha was planning on rinsing. He bent the basin so that all the water and clothes spilt to the ground. "What are you doing?!" Lubesha was on his feet but it was too late. Amos was stepping on the clean clothes and all of Lubesha's hard work went down the drain. "Oops..I guess you'll have to wash them again!" shrieking with laugher, the spoilt brat walked into the house. "Am so sorry," apologized Alice who too walked into the house. Shaking his head, Lubesha grabbed the dirty wet clothes and begun washing them again. By the time he was done, he had blisters on his hands. They did look like blisters. Do people get blisters by washing? he wondered. For the next couple of days, Lubesha did most of the house chores but not without Juliet breathing down his neck telling him this and that wasn't done properly and that he had to re-do them. The only chore Juliet did was cook as she liked her food nicely made so she couldn't risk that boy cooking rubbish for her. That particular day as she cooked while Lubesha was tending to the lawn, Juliet wondered what she had to do in order to make him run away from home cause treating him like a maid wasn't helping, it seemed. The boy was too tolerant and patient for her liking. He was even more tolerant than her dead sister had ever been. "Let's see if he'll stay if and when I stop giving him food," she said to herself and smiled. Why hadn't she thought of this earlier? So she served lunch for her children and herself and while they were eating, Alice enquired. "Isn't Lubesha eating lunch today?" Juliet shot her daughter a deadly eye dagger. "Do you want me to smack your stupid face, Alice?" "No." "Then just eat in silence!" Amos stifled a giggle where he was seated. Two days later, Donald was home and Juliet did all the chores that day. Pretending she always did the chores ever since the maid went to the village to tend to her terribly sick mother, as she had told Donald who had believed her. After lunch, Juliet stepped out to visit a friend and so did Amos. That left only Donald, Lubesha and Alice at home. Lubesha was seated in the room that he shared with Amos and was secretly going through Amos' school work, self teaching himself. He missed school so much but he didn't know how to break it down to his uncle..maybe it was because of how much he feared his aunt. Alice who was seated in the living room watching T.V with her father said, "There's something I've been meaning to tell you, Dad." "Am all ears, baby girl." She breathed in and out before joining her father on the couch he was seated on. "It's mum," she said in a hushed tone. "I don't like the way she treats Lubesha when you're not around." Donald's attention was instantly grabbed so he turned down the volume on the T.V. "What do you mean?" Alice narrated everything to him and when she was done, she pleaded with him not to tell her mother what she had just said. "Am an adult, baby.." he kissed her forehead. "Thank you for sharing this with me." "I just feel bad for Lubesha cause I can't imagine being in his shoes...it must be painful." she hugged her father. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost either mum or you." Donald softly raked his fingers through his daughter's hair as he wondered how best he was going to manly tackle the problem at hand. When they retired to bed and had switched off the lights, Donald said to Juliet, "I saw how much you worked today, honey. You must be tired." "I'm a woman, Donald. I did what females are supposed to do...clean, cook, take care of their husband and children etc." "I know, baby. I was just thinking maybe we should get a new maid seeing as Mirriam is taking forever back in the village." "No- I mean, I like Mirriam and you know how difficult it is for me to like someone. Besides, maids aren't supposed to be changed like underwear...you know those people can have nasty traits and I don't wanna end up with a maid who'll be crushing cockroaches in my food if I happen to scold her." "You have a point..." and then a few minutes later, "I'm planning on enrolling Lubesha in school." "What?!" "Come on, sweetheart, the boy is young and he's gotta go to school." She was tired and knew arguing with him was futile so she said, "As if I have a say in all of this. Good night, Donald. And don't touch me cause am on my period." He knew she wasn't attending and was just acting up because she was upset. Once it was only she and Lubesha at home the following day, Juliet summoned him to her room. He knelt before her with his head bowed, hands behind him. "Yes, ma'am?" "What did you tell your uncle yesterday?" "Nothing, ma'am." "You bloody liar!" she smacked him hard across the face. Juliet wasn't dull. She had connected the dots. Donald can't just talk about hiring a new maid and sending Lubesha to school out of the blues which meant someone had snitched and it just had to be Lubesha. "You ungrateful boy! You're staying under my roof and eating my food and you have the audacity to go behind my back and bad mouth me to my own husband? I'll teach you a lesson you'll live to remember!" she grabbed a hang wire and flogged Lubesha. "I didn't do it, aunt," cried the boy. "I swear on my parents' graves am innocent." Juliet wasn't even listening to what he was saying as she flogged the living daylights out of the boy. When she was done, his body was sore. Lubesha walked to the bedroom while crying..neither of his parents had laid a finger on him while they'd been alive. The boy spent the rest of that day wondering what worth was living when all he did was suffer each and everyday. What wrong had he done for him to be suffering like he was doing? But he felt a glimpse of hope when his uncle told him later that evening that he'd be starting school soon. I'll work hard and better myself, Lubesha vowed to himself.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 6. Lubesha was anxious as he got dressed for his first day at the school Alice and Amos went to. As expected, Juliet and Donald had had an argument concerning which school Lubesha would go to a couple of days prior to this day. "You've decided to take him to school, Donald, that's fine by me but does he really have to go to the same school as our kids?" asked Juliet who was busy tending to her pimples as she often did even though they seemed to be what people call, 'I've come to stay.' Donald who was doing something on his laptop had replied, "Am guessing you want him to go to a government school, right?" "Exactly! That's the school that befits him best." "Why? Because he's an orphan and thus less human than our children?" "I didn't say that so stop putting words in my mouth, Donald. Look at it this way, you pay K3,800 per term for Alice and K4,500 for Amos and now you wanna include another K4,500? That's financial suicide, honey." "Look who's talking," Donald couldn't refrain himself from chuckling. "If my memory serves me right, which I know it thankfully does, am the one who pays the fees so I don't get why you have to be on the complaining end." The truth hurts and it did sting Juliet but she didn't let her face show how hurt she was. "Mwalikwata icikuuku calubembu, Bashi Amos(You've got sinful compassion, Amos' Father). Anyway, it's your money after all," she raised her arms in surrender and continued applying some herbal remedy on her acne infested cheeks. Where he sat, Donald knew he had been too harsh and was sincerely apologetic but Juliet could push even the calmest of people towards the wall and they'd have to retaliate lest she treats them like garbage. And so a week later, everything was set for Lubesha to start school. He was fully dressed when he heard a knock at the door. "Come in." Donald stuck his head in, "Do you have a minute?" "Um, I guess so." Donald slowly closed the door behind him and crouched before Lubesha so that they were face to face. "Hey champ, I know am not supposed to be telling you this but I want you to stand up for yourself somehow..especially towards Amos now that you'll be at the same school. I've noticed he bullies you." "No he doesn't," said Lubesha defensively. Donald shook his head. "Am not blind. Remember those clothes I bought you when you just came here? You don't wear them and yet I see Amos wearing them..you don't need to tell me how he acquired those clothes cause I already know. Now," he adjusted Lubesha's collar. "Just try to man up somehow..in the right way." "I'll try, uncle." The two embraced and the connection they had for each other felt inseparable. Lubesha proudly thought, the world would be a better place if we had more people like Uncle Donald in it. The first day at school wasn't bad. Even though term 1 was almost coming to an end, Lubesha found all the eighth grade work as simple as gulping down water on a hot October afternoon. He didn't make friends on the first day though but did find a friend before the end of his first week at school. Carlos was whom Lubesha saw friendship material in. The boy was intelligent, shy and a loner. Him and Lubesha instantly clicked. A few weeks after starting school, Lubesha adjusted and was enjoying himself, partly. Juliet saw to it that whenever he was home and Donald wasn't, she mistreated him in every possible way she could imagine. Like one fateful day, she asked him to iron a silk top for her as she was about to go attend some women's savings group meeting. "You better hurry up," she emphasized. Lubesha nodded and went to the laundry room where he placed the top on the ironing board, plugged the pressing iron into the socket and adjusted the iron to silk. And he begun ironing. "Lubesha!" With a jolt, he called back. "Maa!" the iron lady was calling him so he placed the pressing iron aside and rushed to hear why aunt Juliet was calling him. "Here," she handed him a black short skirt while clutching on to her towel at her breasts. "Iron this too, fast." When he went back to the laundry room and began pressing the top again, Lubesha was welcomed by the smell of something burning. He felt his bladder get full to the brim when he realised he'd burnt the top. He checked the iron and noticed it had been set to maximum. He was dead sure he'd left it on Silk so someone must have tampered with it. But who could that someone be and would aunt Juliet buy his story? "Lord help me," he mumbled as he grabbed the burnt top and headed to his aunt's bedroom to go confess his sins. Meanwhile in the living room, Amos showed up with a huge grin on his face. "Nanga you why are you grinning like an idiot?" asked Alice who was answering her homework at the dining table where she was seated. Amos grabbed the remote control and turned the television on. He later tuned in to Trace and turned the volume up. "Why am grinning is nothing of your business, little sis." "Whatever but please kindly reduce the volume cause am doing something important here!" Alice was in the seventh grade and was very serious about school even though she wasn't the brightest pupil in class, she wasn't the dumbest either. Amos was in the nineth grade and was always on the top 5 list of the poorest performers in his class but he didn't care anyway. Alice was angry as she grabbed her books from the table. "Jerk!" she uttered as she passed by her brother. Amos cared less what she said but he reduced the volume only because he wanted to hear his mother yelling at his cousin. "Am a genius," he told himself as he recalled how he'd gone into the laundry room to sabotage the iron in Lubesha's absence. Why he hated his cousin so much, Amos didn't know and didn't care. The mere sight of Lubesha just made him want to commit murder. The Bembas say, 'Amenshi yakonka umufolo..' which means 'Water runs along the drainage..' Or lets just say 'The apple doesn't fall from the tree.' Amos was his mother's son after all. "You idiot!" Juliet smacked Lubesha across the face even before he could open his mouth to explain. "Do you know how much this top cost me? For your information, this top is worth more than yours and your stupid mother's lives combined!" "I'm so sorry," apologized Lubesha who was literally shaking. "Sorry for yourself! Go dig up your dead mother and go apologize to her you dog! Will sorry fix my top, huh? Will it?!" Lubesha bowed his head and opted to remain silent. Juliet who was so angry said so many hurtful words towards Lubesha before finally yelling he gets out of her room. Alice who was in her room ruefully shook her head, "Not again." Since she so wanted to wear that silk top and now it was burnt beyond repair, Juliet opted to skip the meeting and just stay home. To blow off some steam, she went to the kitchen to cook and when she opened the warmer compartment, an awful smell hit her nostrils. "Shit," she cussed. "My beans!" She'd left a pot of beans in the compartment the previous night and now it had gone bad. No matter, she thought. This will be Lubesha's lunch and him eating this stale food will act as punishment for the burnt top. "Alice!" "Maa!" A breathless Alice appeared before her mother. "You called me?" "Yes..I want you to bring me the dog's plate." "Okay." When Alice brought the plate, Juliet poured all the stale beans on it. "But I thought dogs don't eat beans, mum. Something about their fur falling off...or is it just a myth?" If there was an award for giving people bad glares, Juliet would win first prize. "I know what am doing, girl!" Juliet served chicken, rice, salads and a jug of juice on the table and later placed the plate of stale beans at her feet. Alice and Amos took their seats while wondering what was going on. Since Lubesha was in his room studying as he did whenever he had free time, Juliet yelled his name and he was in her presence shortly. "You want me to forgive you for burning my top,right?" "Yes." "Good...then come sit at my feet and eat this stale beans. Make sure you wipe the plate clean." "Mother!" exclaimed Alice. "Don't you think you're going overboard here?" That earned her the slap of her life from her mother. "The next time you talk to me in that tone, I'll make sure I pluck your tongue out!" As tears streamed down her face, Alice said, "God will punish you!" she rose from her seat while holding on to the cheek her mouth had just slapped and rushed to lock herself up in her room and cry. Amos was enjoying the show. "You heard mum, punk. Does she have to repeat herself?" "No.." Lubesha shook his head and took baby steps towards the plate. He sat on the floor and started eating after washing his hands. The beans was so stale that as he ate, his stomach rumbled in protest and bile rose up his throat but he ate until the plate was clean. "Done," he muttered. "Good," replied Juliet begrudgingly. "The next time you decide to play enemy of progress, I'll make sure you join your dead parents in their graves. Get out of my sight!" Lubesha picked the plate and took it outside..he knew the plate belonged to the dog. At that moment, he wondered if God exists or if there's such a thing as light at the end of the tunnel as their English teacher had mentioned when they were discussing idioms and their meanings back at school just few days ago...

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . .  . Chapter 7. As the term drew to a close, Lubesha and Alice studied hard for their end of term tests while all Amos did was play soccer with his friends. The trio finally sat for their tests and when the results were given to them on closing day, Amos came out second last in his class while Alice came out fifth and last but not the least, Lubesha came out first! Donald was impressed with both Alice and Lubesha just as much as he was disappointed in Amos. They were in the car headed home when Donald said, "Alice and Lubesha, I'm super impressed by your phenomenal performances so I'll get you presents." "Really?" asked Alice excitedly. "Yes..really. Just mention anything you'd like." She sheepishly said, "There's this birthday party am invited to next month, I'd like you to buy me a pretty dress." Donald smiled, girls and women at large never ceased to amaze him with their needs and wants. "Consider that dress already in your closet." "Thanks..you the best Dad ever!" "Oh please," groaned Amos who was sulking because he so wanted a gift which he knew his Dad wasn't going to buy for him. When Donald noticed Lubesha was quiet, he said, "What shall I get you, Lubesha?" "Nothing...you've done so much for me already so I don't want anything." "You sure?" The boy smiled in assurance. "Yes." I'm still going to get you something, Donald decided. Silence. Amos decided to utilize the silence and try his luck. "Um..Dad?" "Yes?" "Am I not getting a present too?" "What for? To encourage your failure? Are you even listening to yourself, Amos?" Donald was infuriated but tried his best to keep calm as he was driving. "The only gift you are getting is being grounded..and I mean it." "But Daddy-" "Don't you daddy me, boy! The problem is your mother spoils you a lot!" And so it happened that Amos was grounded the whole holiday. The trio had holiday tuitions and Lubesha treasured every minute he spent away from Juliet just as much as he dreaded and hated every minute he spent in her presence. Her hatred towards him never seemed to be going away any time soon. She continued mistreating him while he continued to accept that was his fate. Donald did buy Alice the dress she so wanted and for Lubesha he bought a camera. He'd asked Alice to ask Lubesha what his aspiration in life was. "Just don't let him know I sent you, baby girl." he had emphasized. "Noted," Alice had nodded. She later knocked on Lubesha and Amos' bedroom door and Lubesha who was inside studying told her to go in. "Is studying the only thing you know how to do?" "No..I can play male maid quite perfectly too." The solemn expression on his cousin's face forced him to hurriedly apologize. "Am sorry..that came out wrong." "It's fine..can I sit beside you?" "Sure," Lubesha moved aside and left some space for Alice on the small carpet where he slept and studied from as Amos wanted him far away from his (Amos') bed. "What's up?" "Nothing much, really. You've been here for three months now and I just wanna get to know you better, Lubesha. For starters, what would you like to become when you grow up?" He really hadn't thought about that not until Alice mentioned so he said, "I honestly don't know but I think journalism would do...more like a reporter. Like my dad was." "I see...that's an interesting ambition, cousin. Myself, I would like to one day become a model. Yeah, wish me some luck," she lowly said. "Just have faith, Alice. And work hard." "You too." They hugged. That's how Donald decided to buy him a camera. "A camera, uncle? What will I be using it for?" "Business," Donald joked as he handed the camera to Lubesha who loved the gift but wondered what he was going to use the camera for. "Business? I don't wanna become a camera man!" Donald laughed. "Come on..not only camera men use cameras. You'll figure something out anyway." Schools opened and and few weeks into the term, Lubesha's class was given an assignment by their English teacher Mrs. Sikwati. "So for this composition assignment," she said to the class. "I need you all to either write a story based on the following titles.." she wrote the titles on the board. "Or a report." And Lubesha picked a report. During break time, as Lubesha and his friend Carlos were heading out of the class to go grab something to eat from the tack shop, two girls began exchanging bitter words over someone spilling juice on the other's book and a fight later broke out. Lubesha quietly took his camera out of his bag and took pics of the two girls pulling each other's hair while several people attempted to separate them. "What are you doing?" Carlos asked Lubesha as they sat at the playgrounds during lunch later that day. "Am writing a report on Cleopatra and Nancy's fight...people gave false accounts to our class teacher, Carlos. They were all in favour of that Cleopatra because everybody likes her which is unfair to Nancy..I'll vindicate her." "By writing an account of what happened? Wow..you never cease to amaze me, bro." Lubesha smiled, took out a notepad and pen from his bag and started writing the report. Two days later, the report was complete with pictures of the fight attached to it. Lubesha followed Mrs. Sikwati to the staff room to go give her his assignment. "I'm sorry I took long to complete it," he said while handing the report to her. "I hope the delay was worth it though, Pondamali my boy." "I hope so too, madam." Since she had books to mark, Mrs. Sikwati tossed the report aside and continued marking books. She only came to read the report when she had free time an hour later and to say she was marvelled by the clear account Lubesha had depicted through words is an understatement. She knew then that Lubesha had a bright career and future ahead of him, God willingly. Only a month was left for the second term to come to an end and Carlos and Lubesha were seated in the playgrounds working on their math homework when Amos turned up, his two friends rallying behind him. "If it isn't our dog," Amos smirked, looking down at his cousin. His two friends laughed. "What do you want?" asked Lubesha politely. Amos had a tendency of mocking his cousin at school and everywhere else but Lubesha was good at enduring all that Amos threw at him but he was in a bad mood today because he hadn't done well in the previous math test. "Don't you use that tone with me, stupid. Do you have your camera right now?" "Yeah..why?" "I want you to take pics of my friends and I." "Okay, let me just finish what am doing." "Did you hear that? I, Amos Musongo, should wait for the mighty Lubesha Pondamali to finish whatever the hell he's doing?" Amos sarcastically said to his friends, "Like seriously?" With rage, he grabbed both Carlos' and Lubesha's books and ripped them to shreds. "When I say something, you better do it right there and then!" Carlos and Lubesha sprung to their feet. Carlos quietly said, "It's so childish of you to reap our books, Amos or whatever your name is." "I know right?" Lubesha agreed. "But what can we expect from a spoilt mama's boy? Anyway, let's go." They were about to go when Amos rudely shoved them back. "This ain't home, Amos. Besides, the camera is mine so I have every right to refuse to take pics of spoilt brats like yourselves." Lubesha didn't intend to say all that but he was angry and his anger got the better of him. "Did you just say the camera is yours?" laughed Amos with mockery. "My God, you're a joke! My father bought that camera so you have no claim over it! You wanna claim something as yours, I suggest you go dig your mama and papa up and ask them to buy it for you! Guys," he faced his friends. "Let's go." Ok he had had it! "Amos," called Lubesha, more dangerously than quitely. "What?" Amos rudely replied and as he turned, he was welcomed by a harsh punch, then another and another. As Amos fell to the ground, Lubesha pounced upon him and sat atop him. Punching every part of Amos' face he could get his hands on. "That's for dragging my Late parents into this!" Half an hour later, Amos who had a black eye and Lubesha who had a split lip were kneeling before the head teacher in his office while Carlos and both of Amos' friends sat on the same couch awaiting Donald and Juliet who had been summoned to the school. "My baby!" exclaimed Juliet as soon as she was inside the office. She rushed to hug Amos. "God, what did this little devil do to you?" "He started the fight," chorused Carlos. "He sure deserved getting his ass beat." "You'll be punished for using vulgar language in my office, Carlos." said the head teacher placidly and then. "Kindly take a seat, Mr. and Mrs. Musongo." "Thank you." The couple sat and all five boys were asked by the head teacher to one by one give an account of what had caused the fight. "Not that am in favour of anyone, Mr. and Mrs. Musongo, but I think Amos was wrong when-" "Hey!" snapped Juliet as she held up a dismissive hand. "It doesn't matter who was wrong here..what matters is this little devil almost killed my son! Have you seen how brutally rearranged his face looks?" "Your son who happens to be older than the so called little devil," uttered Donald sarcastically. "Whose side are you on?" Juliet asked him with a glare. He shrugged. "No one's." Juliet was about to retort but for the head teacher clearing his throat. "You all know fighting is not condoned at this school but seeing as am in a good mood today, I'll just suspend the two boys for two weeks. They'lL only come back to sit for the exams. And I believe two weeks is time enough for them to resolve their differences seeing as they live under the same roof." "That's not fair! Only Lubesha was supposed to get suspended..expelled even! My son has been at this school for 9 years and this is the first time such an ugly thing is happening. Can't you read between the lines, mister head master?" "Honey.." Donald pinched her. "Calm down." "You know am supposed to expel both of them for fighting, right? Anyway, the Apple doesn't fall far from the tree so all I ask is you people kindly evacuate my office cause I've got other work to attend to." Donald apologetically said, "Am sorry for the trouble my kids have caused you, Sir. I'll make sure some sense is pumped into them. I'll talk to both of them." "You better do." "I can't believe this," Juliet stood. Donald's calm was getting on her last nerve so she grabbed Amos by the arm and almost spat at Lubesha's face but withdrew. "You'll find me at home, Lubesha." Her tone alone told him he was in hot soup. Hand in hand, Juliet and Amos rudely exit the office. Donald looked at Lubesha's terrified face and deeply felt for the boy. What could he do to help him? Maybe it was high time he put his workmate's advice into consideration and took Lubesha to a boarding school.

Exactly what i was thinking; and Mr. Donald, that is the best solution

@itzprince where have u been?

Wow! Thz is gettx out of hand....boarding schul is reali the solution

@ryder I have been around, just that I decided to stop posting because of poor comments

Bro please can you just dont mind the comments... the stories you post are just too interesting, i bet they have many ghost readers

nice story bro,keep the fire burning.

in ur case money is bad George

oh my this ur Aunt is kill joy , God we protect u

Donald u are such a good man may God bless you an punish ur wife an son for thy wicked act

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 8. A MONTH EARLIER... Donald led the way through the driveway while his new workmate slash friend followed suit, they parked their cars side by side. They got out and as Donald ushered David into the house, he was saying, "This is my humble home, man." "I like it..Nice place you have here, Donald." "Thanks." Donald ushered David to the living room and offered him a seat. "Make yourself at home while I change." and then he called, "Sweetheart!" "Babe!" called Juliet from the bedroom. "We've got a visitor!" called Donald in response. And then to David, he said, "Let me just freshen up while my wife serves you something to eat." "I ain't hungry..a drink will do." "Alright, man. A drink it is then." As he went to the bedroom, he bumped into Juliet. "Who's the visitor?" "A workmate slash friend of mine. Be nice, Juliet." "I'll try." Juliet had a tendency of being rude to most of her husband's friends as she thought most of them had a negative impact on him. She'd been right on the previous one who had turned out to be a wife battering maniac..Anyway, she promised not to be prejudicial this time around. When she saw David seated on the couch with the remote control in his hands, flipping through channels, Juliet swallowed and silently swore at herself for wearing a chitenge and old top. She wished the floor could just open up and swallow her. The man was damn hot! Donald wasn't bad looking but she wasn't blind either. This 'friend' of his was totally eye candy. She froze and fantasized doing crazy stuff with him in bed. She was lost in her daydream that she didn't notice David staring at her not until he spoke. "Are you okay?" "No..um, yes!" she sheepishly pressed and went closer to extend her hand in greeting. "Hi." "Hi." "Am Donald's wife." "I figured," said David awkwardly. "My hand, please.." "Oh," she let go of his hand immediately, embarrassed. "What shall I get you?" "A drink will do, preferably pure joy." "On it." she scuffled off to the kitchen where she took a deep breath. No man had left her this week. Damn, what spell had that- and then she realised that she didn't even know his name. Whatever, she thought as she grabbed a clean glass from the cupboard. Donald freshened up and joined David and Juliet in the living room. "Honey, David and I are going out to watch soccer.. I'll be back before 10PM though." "Have fun." "Thanks for the hospitality," David said to Juliet as he rose to his feet. Her smile was flirty. "Anytime, David." David deciphered from the way she pronounced his name that she was flirting with him while Donald was too reluctant to notice the tension between his friend and wife as they shook hands. David thought, she ain't pretty but has a great body to make up for her looks...mmmmh, not bad. David and Donald drove to David's favourite bar and watched the match while sipping on some whiskey. Donald's team lost and he was so hurt and disappointed that he gulped down whiskey like crazy. "Yoh...take it easy, buddy. Remember you driving. You don't wanna get wasted, trust me." "I know my limit, David. Trust me." David arched his eyebrows. "Do you?" Out of the blues, images of Juliet mistreating Lubesha began flashing in his head and unable to carry the burden alone, Donald decided to share it with his friend. "David?" "Mmmm." "There's this post I saw on social media and it really got to me, you know. Apparently some lady mistreats her husband's 13 year old nephew and the husband has tried reasoning with her but she won't budge..they've got three kids together and he loves his wife so much but also loves the nephew a span too. He's literally stuck between a rock and a hard place. What would you do if you were in his shoes?" "That's a tough one.." David gulped down more whiskey. "But I think the less the wife and nephew see each other, the better. I'd probably take my nephew to boarding school...." And now seated in the head teacher's office, Donald knew there was sense in David's advice. Let me just wait for Lubesha to complete his eighth grade before I can take him to boarding school, he decided. After all only a term is left. "Let's go, Lubesha." With a heavy heart, Lubesha stood and followed his uncle to where the car was parked. He knew hell was awaiting him at home. Juliet waited for the following day when Donald wasn't around..to punish Lubesha. She summoned him to her bedroom and made him kneel down. And then she summoned Amos. "How would you like to get back at this stray dog for what he did to you yesterday, son?" Amos smirked. "I'd love it." "Don't worry, mama's got your back. Grab a belt of your choice and flog this idiot." Happy beyond words, Amos did grab the belt and flog Lubesha he did with immense pleasure. Lubesha was slowly getting accustomed to the pain of being smacked and whipped. Pain being inflicted on him was becoming a routine so today he didn't flinch nor shed a tear. He was rigid on his spot as he watched Amos flog him. He didn't think about the pain..he could feel it but knew it would go away soon. He wished for it to go away soon. Their suspension came to an end and Lubesha sat for his end of term 2 tests while Amos sat for his Grade 9 mock exams and Alice for her Grade 7 mock exams. When the results came out, Lubesha came out 3rd in his class and was immensely disappointed while Alice did exceptionally well and Amos terribly failed, as expected. "If you don't pull up your socks, Amos, am afraid you'll fail the final exam!" said Donald hotly once they were home. "Just take a good look at your sis and see how well she's doing..or better still, have you seen how good Lubesha's academic performance is?" "That's them, Dad. Am me." "Don't you dare talk back at me, boy!" "And don't you dare yell at him like that!" Juliet intervened. She patted Amos' shoulder. "Go to your room, you'll pass the exam." Amos stood but Donald snapped he sit back down. "You spoil this boy too much, Juliet. And as a man, I'll step up and discipline him..." so he gave Amos the longest of lectures and told him that henceforth, he had to study for at least 3 hours on a daily basis and no more playing video games nor going out to play soccer. By the time Donald was done reprimanding Amos, Juliet and him (Amos) were sulking. They angrily left the living room. Donald said to a sad Lubesha. "Don't be gloomy about your results, insansa kucinjanya (happiness ought to be exchanged). I know you'll do better in your next exam but am proud of you nonetheless so brighten up. And Alice, daddy's proud. You know what?" Donald beamed. "Get dressed..Am taking the both of you out for a movie." "Yay!" screamed an excited Alice who kissed her Dad's cheek. "I love you." "I love you too." Lubesha was genuinely happy so he said, "Thanks, uncle." The holiday was hell for Lubesha but he endured..endurance had become his norm after all. Term 3 commenced and they were only a few weeks into it when it happened... Lubesha was in class seated beside Carlos as they learnt Geography. Their Geography teacher was teaching them about the grid reference when there came a knock at the door. "Come in," called the teacher. Two men accompanied by three pupils, Amos amongst the pupils, walked into the classroom. The entire class abruptly rose. "Good morning, sirs." "Good morning, class. You may take your seats." "Thank you." The class noisily sat. One of the two men said, "Am Mr. Luneta and my colleague here is Mr. Kapenya. We work for the Drug Enforcement Commission(DEC) and my team and I are here today to sweep this school clean.." "So if you know you are in possession of chamba or weed or dope or whatever you call it," said Mr. Kapenya grimly. "Please stand before we do a thorough search." "You heard the man," added the Geography teacher. Nobody stood. "Fine..these three here," Mr. Luneta said, gesturing towards the three pupils. "Have been caught with chamba and as an example will be expelled from the school with immediate effect." A ripple of murmurs broke out and died down when the teacher ordered for silence. All the three pupils looked ashamed while they faced down. "The search begins..now!" announced Mr. Kapenya. To everyone's surprise, Lubesha stood. "You have drugs, boy?" asked Mr. Luneta. "No.." Lubesha shook his head. "No? Then why are you on your feet?" "Because one of those boy's drugs aren't his..they're mine." People gasped and murmured in awe. Carlos pinched Lubesha by the arm and angrily murmured. "What are you doing?" No response. "Really?" Mr. Luneta seemed interested. "Might we ask how the drugs got in his bag then?" "I put them there. Amos and I live together. Tell them you're innocent, Amos." Amos was as shocked as everyone else. The drugs were clearly his so he didn't know why Lubesha was saving him but he anyway said, "Yes..as I said earlier, I don't know how the chamba got into my bag." Four hours later, Alice, Amos and Lubesha were home seated in the living room while Juliet and Donald paced around them. "Weed? I can't believe this, Amos!" yelled Juliet. "What were you thinking?!" "Am sorry, mum. I just wanted to give it a shot, that's all." No sooner had he uttered 'all' than Donald smacked his face. "You're a disappointment! Now because of you Lubesha has been expelled from school! And Lubesha, what were you thinking? Taking the blame like you did?" "Amos is in an examination class and I figured him being expelled would affect his exams and future..I wasn't thinking properly I accept but I couldn't stand there and watch him get expelled. I just couldn't." "Wow! What a big heart you have," amused Alice. "I doubt I'd do that for Amos. What?" she asked Amos who was giving her a bad eye. "You know it's true." Donald on the other hand found himself hugging Lubesha tight. "That's the stupidest and bravest thing a kid your age has done..you're a blessing, Lubesha." "Oh please," Juliet clicked her tongue. "We all know he's just trying to get into my good books. Nice try, boy. But I ain't that easy to please." with that, she stormed off to her room. When they were alone in bed, Amos said to Lubesha. "You can be sleeping in my bed from now on." "Thanks..but am fine on the floor." Amos shrugged. "At least I tried." he later said, "I don't know why you did what you did back at school today but am thankful, man. You saved my ass." "You're welcome." "That don't mean we are best pals now though," said Amos with a chuckle. Lubesha chuckled too. "I know." And he knew deep down in Amos' heart lay some humanity. Meanwhile in their bedroom, Donald was saying to Juliet, "Lubesha still has to continue school, you know?" "That's your baby to nurse, Donald." "Why do you hate him this much?" "Am not in the mood, Donald, so let me get some sleep in peace." "You know one day you'll kneel before that boy and ask for forgiveness from him, right?" She found his statement funny so she laughed. "Really? What are you now, a fortune teller? Donald, I said I want to sleep!" "Whatever..I just wanted to inform you that I plan on taking him to a good boarding school." "It's your money you'll be wasting. Good night," she closed her eyes and feigned falling asleep. He had expected her to freak out so her reaction left him baffled. In her head, Juliet was doing a happy dance. She was happy she'd no longer have to see Lubesha's face. She hated him that much. But she also had to do something about the love and respect Donald had for Lubesha. She had to take him out of the picture..Excuse you, Juliet was no murderer. According to her, all she wanted was for Lubesha to end up on the streets where he truly belonged. She inwardly and maliciously told herself, 'Boarding school is the best place for me to paint Lubesha as a bad person..I'm yet to figure out how I'll achieve my goal and make Donald send him packing but I know I'll figure something out sooner or later. They do not call me Juliet for nothing!'

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 9. "In short you are offering me a bribe, Mr. Musongo?" "Kind of, yes. Look here, am not the corrupt type that bribes people but am really desperate here, Mr. Sinkala..just try to see things from my perspective." "Which is?" Mr. Sinkala reluctantly asked while leaning back in his chair and twirling a pen between his fingers. Donald deeply sighed. In order for him to take Lubesha to a new school, he needed a written statement to say Lubesha's behaviour could be condoned but in this case, all Mr. Sinkala scribbled on the transfer form was negative stuff. The head teacher made certain he painted Lubesha as a notorious trouble maker who initially appeared to be innocent..he was what people call a 'snake in green grass or a wolf in sheep's clothing.' Donald took another glance at the statement and shook his head. "You know none of the things you've written here about Lubesha is true, right? That chamba incident was ugly, I agree. You know teenagers get caught up in such scandals but I promise Lubesha isn't as bad as you've portrayed him to be." "Convince me otherwise, Mr. Musongo." Donald took a deep breath. "Fine.. The boy has been through a lot at his tender age. First his mother murdered his father then she committed suicide. On the same day! As if that wasn't enough, Lubesha travelled all the way from Uganda to Zambia just to get arrested on his first night in the country, mistaken identity.. To add icing to the cake, his aunt, my wife Juliet, treats him like an outcast. You saw how she behaved with him last time. Now," Donald leaned closer. "as I said earlier, am willing to pay you a thousand kwacha if you portray Lubesha as a good boy." "You mean if I lie?" "That's not the point!" Donald found himself banging on the table and impulsively apologizing. "Please don't be stone hearted, Mr. Sinkala, show some mercy." Donald's tale had touched him so Mr. Sinkala grabbed another form and began writing praises for Lubesha. "For the record," he said. "Am only doing this because I feel for the boy. And please keep your money and use it for something better, I don't take bribes." "Thank you..God will bless you." When Donald was gone, Mr. Sinkala remained talking to himself wonderingly, "Some people have a heart of gold. That much love for his wife's nephew? Wow! I wish I loved my wife's nephews and nieces as much as that man loves Lubesha Pondamali.. Maybe I should take a page outta Donald Musongo's book and become a better man, husband, father and uncle." Since term 3 was almost coming to an end, Lubesha had to wait for the following year in order for him to go to boarding school. He kept on counting the days left and the new year seemed to be ages away when it was only a month and some weeks away. Alice had already sat for her grade 7 final exams and was convinced she was going to pass. Amos sat for his final exams too and when Donald asked him if he was going to pass, he replied with an attitude. "Am not an examiner, Dad. I don't know and honestly don't care." Donald just shook his head..he knew this son of his was a lost cause and his wife had played a huge role in him turning out like this cause she was the one who had practically raised the kids while Donald had been hustling out there. Schools closed and December brought with it so many painful memories to Lubesha. For the past four years, him and his late parents had been going on vacation every December. Just last year, they'd gone to Cape Town for Christmas. Oh how much he missed them. "May your souls rest in eternal peace, mum and dad," he would mutter at night. "I miss you so much but I promise to work hard and make both of you proud. Love you..." Juliet on the other hand was as eager for schools to open as was Lubesha. She just wanted him to get out of her sight cause lately whenever she saw him, she could feel her blood boil and thus she feared she would commit murder one of these days. Christmas and New Year celebrations were a bang as Donald was on leave so Juliet couldn't mistreat Lubesha no matter how hard the urge to do so gripped her. She would see Lubesha laughing with Alice and would think, God, I despise this boy! A week before schools could open, Donald took Lubesha and flew with him to Livingstone where they went to Hillcrest Technical School to look for a place for Lubesha. Luckily, they scooped one and Lubesha was given an acceptance form. "How do you like the school?" Donald asked Lubesha as they toured it. Lubesha enthusiastically said, "I love it. Thank you so much, uncle Donald. You do so much for me that I don't even know how I'll be able to repay you." Donald crouched before him. "You wanna repay me, champ? Work hard, that's the only way to repay me." Lubesha smiled. "I promise to work hard then." "Good..and in case you didn't know, children are an investment so am investing in you. Nobody knows tomorrow, Lubesha." Back in the motel that she had booked, Juliet estimated Donald and Lubesha had left Hillcrest by now. She too had flown to Livingstone after them so she took a cab to the school and went straight to the principal's office. She introduced herself to the principal and was offered a seat. "How may I help you, Mrs. Musongo?" "I think am the one who's here to help you, ma'am." "How so?" "Am here to offer you a deal you can't deny.. I'll give you K6,500 cash if you do one simple task for me." "Really?" Principal Zimba wasn't interested but feigned interest anyway. "And what would be that task?" "I presume a man and child were here earlier, looking for place..." She described Donald and Lubesha and even mentioned their names. "right? Well, all I want you to do is make sure the boy gets in some ugly scandal after he starts school here..the scandal must be so ugly that he must be expelled. It's that simple." Principal Zimba had never seen such a despicable and dull person before. "K6, 500 is change to me, Mrs- what's your name again?" "Juliet Musongo," said Juliet irritably. "Alright, I'll give you K10,000." "Deal..but I want K5,000 down payment." Juliet beamed. "Fine..but I don't have that cash on me right now so I have to go and withdraw." "Am a patient human being." Juliet was all smiles as she left the office for the nearest ATM where she withdrew K5,000 from her secret savings account and then went back to pay the Principal in cash without even bothering to ask for a written statement. "Can I have your number for in case I want to contact you?" Juliet asked Principal Zimba. "Why don't you just give me yours instead, Mrs. Musongo?" "No problem.." Juliet scribbled her phone number on a piece of paper and stood. "It was nice doing business with you." "The feeling is mutual." Principal Zimba couldn't believe her luck that she couldn't stop herself from doing a happy dance was Juliet was out of sight. Her salary was weeks away and she was dead broke thanks to the holidays and here came a woman willing to donate K5,000 on a silver platter. Silver platter? Of course. Principal Zimba would never jeopardize any pupil's education much less get anyone intentionally expelled. Juliet had just been conned. Principal Zimba smiled as she counted the money. "My God, that woman is dumb and naive!" Meanwhile Juliet got on a plane and flew back to Lusaka. "Where are we going?" Lubesha asked Donald. They were on a taxi. Donald said, "We are going to the museum..they've got nice stuff for you to see. Would have taken you to the Victoria Falls but that wouldn't be fair to Alice and Amos so we'll see the Falls together with them. I don't know when though." "The musuem is just fine, uncle." Donald and Lubesha flew back to Lusaka the next day. Juliet kept on bubbling with laughter inside. She knew Donald could forgive Lubesha for getting expelled once but twice? How I can't wait for all hell to break loose. Alice's results came out a few days later and she passed with flying colours. Donald and Juliet were so thrilled that they showered her with gifts much to Amos' annoyance. Nobody had showered him with that many gifts when he had passed his grade 7 final exam..barely passed is the correct phrase though. A week later, Donald found himself driving his whole family to Livingstone. "I don't even know why you're so eager to come with us," Donald had mocked Juliet at home before they'd hit the road. "I don't wanna miss the fun of sending that plague away," she had simply replied. "And who's gonna watch over the house while we are away, Juliet?" "That's taken care of already," she brushed a light kiss against his lips. "Our maid is back from the village so she and her boyfriend will play caretaker for a day or two." In his seat, Lubesha felt nervous..his heart rate was escalating with each passing second. "I feel like Harry Potter on the Hogwarts Express for the first time, going to Hogwarts School." Alice and Donald laughed as they were the only ones who got the joke. The drive from Lusaka to Livingstone took 6 hours and some minutes. They arrived at Lubesha's school and all the necessities were taken care of. It was time for the goodbyes. "You take care and be a good boy," said Juliet mockingly while craning her neck hoping to see Principal Zimba somewhere. "We don't want to hear you've been expelled for starting a riot or something." "Juliet," Donald scolded. "Be sensitive." "What? He was expelled from the previous school, wasn't he?" "You're unbelievable," he mumbled before giving Lubesha a manly hug. "Take care." "I will." "I'll miss you, cousin," Alice said. "Me too, Alice." Amos awkwardly said, "Ah..see you, Lubesha. Your absence will be felt in one way or the other." Juliet rolled her eyes. As he was led to his dormitory by one of the teachers, Lubesha couldn't believe he was finally here..Would be miles and miles away from his wicked aunt. All thanks to his kind uncle. 'May God abundantly bless you,' he inwardly prayed. Meanwhile back in Lusaka some days later, Juliet held Amos' statement of results in her hands and screamed.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 10. Amos had terribly failed his exams. That type of failure where one gets 9s (fails) in all his allocated subjects. "Jesus Christ! Mr. Sinkala, are you sure these are my son's results?" "Are you serious? Isn't your son's name Amos Musongo?" "It is..but-" "But what, Juliet?" Donald who was seated beside her in the head teacher's office cut her short. She looked at him with displeasure written all over her face. "There must be a mistake somewhere. I mean, Amos can't-" "He can and has failed, honey, so just accept the bitter truth. We only reap what we saw," he gestured they take their leave and said to Mr. Sinkala. "Thanks for seeing us." "Anytime." "I can't believe this," Juliet complained as Donald drove them home. "How could Amos fail like this? What do we even do now cause no school will enrol him to grade 10 with such results." "Kanshi you know? That's nice..you want some advice, stop complaining already cause you're only pissing me off!" "How so? Was I the one that sat for the exams?" "Really?" he gave her a bad eye. "Truth be told, you've contributed to Amos' failure. If you haven't pampered him like you have done, he'd be a better person." "You're his parent too so stop blaming me for every wrong Amos does, you hear? Donald, isn't the man supposed to be the one to teach his son stuff? What have you taught him thus far? Please!" Donald opted to remain silent cause he was very angry and if he replied right away, he'd say something nasty to Juliet and they'd end up quarreling which was the last thing he wanted as Juliet could get really vulgar when angry. He too could get quite temperamental so silence was the best solution here. Once at home, Donald angrily got out of the car and stormed into the house. "Where's Amos?" he asked the maid. "In his room.." she replied. "Amos!" Donald bellowed. "Yes!" Amos replied before rushing to the living room where he found his angry looking parents pacing the room back and forth. "Sit down," ordered Donald and Amos obliged. When they were seated, Donald snatched the statement of results from Juliet and handed it to Amos. "Explain how that happened." Unfazed by his results, Amos said, "I wrote the exams, they were marked by ECZ (Examination Council of Zambia) and I failed." "And you're proud?" "What do you want me to do, Dad? Commit suicide?" "Mind what you say to your father, boy!" for the first time in forever, Juliet scolded Amos. "Such kind of failure is unacceptable! How do you fail all subjects sure, English inclusive?" We speak English in this house for crying out loud!" "Shouting at me won't change my results, mum and dad. I've failed so deal with it!" "You hear that?" Donald asked Juliet. "That's all your work. What a great tutor you're, Juliet." now he faced Amos. "Listen to me and listen good, you're repeating the nineth grade and will pass this time around." "Dad! Aren't I too old to go back to grade nine?" "You wanna go to college then, genius?" remarked Donald sarcastically. Amos frowned. "I don't wanna go to school no more.. school's crap, am telling you. All it is is a sheer waste of time and money." "Really? How do you think I became a doctor if not through school?" "Whatever...Mum is a school dropout and hasn't died, has she? They are so many school dropouts out there who are financially doing well even when compared to all these PHD and degree holders.. I'm sorry but I ain't repeating no grade!" with that, he got on his feet and walked out on his parents. Juliet's jaw hung low while Donald regretted ever marrying her. The woman was bad blood. "I see you're someone's role model. Well, you better go tell your son that if he wants to continue living under my roof and eating my food, he has no choice but to go back to school. That's an order!" He angrily walked out on Juliet and went to grab his car keys. He was doing the night shift. "These two will not send me to my early grave," Juliet mumbled as she rubbed her temples with her fingertips, she could feel a migraine brewing. Lubesha was having the time of his life at school. He was doing well in all the tests that his class had been given thus far and so he knew he was going to ace his grade 9 final exams. He was getting along with most of the teachers and had even made a good friend, Sylvester. He didn't have to deal with any bullying as Sylvester was well known and respected in school, courtesy of him coming from a rich family. One day, Lubesha and Sylvester were headed to the library when they heard someone loudly call Lubesha's name. They turned in unison and Lubesha froze. "Why would Principal Zimba be calling me?" "Just go find out, dude.." Sylvester urged him on. "Fine!" With so much trepidation, he walked towards where the Principal stood. He kept on glancing over his shoulder and Sylvester kept on winking at him. "Hello, Lubesha. That's your name, right?" "Yes..it is," his voice was extremely low. "Don't be shy nor intimated by me.. Speak like a man. Let your voice be heard." He swallowed and more confidently, said, "Yes..I am Lubesha." "Better... Can you come with me to my office, please?" "Um.. okay." As he followed her, he kept on telling himself that he was busted. Once in the office, both Lubesha and Principal Zimba took their seats. Zimba said, "I hear from many teachers that you're doing well, academically speaking. I just wanted to congratulate you and urge you to continue working hard.." Lubesha relaxed after hearing that. On the other hand, Principal Zimba was just curious and wanted to bond with the boy whose aunt hated so much...As far as she could decipher, Principal Zimba decided Juliet Musongo was the one with big issues as Lubesha was simply likeable..toxic even, in a good way. "What did she want?" Sylvester enquired from Lubesha when he emerged from the Principal's office looking happy. Lubesha shrugged. "Nothing much..she was just congratulating me for my hard work. Let's go study, man." Three weeks before the end of term 1, Principal Zimba received a call from a strange number. Sceptical, she picked up. "Hello.." "Principal Zimba, it's Juliet." She rolled her eyes. "Hi, how have you been?" "You want the truth? I've been waiting like a fool! What's going on? How come you've not called me and why is that Lubesha still in school?" "It's just the first term, mama..Relax. I'm working on my ploy, trust me. How and where did you get my number by the way?" "That's not important.. Principal Zimba, I lack patience so you better do something soon." Principal Zimba heard the line get cut. "But kwena this woman is shameless," she loudly mused. Back in Lusaka, Alice had continued going to her old school and was doing well in her eighth grade while Amos hated his life and cussed his father silently almost everyday. He hated the fact that he had to repeat grade 9 and the fact that most of his former classmates dissed and called him names whenever they got an opportunity was excruciatingly painful. Term 1 came to an end and Lubesha went home for a holiday. As expected, Juliet's wickedness resumed but the boy silently welcomed it with open arms. The results came out, Alice did well, Lubesha extremely well and Amos? He failed. Came out last in class. Donald opted to remain silent this time around. "This boy will not make me go to hell," he would tell Juliet. Term 2 commenced and Lubesha went back to school. Five weeks before the end of the term, a furious Juliet gave Principal Zimba a phone call. "Why do I feel as if am waiting for Jesus' prophesied second coming?!" she yelled into the phone without preamble. "Exercise some patience," replied the Principal calmly. "I've been thinking about a better idea. Look, Lubesha has portrayed an excellent behaviour ever since he came to this school and has also won many teachers' hearts. What am trying to say is him getting in a scandal will seem odd and so will me expelling him.. Here's my proposition, we wait till term 3 until he writes his final exams, that's where I'll come in. He'll fail the exams, Mrs. Musongo." She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You mean you can make that happen?" "Not I can...I will." "Wow! That's a brilliant idea!" "Thank you." When she hang up, Juliet felt afloat with joy. She just couldn't wait to see the look on Donald and Lubesha's faces come December or January when the results were likely to be released. Time flew such that Lubesha was now in term 3. "You do realise the exam is just around the corner, right?" Sylvester who was busy writing a love letter didn't bother glancing up. "So?" Lubesha sat up in his bed. "So? Quit writing useless letters and study!" "We study too much, Lubesha. No, you study way too much. You need a break...come on, write a letter of your own. You know that Mercy chick is into you, right?" "I don't give a damn! And I've told you times without number that am only 14 and don't need no girlfriend!" "Coward, that's what you are. Practice makes perfect, don't you know?" Lubesha shook his head in disdain and got off the banker bed. He grabbed a couple of notebooks and a pen. "Speaking of practice, I've gone to practice how to write a composition." "As is if you even need practice, Mr. Reporter. I know you just doing this to leave me all alone here. Go, see you later." "Yeah, see you." On the first morning of the exams, Lubesha knelt down in his dorm and folded his hands in prayer. He then said a long prayer and asked God to guide and bless him. After two weeks of writing the exam, Lubesha was 100% certain he had done himself justice and that his results would make his uncle proud. Several weeks later, the Musongo family, Lubesha inclusive, arrived in Livingstone where they planned on having their Christmas celebrations from. They had just checked into a hotel when it was announced that the grade nine results were out. "We have to go to Hillcrest and collect them results today," Juliet told Donald, eager to witness Lubesha's downfall. Principal Zimba had assured he he'd fail. "Why are you suddenly interested in knowing Lubesha's results, huh Juliet?" She pulled a fancy red summer dress out her bag. "I'll wear this..Let me get dressed and we'll go." The whole family went to Hillcrest but only Juliet, Donald and Lubesha entered the Principal's office. A man was seated in Principal Zimba's seat and Juliet was tempted to ask where Zimba was but she refrained. "How may I help you?" the man asked. Donald told him why they were there and after several minutes, Lubesha's statement was in Donald's hands and his face was expressionless as he studied the slip. Losing patience, Juliet literally snatched the slip from her husband and looked at it intently. A feeling of Deja vu swept over her...And she screamed.

Mr poster,the suspense is too much na plz,try to be posting atleast once a week na....and see where u ended people like us wu are very impatient and start imagining...lol

Ride on

I hope that the P didn't touch that result if she try it I'll start inviting thunder to fire her ooo u better not try it with that boy's result,,,,,why the long break Mr poster (@itzprince)

He has been giving a scholarship

I pray d principal wil not succumb to dat wicked Juliet

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 11. No, this wasn't happening. She simply couldn't believe her eyes. How was it even possible that one could get 578 out of 600? How was it possible that Lubesha could get all straight A's? Hadn't Principal Zimba assured her that the boy would fail? What was the meaning of all this? "You done salivating over Lubesha's results?" Donald mocked her with a wink. Salivating? Like really? If she didn't love him to bits, Juliet would have gorged his eyes out right there and then for making a ridicule of her misery. Without uttering any words as she was stunned beyond words, Juliet handed the slip back to Donald who handed it to Lubesha. Lubesha's heart rate shot to the brim as he glanced at the slip and oh boy did he jump and scream for joy when he saw how well he had done. "I made it, uncle. I've passed!" "Not just passing...you've murdered them exams, boy!" Donald scooped Lubesha into his arms and spun him round as they laughed. All Juliet could do was roll her eyes and feel her pimples itch as they always did when she was beyond infuriated. Alice jumped for joy after seeing the slip and hugged Lubesha. "Am so proud to call you my cousin! This is amazing, my God," She broke the hug and covered her mouth in absolute awe. "I bet you're the highest in the country." "Oh please..don't exaggerate," said Amos grimly. "He's passed..yay...shall we go back to the hotel and have some real fun cause am bored to death here." "Jealously will kill you one of these days," said Alice. "I can't wait to see how many 9s you scored this time around." "I failed the exam," Amos announced while looking straight at his father. "So don't nobody bother even going to collect them." Alice laughed. "Oh my God! No offence but such kind of dullness needs deliverance. If you continue failing like that, you'll be in grade 9 for eternity, right Dad?" she so wanted him to repeat again. Donald who was euphoric and didn't want his mood getting ruined simply said, "Not now.. Let's go back to the hotel and celebrate Lubesha's triumph." He looked around. "Where's your mother?" "She's stormed off to the car looking like she's gonna burst any second from now..she's vexed, Dad," Alice giggled. Back at the hotel, Donald put on a nice swim short and said to Juliet who lay on the bed looking like she was bereaved, "Shall we go join the kids by the pool, hun?" "You go ahead, I'll join you." "Alright..but don't come complaining if you find me swimming with some hot chick clad in only a bikini." "Complain?" Juliet chuckled in disbelief. "I'll show her why am called Juliet!" Donald chuckled and kissed her on the lips. "I love you." "I love you too," she wrapped her hands round his neck. "Why don't we just lay in bed all afternoon and make a baby?" "Haha, are you praying the baby will be as intelligent as Lubesha?" She pushed him off her with so much violence. "You're an idiot!" Donald went to join the kids while laughing. Once she was alone, Juliet sat up in bed and grabbed her phone to call Principal Zimba. She was so angry that if she had blood pressure issues, she'd be in the ICU by now. Agnes Zimba was in the kitchen making dough in preparation to bake cupcakes when her phone rang. She said to her teenage daughter, "Kindly pass me my phone, sweetie." "Alright," the daughter got the phone. "Someone saved as Madam Delusional is calling." Principal Zimba almost laughed before picking up. "You bitch!" Juliet yelled into the phone. "You're nothing but a goddamn con artist! You'll pay for double crossing me." "Who's this and what mental asylum did you just escape from?" Juliet couldn't believe her ears. "So now you'll deny knowing me you wanna be reformed bitch?" "Ma'am, I don't know who you're and will not condone you calling me names. The next time you call me, I'll invlove the police." "Agnes, you've messed with the wrong person here. You can't just squander my K5, 000 and go Scot free!" "What are you talking about? My God," Agnes sighed. "I can't believe we have such lunatics on the loose, are we safe?" with that, she hang up. "Did she just hang up on me? That bitch! That bitch! That biiiiiiiitch!!!" Juliet threw her phone against the wall in anger and it shut to pieces. She threw some things around the room and slumped to the floor and wept. Why did her plans seem to flop all the time? She wept for a good 10 minutes such that when she looked in the mirror, her face was smeared with mascara. She looked so horrific that she almost screamed when she saw her reflection. "God, is that really me in the mirror?" Juliet went into the shower and showered. She came out and applied heavy make up. She wore a pink floral sundress, a pink straw hat and slipped fancy bed slippers onto her feet. Provocatively, she walked to the pool area where she sat under a huge umbrella. Donald who had been playing a ball game in the pool with Amos, Alice, Lubesha and some random kids came to join her after he'd spotted her. Water was dripping all over his body and once again Juliet asked herself what she had done to deserve such a good looking and kind hearted man. Not that she was okay with him being kind hearted though. "Hey..you look amazing. But I thought you'd come down in a swimsuit and join us. It's really hot you know.." "That's why am sipping on iced tea, Donald. And this joke of yours is really getting old. You know I can't swim to save my life!" "Did I tell you how hot you look when you are angry?" "Please...don't flirt." He trailed kisses down her neck and she giggled. "Behave, Donald, we are in public!" Later in the evening, Donald and Juliet were seated at a quite spot having a candlelit dinner. "The last time you were this romantic with me," said Juliet sweetly as she stared into Donald's eyes. "I ended up conceiving Amos." Donald laughed, a hearty laugh. "You've been talking about conceiving since morning..be careful what you wish for ka." "Oh please..Amos and Alice are enough children for us." They ate and talked about old times and laughed. They had finished eating and were sipping on wine when Donald said, "I've been meaning to ask you something, honey." "When am in such a mood, any question is welcome." "Nice..um," Donald took his time as he leaned back in his seat. "Why do you hate Lubesha so much?" Juliet was on the verge of pouring the wine atop Donald's head but kept calm. "Like seriously, you just decide to ruin this perfect dinner by mentioning that boy's name? Besides, haven't you asked me this exact same question like a million times already?" "And for those million times, as you put it, you've not given me any logical answer." "That's because there's no logical answer, Donald." she slammed her hands on the table and Donald held them. "Calm down." Juliet breathed in out and out, and emptied her wineglass. "I hated Janet because I believed I was supposed to be my parents only child and then she came along and snatched their love away from me." "That's delusional." "Easy for you to say cause you aren't me. I tried to love her but the harder I tried, the more I hated my late sister. I just despised everything about her just as much as I despise that son of hers. I am me, Donald Musongo, and nothing you say nor do will change how I feel about Lubesha. Happy now?" "Wow.." Donald rubbed his temples. "Such hatred is beyond me. I don't even know what to say." "Well I know what to say," she sprung to her feet and her voice cracked with emotion. Tears were soon streaming down her face. "Let this be the last time you ask me about Lubesha, please. And I quit, Donald. You can do with him as you wish but please just leave me out.." she began walking out on him but stood though she didn't turn. "And you just ruined a perfect night. Thank you very much!" she buried her face in her hands and dashed off, crying. "Women never cease to amaze me," muttered Donald, picking his wine glass for a sip. "I wonder what I said that got her so emotional." In actual sense, nothing Donald had said was what brought forth Juliet's tears. In her room, Juliet buried her head under a pillow and wept. She couldn't believe Principal Zimba was capable of swindling her in such a manner. What was she going to do about Lubesha now? Christmas day came and Donald chose that exact day to take his family to see the Victoria Falls. "It's simply breathtakingly beautiful," marvelled Alice. "It deserves all the praise it gets!" "I can't believe I'm seeing one of the seven wonders of the world," mused Lubesha who couldn't seem to take his eyes off the falls. Amos was amazed too but played cool while Juliet and Donald weren't seeing the Falls for the first time so they weren't as excited as the kids were. While crossing the bridge, water lapping from the falls showered them with what seemed actual showers. Some people were under umbrellas while others wore raincoats, like the Musongos and Lubesha. "How is this even possible?" wondered Alice who held on tight to her father's hand for dear life cause the bridge didn't seem reliable whatsoever and all she wanted was them to cross as quickly as possible but Donald ordered they stop and take a few pics. They finally crossed and let go of each other's hands. Donald was saying, "From here, we are going to crocodile farm." "Geez," Alice was already getting the chills while Lubesha was excited as he really wanted to take pics of them crocodiles and snakes. Sylvester had told him so much about the Zambezi River, The Falls, Crocodile Farm etc and so him seeing all this was beyond thrilling. Amos was saying something about being hungry when a random girl bumped into Lubesha. "Am so sorry," she hurriedly apologized. "Tracy!" called a voice in front, amidst the crowd. "Am coming, Dad!" called girl before dashing off. Lubesha found himself holding a unique bracelet which had obviously slipped off her hand which he had held for balance when she had run into him. He studied the bracelet and admired the initials written on it in fancy block italics. T.F At least he'd figured T stood for Tracy but F? I'll have to retain this bracelet to her, he thought as he caught up with his family though he didn't know how he'd achieve his goal. He had faith nonetheless. New Year found the family in Livingstone and they celebrated it in style. For the first time in ages, Lubesha was really enjoying himself when once upon a time he'd thought he'd never laugh nor smile in his entire life. Not after what had happened to his parents. Donald tagged him by the arm and pulled him aside, they lit a firecracker together. The countdown was done in style too and at midnight on the dot, the whole country erupted, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Several minutes later, Donald and Lubesha were seated on the grass. Donald who was in an ecstatic mood was saying, "This is a new year, my boy, and I want you to continue making me proud. I want you to-" "You know it's Amos you're supposed to be having this conversation with, right?" interrupted Juliet who stood behind them. Donald didn't bother glancing up. "Tell him to behave more like my son and then I can consider having a proper conversation with him. And also tell him I spoke to Mr. Sinkala and was informed Amos has failed the exam though this time around he did pass in two subjects.. We're slowly getting there, he's repeating, again." "You're wicked," mumbled Juliet before angrily walking away. A day later, the family was packing in preparation to go back home when Juliet who had bought a new phone and inserted her old sim into it snuck to a quiet spot to go give Principal Zimba a phone call. This was a new year and people were in the festive mood so maybe Agnes Zimba would reconsider and decide to do business with her again, Juliet hoped. She called the Principal who picked up after a number of rings. "I can't believe you're still calling me." "I'll top up on our agreed money, Agnes. But please just help me get Lubesha thrown out of that school." "I thought I told you the last time you called me that I don't know you and neither do I have an ounce of a clue as to what you're talking about." Juliet was desperate but this was beyond insulting. "Oh come on bitch, don't tell me you've suddenly developed amnesia! Kindly fulfil your end of the bargain before I expose you!" Juliet's jaw dropped in awe when she heard Agnes confidently retort, "And risk exposing yourself in the process? I know you're smarter than that.. Have a good day, stranger."

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 12. "I can't believe we are finally back here again and will be sharing the same dorm, bed and class." "I know right.." said Sylvester in agreement as he lay beside Lubesha. "Though I'd have traded Literature for Commerce." "Says someone who hates reading." "Yeah..but reading novels? That ain't me, man." "Oh come on, Vester. Novels aren't really bad and from the ones in the syllabus, I've already read The Concubine and Animal Farm, you'll love them." "Yeah, right," snorted Sylvester as three of their roommates came into the room. "Let's start preparing for school." They got out of bed and began unpacking, cleaning their portions, preparing their uniforms etc. It was Sunday and the school was packed with old and new pupils. "I have a feeling this term is gonna be great," Lubesha said while admiring his new books. "How so?" asked Sylvester. Lubesha had to shrug. "I honestly don't know..I just have this wonderful feeling this term will be great." "Maybe for you but as for me, am sad my babe won't be schooling here no more." "I'm sorry about that but there's other cute girls in school." "Oh so you've got eyes to notice cute girls?" said Sylvester teasingly. "Great to know." "Haha." "What's that?" Lubesha had stumbled upon Tracy's bracelet which he had packed in his trunk. "This? It's for my future wife." "You crook!" Sylvester punched Lubesha in a friendly manner. "Who's the unlucky girl?" They sat on the bed and Lubesha narrated how he'd run into Tracy at the Falls almost three weeks back. Sylvester burst out laughing. "You a dreamer, man. Fantasy is for babes so man up and start chasing skirts here in school. Forget about that Tracy or whatever her name is..and that bracelet, keep it for your future girlfriend." "You're impossible," hissed Lubesha as he pocketed the bracelet. One of their roommates was new so he couldn't risk placing the bracelet carelessly lest it gets stolen. The bell rang in the evening indicating it was time to eat. "And might I ask why you're still seated there, Vester? Didn't you hear the bell?" "Am not in the mood to eat from the dingo..their food is just beyond terrible." "A few weeks from now when you run out of cash and foodstuffs, you'll be craving that same awful food so better haul your ass up right now, man!" "Did you just say the A word out loud?" an overly excited Sylvester bolted to his feet just to pat Lubesha on the shoulder. "Am proud of you." After much persuasion, Lubesha finally managed to get Sylvester to agree to go eat from the dinning hall. Sylvester looked at the badly cooked meat and cabbage and almost threw up. He couldn't believe there were times he craved those badly cooked meals. "I wish I'd snuck something delicious under my armpits." Lubesha was about to remind Sylvester how stern the new prefects looked but stopped short when a girl behind them exclaimed, "Ew! This looks gross!" There was noise as chairs and heads turned, all eyes were on the new girl. The girl she was with sternly whispered, "Laura, behave!" Together, the two girls took their walk of shame and found vacant seats. That's when Lubesha recognized her. "No freaking way..." his jaw literally dropped to his plate. "You look stupid, Lulu. Close that mouth, bruv!" scolded Sylvester. Lubesha was dreamily saying, "It's her!" "Who?" "Tracy," he whispered through gritted teeth. "The bracelet girl!" "No freaking way!" Sylvester repeated Lubesha's exact words. "You mean that slay queen is Tracy?" "Not the slay queen who calls our food disgusting, the friend!" Sylvester stole a glance at Tracy who was eating the dingo food with so much ease. The girl was pretty. "You've got great taste..go talk to her." "You think that's a good idea?" "How you gonna get her to be your girlfriend much less give her bracelet back to her if even a simple hi is a hustle?" "Alright, man, I'll talk to her once she's done eating." "You better do so." Almost everyone at the dinning table couldn't resist stealing a glance at Laura who was staging an epic show as she forced the food down her throat. Where she was seated, Tracy was embarrassed to the core but just shook her head. ☆☆☆ She was walking in the dark, along a narrow and lonely path she had no idea led where. There were trees on both sides and they kept on making weird noises. She was dead scared and was shivering but continued walking as she had no choice but to walk. She had walked for minutes and minutes and yet had run into no fellow human being. "God help me," she muttered. Rustling sounds gripped her attention and she feared for the worst as she looked over her shoulder. She expected to see a wild animal or something but was relieved to see a fellow human. Her relief didn't last long when she noticed the fellow human was a man. She increased her pace and so did the man.. She then broke into a sprint. So did the man. He was chasing her and seemed to be catching up when... "Honey, wake up. You need to wake up!" Juliet woke with a scream before pulling Donald in for a hug. She was perspiring profusely and her breath was ragged. Donald waited for her to calm down a little before offering her a glass of water. He also waited for her to gulp down the water before he could say, "You were having a nightmare." "A really bad dream, Donald. I owe you one for waking me up." He pursed his lips. "Are they back? The nightmares," he added when he saw the blank stare she gave him. Juliet knew what he meant so she shook her head, "This was just any other nightmare." "What was it about?" "I don't wanna relive it." "Thought as much," Donald said with a sigh, getting up and stretching himself. "Anyway, I just came to inform you dinner's ready." It was Sunday and Donald had promised to prepare supper for the family so Juliet who had been bored to death late in the afternoon had decided to take a nap...then came the bad dream. No one likes to be chased in their dreams. She tucked her weave behind her ear before getting out of bed and yawning. "It's about time, I'm starving!" The Musongo family sat at their six seater dinning table so that only two vacant seats were left. One of those would have been occupied by Lubesha had he been here, thought Donald and Alice wryly even though Lubesha had left for Livingstone on Saturday, the day before. Donald's beef kebabs smelled and looked delicious, so did his masala rice, salads and Victoria Sandwich cake. "Juliet honey, please say grace cause I can't wait to fill my stomach with the work of my hands." Juliet smiled before saying, "Shall we pray?" The prayer was brief and they began to eat merrily, except Amos who was brooding. "What's with you?" Juliet finally asked him. Amos' eyes were watery. "Do I really have to go back to school tomorrow?" That earned him one hell of an ugly glare from his father. "We've been through this." Amos groaned. "But Alice's class? Can't you do something about the arrangement?" It was Alice who replied. "And you think am happy to admit I've got a brother who's failed grade nine twice so far? Or being in the same class with him? Please," she gave him an eye roll. He ignored her. "I wanna become a mechanic, Dad. School isn't for me, why don't you understand?" "And why don't you understand that times have changed and jobs are scarce, Amos? These days almost every job requires a grade 9 or 12 certificate! Now if you don't wanna go to bed with a sore body, drop this topic. " Amos gave his father a long stare before pushing his chair back and scurrying off to his room. "Amos!" "Let him be," Donald patted Juliet's hand. "Enjoy your food, honey." Juliet was caught between a rock and a hard place here. On one hand was her husband who only wanted the best for his son and on the other was the son who only wanted to quit school. She saw things from the perspectives of them both and knew that they were both right in one way or the other. What was she going to do? ☆☆☆ Dinner was over and people were retiring to their dormitories. Sylvester pinched Lubesha on the arm. "Go talk to her!" "Am going!" He found it hard just to walk to where Tracy was seated and say hi. When he finally mustered the courage to do so, she was standing on the threshold ready to leave the hall. He made it there and tapped her on the shoulder. Tracy turned, slowly. "Yes?" This was awkward. Mostly because even Laura was staring at Lubesha with her arms crossed. "I just thought of saying hi." "Really?" came Laura's sarcastic response. "How boring. Tracy babe, do you know-" she rudely eyed Lubesha from head to toe. "him?" "I don't think so," replied Tracy softly and then, "Have we met before?" Lubesha was hurt she couldn't remember him so he shook his head. "No." Tracy and Laura left him standing there without even wishing him good night. "You look like an idiot standing here like a statue," said Sylvester in embarrassment. He had witnessed everything. "Now I know I've been insisting you get yourself a girlfriend but I think Tracy's way out of your league in the sense that she doesn't deserve you... let's go crush, we've got a long day tomorrow." Lubesha didn't sleep a wink that night as he couldn't get Tracy out of his mind. He was only 14 and would be turning 15 in a couple of months so he couldn't have fallen in love with her, right? It was probably puberty and hormones doing their job so maybe he was just infatuated with her, at least that's what he told himself. The question was, how was he going to rid himself of that infatuation?

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 13. She hummed a Rihanna song as she put on her school uniform which fit her perfectly. The skirt exaggerated her curves. She was only 14 though. "I must say, I really missed school," said Tracy excitedly. "I can't wait to see what grade 10 has to offer." "Mmm. We're total opposites," came Laura's voice. "More like the south and north pole. Had we not been cousins, I doubt we'd have ended up as we have. Friends." Laura had a point. Tracy didn't reply though but sat on the bed to strap her Bata shoes on. "I've been thinking, Laura." Laura adjusted her necktie. "About?" "That boy from last night..the one who stopped me just to say hi. I think he looked familiar." "So?" "You know I hate it when you're that sarcastic. Anyway, I just can't get him off my mind." "Don't tell me you're falling for that boy," said Laura with a snort as she sat beside her cousin on the bed. "Tracy, that boy isn't our type. We need big boys to protect us..I reckon we target prefects. They're the seniors of this school after all and have authority. There's just something super sexy about men with authority." "Or boys with authority," Tracy corrected. "Nonetheless, am not falling for anyone and don't plan on doing so any time soon. As I told you back home in Lusaka, all I wanna do is complete school," she stood to make sure her uniform looked perfect. "After what Francis did to me, I'd have to be insane to wanna have a boyfriend..yet. The bastard broke my heart." With a half laugh, Laura said, "I think you should have said he broke your virginity and dumped you." "Thus the heartbreak, dummy. Gosh, you're so mean! Nevertheless, am so over that jerk." "He was cute as fuck though." "Please," Tracy mumbled and immediately attempted to brush Francis off her mind. The 16 year old boy had led her on the previous year and after talking her into going to bed with him, he dumped her. As if that wasn't enough, he went ahead and told the whole school he'd deflowered 'madam holier than thou' and that sleeping with her had felt the same as masturbating. Tracy had spent a good part of the third term of her nineth grade crying and regretting ever opening her legs in the first place. 'What's done is done,' she told herself, convincing herself in the process that that wasn't the end of the world. She did rise from the ashes and aced her exams. Thats what mattered most to her, education. "Screw Francis," she muttered in her dorm before grabbing her school bag and heading out. Laura shook her head. "What a drama queen! If only she knew how many times I've gotten my virginity broken and then dumped later on, she'd be patting me on the back." Laura was turning 16 in a month but she was surprisingly sexually active. Whenever her cousin confronted her, she'd brush her off, "I use protection, Tracy." Lubesha's first thought when he awoke that morning was Tracy though with much effort, he pushed her to the back of his mind and rose from bed, bathed and got dressed. "Here we go again," mumbled Sylvester in disappointment as him, Lubesha and a number of other pupils went for assembly. Teachers gave their usual boring speeches and Principal Zimba was last to speak. She urged the pupils to continue working hard as education is the key to success. "I've noticed you keep on craning your neck hoping to see that Tracy chick, are you in love with her or something?" "Just leave me the hell alone, Sylvester." Classes commenced and lessons went extremely well that day. They were having their last lesson for the day when Lubesha excused himself. He went to the loo and emptied his bladder. On his way back to his classroom, he stopped short in his tracks when someone blew a whistle behind him. He turned and saw his former Geography teaching beckoning him to come. I wonder what he wants, Lubesha thought. And thank God I've got no geography in my senior years. Heaven knows that subject is a bore. "Hello, sir." "Am cool, boy. You've grown." Most of his classmates had spent the better part of the first period telling him how much he had grown so he sheepishly said, "So I hear." The geography teacher was saying, "There's an urgent meeting in the staff room so I need you to go around classes informing teachers to rush to the staff room asap. I hope that isn't much work for you." "Of course it isn't. Anything else, sir?" "No thank you." The teacher watched as Lubesha headed towards a block of junior classes and wondered how a youngster could afford to be so humble. Lord, his children seemed like raving thugs when compared to Lubesha. "The boy will go places if he keeps up with the same spirit," he thought out loud as he turned and headed towards the staff room. As told, Lubesha went from class to class, politely informing teachers that there was an urgent meeting. He reached the grade 10B classroom and softly knocked on the door. "Come in," came a tender female voice from inside. He recalled it as that of his English teacher. Lubesha went in and stood beside the teacher to relay the message when he saw her. She was seated in the front row, her head bent down as she was busy writing. He swallowed as he felt his heart flutter. What in the Lord's name was Tracy doing to him? "I said how may I help you, Lubesha?" He tried to speak but stuttered when Tracy raised her eyes. Some pupils laughed at how nervous he seemed. "Check out this grade 10 acting like a zeze (annoying term used to refer to grade 8s." chorused a former classmate of Lubesha's. They'd always not seen eye to eye. Pupils sneered with laughter, except Tracy and a few other mature pupils. He finally found his voice and whispered to the teacher, "There's an urgent meeting in the staff room, you're wanted." "Thanks. I'm on my way." With his invisible tail between his legs, Lubesha walked out of the classroom. He seems chilled, thought Tracy who immediately rebuked herself. I have no business thinking about boys whatsoever! Friday afternoon, Lubesha found himself seated opposite Principal Zimba in her office. "How may I help you?" He didn't know where to start from. "I- Principal Zimba, I'd like to- to-" "To what?" she got irritable by his stammer. "Since when did you start speaking like that?" "I'm sorry, am just nervous. I guess," he took a deep breath and blurted out, "I'd like to change classes. I'd like to be in 10B." "And you came to see me? Have you talked to your class teacher concerning this issue?" "Um, no. And I've come directly to you because you treat me like your own son of which I am really grateful." Principal Zimba leaned forward and intently studied Lubesha. "Might I ask why you want to change classes?" "I guess I like the options in 10B, that's all." "Really? From the talks I've had with you, I vividly remember you saying Geography isn't one of your favourite subjects and there's Geography in 10B. What changed?" He failed to reply. "Are you following a girl?" He almost gasped in awe. Was she telepathic or something? Of course he wanted to follow Tracy. Maybe if they were in the same class she'd notice him. "If that's the case then I suggest you go have a long cold bath. You're too young to be fantasizing about a girl so much so that you want to join her class. Look here, boy! I'm ordering you to go back to your dorm and reminisce about where you're coming from and also think about where you want to be 10 years from now. If you see the girl in the future equation, kindly know the devil is orchestrating your downfall," she sighed and leaned back. "Anything else I can help you with?" "No..thanks." As he walked along the pavement, Lubesha wondered why he was letting some girl he barely knew distract him. "Henceforth," he chastised himself. "I'll only concentrate on what am here for..School!" ☆☆☆ "I can't believe am actually doing this." "Nobody held you at gunpoint and asked you to join the red cross team, Vester. First you followed me into the JETS club and now red cross? Wow!" "Let's just say am your dog." "You're mad." They laughed as they spread the first aid equipment on the centre of the field. They'd gone a month into the term and that Friday would be the second time they were playing doctor to the pupils who had bad luck during sports. Inter-school sports day would be held in mid March so the school had to prepare. An hour into the training, Sylvester nudged Lubesha in the ribs. "Are you seeing what am seeing?" "What?" "Check...there." He glanced towards where Sylvester's finger was pointing and saw her. She was on the starting line with quite a number of other runners. "12 laps? Your crush is a dreamer!" "Come on, Vester. You know it's wrong to judge a book by it's cover. Tracy will shock you, ka." "I'd bet money she won't go as far as 10 laps." "Nah...just keep your money, bruv." The race began and in the seventh lap, Tracy strained her ankle and with a scream, fell. Lubesha who had been watching her run all along rushed to her aid and was there before any other red cross member could make it. "I think I've sprained my ankle," Tracy said while he crouched before her. Her ankle was on fire! This was his first time tending to a person with a sprained ankle but there's always a first time for everything. "I'll need you to take a deep breath." She obliged and he twisted her ankle. Tracy briefly screamed but before she knew it, the pain subsized a little. "Am sorry about that.." he wrapped a hand around her shoulders and she did the same while he helped her up. "We need to get that bandaged. Am sorry but you won't be able to run today." Sylvester and one female came rushing towards Tracy and Lubesha but stopped when Lubesha loudly said, "I've got this. You two go attend to all those people fainting like drugged mosquitoes." "That's mean," giggled Tracy. She was limping but Lubesha was at her aid. She felt butterflies flutter in her stomach when he carried her. Little did she know the feeling was mutual. ☆☆☆ Juliet was out shopping when she bumped into him. "David? OMG, I haven't seen you in like forever!" "I've been busy," he replied as he gave her a brief hug. "It's so nice to see you, Juliet. Was with Donald at work this morning so I'd have to be a hypocrite to ask how he's doing. Can we grab something to eat? Am starving!" He was chatty but she didn't mind. Ever since Donald had introduced him at their home almost two years ago, Juliet had been looking forward to see David again. Hell, she'd even momentarily had erotic dreams featuring him. They were seated at a public spot having smoothies and David was saying, "My wife doesn't wanna have a child and yet we've been married for over three years now. I honestly don't know what she's waiting for. As a woman who's gone through childbirth, kindly advise me on what to do cause am getting fed up." She couldn't believe they were talking about his wife but maybe she could use this to her advantage so she said, "If you ask me, your wife needs a wake up call." "Meaning?" She was about to give David the worst advice ever when she spotted him. Juliet gasped and dropped her smoothie. She was suddenly having a panic attack.

Who is giving her panic attack

Maybe she spotted Donald or another cute man

who did she see?

who did u saw?

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 14. Could it be the past was finally catching up with her? If so, why? Hadn't it ruined her life already? Wasn't the past satisfied with what it had made her go through? Or better still, why show her that man? Of course she knew it was him..his face was imprinted in her mind and would remain there till the day she'd kick the bucket. "Are you okay?" David was hurriedly at her side, cleaning her outfit which had been stained by the smoothie. Juliet glanced down and saw she was dirty. "I- I think I just saw someone I really don't like to see. Hell, I wasn't expecting to ever see him in my life." "Who?" She pointed but was quite too late as the man she had seen only a minute ago was nowhere to be seen. "You're panicking ," said an observant David. "Is he an ex of yours?" "I wish he was..you know what, I really don't wanna talk about this. I just wanna go home." "Alright..let me just settle our bill. I'll drive you home." As David drove her home, Juliet leaned her head against the window as painful memories clouded her mind. Tears threatened to fall but she fought them. She wasn't going to cry. Yet. "Would you like to talk about it? Talking about stuff actually helps, you know." She shook her head. "It's something I don't ever like talking about, David. And no disrespect, I just want to be quiet right now so can you kindly just drive me home in silence?" He respected her want for solitude. "Sure..no problem." Several minutes later, David pulled up right at her gate. "Should I hoot?" "No..I'll just grab my shopping bags and head in. Thanks for the smoothie and everything, David." "You're welcome..any time." She unstrapped her seatbelt and David helped her with the few shopping bags. He was trying his utmost best to be a gentleman. "What happened to your dress, mum?" exclaimed Alice as Juliet stepped into the house with the bags. Agitated, she snapped, "Quit interrogating me and just help me with the bags. Stack everything where it's supposed to be." "Okay," Alice obliged and took the bags to the kitchen. She was headed to her bedroom when she bumped into Amos who said, "There's something I need to tell you, mum." "Whatever it is, it can wait!" She hurried into her bedroom where she locked herself in. Juliet later stripped and stood in front of the mirror naked. She ran a finger over the scar on her belly and shivered. The tears came next and they fell freely. She buried her face in her hands and standing there, cried like she was mourning a loved one. The pain was resurfacing and it felt so raw. She could actually experience the trauma all over again. "You're to blame for this, Janet. I hope you burn in hell for what you did to me!" She was sobbing as she grabbed a towel and stepped into the bathroom where she soaked herself in a hot bubble bath and wept even more. Her soul was damaged. She felt like dying. Juliet zoned into the world or painful memories and was so gone that she didn't hear David banging on their bedroom door. "Are you sure your mother's in here?" he asked the kids. "Yes Dad..though she doesn't seem like herself today," came Amos' response. "Juliet!" Donald banged on the door. "Honey, open up! Juliet!" She heard his voice though it sounded faint. "Am coming," called Juliet in a hoarse voice. "Give me a minute!" "Sounds like she's in the bathroom," said Alice flatly before walking to the living room. She had noticed something was odd with her mum but Juliet was full of surprises and on top of that was a drama queen and Alice would rather study than hang around her mother. Not that she hated her, no. Juliet got out of the bathtub and unplugged the stopper so that the water began draining. She wrapped a towel around her breasts without even caring to wipe her body. She went to open the door and forced a smile. "Hello, Darling. Sorry for locking the door, I just wanted some alone time." It took one look for Donald to decipher that something was wrong with Juliet. There was a time in their relationship that she had been having episodes like these but that had been way before they'd even gotten married. What could have triggered the episodes again? He wondered while giving his puffy eyed wife a light kiss on the lips. ☆☆☆ It was a weekend and Lubesha, Sylvester and several other pupils were doing their laundry. The term was almost drawing to a close and Lubesha was doing exceptionally well while Sylvester's performance was average as usual. The two boys were seated beside one another washing. "So what are you going to do with the bracelet, Lulu ma guy?" "I'll keep it as a souvenir," replied Lubesha without a care in the world. "Yeah..right," Sylvester scoffed. "I honestly don't know why you're avoiding Tracy. She's finally started showing interest in you and you here chickening out? Like really?" "I ain't chickening out, Vester. I just wanna clap school in peace, please." "Saht. There's something really wrong with you. You gay?" Lubesha found that question quite offensive so he replied with a question of his. "What do you think?" Laura kept on whining as she and Tracy did their washing. "Gosh, it's moments like this that make me miss home like crazy.." She looked at her white top and felt like crying. "God knows I have no business washing!" Tracy wasn't listening as she wasn't paying attention. She was thinking about Lubesha, she'd finally learnt his name 6 weeks back when he'd helped her with her sprained ankle. The boy was a puzzle to her. At first he had appeared exceptionally interested in her and was even sweet towards her but lately he seemed distant. Like the last time she'd tried to talk him into studying with her, he'd been plain obnoxious in her opinion. "Hi.." she had run into him in one of the corridors. "Hey.." he had awkwardly replied, clearly not wanting to talk to her. Tracy had said, "Rumour has it you really are a bright student and you are good at so many subjects. I'd like us to study together one of these days, what do you think?" "No thanks," his answer was curt. "Girls are a distraction and I don't want any distractions." he stopped walking. "Look here Tracy...I know I seemed all over you once upon a time but I was just being nice. I come from a dysfunctional family and the fact that am even in this school is a miracle. What am trying to say is I just wanna concentrate on school, not girls lest I disappoint my sponsor." WTF, she thought. What is he insinuating? There she was trying to form some sort of study group and the guy thought she was hitting on him. "Nigga please." "Not again," Laura rolled her eyes as she rinsed one of her fancy tops. "Don't tell me you zoned out on me again just to think about that Luyando or whatever his name is." Tracy shook her head. "I'm not in the mood for your nonsense, Laura." A week later, instead of inter-schools sports day, inter-houses sports day was held instead. Lubesha and Sylvester were part of the Red Cross team and so were quite a number of other interested pupils. Lubesha, Sylvester and two other grade 10s were preparing the first aid equipment when Laura showed up at the site. "Can I talk to you?" she beckoned Sylvester to follow her which he did. They stood at a distance, out of Lubesha's earshot. He watched them talk for minutes and Laura did a fair share of giggling. "They suit each other," he mumbled as he began making some zigolo (sugar solution.) "Say what?" enquired one of the boys at the site. "Nothing..buddy. Just work." Lubesha spotted Tracy at the far end of the field. She was amongst a group of girls all about to participate in the games. He excused himself to go say to her. "Hi girls." "Hey.." they answered in unison. Some were clearing flirting. "Can I talk to you, Tracy?" "Me?" "Yeah." "Oohs," erupted as Lubesha led Tracy away. "I thought you didn't want any distractions, what changed?" she crossed her arms and stopped walking so that Lubesha stopped too. "I'm sorry I acted like a jerk the other day.. um-uh-" "You better say your piece fast cause I'm up in a few minutes, Lubesha." "I just came to wish you good luck seeing as you sprinkled your ankle once during training." "You said it, once. I've had other training sessions after that and I did just fine..Anyway, thanks for wishing me good luck. Anything else?" "Um..I... no. I guess." "Okay," she turned and walked out on him. She hadn't intended to be rude but she didn't wanna seem desperate either. Lubesha went back to his site and found only Sylvester there. "What's with you and that Laura?" "Didn't I tell you? We becoming friends, man. I might just scoop myself some cookie one of these days." "Good luck," replied Lubesha who was gloomy due to Tracy's reaction. The race commenced and only a few people fainted. Lubesha tended to none of them. His eyes were focused on Tracy who was running at a slow pace and Lubesha was worried she might make her house lose if she continued with the same pace. In the 9th lap, Tracy increased her pace. Her heart was racing but she was determined to complete the race. After what seemed an eternity, Trace reached the finish line while applause, cheers and cat calls erupted from the crowd of students. She had come out third. A cheerful Lubesha was at her side alongside several other pupils and teachers in no time. The huge grin was irresistible and when Tracy saw it, her heart melted like butter. Principal Zimba was among the judges and seated on the panel of judges, her phone which was on vibration kept on ringing. She checked the caller ID and rolled her eyes. Madam Delusional. She opted to ignore the constant calls until a nasty text came through. 'Bitch, we had a deal and you backing out is just plain shitty. You don't wanna get on my bad side you crook. I can't believe someone who's got a nice job would do something so disgraceful. If you still have some dignity left in you, please either refund me my money. With interest by the way. Or fulfil your end of the bargain...' then came a string of nasty insults. Wow, she inwardly lamented. The crazy woman definitely has a PHD in foul language. The principal who had never been insulted that much in her life decided it was high time she put all this to an end. With a smirk, Principal Zimba deleted the text and cunningly mused, Let's see who exposes who first. You're going down, Juliet Musongo. Unless my name isn't Agnes Zimba!

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 15. A DAY EARLIER... Donald watched his sleeping wife and wondered how it came to be that he selflessly loved that puzzle of a woman. Like for the past many weeks, she'd been having nightmares, like she had been having earlier in their relationship and still she couldn't confide in him. He knew she had a secret, or secrets, and wasn't ready to divulge them. He kissed her forehead and went to shower. Donald was getting dressed in readiness for work when Juliet woke. She yawned and stretched her arms. "What's the time?" "You slept in, sweetie. It's almost 7." "Gosh," she quickly got out of bed. "Am so sorry, honey." "It's fine..It's not as if this is the first time you're waking up late, is it?" "That's so mean!" she playfully hit him on the chest before helping him adjust his necktie. "You slept like a baby today, my lovely Juliet. Had a nightmare free night, I assume." She grew tense. "I guess I can say I didn't have that specific nightmare." "What is the bad dream all about anyway?" "Not again, Donald." "I'm your husband for crying out loud! Why can't you trust me enough to share your troubles with me?" "Because..." she couldn't finish her sentence and went to sit on the bed. Donald joined her. "Because of what?" "I don't wanna talk about it." "Mmmmph," he blew out a breath in frustration. "You always don't wanna talk about it. Don't I have the right to be curious?" "Curiosity killed the cat, I'm sure you know the saying. Some things when let out would just do us more harm than good...destroy our relationship even. I reckon you let sleeping dogs lie." There was no beating a dead horse, that was Donald's perception of the current situation. Juliet had built an invisible fortress around her heart to shield her emotions and he knew whatever secret lay beyond that fortress would break her. He could tell just from looking into her eyes that it was slowly eating her up inside. "Since we're focused on sayings today," said Donald curtly. "You do know nothing remains hidden forever, right? One day, the truth shall come to light." "And that day ain't today. Aren't you going to run late for work?" she asked him, in a bid to distract him. "That day will come, Juliet." Donald got up to go and strap his wristwatch on. ☆☆☆ Amos was having one of his bad days. He hated school, he sure did. And he hated Religious Education as much as he did school. He was busy jotting down some lyrics for a rap song he'd one day like to sing when he heard the class burst out with laughter. From the look of things, the joke was on him as everyone was laughing while looking and pointing fingers at him. Alice inclusive. He felt rage boil inside but calmly said, "What's funny?" "You dare ask the class such when you're the one making a joke out of yourself?" came the R.E teacher's stern voice. "I asked you a question, Amos." "I didn't hear you, madam." "That's because you weren't paying attention!" the teacher was growing impatient with Amos' behaviour. "I asked you to define talent..and please don't give me a wrong answer cause this is grade eight work and I believe you've gone through all this for like a hundred times now. You've written the grade 9 exam for practically that many times after all." The class sneered with laughter. "Actually, I've only sat for my grade 9 exams-" "Twice?" Alice mocked him. "And this is your third time, right? Please spare us all the info and just define talent. Some of us want to learn and move on." "Thank you!" said the teacher gratefully while beaming. Alice was one of her favourite pupils after all. Amos couldn't define talent to save his life so he barely shrugged. "Where will defining some stupid word take me? I don't know what talent is and don't even wanna know, y'all." "Then get ready to write your grade 9 exams for the rest of your life and prepare to become a beggar maybe. You're pathetic, Amos Musongo," the teacher pointed at a random girl in the back and asked her to define talent instead. "You're a bitch, madam," said Amos loudly and abruptly, causing heads to turn back at him. There were gasps from the pupils while the teacher's jaw almost dropped to the floor. "You heard me right, Madam Mwenda. Who are you to decide my future? Me, a beggar?" Amos laughed. He couldn't believe the guts on the woman. "And you think just because you are standing there teaching us irrelevant stuff, you've automatically made it in life? You're mad," he paused to grab his bag and other belongings of his. "Don't look at me you fucking bitch. You're mad for thinking I'll be a beggar just because am not good when it comes to academic performance. You're a delusional whore for thinking school is the key to everything...don't forget, am not handicapped." He took quick angry strides and once he was standing before the astonished teacher, added, "You get paid loose change no wonder you can't keep your legs closed cause you badly need the extra money that you get from whoring around...Fuck school! Fuck you and everyone here! I'm done. I'm outta here!" Amos did a spectacular job walking out of the classroom knowing he'd just rubbed the bitter truth in Mrs. Mwenda's face. Everybody in school knew she was banging one of the math teachers despite her marital status. Married. A shameless whore determining my future, he thought as he hurried out of the school premises. Wow! After Amos left, the class was silent for over a minute as everyone was having a hard time digesting what had just transpired. Where she stood, Mrs. Mwenda wished the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She'd never been this humiliated in her life. Much less by a boy young enough to be her own son. She felt naked. "What just happened," whispered a female pupil but her whisper was kind of loud so everybody heard. Someone chorused, "I think Madam Mwenda just got roasted." And then came the roar of laughter. Unable to take the humiliation no more, Madam Mwenda rushed out of the classroom in tears and went to Mr. Sinkala's office to request for a transfer. She had no strength to narrate all that Amos had told her. Why? Because he had said facts only. Juliet grabbed her handbag and did a catwalk from the bedroom. "You look nice, madam," complimented Mirriam the maid. "I think tantalizing should be the word..anyway, thanks." "What relish should I prepare for lunch, madam?" "Um..I think just fry some dry kapenta and cook okra. That's it," she admired herself on her phone and put more lipstick on her lips. "I'm out..see you later." "Chai!" said Mirriam to herself once Juliet was out of sight and earshot. "Make up can really do wonders. Her pimples aren't visible at all! I wonder who or what she went through all that trouble for. If I didn't know better, I'd say she's going to see a man which is unlikely. She's obviously just going to show off to some of those her friends. And boy do I love that dress that she's wearing to bits! I have to admit, the ugly woman has taste." Meanwhile Juliet unlocked the Chevrolet that Donald was renting for her. As she started the engine, she thought about how suspiciously sweet Donald was towards her lately. Is he trying to bribe me into telling him the cause of my constant nightmares? "Keep on dreaming, honey." She was on the brink of starting the engine when a text came through on her phone. 'You're running late..I've only got a few minutes to spare.' 'I'll be there shortly..' She and David had a meeting which she herself had called for on the pretext of wanting to offer him the marital advice that he'd asked from her some time back when in actual sense all she wanted to do was flirt with him. She put the car in reverse and the garden boy went to open the gate just for an angry looking Amos to march in. Juliet glanced at the time and noticed that he was home quite too early. Worried, she got out of the car. "Might I ask what you're doing home this early?" "I quit school, mum," replied Amos without caring to stop walking. "You did what? But why, Amos?" He didn't reply so she was forced to follow him into the house and while she was at it texted David. 'Something came up so I won't make it, am so sorry...' she loved Amos too much thus he was her priority come what may. Juliet spent the whole of that afternoon trying to get Amos to tell her why he had quit school but he didn't budge. "Why did your brother quit school, Alice?" Juliet asked Alice as soon as she (Alice) hopped into the car. "I don't know, mum. Didn't he tell you?" "Would I bother asking your cheeky ass if he did?" It was all Alice could do so she rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. "Oh." No sooner had Donald stepped foot into the house that evening than Alice ran to him, "Dad, Amos has finally quit school!" "What?" Where she sat, Juliet almost sank into her seat. "But why?" Donald asked. Alice spared her mother a glance and smiled. "Well, he insulted our R.E teacher....." she narrated all that had transpired back at school in the morning. When she was done, Donald angrily called Amos. Amos appeared before him a minute later. "What now, Dad?" Donald responsed by smacking his son hard across the face. "Donald!" "Shut the hell up, Juliet! I've had it with your nonsense! What gives this boy the right to insult his elders like that?!" "Respect is reciprocal, Donald. Don't expect Amos to be nice to her when all she's doing is raining curses on him!" "Just shut up, Juliet! Am going to teach Amos to respect his elders the hard way." Alice sat on a couch alone, shaking and crying. "What have I done? Oh my." Juliet was banging on their bedroom door which was locked from inside. Her 16 year old son's cries were tearing her apart. "What are you doing to our son, Donald? Please stop." "Am giving him the beating of his life!" "Mum..help me!" cried Amos while Donald mercilessly flogged him. Juliet slumped to the floor and broke down in tears. She could literally feel her son's pain. ☆☆☆ Now that Amos was out of school and Donald had finally decided to grant Amos' wish of not taking him back to school, Juliet leaned against the kitchen counter the next day while sipping on juice and wondered why she'd sit by and watch Lubesha finish school and maybe become a successful person in life. Amos' fate now only lay in God's hands but she thought she could control Lubesha's fate so she sent the principal a threatening and nasty text. In the afternoon, Juliet received a phone call from Principal Zimba. "I believe this call is to certify you received and read my texts, right?" "Yes, ma'am. And you won't believe I've finally done the job! Lubesha has been involved in an ugly scandal all thanks to my handiwork." She was excited but didn't want to sound so. "Really? Tell me about the scandal." "Your husband and you have to come all the way here first so that it can be juicy. Lubesha will be expelled from this school as early as tomorrow so just make sure you make it here as early as then also." When Juliet told Donald about the phone call and Lubesha's pending expulsion, Donald didn't believe her. "You're just making up lies just because your son disgraced us yesterday. I ain't buying your story by the way." "Let's just fly to Livingstone tomorrow morning, Donald." They bickered for a while until Donald called Principal Zimba who confirmed Juliet was telling the truth. "Now you believe me?" He still didn't believe her but that didn't stop them from flying to Livingstone the following day. They were in Principal Zimba's office in no time. They exchanged greetings and once settled, the Principal handed Juliet an envelope. "What's this?" asked a baffled Juliet. "It's an envelope," smiled Agnes. "Open it." Donald studied Juliet as she hesitantly opened the envelope with a letter opener. "Money? What for?" "That's K5,000, Mr. and Mrs. Musongo," Agnes was tactically bidding her time. "I've refunded you your bribe, Mrs. Musongo. As I told you last time, I am not ready to frame an innocent Lubesha and get him expelled from this school. That's just inhuman!" Juliet was dumbfounded and the glare Donald was giving her wasn't helping either. What do I do now? she thought in fear.

You'll surely reap your bad deed,

stupid woman!!! who is. she to control someone's fate wen she is not God!!! Ur secret will soon be opened

Mrs zimba ur simply the best! i tink amos is nt donald's child,theres a very deep secret involved, i fully undastnd amos bt donald coz the father and son bond isn't there...alice ur takx it too far. juliet ur time is comx lubesha keep up,dnt let anyone be a distraction nt even tracy or sly

Nice one principal Amos is something else

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DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 16. ~JULIET~ Principal Zimba was a class A annoying pain in the ass, a thorn in the flesh. Why couldn't she just have accepted my bribe and fulfilled her end of the bargain without causing drama? And how would exposing me benefit her? Where I was seated, I began to perspire and my pimples started itching. I was on the verge of scratching my cheeks I tell you. I wonder why them pimples couldn't just leave me the hell alone. It was almost as if someone had jinxed me or something. Enough of me complaining about my irritating pimples...There was a pressing matter at hand, Donald and his reaction. If he'd flogged Amos the previous day just because he had disrespected some teacher whom Donald even barely knew, I wondered what he'd do to me. "Cat caught your tongue, Juliet?" I had to do something, fast. "I'm dumbfounded, Donald. Not because I am guilty but because it baffles me why someone I barely know would try to frame me. Principal Zimba," I tuned my voice to an emotional one. "Why are you doing this?" She chuckled. "I thought as much.." she then grabbed her phone, keyed in her password and typed for a few seconds. She later handed it to Donald with a triumphant grin smeared all over her face. God, I so hated the old hag! Donald got the phone as she was saying, "Those, Mr. Musongo, are some of the texts your wife sent me yesterday. I regret deleting the others though." Now my pimples were on fire, I was busted! "But why, Juliet?" was all Donald could utter once he handed the phone back to Agnes. "She loathes her nephew..of this I know you're aware," Agnes replied instead. "Her hate is beyond me, if you ask me. This woman here needs Devine intervention as I think demons are using her. Poor Lubesha, heaven knows he's one of the sweetest kids ever." "Thank you, Principal Zimba," Donald heaved out a deep sigh. "Not many can do what you've just done." "I'm honoured, Mr. Musongo." The walk from the office to where our taxi was waiting was characterized with silence. I knew Donald was fuming but was mature enough not to cause a scene. We were approaching the taxi when he said, "I'll find you at the guest house. Let me say hi to Lubesha, I've missed him." "Ok." As the taxi driver drove me to the guest house, I contemplated going to catch a plane or bus back to Lusaka. And then what? Donald would still make it home and I'd have to confront him. The only solace I found was blaming Agnes Zimba for everything and cursing her inside. She was going to suffer for making me panic like I was. I arrived at the guest house and headed straight to the room Donald and I had booked earlier that day. I paced the spacious room back and forth, awaiting Donald's outburst. After an hour or so, he finally showed up. "You hate Lubesha this much? As much as being capable of sabotaging his education? Why?" he was scaring me with his calm so I watched him sit on the bed while I stood by the door. Finding my voice, I courageously said, "We've been through this already." "Don't you fucking tell me the reason you hate Lubesha is because of your late sister Janet cause that's fucking bullshit!" now he was yelling. I was shaking. "Am afraid that is the truth, Donald." He bolted to his feet and angrily approached me. "Then what the hell did Janet do to make you despise her as much as you do?" "I don't wanna talk about it." "Oh you'll talk about it today, you hear me? You'll talk!" he aimed a punch at my face and I ducked so that he hit the wall. My heart was pumping so fast that I feared I was going to have a heart attack. "You want to hit me, Donald?" "I'll freaking break your jaw if you don't tell me why you hate Janet and her son so much!" He was enraged and not wanting to get the beating of my life like Amos had gotten only yesterday, I looked him straight in the eye and decided the time had come. No more secrets. ...FLASHBACK.. I woke up feeling really drowsy and sick that day. I brushed my teeth and bathed and even ironed my school uniform but still failed to muster the energy to go to school. "You're not going to school?" asked Janet whom I shared the room with, much to my displeasure. I shook my head. "No." "Again?" "I'm not feeling well, Janet. And since when did you become so concerned about me anyway?" "Since forever. It's you who pushes me away, remember?" "Not again," I rolled my eyes. "Get well soon anyway," she said before grabbing her school bag and heading out. "Am off to school, Tata (Father)," I heard her tell Dad. "Alright, sweetheart. See you." "See you." In spite of my drowsiness, I got out of the bedroom in a bid to clean the house. Dad who was a mechanic and had ended up fixing bicycles in the market was heading out for work when he asked, "Why haven't you gone to school?" I put the broom aside and sat on the armrest. "Am not feeling too well, Tata." "It's probably malaria," he put a few notes on the table. "Buy a book and go to the clinic. Use the rest of the money to buy food for today." "Okay." I believe I've set the scene. Mum was long dead so it was only Dad, Janet and I. Dad didn't like me very much, he never had. That didn't bother me though. All I wanted was to complete school and do something with my life. At least I was good when it comes to academic performance so I was going to do my best and finish school, that's what I thought. After cleaning the house, I locked up and went to the local clinic where I stood in line for several minutes. Somebody beside me was chowing a type of wild fruit known as Impundu and I really hate those fruits so I felt bile rise up my throat and I threw up right there and then. An elderly woman rubbed my back. "Am so sorry child, are you expecting?" I almost laughed in her face. "I think I've got malaria." "Tell me about it," chorused another woman. "Ala naisa malaria (malaria is in trend)." "Ala," I conquered with her. When it was my turn, I registered my name and a malaria test was conducted. When it came out negative, the nurse quietly conducted another test. I received the results over an hour later. They were positive. Tears immediately began streaming down my cheeks and while I walked back home, I wondered what would become of me now that I was pregnant. I was only 17 years old and in grade 9 for crying out loud! Don't roll your eyes please. Age ain't nothing but a number and back then people never quite finished school early. ☆☆☆ "I am pregnant, Chris. And the baby is yours." "Really? I don't know what to say." Christopher Shamabanse was a science teacher at Mtshede Primary School back in Mukobeko Township, Kabwe. Hell, he was my science teacher! How I'd gotten involved with my teacher is quite a long story but all I can say is I think I liked him while he claimed to love me. "I don't know about you," I said to him under the mango tree where we were discussing my pregnancy issue from. "But I think I'll abort." He hurriedly covered my mouth as if willing I take back my words. "Don't you ever say such a thing, Julie! I told you I love you, right? I believe now's the time I prove my love to you. Here's the deal, you'll keep the pregnancy and I'll take full responsibility." "Easy for you to say," I said in a hushed tone and then sheepishly greeted my neighbour who was passing by. "Mulishani mukwai? (How are you?)" "Bwino. Ulishani, Juliet? (Fine. How are you, Juliet?)" "Ndifye bwino. (Am fine)." I waited for her to be out of earshot before I could say, "You see that old pig? Am scared of people like her. Gossip mongers, Chris! I don't want to be the talk of Mukobeko Township, please. Let me just abort the baby and move on with school and life...please." Chris vigorously shook his head. "You aren't murdering my baby while am alive, no way! I've told you to keep the pregnancy and so that's exactly what you'll do." I got emotional for no reason and began to weep. "You're wicked, Chris. You're wicked!" "Shhhh," he shushed me and forcefully pulled me into a hug. "I've got you." Screw Chris, I thought a few days later. I was holding an abortion concoction in my hand and was about to drink it when the door flew open. Damn, why did I always leave the door unlocked? "What's that?" I had tried to hide the concoction but the nosey Janet ended up seeing it anyway. "Mind your own business," I snapped. "Is that what I think it is, Juliet? Why on earth would you try to drink- oh my God," she gasped and snapped her fingers in excitement. "This explains your morning sickness, you're pregnant! But why are you trying to abort?" "You're delusional," I shook my head, getting up from my seat. "This is just some medicine for my fever..that's all." "Drink it and lets see if nothing happens then." "You aren't my mother, Janet." Once outside, I rushed to the toilet and dumped the meds in a pit latrine. 'What was I thinking?!' And just like that I changed my mind, I no longer wanted to abort my baby. We were huddled in the living room having dinner when Janet said, "Ala Tata you won't believe what I just found out today." "What?" I shut my eyes and prayed it wasn't what I was thinking. Sadly, it was. "Juliet's pregnant and she tried to abort." I admit she was only 15 years old and only in grade 7 but that didn't give her the right to act all childish. Heaven knows she was no child. How the hell did she even know what an abortion concoction looks like? No wonder I hated everything about that pretender! Dad quietly washed his hands before eyeing me. "Is it true?" "Am afraid so." "Who impregnated you?" That was a difficult question to answer so I played mute while bowing my head. "Answer me, dammit!" "It's Christopher Shamabanse," I blurted out. Nobody liked Dad when he was yelling. "The science teacher?" gasped Janet in awe. Ashamed, I merely nodded my head. Silence. When Dad spoke, I didn't like what he said one bit. "I've done everything in my power to provide for your sister and you and this is how you choose repay me, huh Juliet? I know am lagging behind in some areas but am only human. How could you disgrace me and the memory of your mother in such a manner?" he paused to catch his breath. "From today onwards, I disown you. I give you half an hour to pack all your belongings and leave my house. For good."

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 17. Being thrown out of the place you've known and called 'home' all your life is one of the most painful things I'd gone through back then. And note, I said 'one of the most painful things.' I had packed my bags quite alright and had pleaded with Dad to at least throw me out in the morning and all he did was threaten to behead me if I continued testing his patience. I wondered why Janet was even trying to talk some sense into him when she was the root of all the drama currently going on. Had she kept her mouth shut, I would have found a perfect way to divulge the truth to Dad because I knew one way or the other, the truth always comes to light. And no one can hide a pregnancy they are planning on keeping but no, she just had to snitch. I had packed my bags quite alright. Let me be practical and say I'd packed my bag. I joined a narrow path and wondered where I was going to spend the night. At my friend's place? No, my friend lived in Makululu where I couldn't go at that late hour. Maybe a neighbour's place? Hard luck. I never saw eye to eye with most of my neighbours. Ah, Chris' place then? Perfect. He had put me in this mess after all. I took the phone he'd bought for me months ago, from my bra where I usually hid it, and gave him a call which went unanswered. I gave him three more calls and still, he didn't pick up. "What do I do now?" I bit one of my fingernails. It was terribly dark as there were no stars nor moon in the sky and it looked like it was going to rain. I heaved a deep sigh and carried my bag on my head. I knew where Chris stayed so that's where I was headed. I trekked for minutes and joined a narrow bushy path. The path was creepy but there was nothing I could do as that was the only road that led to Chris' place. I was walking in the dark, along a narrow and lonely path I knew led to my science teacher/lover/soon to be baby daddy's place. There were trees on both sides and they kept on making weird noises. I was dead scared and was shivering but continued walking as I had no choice but to walk. I had walked for minutes and minutes and yet had run into no fellow human being. "God help me," I muttered. Rustling sounds gripped my attention and I feared for the worst as I looked over my shoulder. I expected to see a wild animal or something but was relieved to see a fellow human. My relief didn't last long when I noticed the fellow human was a man. I increased my pace and so did the man.. I then broke into a sprint. So did the man. He was chasing me and seemed to be catching up when I threw my bag into the brush and increased my pace more. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. My pursuer seemed to be having the time of his life as he purposely didn't want to catch up with me. I know this because he was only a few metres behind me and a man of his statute should have caught up with me by now. My legs were almost failing me and I was quickly running out of breath...but I had to run. For both my baby's and my sake. I stumbled over a rock and fell into the brush with a scream. The man who appeared almost as a shadow in the darkness hovered above me for a while and laughed, a hollow and scary laugh. "You've got quite fast legs, neh." "What do you want from me?" I panted while trying to get up but my legs where entangled in some thorns so I couldn't. I felt the thorns dig deep into my flesh with a searing a pain. "You want to know what I want from you? Fun." He bent down and pushed me farther into the brush while I pleaded with him. I'd have to be the dumbest creature on earth not to have figured what he was after. "I can not see your face," he whispered in my face while pinning my arms behind me with one of his strong arms. "That's gonna make this experience even more fun." I wiggled and tried to fight my way out of his strong grip but all my strength and effort went down the drain as the man was too powerful for me. "Please..I am pregnant." "And so?" "Can't you have mercy on my unborn baby? Show some sympathy on a poor orphan like myself. Let me go, please." "Nice try..trynna play victim? I've heard better sob stories. Now here's how this is gonna go...the less you try to put up a fight, the faster all this will be over. Do you hear me?" His breath was so terrible it brought bile up my throat. The man sounded insane and a professional rapist so I decided it was time I pulled the help card. "Help! Somebody help me!" "Really? You're pathetic.." he growled and seconds later gagged my mouth with a cloth he ripped from his shirt. "Let's see how you gonna make noise now. This is going to be fast by the way so just relax and think of me as one of those hot guys you drool over. Close your eyes even..and enjoy the experience." Enjoy being raped? Nigga was beyond crazy. It was no use screaming as only muffled sounds came out of my mouth so I began to kick as he pulled down my skirt and ripped my shirt off. My phone was in the bra and he somehow didn't notice it as he hastily ripped my bra off too. I was still kicking and seemed to be only turning him on even more as he pinned me harder and managed to pull down his trousers and boxer after he'd done away with my undies. "I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I will," he whispered in my ear and entered me. A part of me died at that particular second. I shut my brain and closed my eyes as he thrust harder and harder. But I couldn't shut away the explosive pain of dry sex. I was getting bruised down there but what did he care? As long as he enjoyed the experience, that's all that mattered to him, I assumed. After what seemed an eternity, he finished doing his job and put on his clothes while I lay on the grass sobbing. "Get a grip," he hissed and threw my clothes at me. I fumbled for my phone, hurrieldy turned on the torch and aimed it at his face. I badly needed to see the face of the man who had just raped me..who had just raped a pregnant woman. "What the heck- You're one dead bitch!" he kicked the phone out of my hands and leaned down with force. I felt my belly explode with pain..he had just buried a knife in it. "That should teach you a lesson or two." and he was gone. But not his face. He was a stranger, yes, though now his face was and would forever be imprinted in my mind. In spite of the unbearable pain, I rolled over and crawled towards my phone on which I dialled Christopher's line. He picked up after quite a number of rings. "You've been blowing my phone up with calls, what's up?" "I am- d-dying, Chris." "Dying? How? Where are you, Julie?" "In some brush along the road- th- that leads to your house..please save me." "Julie, just hold on I'll-" I couldn't make out the rest of what he was saying as I let go of the phone and lay on my back..I was light headed and the pain wasn't helping matters. Within seconds, I blacked out. ☆☆☆ When I came to, I was laying on a hospital bed. A friendly looking nursing was hovering over me. "I'm happy you've regained consciousness..you're in the hospital by the way. Am Juliet." We shared the same name? "Am Juliet as well." "So I've been told..um-" "Water. Can I please have some water? My throat is dry." "Sure." she poured water into a glass from a jug and handed it to me, pitifully watching me gulp it down. I tried to sit up but she stopped me. "You're not well, you've just been stitched up." And then memories vividly came flooding in so I held my belly and cried, "My baby..is my baby okay?" The expression on her face spoke volumes but I still hoped what I was thinking wasn't what was going on. "The baby's dead, Julie." it was Chris who replied. I glanced over the nurse's shoulder and saw him standing in the doorway. He took quick strides and came to sit beside me. "Am sorry." Call me a cry baby but I broke down and wished I could just die. The pain of being raped, stabbed and having a miscarriage was just too much for me to bear. Chris hugged and sweet talked me. Telling me how I was young and would eventually have another child. If I had the strength in me, I would have castrated him for being so insensitive. In the end I ended up crying in his arms cause I so needed a shoulder to cry on. Janet showed up to visit me hours after I'd regained consciousness. I was just from giving a statement to the police who assured me they were going to do everything in their power to look for and arrest my rapist when she arrived with a basket of food in hand. "Take that poison back with you, please." "Julie, need I remind you Janet's your sister and only wants the best for you?" "Don't talk of stuff you know absolutely nothing about, Chris. This wretched Janet here is actually the person responsible for my calamity." "How?" "Ask her." "I'm sorry," she quietly said from where she stood. "I shouldn't have blurted the truth out to Dad thus am truly sorry, sis." "You're sorry? Unbelievable! Janet, will sorry bring back my child, will it erase the shame and pain of going through rape? Will it reverse anything at all?" "It won't..But I have to say it anyway. I am-" "Truly sorry?" I scoffed and she nodded. "Fine..you've said your piece," I was trying hard not to curse her. "Now leave." She put the basket aside and said, "I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me." "And I hope you'll suffer immensely for everything you've done to me." "Juliet!" scolded an embarrassed looking Chris. "Don't be like that! She's just a young girl and your sister!" "You know what, Chris. Just leave me the hell alone cause you're seriously draining me with your irrelevant lectures. Leave!" Chris left a few seconds after Janet and once alone, I cried myself to sleep. That's when the nightmares began and through them, I re-lived my entire ordeal. I was released from hospital a few days later and let me just point out that Dad had never made an effort to come see me whilst I'd been confined to that hospital bed. What sort of father does that? From the hospital, I went straight home and for the next two months, Dad barely said a word to me no matter how hard I tried to strike a conversation with him. One day he showed up home with Chris, Chris' uncle and aunt and ordered I give them seats and something to drink. I did as told and was headed into the house when I heard him say, "Come sit beside your husband, Juliet." Husband? Since when? I sat anyway. Dad was saying, "My people, it's been two months since I discovered your nephew here was sleeping with my daughter and had knocked her pregnant whilst at it. What am trying to say is you people didn't pay us any money for damage but that doesn't matter anymore as sadly, Juliet lost the baby in the worst way possible. That's not the sole purpose of this meeting though." "Tell us the sole purpose then cause we too have things to do," replied Chris's aunt. "I hereby demand Christopher Shamabanse becomes a man and rectify his mistakes. In short, I demand he marries Juliet as soon as next week." "Excuse me?" said Chris in disbelief. "No offense but what makes you think I'd like to marry your daughter?" "Whatever made you stick your manhood in her will make you marry her." "I don't want to marry him," I chorused and that earned me the ugliest of glares from Dad. He said, "What makes you think you have any say in this?" We all argued for over an hour but in the end, Dad won. Chris who was fuming rose to his feet and swore, "You'll all regret forcing this cheap and loose girl on me." with that, he rudely walked out of the compound . His uncle was saying, "Go and pack your bags, dear. You're coming with us." I wasn't listening. Chris had just called me a cheap and loose girl and that had hurt me so I ran out of the compound and began wandering around the township. It was almost as if my life had come to a standstill and I just wished I hadn't been born into this world in the first place. I was still wandering around when I saw Janet clad in her school uniform. She was with a couple of friends and they were laughing their stupid asses off. I wiped my tears and channeled all my pain into hatred, diverting it towards Janet. "You'll one day pay for every single tear I've shed, Janet," I mumbled and branched off into another road.

Why is it her fault? You also can do what she did

oh gosh! What pains she went through! Am reali trying to undastnd juliet,i mean i'm trying so hard to undastnd her bt frm wat i read,she hated janet even b4 she blurbed out the secret that way, so she cnt convince me that thats the sole reason why she hated and still hate janet and all her generation in such a way.

I really understand Juliet for doin everything she did to her sister bcos dia is no normal human being dat will not be embittered towards someone's dat rattles her out in such a way,,, so for everything she passed tru,,, its normal to be angry even wit all Janet's generation but I just feel she should soft pedals and not go overboard with her anger towards dat innocent lubesha

wow! I like this principal

hmm I can now understand where ur pain is coming from

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 18. "So, did you move in with Christopher?" "Did I have a choice?" Juliet moved from the door and began pacing the room. "I moved in with him and guess what, he treated me like a mop. The man literally hated everything about me and yet still found the time to demand for sex. Like how insensitive and selfish can one get? After what I'd gone through, sex was the last thing on my mind, Donald. Do you know how it feels to lay on the ground while someone rapes you? The pain of being molested is something not even words can measure the intensity of the pain." "And did Chris understand that?" "I wish to hell he did. Chris would come back from wherever and would tell me to my face that I was happy I'd lost my child, which isn't true. He said I was inwardly rejoicing I'd miscarried as I'd never wanted the child in the first place and that the least I could do to show him gratitude for taking care of me was sleep with him. I remained firm and told him I couldn't bring myself to sleep with a man..yet. Not after my ordeal. He would get angry but eventually calm down though he treated me nothing like a man treats his wife." "You mean nothing like I treat you?" interjected Donald. "We can put it that way, " she pursed her lips and walked towards the table to pour herself a glass of wine. She sipped on the wine and continued, "One fateful night, Chris came back horny and insisted I sleep with him. 'I thought you said am the worst thing that happened to you, why are you so eager to sleep with me? Aren't there many school girls you can sweet talk into sleeping with you?' That earned me one hot slap. 'Don't ever repeat that shit and to pump some sense into your head, you do realise you eat my food, sleep under my roof and the likes so you owe me sex, a lot of it actually. And tonight, whether you like it or not, you're going to give me what I want.' Can you guess what happened after?" "He raped you." "He did. Donald, the bastard forced himself on me and do you know what that did to me? I died once again cause not only did I mentally go through my first rape, I physically went through it too. There's no getting used to getting raped if I may add." "Am sorry," was all Donald could say. "Don't be," said Juliet flatly. "Chris raped me for many more nights, you know." "Did you confide in someone? Perhaps his uncle or aunt cause judging from what you've just told me, I needn't even ask about you pouring your heart out to either your Dad or sister." "I did talk to his aunt who sat me down and chastised me for telling her about my bedroom issues. She said it was a taboo and that she should be the last one I poured my heart to. I stood and gave her one ugly glare. In that instant, I knew I was all alone in this wicked world. I had absolutely no one to turn to. As time went on, I sat for my grade nine final exams which I terribly failed mostly because I hadn't been studying whatsoever. What with all the drama brewing around me? That was the end of school for me. I'd been married to the abusive Christopher for over a year when Janet turned up at my doorstep one day, claiming Dad was missing. Did I mention Dad was quite a heavy drinker?" "No you didn't." "Now I have. Dad was quite a heavy drinker so I assumed he was just out on one of his many drinking sprees and so I said to Janet, 'You and him ceased being my family the night I was thrown out of that ramshackle you call a house.. Just leave my house in peace, Janet.' 'Aren't you worried something terrible might have happened to him?' 'He can die for all I care. Now leave!' And it so happened that I received word two hours later informing me of my father's death. He had apparently drowned in a ditch. 'May his soul rest in peace,' I had said but had shed no single tear." "Why?" "Because I had no business mourning a man who hadn't considered me his daughter in the first place. Janet did stage some drama during his burial though and I think it was because of that drama that a relative I'd only come to know during Dad's funeral took her in and they went to Lusaka while I remained behind with Chris who's behaviour towards me worsened each day. 'What happened to the love you once claimed to have for me?' I had asked him one night after he was done forcing himself on me for like the trillionth time. 'Haven't you heard? Talk is cheap, my dear.' And once again I knew I had no business staying in his house where I was being treated like a doormat so with the little pride left in me, I packed my bags and left Chris' house literally empty handed.." She couldn't continue as her voice was cracking with emotion. Donald who was fighting tears himself said, "Where did you go from there?" Juliet had to sigh first. "I began roaming the streets like a mad woman and even spent some nights in the market. I went for days without food, Donald. To cut a long story short, I suffered. There was a ray of light at the end of my dark tunnel when I scooped myself a job as a cleaner at a private school and for two years I was saving, planning my future. I was 20 when I moved to Lusaka, carrying my pain and troubled nights with me, and began renting a shop which I turned into a butchery. Am sure you can connect the dots from there. You and I started talking, going for walks which turned into dates. We fell in love, you impregnated me and we got married a year later while the relative who had been taking care of Janet died and she moved in with George. I am sure you have all your answers now. Now you know why I loathe both Janet and that son of hers." "You did go through shit back then," Donald moved from the bed to pour himself a glass of wine too. "I agree and am terribly sorry but that don't mean you should treat Lubesha like you do. It doesn't justify neither your hatred nor actions towards the boy." Juliet thought she had lost her sense of hearing. "Donald, did you listen to a word I just said?" "I heard everything, Juliet. You want me to summarize it for you? Here we go, you never saw eye to eye with your father and sister, you fell pregnant for your science teacher and Janet blurted the truth out to your father after she caught you trying to conduct a miscarriage and as an aftermath, your Dad threw you out of his house. It was on that night that you were mercilessly raped by-" "Enough," she pressed. "You've made your point." "Thank you. Let me just make another point. Need I remind you I too grew up with a step mother who hated me to the core and treated me no less than you treat Lubesha? But that didn't prompt me to vent out my anger on my half sister Dinah cause I would have deserted her after Dad and Step Mum were murdered in a robbery while Dina and I were in boarding school. What did I do in return? I worked my ass off just so I could provide for both Dina and I and it's plain sad that she committed suicide after she recklessly fell pregnant in college and the father of her baby told her he wanted nothing to do with her. The point am trying to make is how terrible would this world be if it was filled with people like you who vent out your frustrations on other people for no apparent reason?" "Donald-" "Don't you talk over me when am speaking! You did go through something I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy but as I said, that doesn't justify your wicked deeds. You know what, I think you're even capable of murder and it is for this reason that I think I need some space from you. We're going on separation, Juliet." She was tongue-tied so Juliet quietly watched as Donald angrily walked towards the wardrobe and began packing his clothes. When she finally found her voice, Juliet asked, "Won't you think about Alice and Amos?" "What about them?" "They'lL probably ask questions. What will I tell them?" "I reckon you worry about what you'll tell Amos cause am taking Alice with me since you and Amos have so much in common and vice versa. And also, please don't worry about where you'll be staying cause I'll be the one to move out and look for a new place." "Don't you think you're overreacting?" "Overreacting?" Donald laughed as he couldn't withhold the urge to laugh. "My dear, you do realise you're a cunning and scheming heartless woman, right? I'm even being quite rational here cause I should be divorcing you!" he continued packing and added, "By the way, you needn't worry about where Lubesha will be spending his holidays cause I've got that covered too. You finally got what you wanted, you're now rid of him. But of course everything comes with a hefty price in life." Juliet walked over to where Donald was packing and knelt before him, holding on to his leg. "I admit I made a terrible mistake for which I apologize. Can't we just sit down and talk this through like civilzed people?" "Are you ready to treat Lubesha like your own son?" Silence. "You see? You're just wasting my time." He shoved her aside and dragged his small suitcase towards the door. "See you in Lusaka." "For how long will we be on separation?" "I don't know," with that, Donald was gone. Juliet sat on the bed long after her husband was gone and she let the tears flow. When the tears seemed not to be helping, she got up and began smashing stuff against the wall while cursing and crying like a deranged person. "I curse the day you were born, Lubesha Pondamali. I curse your children, their children and their children's children's children! I curse your entire generation! Thunder go fire you for putting my marriage in shambles!" By the time she was done throwing her tantrum, the room looked like it had been an arena for a bull fight. Juliet's hands and legs were bleeding as she'd been hurt by all the glasses she'd smashed but the physical pain she was going through was nothing compared to her heartache. Her heart felt like it had been wrapped with a barbed wire and then was being constantly squeezed. ☆☆☆ Lubesha sat on his trunk after he was done packing his things. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off Tracy's unique bracelet. "For how long are you going to gawk at that thing?" "For as long as I have it in my possession." Sylvester who was still packing paused. "You do realise we're closing school tomorrow and you're yet to give that bracelet to Tracy? Don't tell me you're planning on holding on to it like some crazed masturbating stalker." "What if I told you am giving it to her right away?" "Better though I don't know what that will change." "It'll ensure I only focus on school and at least I won't have a bracelet to worry about come next term." "Cool.." Sylvester resumed packing. "And I have to repeat, if Tracy is half as fun as Laura is, I say you're really missing out on the good stuff." Lubesha faked a yawn. "Laura is boring.." and dashed out of the dorm. Sylvester shook his head and laughed. "Weirdo." Lubesha ran into Tracy on his way to the female dorms. "Hi." "Hello, Lubesha." "I was actually headed to your dorms to see you." "You were?" "Yeah.." Lubesha awkwardly said. "I have something to give you." "Do you now?" "But you'll have to close your eyes first and spread your palms out." Heart fluttering, Tracy obliged and Lubesha took the bracelet out of his pocket and placed it on her delicate palms. "My bracelet!" she exclaimed as soon as she set her eyes on it. "How and where did you get this?" "You really don't recall?" She crossed her arms and frowned. "Would I be asking you questions if I recall?" "I guess not. Anyway, just try to remember something." Tracy racked her brains and bit her lower lip. "Nope..I can't." "Alright, I'll give you a clue then," he was unknowingly being romantic. "Does Victoria Falls ring a bell? December, last year?" "OMG! You're that boy I collided into!" "Bingo!" Lubesha beamed. She slapped her forehead with her left hand. "No wonder you've always been so familiar. Jesus Christ, you've held on to this for four months?" Before he could reply, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. Lubesha who had never been kissed by a girl in his life, that's in exception of the numerous kisses his mother had given him when she was still alive, felt like he was about to fly. Tracy's soft wet lips tasted so great on his and he wished the kiss could go on for good but somehow managed to gather his senses in the midst of that passion and put an end to the kiss. "What was that for?" "It's my token of appreciation. You just don't know the importance this bracelet holds in my life." she lightly kissed him on the lips again before he could utter a syllable and smiled. "Thanks, Lulu." Lubesha licked his lips as he watched her walk away. "That just didn't happen, did it?" ☆☆☆ "If your mother doesn't catch a grip, I'm quitting work." Mirriam had knocked off and was on her way out when she bumped into Amos who was coming from only he knew where. "She's drunk again, I assume?" "Of course, seems thats all she can do now," she scoffed and brushed Amos aside. Amos who had had it with his mother wallowing in self pity for almost a month now decided it was time he told her how he felt. Juliet was seated on her bedroom floor, drinking beer and crying while going through her wedding pics. "Really?" Amos stood in the doorway and crossed his arms. "For how long with this self pity go on? If you don't minimize your intake of booze, am afraid you'll remain all alone." A tipsy Juliet spared her hazy son a glance. "Are you talking about leaving me? Like your father and that ungrateful wretched sister of yours did?" "That solely depends on your behaviour, mum." "I won't have you talk to me in that tone!" she yelled and threw her bottle of beer at him. Amos luckily ducked and the bottle hit the wall, shuttering to pieces. "You wanna leave me alone, after all I've done for you? Go, Amos. Get outtttt!!" "Screw you," he audibly said and scuffled off to his room where he grabbed a sweatshirt and furiously left the house not knowing his words had hurt his drunk mother's feelings who in turn filled the bathtub with water and fully dressed, lay in it. She was going to die a spectacular death..more like those celebrities who get high on drugs and drown in a bathtub in some motel.

What a world Am really short of words

all ur husband want is for you to come back to ur senses an stop maltreating ur sister child that's all

That doesn't mean you should treat your sister's son like that

Christ! I can't blieve it went this far. lubesha u owe ur uncle ur life,he's morethan even a father, he got seperated with his wife to stand with truth and justice,i wonder whether lubesha will be able to live with that guilt that he destroye a home.

hmmmmmm,,, I just pity Juliet

Why does Juliet take everything in life so far... Her husband left him, instead of finding solutions, she was rather wallowing in self pity

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 19. Amos was leaving his mother's ward when he ran into his father. The two froze on their spots and were awkwardly silent as each didn't know what to say to the other. They'd spoken on phone about an hour ago when Amos had found his unconscious mother laying in a water filled bathtub. "Shit," Amos had cussed after walking for a distance. He realised he'd left his wallet home and to think that that's the main reason why he had gone back in the first place only to have his mother throw a beer bottle at him. "She's slowly losing it," he mumbled while turning back to go get his wallet. Upon arriving home, the silence hit him as odd so he decided to check on his mother in the bedroom. She wasn't there. "Mum?" he was heading towards the bathroom and noticed the door was ajar. He turned to leave and that's when he saw her. "Mum!" Within a flash, Amos was reaching for his mother in the bathtub and carried her out of the water. He took her drenched form to the bedroom where he lay her on the floor and performed mouth to mouth. His heartbeat was escalating with each passing second as the fear of losing her gripped him tighter. "Wake up, mum. Am sorry...didn't mean any of the crap I said. Am nothing without you, mum!" She didn't budge but he didn't lose hope either so he continued performing mouth to mouth until she burped water. That's when he got relaxed enough to give his father a phone call. The call almost went unanswered as Donald only picked up on the final ring. "I am quite busy right now, Amos." "Really? That's the first thing you say to your son whom you haven't spoken with in weeks? No matter, are you too busy to hear mum attempted to commit suicide?" "She what?" Donald all but shouted. "If this is a joke then it's a really sick one, Amos." Amos couldn't believe his ears. "You know how much I adore mum so I don't appreciate you fucking telling me that am joking! She attempted to commit suicide because she's been wallowing in self pity ever since you left her. Us, if I may correct. Now if you care an ounce about her, you'll come to UTH where am taking her right now." He hang up without further adieu and rushed outside to book a taxi. Now father and son stood before one another and stared at each other with so much bitterness..Donald was more on the receiving end of the bitterness than Amos. "She's now consciousness," said Amos begrudgingly and walked out on his father, not giving him the chance to say anything. Donald stepped into the ward and patiently waited for the doctor and nurse to leave so that he could be alone with Juliet. "Suicide, like really? I have to say, I didn't expect that from you." "Is that why you're here? To tell me what you expect and don't expect from me, Donald? If so then it's better you just leave." Donald looked at her pitiful state and the last thing he could feel for her wasn't pity. It was rage, disappointment and sheer embarrassment. "Weren't you thinking about Amos when attempting to end your life? Alice too, what about her? And me?" "What use is thinking about people who have turned their backs on you?" She was emotional but managed to fight the tears. "You and Alice left..And then Amos indirectly threatened to leave me too so I figured I'm not needed in this world and as such am better off dead." "Wow!" Donald rubbed his hands against his face. "You're one of the most selfish human beings I've come across in my entire life!" "Say what?" "You heard me right the first time so I needn't repeat myself. Didn't you stop for one second to think about why everyone is leaving you? You're the one pushing them away, Juliet. Your nasty attitude is pushing them away. And instead of playing the victim card, I reckon you woman up and right your wrongs before it's too late," that being said, Donald pushed back his chair and stood in readiness to take his leave. Juliet asked, "Where are you going?" "Home..to my daughter whom I won't allow to see you in this pitiful state." After seeing the expectation in her eyes, he added, "What did you think? That I'll come running into your arms because you almost ended your life?" "Am hurting, Donald. Just come back home..please." "Who do you think isn't hurting? Woman, let go of all that toxic hatred you harbour inside and then we can talk about me coming home. And you attempting to commit suicide just pushed me farther away cause it proves how desperate and manipulative you're. Have a nice stay in the hospital, Juliet." How was it possible that her husband had turned that cold? Juliet could all but wonder once he was gone and that's the only time she let the tears flow. She wasn't suicidal so it baffled her that she'd taken such a bold step..or was it sheer cowardice at work? Donald found Amos leaning over his (Donald's) car, waiting for him. "I wanna have a word with you, Dad." "Move aside, let's get in the car and talk." They got in the car and Amos who had no business beating around the bush said, "When are you coming home?" "When your mother changes her wicked ways." "You might as well be waiting for Jesus's coming then. Mum is who she is and I doubt you two being on separation will change a thing. Now I don't know what caused the two of you to spiral apart but all I know is you're handling the issue the wrong way. Home is not the same without you, Dad." Donald was having a hard time believing Amos was talking a bit of sense in like forever. But his mind was made up. "I need my space from your mother so am afraid nothing you say will change my mind..why don't you save your strength and use it to reason with your mother? Am sure she'll listen to you. Anything else you'd like to tell me?" A hurt Amos shook his head. "No." And got out of the car. "You can come visit whenever you like," Donald called as he put the car in drive. "Lubesha is coming for a holiday tomorrow!" "No, thank you," Amos curtly replied and headed towards the hospital entrance. ☆☆☆ She looked at her frail reflection in the mirror and almost burst into tears which she withheld because she didn't want to ruin her make up. The heavy make up that she had spent over an hour applying. She looked great in her yellow sleeveless dress even though it didn't envelope nor compliment her curves as much as it had done only months ago. I've lost so much weight, she thought while grabbing her handbag and sunglasses. She wasn't sure about what she was doing but there's no harm in trying, is there? Juliet put on her sunglasses as soon as she was outside the house and got into the Chevrolet. Once at Donald's workplace, she texted his friend David informing him she had arrived. He replied with an 'okay' and was by the car within two minutes. She unlocked the doors and he entered. "Hey. You look nice." "And you look cool in your lab coat too." "I heard the news," David bid his time. "I am sorry." "We all have our fair share of problems, don't we, David?" "We sure do," David half chuckled due to his embarrassment. "Not to be rude but I'm kinda busy so..how may I help you?" It was time to pull the drama queen card. Juliet immediately began choking on her own voice and tears were rushing down her cheeks in no time. "Now I know I haven't been of much help to you," she sobbed. "but I believe you and I have had so many chats together that we now fall under- under the friend zone. It's Donald, David. He's tripping and am nothing without him..You being his friend and all, I figured you'd talk some sense into him..I really love him." "Is that all you wanted me to do, talk to him?" She sniffed and nodded. "Consider it done," he offered her a reluctant smile which brightened her red eyes. David even went as far as giving her a hug. "I'll talk to him, I promise." Over his shoulder, Juliet maliciously grinned. She wasn't going to give up on Donald easily. David and Donald were having energy drinks during their lunch break, which they rarely had, when David brought Juliet up. He was saying, "Your wife paid me a visit earlier today, she looks truly sorry for whatever it is that she did to you, man. And I could tell she loves you to bits." "I already know that." "Then why don't you just move back in with her?" "Because she's got this nasty attitude which is beginning to irritate my soul." He didn't mean to laugh but still ended up laughing anyway. "Oh come on, Donald. You've been married to this woman for over a decade so I don't get why her attitude should be an issue now." Donald took a drag of energy drink before sternly asking, "Do I meddle in your marital affairs, David?" "Um..no." "Thank you..I'll appreciate it if you quit meddling in mine as well." David said with a shrug, "There's no need to get like that..I just thought us being friends meant I can give you advice and vice versa. Anyway, I'm sorry for meddling." ☆☆☆ It was dark outside and so was the classroom. Two grade eleven pupils were whispering sweet nothings in one another's ears while giggling from time to time. "Have I told you to say you the best thing that's happened to me in the sixteen years I've spent on earth?" Tracy nibbled at his ear and seductively whispered. "Show me you mean those words," and she locked lips with him. "Yoh..take it easy," Lubesha managed to say in between the kiss. "Don't you think we're kinda rushing into this?" "It's just sex, Lulu. We've been together for over a year now and I don't see anything wrong with us showing each other how much we love one another. You've been shunning away from this for way too long now and come next term, we'll be in our final year," she groaned and then sighed. Besides, we're closing schools in two days time and I believe this is the part in our relationship where we take this step." "You sure you wanna do this, Tracy? I don't want you to think I used you or something." "Are you planning on dumping me after sleeping with me?" "Hell no!" "Good, then am more than ready." She locked lips with him again while her hands fumbled for his belt. Lubesha had been countlessly teased of being a virgin by Sylvester and that night he decided he was going to change that fact. Not to be mistaken, he wasn't doing it to rid himself of the taunts Sylvester regularly threw his way. He was doing it to please Tracy. "Since we've taken this bold step," they were cuddling on the cold floor, naked, and out of breath. "Why don't you tell me why that bracelet is so important to you, Tracy?" Tracy looked at the roofing sheets above and sighed. "You were amazing, by the way." Lubesha beamed. "Thanks. Tell me about the bracelet now and don't try to change the topic like you just attempted to do." "Alright," she exasperated and felt her eyes sting with tears. "I've never known my mother, all my life, Lulu. She died when I was still an infant. Dad tells me she had been so sick after giving birth to me and was in and out of the hospital..she eventually died." "I am so sorry." "It's fine. The bracelet is the only thing I have that reminds me of her. It was hers." "I- don't know what to say." "You don't have to say anything..just kiss me." Lubesha gladly did so and whispered. "I love you, Tracy Fulilwa." "I love you too, Lubesha Pondamali," and she knew, he was the one for her. Schools closed and Lubesha went to Lusaka to spend his holiday with his uncle and favourite cousin as he'd done for over a year. As usual, the holiday was fun. Could it be mostly because it was Juliet free? Lubesha was glad he no longer had to endure her torture but was also saddened by the fact that his uncle wasn't as happy as he had been when he was with Juliet. Alice and Lubesha still got along very well and when schools opened, Lubesha went back to Hillcrest Technical School only to receive the most shocking news of his life. The news was so shocking that it left his emotions and senses scattered all over the place.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 20. Seeing all those pupils line up before her for assembly gave her heart nothing more than delight. The pupils meant more than pupils to her, they were family. And what she was about to do to some of those pupils only moments from now hurt her feelings but some situations are just out of one's control thus they have to do what is required of them. Principal Agnes Zimba stood in front of the pupils, addressing them on how to sustain good behaviour and the likes. "Doesn't she get tired of repeating the same speech year after year?" audibly chorused a female senior pupil. Murmurs of agreement erupted and they only died down when Principal Zimba sternly ordered for silence. "You've been staring at Tracy for minutes..it's almost as if this is the first time you're setting eyes on her. What's up?" Lubesha drew in a deep breath and worriedly told Sylvester, "It seems she's ignoring me. She didn't say a word to me last night in the dinning hall and right now her gaze is everywhere but at me." Sylvester took a minute to study Tracy who only seemed to be paying utmost attention to Principal Zimba's speech. "I say you're just being paranoid..she's definitely just paying attention to the repetitive speech Principal Zimba is giving." Wanting to believe his friend, Lubesha nodded and diverted his gaze else where. "You're probably right." "Tracy!" She stopped in her tracks and gave Lubesha an impatient stare. "What?" Assembly had been dismissed and they were now headed to class. Laura who was with Tracy paused too only for Tracy to say to her, "You can go ahead, Laura. I'll find you in class." Laura rolled her eyes at Lubesha instead and then angrily walked towards her class. "Don't you have class to attend?" "Hello to you too, Tracy. Why are you ignoring me?" "I'm not ignoring you, Lubesha. The problem is you think the world revolves around you..well it doesn't!" A stunned Lubesha said in a sad tone, "Are you mad at me for something?" "You know what, you're just wasting my time. Have a nice day!" she turned and left him standing there, his jaw hanging low. "What just happened?" he muttered to himself. Twenty minutes into the first lesson, there came a knock at the door and the teacher went to see who was knocking. "Principal Zimba..Good morning." "Good morning, Mr. Chola. I'm looking for Lubesha Pondamali." Hearing Principal Zimba was personally looking for him struck Lubesha as odd and he had a strong feeling of dread. Could it be he had done something wrong? Usually Principal Zimba only summoned him to her office during break or lunch hour. This morning he deciphered from her facial expression that something was definitely amiss. The only words she said to him were, "To my office." In the office, Lubesha was awestruck to find Donald seated on a chair opposite Principal Zimba's. Agnes took her seat and offered Lubesha one and he unpleasantly took it. "What's this meeting all about?" Donald impatiently asked, he had a plane to catch. Agnes sighed and leaned back in her seat. "It hurts me to do this but I have to do what's required of me as this school's headmistress. Now before I get to the point of this meeting," she focused all her attention on Lubesha. "I have to admit I didn't expect such behaviour from you, Lubesha Pondamali. Now I received some disturbing news a few minutes after schools officially closed last term and since the parties involved were gone, I decided to exercise some patience and wait for schools to reopen." The weather was cool and yet Lubesha found himself sweating. Agnes went on, "I received word you and Tracy Fulilwa were having sexual relations right here in school and I believe both of you know the implication of two pupils getting intimate like you did. So, were the rumours true?" He wasn't the type to lie and wasn't going to start now. "I'm afraid so." "I'm glad both Tracy and you are being honest and so it is for that reason that am only suspending the both of you..You two will only come back to sit for your final exams." "Principal," Donald piped up in desperation. "Isn't that too harsh a punishment? I mean, this is just the beginning of term 1 and you expect them to go home and only come back to write their exams?" Agnes gave Donald a long questioning look which made him hurriedly add, "Come on, these are teenagers and I believe Lubesha and that girl- whats her name again?" "Tracy," said Lubesha in a whisper. "Yes..Tracy. I believe they aren't the first and won't be the last students to get sexually involved in this school and other schools out there. This happens everyday and everywhere. It's just sex!" "It's just sex, you say? Need I remind you this same sex spawns upon implications such as teenage pregnancy, STDs and all? What are you teaching this boy, Mr. Musongo?" "Am not teaching him anything and I ain't happy to hear what am hearing but he's a boy who's going through adolescence! And speaking of STDs and teenage pregnancy, does this Tracy girl happen to have either of them?" "Thank God she doesn't! But these two will definitely be an example to all the promiscous pupils in this school," said Agnes nonchalantly. Do you realize am supposed to expel and not suspend them? Mr. Musongo, it breaks my heart to do such to these pupils but I have to do it, as I said earlier. Plus I won't let these two tarnish the name of this school." "If you ask me, you're overreacting." And she knew she was but what could she do when her job was at stake? Lubesha was given time to pack all his stuff while Donald waited for him in a taxi. Tracy on the other hand was on her way back to Lusaka. She still couldn't fathom what had just happened. As he packed, Lubesha fought the tears that were threatening to run down his cheeks but in the end they did fall. He was so shocked at how life can change in a flash. Suspension? This was as good as expulsion! Uncle Donald must be feeling awful, he silently told himself. This can't be happening...Principal Zimba can't do this to Tracy and I. To me. She adores me! ☆☆☆ It had been over a day since their arrival in Lusaka and Donald was giving Lubesha a cold shoulder. "What can I do to get him to talk to me?" Lubesha asked Alice. They were on their way to the market to grab some groceries. "I mean, I screwed up but people bang each other all the time in schools, Alice." "I know right? It's either you have the worst luck ever or you're simply cursed. No offense." "None taken," he sighed and glanced at the heavens. "I guess am just cursed then." Alice said, "And Dad, he'll come around soon. That aside, I have some grade twelve text books and since am only in grade 11, I can lend them to you." She knew they wouldn't be of much help though. "Away from the books, how's the same girl that got you in all this trouble in the first place?" "Tracy? She doesn't have a phone as her Dad apparently happens to be very strict. All I know is she stays here in Lusaka..somewhere in New Kasama. I intend to go looking for her one of these days." "With her control freak of a Dad, judging from what you told me, good luck." "Thanks." Alice changed the topic and succeeded in putting a smile on Lubesha's face. ☆☆☆ The Toyota Corolla pulled up right in front of the house. "You sure you wanna go in like that? You're freaking wasted, man!" "I'm turning 18 soon so yeah, I freaking wanna go in! And my mum has no say over my actions as she's the reason I've turned up like this anyway." "Don't you go blaming your mama for getting yourself senseless drunk," scolded the guy who was driving the car and was the least drunk among Amos' crew of three. "She didn't force the booze down your throat, did she now?" "Just shut the hell up, mama's boy!" Amos shouted before getting out of the car, bottles of beer in both hands. His less drunk friend shook his head and began reversing. "He's wasted!" "Getting wasted is fun," replied the other guy who was as drunk as Amos was. Amos staggered to the porch, put the beer bottles down and banged on the door. Juliet was preparing supper in the kitchen when she heard the startling bang on the door. "Who the hell dares to knock on my door as if this is their father's house?!" she yelled as she approached the door. "Here's irony for you," Amos yelled back. "This is my father's house!" Even as she opened the door, she had already figured from his slurred speech that Amos was drunk. The stench of cheap liquor hit her nostrils as soon as she opened the door and one look at Amos got her infuriated that she just felt like flogging him with her shoe but she kept calm. Juliet crossed her arms and stood in the doorway blocking Amos. "Is this the extent your disobedience has reached? So you bringing girls in my house and sleeping with them isn't enough that you now have to come home drunk? Is this why you quit school, to sleep with cheap whores, smoke weed and drink beer?" "Am not drunk." "Oh please, that's every drunk person's favourite line!" "Fine, am drunk!" he was staggering from side to side. "Am drunk because my life is fucking messed up! You yourself found solace in alcohol when Dad left so please keep your lectures to yourself and let me in, I wanna lie down." "Don't you dare compare me to you, Amos. Can't you take a good look at Alice? She's doing well in school and will probably do something useful with her life. If you continue behaving like this, am afraid even Lubesha will do better in life than you!" "I doubt Lubesha will do any better than me..Dad thinks he's a saint and yet I wonder what sort of saint bangs slay queens in school and ends up getting suspended or expelled or whatever shit." "What are you talking about?" "I went to visit Alice and Dad today and found Lubesha home..I already told you why he's there," Amos paused to burp and gain composure from his staggers. He then pointed a finger at Juliet. "Now don't you go comparing me to Alice and Lubesha cause am like this only because of you! I am who I am because of you, Juliet Musongo. Had you been a bit stern with me like you had been with Alice and Lubesha, maybe I'd-" She cut him short by slapping him. She'd heard enough. "You ungrateful filth!" she spat in her son's face before slamming the door in it. Amos continued banging on the door while using obscene language and threatening his mother to open the door lest he breaks it. He was still banging on the door while hurling insults at Juliet when he felt his stomach rumble, his intestines where churning and very soon his stomach protested. A few minutes later, Amos passed out in his own vomit. Meanwhile Juliet was huddled on a sofa crying. She was processing all that Amos had just told her and couldn't believe he was blaming her for turning out the way he had. Could it be Amos was right? Was she to blame for everything? Her heart was bleeding and so she just let the tears fall. She hugged her knees tight and literally weeped. She was so torn apart that she didn't realise the food was burning back in the kitchen... ***********************

Sorry guys for the long vac. My phone spoilt and am yet to repair it that's why I've not been able to update but I will try and find a way to entertain you guys..... Thanks for understanding

Hummm lubesha messed up big time bt all tracy's fault. juliet its gud u blaming u nw ur simply reaping wat u sowed

Too bad for lubesha

Anyway, all is well Lubesha

if u realize ur bad attitude an change that we be good for u

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 21. He warily walked towards his uncle's bedroom and softly rapped on the door. It was now or never. Donald was seated on the bed with his laptop between his legs.. His eyes focused on the screen, he loudly called for whoever was knocking to go in. "Oh..it's you." The way Donald said it made Lubesha believe he was the last person his uncle wished to talk to. It had been almost two weeks since his suspension and the tension between him and his uncle was now starting to get to him thus he decided to confront him. "Yes, it's me. Do you have a minute?" There was no use dodging the conversation which was likely to be held sooner or later and Donald settled for sooner rather than later so he shutdown his laptop and closed it, placing it aside. "I do." "Can I take a seat?" "Sure do, Lubesha." Lubesha went ahead and sat beside his uncle. Where to begin from, he wasn't certain so he said, "I messed up, I really did. And you have every right to be mad at me but the cold shoulder that you've been giving me lately is slowly killing me." "It's always nice when one owns up to their mistakes, my boy. I think I might have overreacted too so I'm sorry." "You don't need to apologize to me, I'm the one who messed up. You sent me to school with so much faith and how do I repay you?" He was ashamed to look his uncle in the eye so he bowed his head and stared at his fingers instead. "I went chasing skirts and ended up getting suspended." "Don't feel low," said Donald assuringly. "Being a man, I understand you very well though I'll urge you to put your head in the game next time and leave no room for distraction." "Next time?" Donald beamed. "What did you think? That I'll let you stay home doing nothing for almost a year? No way! You'll be going for tuitions, boy. I ain't the type to dwell on the past..I believe in burying the hatchet and forging ahead." How can someone afford to be this kind hearted? Thought an amazed Lubesha who found himself on his knees thanking Donald and promising him he wasn't going to screw up this time around. "Just make sure you keep your trouser zipper closed," Donald half joked and made Lubesha stand for a hug. "We're a family." Lubesha heard himself say, "I owe you a lot, uncle Donald. And I'll do everything I can to make you proud and somehow repay you for all you've done for me." "I know you'll make me proud," Donald rubbed Lubesha's back. Juliet looked at herself for the hundredth time in the mirror just so she could be certain she looked great and decent at the same time. She was going to visit her husband after all so she needed to look her very best. "How do I look?" She asked Mirriam once in the living room, spinning around. "Splendid," Mirriam replied in a dreamy tone. "But then again, you're the queen of fashion." "You can say that again," Juliet giggled and stepped outside. Life had been rough for her ever since Donald had declared they go their separate ways and things seemed to be worsening each day. What with Amos' behaviour going from bad to worse? If it meant her swallowing her pride and going to kneel before Donald asking him to come home, she was going to do it. If it meant tolerating Lubesha would fix her home, she was more than ready to not mistreat him though that was going to be hard as the hatred she harboured for him was almost lethal. Now was she happy he was finally out of school? Surprisingly, she wasn't. Maybe it was because Donald still saw some potential in the boy. "If I didn't know better," Juliet angrily mumbled as she hit the road, I'd say Janet had sent Lubesha with some charms to wrap my husband around his little fingers. I really wonder what it is that Donald sees in that piece of trash." She knew exactly where Donald lived Amos had given her the address some time back but she hadn't mustered the courage to pay him a visit. Or was it she had too much pride? Anyway, gone was the pride as Juliet drove all the way to Donald's house, parked her car by the roadside and went to knock on his door. It was Alice who came to open it and for a few seconds mother and daughter stood looking at each other like they were strangers. Juliet cleared her throat and was first to speak. "You've grown, Alice. Is your father in?" "That's all you gonna say to me? Wow!" Alice clapped her hands before looking her mother from head to toe. "Sometimes I really wonder if you're indeed my mother." "I don't have time for your pep talk, Alice. You and I know we'll never be as close as Amos and I are or you and your Dad are. Now, is Donald home?" "He is." "I've come to see him." Alice merely shook her head, moved aside and later ushered her mother to the living room. Everybody was awkwardly staring at Juliet. Could it be because this was the first time she was visiting them? Donald, Alice and Lubesha all waited for her to say something and not just sit on the couch like some statue. When she spoke, she said to Donald, "Can I talk to you, in private?" "Alright," he rose and led her to his bedroom. The decor in the bedroom was nice, like the rest of the house. "Nice place you have here, Donald." "I'd like to believe you didn't come all the way here to compliment my decor, did you now?" "Of course I didn't.." She walked towards the dressing cabinet and found a photo of her and Donald which she picked up. "We looked so happy." "We were happy," Donald lightly replied and thrust his hands into his pockets. "Of course we were.. What happened to us, Donald?" "You happened," he was curt as he took his hands from his pockets and got the photo from Juliet's grip, putting it back on the cabinet. "Why are you here?" She swallowed some saliva and with it went some of her pride. "I came to tell you to come back home..our house is falling apart and so is Amos." "What do you mean?" They sat and Juliet gave Donald an account of Amos' bad behaviour. "I'm afraid if no man intervenes, Amos will end up really bad," even saying it gave her chills. "He might end up as one of these drug addicts we see around or worse still, a thug! And I don't want him to waste his life like he's doing." "Am I to think you believe I'll straighten Amos out?" "There's no harm in trying, Donald. He's our son after all." He may not often show it but Donald loved his children equally and hearing what his son had been up to tore his fatherly heart apart. "I am willing to come back-" "You're?" "Easy, Juliet. Let me finish my sentence. So, I am willing to come back but on one condition." An impatient Juliet asked, "Which is?" "That you leave Lubesha in peace. I don't want you giving him any drama, please. Just mind your own business while he minds his and we'll be fine." She was hesitant despite having thought through this already. "I believe I can do that. Hell, I can do anything for my kids! Believe it or not, Donald." "I know you love them in your own way," Donald told Juliet while caressing her cheek. She touched the hand that was doing the caressing. "I missed you." "I missed you too." And they locked lips. After dinner later that day, and after Juliet was long gone, Donald summoned Lubesha and Alice to his bedroom and informed them they were all going back to their previous home. The kids were quiet. "Say something!" said a desperate Donald. Lubesha said with a shrug, "I have no objection whatsoever. I mean, aunt and Amos are our family and the family isn't complete without them." "Thank you! Alice?" Alice scratched her scalp underneath her braids. "This was bound to happen and in as much as Amos and mum can be a thorn in the flesh at times, they are still family and as Lubesha said, the family is incomplete without them." The beam on his face was inevitable. "You two are the best!" "No, you're the best," Alice and Lubesha said in unison and went to give Donald a big hug. At that juncture, everything seemed perfect. ☆☆☆ "Drag your lazy ass out of bed!" Amos groaned and checked the time..he then covered his head with the duvet. Juliet was slowly losing her patience so she grabbed the duvet and threw it aside. She didn't care about seeing her son clad in only his boxers. "Get up, Amos!" "It's only 7 in the morning..can't I sleep for at least two hours more?" "In those two hours, your Dad, Alice and that Lubesha will be here so you better get up, clean yourself and this room!" she angrily went to open the windows. "Gosh, it smells like a brewery in here!" Amos sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. His head was pounding. "I've heard you. Now you can leave so that I can clean the room." "You better be quick!" She wanted everything to be perfect for Donald's return and that day being a holiday, Mirriam hadn't come so all the work had to be done by Juliet. Not that she was complaining, it had just been quite long since she'd woken up at 4 am and tackled so many chores within 3 hours. Amos on the other hand sipped on an energy drink as he lazily cleaned his bedroom. Was he as eager for his father, sister and cousin's return as much as his mother was? He wasn't certain. All he knew was he was old enough to do as he pleased, drinking beer and smoking weed inclusive. When Donald's van pulled up in the yard, Juliet and Amos rushed from the porch where they had been standing and went to welcome the trio. Hugs were exchanged and for the first time ever, Juliet embraced Lubesha. That embrace meant so much to Lubesha while to Juliet it was nothing more than a common hug. After all even hugs can be deadly too. Take Judas Iscariot hugging Jesus for example. Amos was taking bags out of the van and into the house when he announced, "I gotta say, I missed y'all." Donald, Lubesha and Alice beamed in unison and Alice flung herself at Amos one more time. "Silly you, we missed y'all too." There was contagious laughter as the bags were being taken into the house and Donald wrapped his arm around Juliet's shoulders as they were a few feet behind the kids. "We'll start our lives anew, right?" She smiled. "Why not? It already feels like we're starting afresh." It was a lazy Sunday morning. Lubesha had skipped church and so had Juliet, Alice and Amos. Donald was at work. Lubesha woke up early and got a broom. He had just bent down to start sweeping the kitchen floor when he heard his aunt's voice say behind him, "Give me that, I'll sweep the house. Cleaning the house isn't your job, Lubesha." He almost thought he was dreaming cause it's only in dreams where Juliet can be that reasonable. Lubesha who was too awestruck to argue reluctantly handed her the broom. Juliet got it and added, "You and Amos will work in the garden today so if he's asleep go wake him." "Um..okay." For rest of that day, Juliet treated Lubesha like her own child such that Lubesha couldn't refrain from asking her the question that had been bothering him since morning. "Why the sudden kindness towards me, aunt?" Since she had been washing plates, she washed her hands and then wiped them. Juliet turned to face Lubesha. "Don't get things twisted, dear nephew. Me being kind towards you doesn't mean we're now the ideal aunt and nephew, no. I'm simply doing all I can to keep my home and marriage stable." But as he went to his room, Lubesha assured himself that it was only a matter of time before him and his aunt became 'the ideal aunt and nephew,' as she had put it. During his free time, Donald sat Amos down and talked to him about his beer drinking, smoking of weed and other bad habits of his. "All these habits have deadly consequences, my son. Take weed for example, it renders some people mad." Amos laughed. "There's nothing funny, Amos. I'm a doctor thus I know what am talking about. Forget madness, tar and nicotine found in these cigars or weed or whatever it is you call them does more harm than good to your health." "Preach!" Juliet stuck her head into the bedroom. "Preach, Donald. Preach." Donald chuckled and said to Amos. "Let me not even get started on alcoholism and promiscuity." "Fine, Dad. Let's say I quit all this stuff, what will I be doing home?" "Who says you'll be staying home? I'll find you a job." "You will?" "I promise..but only if you're on your best behaviour." Amos was ecstatic. "I'll try." Lubesha was enrolled at a tuition centre and he solely focused on his studies. Tracy did cross his mind from time to time but he was too busy with his studies that he couldn't spare time to go looking for her. A few days before he could sit for his finals, Lubesha went back to Hillcrest. Back in Lusaka, Juliet lay in her bubble bath plotting how she was going to bring down Lubesha once and for all. Sabotaging his final exams seemed like the best and last shot she had. She mumbled to herself, "I really hope my plan won't flop this time around."

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 22. Darkness was what she was engulfed in. Never in her life had she seen such intense darkness before. How was it even possible that what seemed a desert could be that dark? She glanced over her shoulder once again and realised she was still all alone.. Hell, it seemed the world had been wiped clean of all living things and only she remained. "Where am I?" She loudly asked herself, speaking for the first time since she'd been cast into that pit of darkness. "You're where you rightfully belong," a voice replied. The voice startled Juliet who held her breath as she slowly turned only to come face to face with her late mother. She was surprised how she could make out her mother despite the darkness. "Mama? What do you mean I am where I rightfully belong?" "You're so bitter, my child. And someone who's as bitter as you're has no business living among humans." Fear gripped her at that moment. "Does this mean am dead?" Juliet scanned her surrounding once more. "Am I in hell?" "Not yet, at least," it was Janet who replied. She had just materialized beside her mother. Juliet staggered back and fought for composure. "Why am I seeing dead people?" "That doesn't matter," her father materialized beside Janet, causing Juliet to gasp in awe. "What's going on?" She inquired. "We've come to interrogate you," said her mother quietly. Janet asked, "Why are you so hell bent on seeing my son suffer? Haven't you done him enough harm already?" Juliet found herself too scared to reply as any wrong answer could bring forth dire consequences, she feared. Her seeing her dead parents and sister was definitely a bad omen. Her mother was next, "Why can't you let him be?" "Do you think you hold his destiny in your hands?" her Dad fired at her. She was outnumbered. "I get what this is about.. You all want me to leave Lubesha alone, right? Alright, I'll leave him alone." "You have to promise us you'll not interfere with his exams, Juliet. Please just let my son be." "Fine, Janet. Can you all now leave before I lose my senses?" "Oh you'll definitely lose more than your senses if you don't quit your evil plots against Lubesha," Warned her father with a stern tone. Now the trio began walking towards her, telling her to leave Lubesha alone. "Leave Lubesha alone..Leave Lubesha alone..Leave Lubesha alone.." they chanted as they neared her while she took steps back, in retreat. She stumbled upon something and began following into a bottomless pit, screaming. She awoke with a piercing scream, her blouse drenched with sweat. The voices of her dead parents and sister kept on reverberating in her head, 'Leave Lubesha alone.' "Wow," she rubbed sweat off her forehead and got out of bed to go stand in front of the mirror. Her pimples were on fire! What was the meaning of all that? She asked herself, mentally re-living the bad dream she had just awoken from. It was only evening and she wished she hadn't fallen asleep after that long bubble bath. But of one thing she was certain, she had no business sabotaging Lubesha's exams. Her safety and sanity were way more important than some opportunistic orphan's exams. ☆☆☆ Laura frowned when she saw Lubesha standing at their doorstep. "What do you want?" "Is Tracy in?" "Nope." "Um..okay," Lubesha turned to go back to his dorm but stopped in his tracks when he heard Tracy's voice say, "Who's at the door?" "No one important," replied Laura with an attitude but Tracy was already at her side. Seeing Lubesha only infuriated Tracy who wanted nothing to do with him whatsoever. He had ruined her education, she believed. "I just wanna talk to you." "I believe you and I have nothing left to say to each other." "I don't get why you're mad at me," said Lubesha calmly. "But I just wanna talk." "Fine," said Tracy begrudgingly as she signaled Laura to excuse them. "Say your piece." "I missed you," he meant it. She found the statement funny so she laughed. "You sure did miss me, or was it the sex that you missed most about me?" "Tracy! You know am not like that." "Oh please," she rolled her eyes. "Spare me the cliche. Lubesha Pondamali, you are just like every egocentric guy out there! You have sex with me once and what do you do? You go running to your buddy to tell him about it and your buddy turned out to have a big mouth and look where that landed us." "Are you insinuating Sylvester snitched on us?" "I'm not insinuating, am stating the facts. You know what, if I fail the exams, that's on you. Now just leave me the heck alone, please." "Tracy, I-" "Leave!" she shrieked before slamming the door in his face. An infuriated Lubesha stormed into his dorm where he found Sylvester getting dressed. "Are you the one who leaked the sex story?" he asked him without preamble. "What sex story?" asked an appalled Sylvester. "Don't you dare play innocent. I know you told Principal Zimba about Tracy and I thus us getting suspended." "That's absurd, you know I am no snitch, man." "Spare me that crap," scoffed Lubesha. "You know what, principal Zimba was right when she said you're a bad influence on me. I should have listened to her then." "Really?" Sylvester sarcastically said in disbelief. "Well why don't you go be friends with that bitch principal of yours cause truth be told am sick and tired of you acting all holier than thou, Lubesha. I've been friends with you since grade 9 and honestly expected better from you." "Don't you dare play victim here, Vester." Sylvester put on his favourite white vest and gave Lubesha a scornful look. "Fuck you!" That marked the end of their friendship and Lubesha was too mad to care so he said to himself, 'Screw Sylvester and Tracy. They can go kiss a live wire for all I care!' And henceforth, he put his entire focus on his exams. A month later, Lubesha went back to Lusaka after the exams were over. They were having dinner as a family in the evening when Donald asked him, "Do you think you did yourself justice? Am talking about your final exam." Lubesha smiled. "I believe I'll pass..let's leave the rest to ECZ." "That's Lubesha for us," Alice beamed, giving him a friendly poke in the ribs. Donald beamed too. Amos who cared less about Lubesha was just glad his Dad had found him a job as promised. Amos now worked as a mechanic at a reputed garage in town and was earning some decent cash. Where she was seated, Juliet knew too well Lubesha would pass and only found comfort in wishing something awfully go wrong somehow. After all there are so many educated people aimlessly wandering the streets out there, she just wished Lubesha would soon be among them. Little did she know her wish would somehow be answered sooner or later. ☆☆☆ "Can you help me with this literature homework? It's making my head pound!" Lubesha smiled as he got the book from Alice. They lay on his bed and he gladly began helping her with her homework. "This is more like composition and I believe you've read Things Fall Apart already so all you gotta do is...." She wasn't listening. Her focus was on his mouth. How his lips moved when he speak, his body language and all. She was obsessed with everything about him. "For how long have you had a crush on this cousin of yours?" "It's not a crush, Bertha. I'm kinda just infatuated with me." "Tell me about infatuation," said Bertha who could relate. She picked a nice pair of heels from the shoe rack. "I love these!" "They're nice, I'd definitely buy them if I were you," Alice encouraged her. Alice and Bertha had been best friends since grade 6 and today they were out shopping when Alice informed her friend about how she so wanted to have sex with her cousin lately. "The funny thing about infatuation," said Bertha as she decided she was buying the shoes. "It goes away once you have sex. Am speaking from experience by the way. Remember that guy that I was obsessed with last year, I'm sure you do. I had sex with him once and now want nothing to do with him. We're still friends though." "So what are you suggesting I do?" "Seduce your cousin weh." "Easy for you to say cause you don't know what Lubesha is like. He'd rather die than lay a finger on me, sexually speaking." "Don't underestimate yourself," Bertha chastised, filling her friend's head with devious advice. Unfortunately, Alice blindly heed to the advice. ☆☆☆ It was New Year's Eve, Amos was out drinking with his friends and so was Alice. Donald and Juliet had gone for dinner with David and his wife while Lubesha was home alone. He knew he wouldn't be home alone for too long cause as per tradition, the family would be back home in time to do the countdown together. Lubesha sat on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, watching one of his favourite sci-fi thriller movies when Alice walked into the living room. "You're back early," commented Lubesha whose eyes never left the t.v. "Yeah," she stood behind him where he couldn't see her and she took off her heels. "If you had friends as boring as mine were tonight, you'd have been back an hour ago." Lubesha found that funny cause she'd only been gone an hour and a half. Alice who had had a few drinks and was feeling tipsy took off her clothes so that she only was wearing an underwear and bra. Like that, she caught Lubesha offguard by jumping onto his laps, sending the bowl of popcorn flying from the couch. Startled and frantic, Lubesha tried to push her off him. "What are you doing?!" "Kiss me, Lubesha. Make me yours." "You're drunk! Get off me, Alice." Whatever he said didn't matter. Alice locked her arms around his neck and kissed him. The door chose that exact second to open and someone entered...

hmmmmmm,,,, y would Lulu giv room to temptation and who exactly rattle dem out?

why did Alice allow devil to use her against dis boy now? haba! and am sure Juliet will not take it easy wit him

Christ! The funniest thing there is that of all people,only juliet had to come in at dat particular time.

You fall into temptation

This is not funny any more

next

hmmmmm this is terrible, they may not believe u sef,I believe ur uncle do

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 23. David couldn't stop stealing glances at Juliet who easily noticed. They were having a quiet dinner with their spouses at a fancy restaurant in town. David's wife Chanda whom Juliet found to be chatty and annoying was saying, "I like your nails, Juliet. I think since you and I are both full time housewives, why don't we start hanging out more often seeing as we have a lot in common?" "That's a great idea, sweetheart. Why not?" Juliet had to force a smile. Donald noticed she wasn't happy in the least way possible so he suppressed a chuckle. Trust Juliet to think she's better than the rest and he knew that was her exact opinion about Chanda. "Why don't we have a couple of drinks?" offered David who was beginning to get bored with the arrangement. Such "dinners" weren't his thing. "I think that's a great idea," Donald replied, sounding like Juliet had only a few moments ago. They poured some wine for each other and began sipping while talking about nothing in particular. Chanda did most of the talking though. Bemba women are so primitive and talkative! thought an agitated Juliet who almost voiced out her prejudiced opinion but ended up excusing herself, saying she needed to use the loo. "Aren't you drinking more?" Donald asked Chanda when he noticed she only drank one glass of wine and quit. "She's better off sober," replied David nonchalantly. "Trust me." Chanda laughed. "He's right..." She went ahead and narrated an embarrassing and funny experience she'd had in high school after getting drunk which left Donald in stitches of laughter. It also left him wondering why David constantly complained to him about this and that, concerning her. To him, she seemed like a down to earth woman whom he'd trade for Juliet if he hadn't had Amos and Alice with her. Chanda was still laughing while narrating her tale when David's phone rang. "It's mum," he was gloomy as he announced who was calling. "I gotta take this." "Alright, sweetheart," Chanda patted his arm and urged him on. David excused himself and went outside to talk. Of course his mother was pressuring him to give her a grandchild, as usual. Immediately he was done talking on the phone and had just stashed it in his pocket, David saw Juliet leave the public toilets outside the restaurant so he rushed towards her and without preamble, pinned her against the wall and kissed her. Juliet liked the kiss but to due to the little dignity that was left in her, she pushed David away. "What are you doing?" "What I've been wanting to do since the first day I set eyes on you." he leaned in to kiss her again and she pushed him off once more. "Don't you want this, Juliet?" "I would have wanted it some time back but not anymore, David. I just got my man back and don't wanna lose him..am sorry. Just go back to your chatty wife though I'd have lost my mind by now if I were you." "Meaning?" "Bemba women have issues..thats none of my business though. Let go of my arms, David." He slowly and sheepishly let her go. "I'm sorry," she repeated and walked away, leaving him gaping at her provocative behind like a fool. David gained composure and went back to the table where Juliet and him acted like nothing had transpired between them outside. Chanda was going through her phone when she realised she had an emergency so she excused David and herself and they left, apologizing. "That was fun," said Donald honestly as he walked to the car with Juliet. "Yeah it was," she lied. They drove straight home and Donald was the one who opened the door only for them to witness incest. Alice was atop Lubesha, half dressed. And they were kissing. When the door opened, Lubesha shoved Alice aside and sprang to his feet. "What's going on here?" asked Juliet. She willed it was only the little alcohol she'd taken playing mind games with her. Alice grabbed her clothes and covered her half exposed breasts and private part. "It's Lubesha," she spoke, shaking. "He..he's been sleeping with me for a month now." "That's a lie!" Lubesha almost screamed. "Uncle, you know I'd never do such a thing. I was seated on the couch when Alice showed up drunk and the next thing I knew she'd stripped and was on top of me, begging me to kiss her. I told her she was drunk and that she should get off me, that's when she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me." he bowed his head. "That's precisely when you and aunt walked in." "He's the one who's lying, mum and Dad," Alice had no choice but to play victim. She was sorry she had to do this to Lubesha but she couldn't risk her father finding out she's the one who was trying to initiate the sex. "Lubesha brainwashed me into sleeping with him, assuring me he was just making me a woman. Prepping me for relationships." She started sobbing. Lubesha stared at her in disbelief. "Why are you lying?" "I'm not lying! We've been caught, Lubesha. At least I've admitted to sleeping with you.." "Which is a big fat lie! Why are you doing this to me, Alice?" "Enough," Juliet snapped, walking over to where Lubesha was standing and slapping him. "We should get you arrested for this!" Donald's eyes were watery as he walked towards Juliet and Lubesha. "No one is calling the police today." "Why not?" "Because I've got a better punishment for this ungrateful bastard." "Uncle-" "Shut up!" Donald bawled, grabbing Lubesha by the collar. His words were slurred as he was too angry. "After everything I've done for you? This is how you repay me? Tell me where I went wrong, Lubesha." "No where, uncle. I swear to you on my late parents' graves I've never slept with Alice. She's lying." Alice was crying now and had buried her head in Juliet's arms. She sniffed, "Why would I lie to you, Dad?" This time Donald decided to side with his child so he punched Lubesha hard in the face. "I should have done this a long time ago!" Lubesha who had landed with a thud on the couch was at a loss for words. Clearly his uncle thought he was guilty. Donald angrily stormed off to Lubesha's room and dragged his bags outside. "Leave!" Lubesha knelt before Juliet, Alice and Donald. "Please, I have nowhere else to go." "You should have thought of that before laying a finger on my daughter!" yelled Juliet. "You should be grateful Donald has a heart of gold cause I'd have gotten you arrested by now. Now if you have an ounce of shame left in you, please leave this house and never come back!" "Uncle Donald-" "Should I drag you out?" Donald rudely interrupted him. "Cause I can do that and more if that's what it takes me to get you out of my house." "No you don't," accepting his fate, Lubesha rose to his feet and grabbed his bags. One more time, he repeated, "Alice is lying." He ran into Amos on his way out. "What's going on?" "Ask your sister," and he was gone. ☆☆☆ Donald was too angry to do anything sensible so he grabbed a bottle of whiskey and began drinking his misery away. Lubesha had disappointed him like no one else had before. Juliet was consoling Alice in her (Alice's) room when she asked the unexpected. "Did he really do it?" "What do you think?" Juliet thought he didn't. Her hatred for Lubesha was strong, yes. But it didn't blind her. She knew Lubesha was too noble to even contemplate going to bed with Alice. Whatever had gotten into her daughter, she was just glad Alice was finally living up to her (Juliet's) expectations. Who would have thought Alice was the answer to her prayers? I'll finally have the last laugh, thought Juliet wryly with a smirk. Amos walked up to his father and grabbed the whiskey bottle from his grip. "You've had enough, Dad." Donald didn't protest. "Do you think he's guilty?" "If Alice says he is," Amos shrugged. "Then he is." That left Donald in tears. With his bags, Lubesha walked straight to the nearest church. The chapel was empty so he dragged his bags in and began shouting at God. "Why did you create me? Why did you put me on earth, God? So you could mock me, right? Well guess what, I'm done having hope! I'm done believing in you!" "What makes such a young man utter such bitter words?" Lubesha wiped his tears and turned. A man had just entered the chapel. "If you've been through what I have, you'd be cussing at God right now." "Which is the exact thing you're doing," replied the man who gestured towards the front pew. "Lets go take a seat." They sat. "Tell me all about your troubles, young man." Desperately craving a shoulder to lean on, Lubesha narrated his entire story to the stranger. Beginning from his mother and father's untimely deaths and ending with him being unfairly thrown out of his uncle's house. "You've been through hell, young man. Still, that doesn't give you the right to talk rudely to God. So you'll apologize to Him and be grateful you're still alive and well. Do you know how many people are in hospitals fighting for their lives and begging God to save them? Do you know how many people out there would do anything just to experience a glimpse of your life? You're alive today because God has a plan for you. My dear boy, life is not a walk in the park so it's only normal that each and everyone of us has our own portion of suffering, its part of life. What am trying to tell you is when one door closes, another one definitely opens."

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 24. FOUR YEARS LATER. ..LUBESHA.. As the plane touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Zambia, I took a deep breath and felt ecstatic. I was home. Home sweet home. After four years of working hard to earn my bachelor's degree in Journalism in Sydney, Australia, I was finally back home. Now I know I had no relatives to go to but as they say, there's no place like home. I got off the plane and booked a taxi to a cheap motel where I'd spend a few days and then look for employment. Then I'd start my life anew. But how did I end up here when my only sponsor no longer wanted to have anything to do with me? Sit back and relax while I tell my tale. ☆☆☆ That fateful night on New Year's Eve, that stranger's words really touched my soul. His words were so wise that I was left feeling like the worst sinner when he left me alone in the chapel. I was left asking myself a myriad questions concerning the unappreciative front I'd just staged in God's house thus I knelt down on my spot and begged God to forgive me. "Father, I promise never to slander your name in anyway..I promise to thank you for everything I go through, whether bad or good. Let your will be done, Father Lord.." I poured my heart out to God that evening that by the time I walked out of the chapel with my bags, the sky exploded with colour. People were lighting firecrackers and were celebrating being alive, they had every right to. "Happy New Year," I mumbled, joining a gravel road which I had no idea led where. This was the beginning of something great in my life, at least that was my wish. Safely, I ended up at a motel where I spent the night. Where would I get money to pay the bill, you might wonder? Well luckily I had an MTN mobile money account and had quite a good sum of money saved in it. You see back in school, I'd been saving as much money as possible. Even home when uncle Donald gave us money to buy stuff for ourselves, I always managed to spare some for saving. Now that money had come in handy. As I sat in the shabby room the following morning, I realised the money I'd saved was quite little to sustain me for long so I decided it was high time I went job hunting. That's exactly what I did. The first day turned out futile as I went back to the motel later, unemployed. I had my supper and knelt beside my bed, asking God for guidance. It was almost after a week that I found myself a job as an assistant in an Indian wholesale. Now everybody familiar with such wholesales knows how much workers are overworked and underpaid but I had no business complaining or being lazy, it was survival of the fittest henceforth. On my first day off, I went looking for an affordable apartment and was lucky enough to find a one-roomed house which at least had electricity supply. I was going to survive, one way or the other. I was at work one day when a workmate of mine said, "Judging from how well you speak English, I assume you've been to school and even your dresscode screams sophisticated, how did you end up here?" he spared our mean employer an ugly glare. "Working for that nightmare?" "It's life, man," was all I could say. On my first pay day, I heard on the radio that the results for the grade 12 final exams were out. I instantly began perspiring out of nervousness. I was offloading three 25 KGs of mealie meal from the truck at a go and so were the other employees, some even more, when my workmate Mark who seemed to feel pity for me for some reason asked, "You've been nervous ever since it was announced on the news that the grade 12 final exam results are out. Are you awaiting yours?" "Yeah." "I wish you all the best then, man." "Thanks." Our boss Mr. Kunal Gupta came to where we were stacking the bags and pointed a shrewd finger at Mark and I. "You idiots," he scolded in his deep Indian accent. "I don't pay you to chit chat! Come on, get to work!" "I swear I'll break that bastard's jaw one of these days," fumed Mark as we made it back to the truck. Almost everybody wanted to beat Mr. Gupta for something so I was used to people saying so. After getting my wage, I took myself for a treat and bought myself a decent meal. Once home, I made a meticulous budget and it was only after I was done that I decided to check my results via phone. Sweating like a pig as the results loaded, I prayed to God to not fail me. Time stopped when I saw them results and the next thing I knew, I was jumping for joy. "I've passed! I've passed! I've passed!" I'd scored six points, had cleared all my subjects with a first distinction. The following day as I was off work, I made an effort to pay uncle Donald a visit. His car was home when I arrived so I took a breath of relief as that indicated he too was home. It was Alice who opened the door after I knocked. "Lubesha," she uttered, obviously not pleased to see me. "What are you doing here?" "You afraid I'll expose your lies, cuz? Don't worry, I just wanna see uncle and speak with him. Is he in?" Her response was hesitant."Yes.. Why do you want to see him?" "Just know it has nothing to do with you framing me.." In the end, she allowed me in. I sat in the living room as she went to fetch him from his bedroom. Wasn't it ironic how I'd become a mere visitor in what I'd once called home? Anyway, life can be full of irony at times. Uncle showed up and sat without greeting me, I greeted him though and he begrudgingly replied saying he was doing fine. "What brings you here?" "This.." I handed him my phone which had my results on the screen. "You passed," he said with simplicity. "Congratulations." "Thanks," I got the phone back after he handed it to me. Uncle crossed his legs and intently stared at me. "What now?" This was awkward. Somehow I thought him seeing how good my results were would soften his heart but clearly that wasn't the case. I heard myself say, "Do you believe I did it? Sleep with Alice?" "Does it matter what I believe? Why are you even bringing this up, Lubesha? I don't see any reason why Alice would make up such a grave lie. Alice who's sided with you in almost everything ever since you arrived from Kampala almost five years ago." He was right. I'd have also believed my daughter over my nephew if I were in his shoes. He was saying, "I hold no grudge against you so am wishing you all the best in life, don't let your hard work go in vain.." he paused. "You have to leave, lest Juliet shows up and stages a scene. God knows I won't be able to stop her." "It was nice seeing you," I stood and began walking out when he opted to remain silent. Alice who had been obviously eavesdropping on my conversation with uncle Donald showed up at my side and walked me outside. I said to her as soon as we were out of earshot, "I just pray you won't have to pay a hefty price for what you're putting me through." She sighed. "You don't have to make me feel any more guilty than I am already," and slammed the door in my face. During a lunch break at work one day, Mark said to me. "I'm guessing you aced your exams." "Yeah..6 points." "Congrats!" he gave me a brotherly punch on the shoulder. "What plans have you for the future?" I looked at the bread roll I was having for lunch and shrugged. "I'm not certain, I have no sponsor." "My cousin had no sponsor too but he's in China studying medicine as I speak to you right now." "How?" "Ever heard of bursary? I'm sure you have.. There's this place in town where they offer 100% bursary to people who do as extremely well as you did. All you have to do is give them a sob story and you'll have your full scholarship." "Sob story?" I was immensely interested. "Any ideas?" "Tell them you're an orphan or something." "I am an orphan," I quietly told him. "Oh.." he looked sorry. "I didn't know.. I apologise for being insensitive, man." "It's fine." It was almost a month later when I gathered enough bus fare to cater for my trip to Livingstone, to and fro. "You've come alone," said Principal Zimba after I was seated. "Hope all is well." "All is well..I'm just old enough to come here alone, I guess." I hated lying to her. Principal Zimba was all smiles as she handed me my statement of result. "I'm so happy for you. I always knew you'd make it, my boy. In the end, hard work always pays off!" she then showered me with blessings which I wholeheartedly accepted. Back in Lusaka and with Mark's help, I went to the agency and applied for a bursary. To cut a long story short, I got the bursary and was sent to Australia to study a course of my choice. As you all are aware by now, I always aspired to become a reporter of some sort one day so I chose Journalism. ☆☆☆ Now back in Zambia, my next step was to apply for a job. I developed a habit of going through newspapers for job ads and when I finally found what I was looking for, wrote an application letter and attached all necessary documents. The company I applied to was among the most successful newspaper companies in the country. I received feedback a few days later...

hmmmmm congratulations I'm so happy for you, Alice case I don't know what to say yet

congrats man. Alice nd her mum will not go Scot free

Humm i'm totally disappionted in alice bt anyways i didn't expect any beta frm bt am glad wat she did didn't shatter lubesha's dream he made it! and i pray he finds a good well paid job while we wait for the truth to unravel.

Many things did happened already, whichever way it happened. One thing is certain, julieth never stopped being the most wicked heartless ever in this scenerio when her hatred for lubesha was too much.

Principal zimba did a good job by maintaining her integrity so long with her discipline attitudes. Even though she could have reduced the punishment lubesha and tracy having sex. She's still that nice one who did kindness to lubesha.

Whatever reason there's no reason for julieth to hate janeth and lubesha, julieth already had hatred in her before those incidents. In what begat what she begat amos who resembles her. Somehow, it's looking like amos is changing a little by little these days.

thank God for Ur life now,,, dey will start looking for u now to ask for Ur forgiveness

What makes appreciation so hard in these moments when donald took another side, ignoring that of lubesha. No matter what has happened recently in this family. There's still this appreciation for donald who picked him up when her aunt rejected him. His education was moving ahead with donald by his side.

Alice has come a long way in caring for her intelligent cousin who is lubesha her friendly cousin. Lubesha wasn't what the friend of alice had wanted, neither was alice. One thing or the other happened in the mind of alice that made her to misbehave which she regrets. GOD CARES FOR LUBESHA as he keeps on succeeding.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 25. "Hey buddy, you look gloomy. What's up?" Amos looked away from the beer he was drowning himself in for a while and spared his friend a glance. "Take a seat and we'll talk," he said. His friend and workmate Mazuba sat beside Amos in the bar and ordered a big bottle of Black Label. "Talk to me," he told Amos, opening the bottle using his teeth. Amos downed some more beer and burped. "I'm useless." "Continue saying that and you'll actually be exactly useless. What makes you even utter such strong words about yourself if I may ask?" It was an issue which had been troubling Amos for almost a year now. His pitiful state and how he still lived with his parents, under his parents' roof to be technical, was blasphemous. At the age of 23! Not that there's a problem with that but Amos did see one though. He wanted to be independent but how would he achieve independence if his wage was too little? Remember Donald had found him a job at a garage four years back? Well, Amos had screwed up by stealing an expensive metal from a car he'd been assigned to fix and when he was caught and arrested, Donald paid bail for him. Not without chastising him. "I am ashamed to call you my son!" Donald had yelled once they were home. "I find you a job and this is how you show appreciation..stealing from a client?" "The salary I get is low, Dad," Amos had shamelessly tried to defend himself. "You know that's bullshit, Amos. And save it for interested people like your mother for example." "Eh," Juliet had hurriedly stuck her head from the kitchen where she was preparing a meal. "Please leave me out of your conversation!" "See?" Donald pointed out to Amos. "Even your own mother is slowly turning her back on you when all along she's been the one encouraging you to do stupid things. If she says jump, you'd ask how high. Now listen to me and listen good, I did my part and now am done," Donald actually washed his hands in mid air. "I'm done with you, Amos. Good luck finding a decent job without my help..what with those 9s you got on your grade 9 exams..ha!" Amos who was too big headed to apologize or show remorse had simply walked out on his father and since then had never been able to find a stable job. He'd go from working at a car wash, to tending to people's lawns in the suburbs and the likes and now he worked as a ndaka boy(Guys who mix cement with water at building sites) at a certain building site. He occasionally even made blocks and Donald who was too busy with work and tending to Alice's school fees cared less. Alice was studying Human Resource Management at NIPA. Now Amos looked scruffy and looking at him always brought pain to Juliet who had several times tried talking to Donald. "He's your son, our son.. Why can't you just forgive him and find him something decent to do cause I know you can pull that off if you want," Juliet would say and Donald would retort, "So that he can embarrass my name, no way!" "Donald, please." "Juliet, he's your son too so why don't you go look for a job for him yourself? At a Beauty Parlour maybe." "Don't insult my son and I, please." And the conversation would come to an end. Now back at the bar, Amos was wallowing in self pity wondering what he'd do next cause he definitely didn't plan to be making blocks and mixing cement and water for the rest of his life. Mazuba assuringly said, "You know you can talk to me, right?" "Yeah, bruv..God, this is hard," Amos ran hands across his face. "It's my job, am not happy with it." "You think I am? Hell no! But we ought to be grateful for the little we have so who am I to complain?" With a shrug, Mazuba began gulping down his Black Label and focused his eyes on the football match showing on T.V. "Cheer up, Amos." But Amos couldn't cheer up. Why would he when there's this cute girl he was crushing on and single glance at her told him he wasn't her type. A person like Mazuba wouldn't understand this. To Amos, Mazuba was one of those people that don't dream big. Those people that seem too content with the little that they have. That wasn't how Amos was, he told himself. He liked to dream big and to prove his father and the odds wrong, he promised to better himself come what may. ☆☆☆ Lubesha's heart was thumping as he opened the e-mail. For a while he even shut his eyes and as had become his norm lately, offered God a short prayer. Once again, Lubesha's prayers had been answered. He'd scooped himself a spot as a newspaper reporter at the reputed news agency, just like that. He gave Mark a call and told him they hook up for drinks. "I am truly happy for you, man. You deserve everything after all your hard work!" Mark beamed as Lubesha ordered their favourite drinks. "Thanks, Mark. It's you I ought to thank seeing as you're the one who introduced me to that scholarship agency, I'll forever be indebted to you." Mark who currently was unemployed smiled. "You don't owe me anything..Let's just say God used me to fulfill your destiny." Friends like Mark are rare, this Lubesha knew and for this reason he was going to cling to him and somehow repay him in one way or another for all he'd done for him. A few days before reporting for work, Lubesha decided to pay his aunt and uncle a visit and ask for their blessings. He already felt guilty for not seeking their blessings before leaving for Australia. And four years had passed since the Alice incidence so he only hoped they'd forgiven him or at least Alice's conscience had finally prompted her to tell the truth. Lubesha put on his best clothes and wore an expensive cologne he'd managed to purchase in Sydney. He was looking as handsome as he could at his best when he left his new apartment and booked a taxi to drive him to his uncle's place. He only hoped they'd not moved. He breathed a sigh of relief as he got off the taxi and saw Juliet reading a novel on the porch. She was too engrossed in the book to see him. With a little humour, Lubesha read the author and title of the book aloud, "If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon.." he added, "Great book." A startled Juliet leaped to her feet and a scream caught in her throat. Her facial expression was that of someone who's seen a ghost. "Lubesha?" She eyed him from head to toe. "You've been missing in action for years such that I thought you're dead or something." she'd been secretly wishing he was indeed dead. Gaining composure, she crossed her arms and scowled. "What do you want? Have you come to rub your success in our faces?" "Actually, it's the opposite. I've come to seek your blessings instead." Juliet laughed, mockingly of course. "What makes you think we'd give them to you, huh?" Lubesha patiently said, "I was just hoping.. Anyway, is uncle around?" "He's out of town. Now leave my house and never come back." The door opened just then and Alice showed up in the doorway. She too looked like she'd seen a ghost. "Lubesha? You..You look great." "You don't look bad either." Alice sheepishly said, "Please come in." Lubesha looked at Juliet who was shooting daggers at him so he said, "Pass. Just tell uncle am back from Australia where I went to study Journalism and I came to ask for his blessings seeing as I'm starting work in a few day's time. I'll be back though. Have a nice day, aunt and Alice." It was long after Lubesha was gone that Juliet found her voice. "Did he just say Australia?" "Yeah..what's wrong with him going abroad?" Everything! Wanted to scream Juliet but she forced a smile and sat, opening the novel. "Nothing." On his way back to his apartment, Lubesha spotted someone who looked like Amos. It took him a long time to finally decide it was indeed him so he told the driver to stop. Lubesha got out of the car and called, "Amos?" Amos turned and came face to face with his cousin. "Lubesha?" Lubesha was looking and smelling great while Amos was the total opposite. He was dirty, looked stressed and could easily be mistaken for a thug or something. Amos took one long look at Lubesha and took to his heel, leaving Lubesha calling after him. Amos ran like he was being chased by a murderer when in actual sense he was just too embarrassed to face Lubesha. Where he stood, Lubesha shook his head in shock. "That was odd." ☆☆☆ The fourth test in a roll came out positive and as usual, Juliet dumped it in frustration. She knew she was overreacting but had every right to. It's not everyday a 45 year old woman falls pregnant, is it? A woman who has a 23 year old son and 21 year old daughter. It was a shame. And she had been pregnant three times before so she knew she definitely was this around. She washed her face and looked at herself in the mirror. Her pimples would definitely multiply now that she was expecting, she feared. She popped one and winced. As she left the bathroom, she muttered, "Crap. I gotta tell Donald." And tell him she did later that night. Speak of dropping a bomb on someone's head, that's how she did it. Donald was tucking himself under the sheets when she announced, "Am pregnant." He gave her a long stare. "Who's the father?" "What sort of stupid question is that? You of course." "No.." He slowly shook his head. "I am 99.9 percent certain am not the father so kindly do me the honour of telling me who knocked you up." Juliet began perspiring. How could he tell the baby wasn't his? Was he some witch doctor or something?

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 26. ~Everybody has a tale to tell~ How Juliet ended up pregnant was quite complicated and she didn't even know where to begin from so she decided to play dumb and insist the baby was Donald's. She even went as far as shedding crocodile tears. "Are you indirectly accusing me of being adulterous, Donald?" "I didn't say that, Juliet, so quit putting words in my mouth," argued an upset Donald. Juliet sniffed. "Then who are you suggesting knocked me up if not you?" "You tell me." "You know what," she wiped her tears in frustration and got out of bed. "I can't believe you're acting this immature! Screw you, Donald." She grabbed her car keys and adjusted her robe while Donald silently watched. She later wore nice slippers and was hurrying out of the room when Donald mocked, "Going to pay your baby daddy a visit? You might as well tell him how busted you are..In fact, I reckon he starts looking for a place for you to move into." Juliet shot her husband a spiteful look and flashed him her middle finger. "Fuck you, Donald Musongo." All Donald could do was laugh. Meanwhile Juliet rushed to her car and got in. She hit the steering wheel in anger multiple times, not caring that she was hooting in the process. Was Donald playing mind games with her or something? Was this what they call reverse psychology? Well, she wasn't going to let him break her. Meanwhile inside the house, Donald got out of bed and stood before the mirror, something he rarely did. He looked at his 49-year-old reflection in the mirror and wondered if he was a bad man for keeping such a huge secret from his wife for so many years. FLASHBACK... Donald was sweating like a pig as he sat in the doctor's office awaiting his lab results. When the results were finally given to him and he took one single glance at them, a tear dropped down his face. He had prostate cancer. As the male doctor apologized and told him about his cancer and how it could be treated through surgery, Donald's focus wandered off and all he could think about were the consequences. Infertility being one of them. He had two children already but would have loved to have more. This cancer had just shattered everything for him. The doctor was saying, "...we can begin the procedure as soon as possible. We ought to be grateful the cancer is in it's early stage so-" Donald abruptly sprang to his feet and left, leaving the concerned doctor calling his name. Not to worry, Donald wouldn't do something stupid. He wasn't suicidal as he loved his life way too much and he was even grateful to the heavens it's only prostate cancer that he'd been diagnosed with. People have worser diseases like leukaemia, a brain tumour, bone or blood cancer and the likes. He was going to fight this. "Alone," he decided as he drove home. He didn't want to worry Juliet as she could tend to make a fuss about certain things. She was his wife quite alright and had every right to know everything about him but due to reasons only known to himself, he knew he'd be unable to tell her lest she makes him feel more sick than he was. "How did the test go?" She asked as soon as he arrived home. "Fine," he lied and kissed her. Juliet frowned. "Fine? That doesn't explain you having trouble urinating or ejaculating, does it?" "It's nothing to worry about, Juliet. It's just stress and as a doctor myself, I'm telling you I'll be fine in no time. And don't you worry, I don't have any STD." She had been worried he had one but her faith in Donald had convinced her otherwise. He wasn't the "cheating" type so she relaxed and kissed him too. "Thank God! I feared the worst..." ☆☆☆ At the bar and quite tipsy after all the several drinks he had had, Amos finally mustered the courage to approach the notorious gang of three seated at a reserved table. There were two vacant seats so Amos staggered his way there and said, "Can I take a seat?" The only female in the gang shot him a disgusted look. She had piercings and tattoos all over her body. "Are you talking to us, punk?" "Yeah." "What do you want?" Asked one of the scariest looking guys Amos had ever laid eyes on. Amos played brave. "To talk..and join you guys." he swallowed. "Join your gang." "Do you know us or what we do?" Asked the other guy. "Buddy, if you love your teeth I reckon you bounce and kick rocks right away before I mop the floor with your sorry face!" "Easy..yoh," the female intervened. "He's got balls, I like him." "Here we go again," the scary guy rolled his eyes in a girly way and gulped his drink. Amos sat after the female gave him a go ahead. Two hours later, he found himself getting a tattoo on his arm and getting his left ear pierced. The female whose name was Lily stood in the doorway smiling, she'd finally scooped herself some eye candy. She was going to groom Amos just the way she liked them and make him her lover.. Just the mere thought of all the fun she was going to have with him made her stomach jitter. On the other hand Amos had second thoughts about what he was doing but knew too well bailing out at this juncture would prove to be lethal. He was already in too deep. Anyway, his plan was to make some cash and then bail. Things couldn't go wrong, could they? For his first job, Lubesha had to go to Chisamba where an accident had just occured a few minutes back. When he arrived in Chisamba by van, the company's van, he rushed to the accident scene where a Juldan bus was flipped over and there was blood, debris from the bus and torn clothes and flesh lying everywhere. Other news agencies were on their way so he hurriedly flashed his Identity card to the police and took pictures. He later interviewed some onlookers. Surprisingly the following morning, his report made headlines. Slowly, people were beginning to know his name. Lubesha Pondamali, reporting. It was so exhilarating to seat in his apartment and stare at the newspaper, at his words, while sipping on coffee. Things were finally happening. Bit by Bit. ☆☆☆ "This whore," mumbled an angry Juliet as she tried David's line for the hundredth time in a few minutes and her call went unanswered once again. This forced her to text him, threatening to go running to his wife and telling her about their relationship. David who had been ignoring Juliet's calls on purpose texted her back saying they should meet. He sent her the address. "Where are you going?" Chanda asked him. "This late?" "I just recalled there's something I have to take care of at the office, sweetheart. I'll be back within an hour..I promise." "Alright," she kissed his lips. "Drive safely. I love you." "I love you more." Without changing his pyjamas, David grabbed his car keys and left. He felt immensely guilty for cheating on a woman as understanding and loyal as Chanda was. It baffled him how a woman could dedicate her life to an infertile man. When David arrived at the agreed spot, he found Juliet's car already parked there. He parked his besides hers and got out, so did she. "What's so urgent that you had to drag me out of my cosy house this late?" "You think am happy being here, David?" She too sounded just as impatient as him so she didn't bother beat around the bush. "I'm pregnant." "What a bluff..shouldn't you be telling Donald?" "I told him but it's only right that I tell the rightful father, isn't it?" "Lady, I don't know what you're playing at but please leave me out of this. We only slept with each other once, remember?" "Yeah, and it takes once to fall pregnant." "Not when you use protection," David retorted. "We used a condom, Juliet." "Who says condoms offer full protection?" Juliet argued. She was desperate. David on the other hand was confused and wished for one second the child was truly his but being a doctor himself and a staunch believer of Science, he knew his sperm count was too low and weak to produce a baby. A certified medical doctor had told him that never in his life would he have a child. "I'm not supposed to be telling you this," he told Juliet. "But you've left me with no other choice so here we go... I'm infertile, Juliet." Juliet felt like a bomb had just been dropped on her. David said, "So clearly that baby isn't mine. Go home and convince your husband he's the father." he pecked her cheek and added as he got into his car, "I only hope you do know the father." Juliet arrived home in shock and went straight to the bedroom where she found Donald wide awake. "So, you found the father? What'd he say?" "I went to clear my head, Donald. And am telling you for the last time that you're the father." "Really?" he scoffed, getting out of bed and taking his medical reports from the drawer. Juliet had been gone long enough for him to drive to the hospital and bring home his reports which he now handed to Juliet. "I hope you've not lost your ability to read as you've lost the truth telling one." "You lied to me!" Juliet exploded. "You had prostate cancer and have kept this a secret for so many years? How could you?" "I accept I was wrong but unlike you I don't screw people am not married to so start talking before I kill you, Juliet. Cause I swear I will if you don't talk." His eyes told her he was angry enough to commit murder. She sighed and tears fell. Inwardly, she said, 'This is going to be embarrassing.'

hmmmmm new development abi

Hahaha i cnt laff sowi 4 de cancer of donald

Make u no tell me say na amos get the belle

Who get the pikin? Did the holy spirit visit her

who impregnated you then

so who did Juliet sleep with??? its only David we know dat is hitting on her

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 27. ~The past always catches up with us~ A few years earlier... After so many years, Juliet finally laid eyes on the man who had scarred her for life. The man who had mercilessly raped her and murdered her unborn baby while at it. She had been having a smoothie with David when she spotted her rapist whom she lost sight of as soon as she'd laid eyes on him. That experience shook her immensely and as if that weren't enough, she saw another man from her past a few days later. Juliet had been taking a nap one fateful day when her phone rang, her ringtone told her it was Donald calling as his was specific. Begrudgingly, she picked up. "Yes?" "Don't tell me you're sleeping?" "Yes I am, Donald. What is it?" "I'm bringing two people over so please prepare us something to eat." "Is that all?" She yawned as she got off the bed to stretch herself. "Yeah," Donald agreed. "Just be quick." "Okay." They told each other how much they loved one another and hang up. Juliet lazily dragged her feet to the kitchen and took chicken out of the freezer and placed it in the microwave to defrost. She then got her phone, went to music player and plugged headsets into her ears. She didn't care that she was home alone, she knew the house was safe. Besides, the kids weren't knocking off from school anytime soon. She hummed and sang along to different songs as she chopped carrots, onions and tomatoes. Once done, she began peeling potatoes and slicing them into cubes. Over an hour later, she'd prepared potato salads, rice, grilled chicken and had even set the table. Donald and his visitors arrived a few minutes later and in the spirit to welcome them, she went to the porch. That's when she saw him and her jaw dropped. Christopher, her first love and first everything on the other hand only spotted her as he, David and Donald approached the porch. They locked eyes. David was first to notice how they stared at each other. "You two know each other from somewhere?" Hurriedly, Juliet replied, "No..Welcome. Please come in." Christopher would have agreed he knew her but decided to play along with her charade. Donald too beckoned they go into the house as Juliet ushered them straight to the dining table where they all sat, her inclusive. "You're a life saver," Donald told her with pride. "We're starving and have something urgent to tend to so thanks." "Am just doing my job, sweetheart." she emphasized the word 'sweetheart' and shot Chris an eye dagger as she sipped on the juice she'd just poured for herself. Donald noticed the tension between her and Chris and asked, "You sure you two don't know each other?" "No.." it was Chris who replied this time around. "I just have that face that everybody thinks they've seen somewhere. The familiar kinda face." "I bet you do," scoffed Juliet. And then, "Let's eat." she dished out for the men. "This food is finger licking good," complimented David honestly. "You're a great cook, Juliet. Donald is a lucky man." "Thanks, a few would actually believe that," Juliet blushed while Donald beamed and said, "So are you a lucky man too, David. Chanda's one hell of a great cook. The lunch she brings you is superb." They talked about random stuff as they ate while Juliet wondered how Chris was related to either Donald or David. Chris on the other hand couldn't believe Juliet the village chicken was living the life of a queen cause clearly Donald treated her like one while he(Chris) was unemployed and currently squatting at his half sister and her husband's house. Juliet cleared the table and was serving chocolate cake for dessert when David said, "Have we introduced Chris to you, Juliet?" "No." "Pardon our bad manners," Chris said, staring from David to Juliet. "Should have been the hunger." he chuckled and offered to shake her hand. "Am Christopher Shamabanse but everybody calls me Chris. Am David's brother in-law by the way." She forced a smile and shook his hand. "Am Mrs. Juliet Musongo and people call me Amake Amos(Amos' mother), Mrs. Musongo or just Juliet. But please never call me Julie cause my first boyfriend used to call me that and I hated it." "Noted," their handshake was brief. After serving dessert, Juliet rushed to the bathroom and locked herself in. She leaned against the door and wondered what game fate was playing with her. First her rapist appeared at a shopping mall and now the man who'd hurt her countless times and yet she couldn't bring herself to loathe him as he deserved? Yes, what she felt for Chris was what they call love-hate, if at all there's such a thing. She had tried hard to hate and convince herself that she indeed hated everything about Chris but seeing him today looking as handsome as ever made her heart flutter. "I'm not supposed to be feeling this way," she loudly told herself. "I'm not." On their way from Donald's house to their destination, Chris paid no particular attention to David and Donald's conversation. It had hurt him to see Juliet looking happy and satisfied with life while he on the other hand could pass for a nomad with the way he was moving from house to house. Like the way he was leaving his half sister's house for Ndola the following day. If he could do something to ruin Juliet's marriage, he would jump for the opportunity which apparently presented itself many years later. ~Five months prior to Juliet's getting busted~ Juliet received a call from a strange number one morning as she was washing Donald's and her clothes. The maid was around but Juliet lately preferred to do her husband's and her laundry. When the phone rang, she wiped her hands and checked the caller ID. The call was unknown. She picked up anyway. "Hello.." "Juliet, it's Chris." She felt chills run down her spine. "Yes, Chris. Are you stalking me?" "Nope." "Then how do you explain you calling me right now?" "Let's just say I stole your line from David's phone..By the way, I've seen you two kiss before." The nerve of the bastard. "Am I to assume you're blackmailing me, Chris?" "Kinda." "What's the catch?" "You of course." She burst out laughing. "I thought am damaged goods to you, Chris. And what makes you think I'd be dumb enough to fall for your empty threats?" "Check your whatsapp," he hang up. With shaking fingers, Juliet turned on her mobile data and opened her whatsapp. The first message was from an unsaved line. 'Here's the proof of how unfaithful you're to your husband???' below followed a string of pics of her and David kissing. She recalled the scene pretty well and even though her and David were yet to get intimate, the pics were incriminating enough to ruin her marriage so she angrily gave Chris an audio call. "Wazzup?" he picked up in a playful tone. Juliet was stern. "I'll sleep with you once if you promise to delete all evidence against me and disappear from my life. Kindly crawl back to the damn hole you've been hiding in all along, Chris!" "I'll try." Several hours later, Juliet found herself at a lodge where Chris was hungrily waiting to screw her. No sooner did she enter the room than he pounced on her, aggressively undressing her. The sex was so rough it might as well pass for rape, just the way the maniac liked it. "We can't do this again," Juliet said as she got dressed. "Yeah we can't," conquered Chris. They ended up defying their own agreement as they had three more sexual encounters in the next few months. ☆☆☆ Amos, Lily, the scary looking guy Bruno and the other guy Bruce were seated in an unfinished building. Amos knew those weren't their real names but he didn't bother asking. What mattered was he was in the gang now. Lily handed him a packet of white stuff and said, "This will be your first assignment, to deliver this to one of our clients." Amos swallowed and was hesitant to collect. "Come on," nudged Bruce, "don't tell me you didn't have an ounce of a clue as to what you was getting yourself into." "I did have a clue. I just didn't know I'd be doing such stuff this soon. I mean-" "Do you want to be in our gang?" Bruno cut him short."Yes or no?" "Yes." "Then do as you're told," scolded Lily who handed him a pistol."For your protection." She later gave him the address where he was to meet the client. Amos was shaking from head to toe as he made it to the agreed spot which was in a secluded area. I can bail and go to the police or something, he thought in fear. He was afraid things would spiral out of proportion sooner than expected. The client turned out to be a smartly dressed man in his early 40s. He'd brought with him a Jeep which he was leaning against when Amos arrived. "Hey.." Amos nervously introduced himself, glancing over his shoulder. "The package?" the man didn't smile. "Oh," Amos removed it from his pocket and handed it to the man who grabbed it and pocketed it. He turned to unlock the Jeep. "My money, please?" The client slowly turned, "Go and tell your boss I have no money." Lily had strictly told him not to go back without the money so he pressed, "Give me my money!" In a swift move, the client produced a gun and aimed it at Amos' forehead. "Why don't I shoot you right now?" "Because I'll shoot you first," Amos tactfully produced the gun Lily had given him and without second thought, pulled the trigger. ☆☆☆ Now she was pregnant and her former teacher/lover/ex-husband/whatever other complicated relationships Juliet shared with him was the father and had been missing in action for weeks now. Not that that was the biggest issue at hand seeing as she had some explaining to do. "Answer me, Juliet!" spoke Donald through gritted teeth and while shedding tears, Juliet edited the story as to how she was pregnant. In fact, she twisted it and told her husband Chris had raped her and threatened to murder Amos and Alice if she told anyone. "Why don't I believe you?" "Because you don't feel like believing me, that's why." "And why should I be obliged to believe whatever crap comes out of your mouth, Juliet? I at least deserve to be told the truth, you know." "Am telling you the truth!" "I don't believe you, I'm sorry." Donald made a decision that night and presented Juliet with divorce papers the following day. "If you have any dignity left in you, Juliet, you'll sign these papers." She felt too guilty to cling to this marriage. She was a terrible person and knew Donald deserved better. "So this is it for us? Our end?" She asked, twirling a pen between her fingers. "I guess so." She shut her eyes and signed. What she didn't know was that she was walking out of her marriage literally empty handed.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 28. He shivered with regret as soon as he pulled the trigger and closed his eyes, awaiting blood to spatter all over his face and when it didn't, he opened his eyes and was actually relieved to see the client standing right before him, unscathed. The gun had blanks. Applause broke out behind him and when he turned, Amos saw Lily's silhouette approach them. "You've passed the test," she said with simplicity. "The test?" Amos was baffled. "Yeah, bruv," the so called client wrapped a hand around his shoulders. "Lily and I were just testing you..see if you've got balls for the kind of life we lead." "You guys wanted to see if I've got balls by making me pull the trigger? For one second I actually thought I'd committed murder, you know." Lily retorted, "But you haven't so cheer up." Amos was furious but couldn't vent out his anger on anyone. They'd played him and expected him to be cool with it? These people were sick, of this he was certain. What he wasn't certain of was how he was going to get himself out of the hot mess he'd gotten himself into by associating with a bunch of psychos. Lily urged him to get into the Jeep which he did and they sat together in the backseat while the client whose name turned out to be Clyde, if that was his real name at all, took the wheel. "We'll go celebrate your initiation into the gang, just you and me," Lily told Amos, eyeing him seductively. Amos merely nodded in response. He was shaken by him pulling the trigger a couple minutes back. He couldn't seem to stop himself from wondering what would have happened had the gun been loaded. When they got to the hotel where Amos and Lily were dropped off by Clyde, they booked a room and Lily ordered the hotel's finest wine. She opened the bottle as soon as it was delivered to their room. She poured the wine into two wine glasses and handed one to Amos who was standing by the window looking at the starry sky. "Beautiful view, ain't it?" He murmured in agreement. "Drink," Lily urged him and he drank. "I know how you're feeling," she finally said after a few minutes of silence. Amos turned to face her. "Do you?" "Trust me, I do. You're wondering what would have happened had that gun been loaded. Well, all I'll tell you is you don't have to worry because neither of us enjoy this kind of life. We're all just victims of circumstances and in as much as we're messed up, we have to learn to love ourselves first..maybe then the world can love us too. We do what we do because we've got no choice." He had had a choice. Had he worked harder in school years back, maybe he'd have been someone better in life today. He recalled his R.E teacher telling him he'd become a beggar which was no better than becoming a criminal if you ask him. "Stop beating yourself over matters you can do nothing about," Lily said, wrapping her arms around Amos' waist. Amos sighed and asked her a question he'd been wanting to ask all night long though it was almost dawn now. "Have you ever murdered anyone?" "Do you really wanna know the answer to that question?" He found himself shaking his head. "Not anymore." he'd gotten his answer already. They looked deep into each other's eyes and knew they'd fallen in love. Yes, love can happen that fast. They locked lips and soon clothes were flying all over the place and before they knew it, they were having crazy sex on the floor, beside the comfy bed. It was past 11 A.M when Amos awoke and not wanting to wake Lily who was sleeping like a baby, he left a note saying he was going home to freshen up. Amos went straight to his room after arriving home and threw himself on the bed. He couldn't get Lily out of his head. He was still thinking about her when there came a knock on the door. He opened it. "What's with the piercing?" Alice almost gasped. "I'm a grown ass man," Amos was curt. "How may I help you, ma'am?" "Dad and mum wanna talk to us in the living room." "What about?" "I don't know, Amos." "Your father and I are getting divorced," Juliet told her children once they were seated in the living room. Alice and Amos were both shocked but it was Alice who asked, "Why?" Donald opened his mouth and was on the brink of saying something when Juliet blurted out, "Because I'm pregnant and your father isn't the father of the baby am carrying." "Wow," uttered a flabbergasted Alice. "I don't oppose. I'd definitely divorce you if I was Dad." "Alice, have manners," Donald scolded. Amos loved his mother with all his heart but was disappointed and disgusted by what she'd just told them so he said, "Alice is just saying the truth, Dad." ☆☆☆ Once the divorce was finalised, Juliet left the house she'd spent almost two decades and a half in. With no place to go, all she did was wander around with her bags. She had money to lodge at some motel for a few weeks but what would she do once she ran out of it? A feeling of deja vu swept through her as she wandered with her bags, this time headed to a clinic. She'd called Chris several times and his line had been unreachable all the times she'd called so she had called Chanda who had been baffled to hear Juliet asking about her brother. "It's nothing to worry about," Juliet had said in assurance. "There's just something I wanna tell him." "He's not in the country and isn't coming back any time soon so if it's really urgent, I reckon you tell me what you'd like to tell him. I'll pass the message to him." "I think it's fine. Thanks," she had hang up and had decided to terminate the pregnancy. Her phone rang as she neared the clinic. "Yes, Amos?" "Where are you?" "By the clinic, why?" "Don't do anything dumb," said Amos sternly and asked she give him the name of the clinic which she did. "Am coming to pick you up." Amos picked Juliet up and took her to a two- bedroomed house he'd just rented. "You and I will be staying here together henceforth." Juliet scanned the empty house. "Where did you get the money to rent such a place?" "Quit asking questions and know that I'll never desert you like Alice and Dad have done. You're my mother and have done so much for me thus it's my duty and turn to repay you for your hard work. And oh, you ain't killing that little sibling of mine growing inside you." "No am not," tears began to flow and she hugged Amos. She then allowed herself to completely break down and Amos let her cry on his shoulder while rubbing her back soothingly. The divorce had taken a toll on Donald and he took to the bottle. For a full month, Alice watched her father find solace in alcohol and she tried talking him out of it. Telling him not to ruin his life because the person he was trying to do it for wasn't worth it in the first place anyway. "You have me, Dad," she assured him. "Now focus on your work and forget about mum. And please quit blaming yourself for how your marriage turned out because none of this was your fault. It's all on mum, you hear? It's all on her!" Her words went in vain as Donald continued to heavily drink. Unable to take his behaviour no more, Alice went in seek of Lubesha and when she finally found his place, hugged him as soon as he opened the door. "Is everything okay, Alice?" "Nothing's okay," she cried. "Things have fallen apart, Lubesha." Lubesha ushered her into his house and offered her a glass of juice. "What's going on?" he asked, seating beside her. Alice wiped her tears and complimented his house first. And then she said, "Do you know mum and dad got divorced almost two months ago?" "No," the news came as a shock to him. He had been too engrossed in his work to know what was going on in his relative's lives. "Why?" Alice told him why and added, "Am here because of Dad though. Lubesha, if Dad carries on with his heavy drinking, am afraid the worst will happen," she took a sip of the juice. "Since me talking to him hasn't helped one bit, I was hoping he'd listen to you. Please come talk some sense into him." "Of course," Lubesha agreed. "What did you tell him?" Alice asked Lubesha a week later as they left the hospital premises where Donald was talking to a psychologist. "I simply stated the facts of life to him, focusing on you. You still need him." "Thanks," Alice said with honesty. "It worked." "It sure did." As they stood by the roadside awaiting a taxi, guilt gripped Alice. The fact that she'd gotten him thrown out of their house years back still haunted her but she'd learnt to live with the guilt. Somehow convincing herself that she'd done Lubesha more good than harm lessened the guilt. Just take a good luck at how he was doing well in life, maybe that wouldn't have been possible had he not been thrown out of the house in the first place. ☆☆☆ There was blood on the floor, the dead body lay in a pool of blood. "I didn't mean to do it..I didn't," repeated Amos for the tenth time. He was standing over the body, the murder weapon in his hand. He was scared to death as he looked at Lily who stood beside him, "Am going to jail, aren't I?"

hmmmmmm,,, Alice should confess to his father abt wat she did ooo

Like seriously she did mre good than harm

Alice tell ur Dad the truth,in other words u did him a good thing,if not ur mum would've not allowed him to achieve his goal

hmmmmm

next

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 29. Lily sat in her living room waiting for Amos as she watched T.V. She'd missed him a lot and couldn't wait to be in his arms. When the knock came, she hurriedly rushed to open the door. Disappointment flashed all over her face when she saw who had come. "Clyde. I was expecting-" "Amos, right?" She nodded. "Can I come in?" Lily opened the door wider and let him in, then she closed it. "So," began Clyde. "What is it that that boy has that I don't have, Lily?" "You're drunk," she replied, sitting beside him. "Go home and take a nap then we can talk." "You ungrateful bitch! I picked you from the gutter, saved you from rapists and murderers and this is how you repay me?" Clyde had always been in love with Lily and had even manifested his love for her but she saw him as a brother and couldn't bring herself to love him in a different way so she had clearly told him she couldn't love him back the way he wanted her to. Clyde had understood, hoping she'd eventually fall in love with him one day. That day never came and now she was screwing Amos. Hell, they kissed and laughed at silly jokes every chance they got and that was slowly eating him up inside. "I am grateful for everything you've done for me," Lily said to Clyde. "But as I've told you times without number, I can't just bring myself to love you in a different way." "But you can love that Amos?" "The heart wants what it wants." Clyde cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes. "Kiss me, Lily." "Why would I do that?" "Kiss me, dammit!" "You're drunk," she stubbornly repeated. That earned her a slap and then Clyde forcefully kissed her. He pinned her arms behind her back and began taking her clothes off. She tried to push him off her but he was too strong. "Don't do this," Lily pleaded. "You'll live to regret your actions, Clyde. You know what rape means to me, how it's scarred my life and you raping me will just make you hate yourself." "Shut up!" he spat in her face, "If you aren't willing to give me what rightfully belongs to me then it's only right I forcefully take it," he pulled down his trousers and boxer. "Now cooperate and will actually enjoy this." She gave up fighting once he entered her. Lily closed her eyes and pushed Clyde out of her mind. To her, she was 10 years old and her biological father was on top of her, molesting her. She was 11 and her uncle was raping her. She was 14 and was being gang raped in the streets where she'd found herself wandering after her aunt threw her out of her(her aunt's) house when she caught her giving her husband (her aunt's husband) a blow job. Lily had tried explaining but her aunt wasn't listening. Amos was calling his mother as he approached Lily's house. Juliet's line was still ringing when Amos reached the door. He was about to knock but hang up when he heard Lily crying inside, "Stop it, please. You're hurting me.." In her mind, Lily was being gang raped. Amos pushed the door open and fury coursed through him when he saw Clyde on top of Lily, brutally thrusting into her. Anger clouded his judgement and Amos took out the gun that he now moved with. He aimed it at Clyde's head and without hesitation, pulled the trigger. Clyde who had had his back facing Amos rolled off of Lily and lay dead on the floor. The gunshot had reeled Lily back to reality and she saw Amos standing in the doorway, gun in hand. She looked at the floor and there lay Clyde, dead. Minutes later, Lily was fully dressed while Amos paced the room frantically. "Am going to jail.." He was in kind of a trance where he kept on repeating he was going to jail. "No you're not," Lily assured him, staring at the dead body. "We'll clean the house and get rid of Clyde's dead body, Amos. So relax." "What if we go to the police and tell them I was just protecting you? The dude was raping you for crying out loud!" "So that they ask how you come you possess an illegal gun? You're smarter than that, Amos. I agree you're pretty shaken by the incidence but be a man and get a grip, gosh!" Lily rushed to her bedroom and grabbed one of her heaviest blankets. She rushed back to the living room. "Will you quit pacing and help me?" Amos quietly went to help her roll the body in a blanket. "We're burying him behind my house," Lily announced. Amos nodded. When it was dark, they went out to dig and they dug for hours. By 3 A.M, they'd buried Clyde and Lily was scrubbing his dry blood off the floor. For the next few months, Amos couldn't sleep without having nightmares of Clyde telling him he'd pay for what he'd done to him. Amos would awaken with a scream, sweating. Juliet whose bedroom was just next to her son's had observed he had nightmares almost every night. She was worried he'd gotten himself into something dangerous seeing as the people he associated himself with all looked thuggish. His girlfriend for example scared the hell out of her. Juliet rose from bed early as usual the following morning and started cleaning the house. Cleaning was difficult now that her baby bump was growing each day. She had only one more month to go before she could deliver. When Amos woke up, his mother had cleaned the house and had prepared breakfast. They were eating when she asked him, "Who's Clyde?" Amos almost choked on his tea. "How do you know Clyde?" "I heard you saying his name in your sleep last night.. Now answer my question, Amos. Who's Clyde?" He was tired and was no murderer, not literally though. He just wanted some peace of mind and his conscience wasn't letting him get any. He sighed. "Clyde is someone I killed and buried behind my girlfriend's house some months ago." "Jesus Christ!" Juliet said with a gasp. "It's not what you think, mother," said Amos hurriedly and soon explained how everything had played out. A shaken Juliet said, "You have to report yourself to the police, Amos." "You mean turn myself in?" "That's the only way you'll have peace..if you pay for your sins. Look, the sentence will be lighter if you turn yourself in." In the afternoon, Amos gave Lily a phone call. "Babe," she enthusiastically picked up. "Talk to me." With a sob, Amos said, "Please forgive me for what am about to do, Lily. I love you." He hang up and switched his phone off. "You're doing the right thing," Juliet patted his shoulder. This was as difficult for her as it was for him but lately, she only wanted to right her wrongs and Amos involving himself with criminals was just a result of one of her many wrongs which she was now more than willing to right. And so it happened that Amos turned himself in and unknowingly incriminated Lily as his accomplice. Lily who had finally figured Amos' cowardice had finally got the better of him was about to flea from her house when she saw the police van drive into her yard. That's when she decided to end it all. She'd rather die than spend the rest of her life in jail so she got her gun and aimed it at her right temple. Closing her eyes, Lily pulled the trigger and died instantly. Bruno and Bruce were arrested for possession and trafficking of cocaine among other crimes at a bar an hour later. A month down the line, Lubesha was among the many various reporters to write about Amos' arrest, him turning himself in and being sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter, with hard labour. Donald, Alice and Lubesha had all been shaken by the turn of events and this had quite strengthened their bond as they now spent as much time together as possible. Juliet on the other hand spent her time alone at Amos' house as her loved ones treated her like an outcast. They all blamed her for everything that was going on. She'd cried rivers for the past few days and was crying while looking at a photograph of Amos when her labour pains began. She grabbed her phone and called Alice who'd put her on blacklist so the call didn't go through. She called Donald whose phone was off and finally, out of desperation, Lubesha who picked up after a few rings. "I need your help," Juliet spoke into the phone. "The baby's coming." Lubesha was around the area snooping for his next big story so he said, "Am on my way, stay put." By the time Lubesha arrived with a taxi, Juliet had packed all the necessary stuff in readiness for her delivery. Her contractions were now frequent. "Thank you," she truthfully told Lubesha as he helped her to the taxi. "Don't mention," he replied. It so happened that Juliet was rushed to the hospital where Donald and David worked and due to her age, complications arose during delivery so she ended up being rushed to the Operating Room. Ironically, Donald was one of the people performing a C-Section on Juliet. It took professionalism to even manage to hold a scalpel. A healthy son was pulled out of Juliet's womb and the nurses were cleaning him up while Donald was stitching her when the machines connected to her went haywire. She was going into shock and was losing a lot of blood.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 30. "I think I've got a good idea, Alice. Instead of you sitting there doing God knows what on your phone, why don't we hold hands and pray for aunt's well being?" "It's a C-Section, Lubesha, women go through those everyday so quit being dramatic and calm down. Gosh!" Lubesha couldn't seem to stop himself from pacing back and forth while Alice whom he'd literally forced to come to the hospital was busy chatting with guys on Facebook. If it were up to her, she'd rather stay home and watch paint dry rather than sit in the waiting area awaiting news about her bastard sibling's birth. Maybe Amos would have been happy to be here but poor guy was rotting away in some jail cell back in Mukobeko Maximum Prison. If you ask Alice, he deserved whatever was happening to him and so did Juliet. Lubesha on the other hand was seriously worried about his aunt and call him paranoid but he feared the worst could happen so he grabbed Alice's phone and pocketed it. "Stand," he ordered her. "Let's pray." "Is it a forcing matter?" retorted Alice, spreading her hand. "My phone, please." "You should be ashamed of yourself. This is your mother we are talking about, Alice! You're fortunate enough to have both your parents alive at your age. Take a good look at me, my parents will clock ten years in their graves a few months from now so you'll stand and we'll pray for aunt's well-being. This is not a request, by the way." "Fine," she was irritated and didn't like the way people were staring at them so she stood and they held hands. "Happy now?" "Let's close our eyes and pray," Lubesha said, ignoring her sarcasm. Hardly had Lubesha finished saying his prayer when Donald emerged from the O.R looking restless. Both Lubesha and Alice rushed towards him. "How's aunt doing?" "The truth? Not so well. She's given birth to a healthy son while her on the other hand is losing a lot of blood and will need a blood transfusion asap. Her blood group is AB negative and I doubt we have any in the blood bank," Donald paused to wipe sweat off his face. "Without the blood transfusion, I'm afraid the worst can happen." "I'm AB negative," announced Lubesha. "I'm willing to donate blood." Donald took a long look at his nephew and then patted him on the shoulder. "You're a good man." Donald called a nurse who ran all necessary tests on Lubesha and then deemed him fit enough to donate blood which was later tranfused into Juliet's system. "She'll survive," Donald told Lubesha and Alice several hours later. He was exhausted and his team and him had just transferred Juliet to the E.R. "The baby's in the nursary," he added. "Any of you wanna see him?" "Pass," Alice pursed her lips while Lubesha drew out a deep breath and said, "I do." Donald ushered him to the nursary and showed him Juliet's baby. Meanwhile once back outside, he said to an upset Alice, "Just because am not the father doesn't mean you have to neglect your young brother, you know. He's your half brother whether you like it or not, Alice." "I know..and that's why it hurts so much. He is and always will be a reminder of mum's infidelity, Dad. And I don't think I can deal with that." "You'll just have to because he's an innocent child, a victim of circumstances. Use Lubesha as your source of inspiration if need be. Take a good look at all the hell your mother has put him through and yet he selflessly saved her life today. She's never done anything really bad to you in my opinion so don't punish an innocent baby for your mother's wrongs." In the end, Alice softened her heart and went to pay her young brother a visit. She found Lubesha holding him in his arms. "I always wanted to have a young brother or sister," he began. "But mum and Dad seemed content with me so-" "God finally answered your prayers then," she abruptly cut his speech, her eyes watering. "He's going to be our young brother." They hugged and Alice broke down. Donald who was watching them through the glass door wiped a stray tear. Oh how his heart ached. He wished the baby was his and maybe it was because of that wish that he later took a sample of the baby's hair and one of his and asked a trusted friend to run a DNA test. Now all he had to do was wait for the results. When Juliet came to, Alice was seated beside her, the baby was asleep in it's crib. "Hi," Alice said flatly. "Hi," Juliet's throat was dry. "My baby?" "He's fine," Alice pointed at the crib. "He's taking a nap though. It took so much effort to finally get him to stop crying and sleep." Juliet turned over and watched her baby sleep. She was falling more in love with him with each passing second. "Your father and Lubesha,where are they?" "They both went home to freshen up. Lubesha spent the night here and I literally had to force him to go home this morning, mum." Juliet's eyes teared up. "He did?" "Yes, mum. After everything you've put him through, he still prayed for your well being and even donated blood. Had it not been for him doing so maybe you'd be in hell right now, not that that is a bad thing. It's just that my brother here needs you and so do I." "I'm sorry," the words rolled off Juliet's tongue with honesty. "For everything I've done to you, your father and Lubesha." "I have nothing to forgive you for while Dad and Lubesha do so good luck with that. I just want us to forget all our fights and forge ahead like a normal family should, mum." Juliet wanted that too and knew it was quite too late though. Take a good look at Amos whose life wouldn't ever be the same if or when he gets out of prison. ☆☆☆ Juliet was breastfeeding the baby when Lubesha showed up with fruits, ice cream and yogurt. "Hi, aunt," he was all smiles as he placed the foodstuffs aside and pecked her cheek. He then pulled himself a chair and sat. "How you doing?" "Fine. You?" "I'm cool. And the baby?" "He's fine too." She meticulously placed the baby aside once he was asleep. Lubesha asked her what she wanted to eat and Juliet chose ice cream. He was watching her eat when she asked him, "How do you do it?" "Do what?" "Be so kind hearted?" The question was difficult to answer cause he didn't know how to put how he was so kind hearted into words so he said, "That's how and who I am, I guess." "Wow," Juliet was amazed and emotional at the same time. "I wish I was more like you." "God made you like that, aunt." "You're just saying that to make me feel better, Lubesha. We both know this. God isn't in control of my actions, I am. And I've wronged you for so long and you repay me with kindness? Who does that? You should hate me, wish the worst upon me and maybe even curse me but please don't love me." "I love you nonetheless because you're my aunt, my mother's elder sister and it's because of you that I am even where I am today. It's through you that I became acquainted with uncle Donald so I technically owe you everything that I am today." His words brought tears to her eyes. "It's vice versa, I owe you my life. Let me speak," she pressed when he opened his mouth to retort. "Let me apologize for every wrong I've done to you. I know it's selfish of me to ask for your forgiveness after everything I've done to you but I'll go ahead and do so anyway because that's who I am. I am a self centred mess and so I ask for your forgiveness, my son." The insults, the beatings, him eating stale beans from the dog's plate, everything came flashing before his eyes and he realised the pain he felt was still raw. That didn't still cloud Lubesha's judgement thus he smiled and said to his aunt, "I forgive you." But forget he didn't. Those words meant the world to Juliet so she hugged him. "Thank you." The hug meant the world to Lubesha. Juliet had apologized to Alice who had gone out to freshen up and now she had to apologize to Donald. At least then she'd be at peace. When Donald passed through her ward, Juliet was fast asleep and not wanting to wake her, he went away and never went back. He called for a meeting at his house a fortnight later and once Alice, Lubesha and Juliet who was with the baby were were seated in his living room, Donald decided to announce the purpose of the meeting. "Two weeks ago after Juliet had her baby, I somehow felt obliged to run a DNA test and I did." Juliet felt her heartbeat increase. "Why? When you was so certain he wasn't yours?" "Because I so wished he was mine once I laid eyes upon him." "Is he?" "What do you think?" Juliet said with a shrug, "Honestly, I don't know and no longer care. Donald Junior has me and I'll do everything in my power to ensure he has a good future." "Look how that went with Amos, no offense." "Enough," snapped Alice who couldn't take the suspense and bickering no more. "I assume you have the results already so please quit beating around the bush and tell us if your DNA matched with Donald Junior's." "It did," replied Donald with a smirk, handing Juliet the results. "Donald Junior is my son and I'll do everything in my power to gain full custody of him. Lord help us if we leave another human in the care of a woman as despicable as Juliet is." ☆☆☆ It was Lubesha's wedding day and he was marrying a woman he didn't love but had no choice anyway. Both the bride and groom were gloomy as they stood before the altar. The Pastor was saying, "If there's anyone who has reason to oppose this union, please come forth or forever hold your peace." Silence. "Alright. I hereby-" "I do!" echoed a vaguely familiar voice and when Lubesha turned, he couldn't believe his eyes. There she was, his first love. In flesh and blood. She still looked dashing after so many years. But what reason did she have to oppose his marriage and how did he even get here in the first place?

Maybe she got pregggg....i dunno who knnows?

dia is still more to dis,,,, but why would lubesha be getting married to someone he doesn't love?

Event turner%%

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 31. ~A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY~ "How are you doing, son?" That question again. Amos really hated being constantly asked how he was doing by almost everyone who paid him a visit. He'd been behind bars for six years and still they dared ask how he was faring? With so much sarcasm, Amos replied, "Seeing that I sleep on a comfy bed, have maids tending to all my needs and eat whatever meal I desire and at whatever time I please, I'm doing perfect!" "Don't be like that," said a sad Juliet. "I know life must be rough and tough in here but you've come a long way and have a short one to go." "Easy for you to say. Do you know a day feels like a month in here, mum? And I've got four more fucking years to do! That aside, this is when you decide to pay your son a visit, huh?" Juliet hadn't visited Amos for four months. "Life isn't only hard for you, Amos. You think I'm leading a rosy life out there? Well let me correct you. My life is hell.. It's been like that ever since your Dad gained full custody of Junior and now I his mother can only pay him visits during weekends. And as if that isn't enough, Junior hates me with a passion. Only heaven knows what lies Donald feeds the boy." "That doesn't sound like the Dad I know." "He's like that towards me. Seems he can't get past the fact that I'd cheated on him with his friend and now he's hell bent on punishing me and guess what, he's winning." A month after the birth of Junior six years ago, Christopher had come forward and exposed Juliet's and David's infidelity to both Donald and Chanda, bringing forth so much drama. Chanda had been so heartbroken that she divorced David with immediate effect while Donald promised to teach Juliet a lesson and what better way to do that than snatch what she loved most away from her? That being Donald Junior. Once Juliet had weaned the boy at the age of 1 year 2 months, Donald filed for custody and made sure he painted Juliet to be incapable of raising a child. He used her poor state to his advantage and disgraced her as a character less woman in court. "Why are you doing this?" Juliet had asked him after the court had granted Donald full custody of Junior. He'd done some bribing and Juliet knew. Donald had scornfully replied, "I'm just saving my son from your evil clutches." He put the baby in his seat in the backseat of his(Donald's)car and went to open the door when Juliet held his hand. She was crying as she said, "I'm trying to change for the better, Donald. I know I messed up big time but haven't I apologized already?" "And haven't I told you saying sorry won't change a thing? I loved you, Juliet, and overlooked all your shortcomings but no, I still wasn't enough for you. Of all people surely you had to sleep with David?" She went quiet and silently shed tears. Donald shook his head. "Lubesha and Alice forgave you but sadly I won't so just go home. See you when you come to visit Junior." with that, he got into the car and sped off, leaving Juliet in a cloud of dust. Juliet's life was full of pain since. She stayed alone in a one roomed house and sold tomatoes, vegetables, charcoal and other stuff in the market to make ends meet. The capital had been given to her by Lubesha who had suggested she move in with him but Juliet had blatantly declined. She was too ashamed to go live under the same roof with someone she'd mistreated for too long. Now in the visiting room, Amos said to her, "In my opinion, you deserve everything that's happening to you." he somehow partly blamed her for how his life had played out. "Really? Then I think you do too... Me sacrificing so much to come all the way here to visit you was a waste of time and money, now I know." She stood and pointed a finger at him. "And don't you dare go blaming me for everything that's happening to you because I didn't send you to join that stupid gang nor commit murder so please grow the fuck up." She broke down once she was outside the prison premises. Amos' words had hurt her. ☆☆☆ Alice was out shopping with her boyfriend for two years whom she'd met at her workplace the first day she'd reported for work two years ago. She now worked as a Secretary for the Hunan Resource Manager at a reputed company. Her boyfriend Frank was an IT specialist at the same company. Their love was what you'd call love at first time. They had locked eyes for a second and then clicked. Soon they were talking on phone and texting until wee hours. They went on a couple of dates and later began courting which they were still doing but now Alice wanted more. Just a few days back, she and Frank had attended Alice's friend Bertha's wedding. "When will that be us?" She had asked Frank. "Soon," Frank had assured her. How soon? Alice had wanted to scream but had kept calm now that her plan was in motion. In the mall, she said to Frank, "Lemme grab some vanilla ice cream for Junior and then we can head out." "Finally," sighed Frank with relief. He hated shopping. They were heading out of the mall with all the stuff they'd bought stacked in a trolley which Frank was wheeling when Alice pretended to be light headed and staggered. "You okay?" Frank abandoned the trolley and rushed to her side. "I'm feeling dizzy," Alice lied. "I think I need to see a doctor." Frank thought of how she'd almost thrown up during breakfast that morning and agreed she did need to see a doctor so from the mall, they went straight to the nearest health facility where tests were ran on Alice. "Congratulations," announced a short and fat female doctor. "Your wife is pregnant." "Actually, she's my-" he was about to say 'girlfriend' but stopped short when he realised the doctor had said Alice was pregnant which meant he was about to become a father. He wasn't certain if he was ready for such a huge commitment though. Alice was inwardly hoping her plan of trapping Frank into marrying her was going to work. Bertha the queen of bad advice had told her to deliberately fall pregnant for Frank which she(Alice)had done and now she had to wait for the aftermath. ☆☆☆ Lubesha received a text from the girl he'd taken out on a date the previous night. 'I loved that date..can we have one this weekend?' the text read. 'Maybe. Will chat later, I'm driving,' he texted her back. They'd come across one another on a dating site and truth be told, he had been looking forward to their date but the girl's talkativeness had turned him off. His love or dating life sucked, no lie. He had a house, car, job and money but still had no girlfriend. He'd had his fair share of lovers but couldn't just seem to find someone permanent. Could it be he still loved Tracy and tried to see her in every girl he was interested in? Whatever the case, he knew he needed a partner asap. He was 29 and being single at that age can be suspicious sometimes lest people deem him a Satanist or drug smuggler or worse, homosexual maybe. The girl didn't text him back and he cared less so he just drove to his destination where he was going to conduct an interview with a politician's daughter. He was going to write an article about her. Lubesha checked the address he'd been given and honked once at the mansion. A guard rushed to his window. "Is Miss. Sandra Mulimba in?" "Yes," the guard was hesitant. "You have an appointment with her?" "Yes," Lubesha flashed him his ID. "I'm here to interview her." "Just a minute." the guard left him there and the gate opened two minutes later. Lubesha drove in and couldn't stop himself from admiring the house, cars, lawn, everything about the place amazed him. He was ushered to the living room by a house help who offered him a glass of water as per his desire after she'd asked what he'd take. "Miss. Sandra is dressing up, she'll see you shortly." "Thanks," replied Lubesha coolly. An hour later, Sandra was nowhere to be seen and Lubesha was beginning to lose his patience so he stood and was about to walk out when he heard the click of heels on stairs and there she was, looking like a picture straight out of a beauty pageant magazine. "Sorry I kept you waiting," said the epitome of beauty, extending her hand in greeting. "I'm Sandra Mulimba though I'm sure you already know me." Of course he knew her. She was the founder of an orphanage which was why he was here to interview her right now. "Nice to meet you," He shook her hand. "I'm Lubesha Pondamali." She ushered him towards the swimming pool where they sat under an umbrella sipping on wine. His life was about to change for good. ☆☆☆ THE WEDDING DAY. Mark who was Lubesha's best man asked his friend as he was helping him get dressed, "Why are you marrying this girl if you want nothing to do with her whatsoever?" "Because I owe her Dad, that's why. I promised him I'd marry her." "Come on, promises are meant to be broken. Just because you promised some old corrupt politician you'd marry his daughter doesn't mean you should throw your life away by marrying that nightmare." "Sandra isn't really that bad," said Lubesha. Mark scoffed. "So says someone who got stitched up because the crazy bitch had smashed a bottle on his head. What exactly is going on, Lubesha? Why are you marrying Sandra? I want the truth, man."

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 32. LUBESHA. The interview went smoothly even though Sandra seemed to have an 'attitude' but I didn't mind. Once the interview was done, I requested I take a pic of her which would appear atop the article. "A picture of me?" She squirmed. "You didn't mention earlier so am afraid am not dressed for such an occasion." To say my jaw almost touched the floor is a massive understatement. I mean, the lady already looked ravishing and now she was saying she wasn't ready to take a single pic? "You do look great though," I honestly told her but she shook her head and stood. "Let me go change," said Sandra coolly, taking one more sip from her wine and heading towards the door. Where I was seated, I closed my notepad and put it in my bag. Recalling how she'd taken long to get dressed some minutes back, I decided to give myself a tour of the place so I rose to my feet and begun walking around. I was admiring the well tended to lawn when I heard people whispering in Swahili. It had been 16 years since I'd left Uganda but I still could clearly understand Swahili so I was able to decipher their conversation. The house help who had welcomed me into the mansion only but a few minutes ago was saying, "You sure this will work?" A man clad in the uniform of a guard whispered back, "Why not?" I was standing by a corner where I could not be spotted though I could vaguely see the two. The way they were whispering gained my attention. The guard and maid were obviously conspiring to do something evil. The maid said, "So I simply sprinkle this in their food and both those two idiots are gone, right?" "Damn right, baby. Both sir Enoch and that spoilt brat Sandra will be dead and then we can steal that money from the safe and flea from this dreadful place." The female maliciously smiled. "You're a genius, babe. Finally me sleeping with that old man will pay off." "It surely will," replied the guard who briefly kissed the maid on the lips and they embraced. I'd heard enough so I tiptoed back to the pool area where I sat deep in thought, unable to fathom what I'd just heard. A murder conspiracy was in brew and now Mr. Enoch Mulimba and Sandra Mulimba's lives depended on me. Either I keep quiet and they die or I talk and they survive. Talking seemed like the only logical solution. Sandra took half an hour to get dressed this time around and when she came back, she was looking as beautiful as she'd looked the first time I'd laid eyes on her in person when she'd walked down the stairs like a model from the movies. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long, Mr. Pondamali?" "No you didn't." I took a few pics of her posing by the beautiful swimming pool and she later picked the one she loved most as the one I should publish in the newspaper. "You're a good photographer," she casually told me and I smiled with gratitude seeing as I didn't get to hear that compliment too often. "Thanks." "I'm only giving credit where it's due." Now it was time for me to leave cause I'd conducted my interview and even had a pic of Sandra to publish in the paper but how could I go without informing her both her life and that of her father's were in grave danger as their own employees were plotting to poison them? The story seemed even farfetched to me, a newspaper reporter so I figured maybe her father would believe me more easily than her. I awkwardly heard myself say, "Your father, what time does he get home today?" Sandra whose focus was on her iPhone spared me a glance. "I don't know. And don't you think that's an odd question to ask me now that your job here is done?" She was right so I said, "There's something important I wanna discuss with him." Sandra opened her mouth to say something but paused and gazed over my shoulder such that I too was forced to look back and I saw the gate open and an expensive black Jaguar drive in. "Speak of the devil," she murmured. No sooner had the chauffeur opened the car door for Mr. Mulimba than I was at his side. "Who are you and how may I help you?" he curtly asked me. "My name is Lubesha Pondamali," I flashed him my ID. "And I was here to interview your daughter concerning the opening of her orphanage." "Okay," he seemed least interested in talking to me while Sandra pecked his cheeks and walked into the house. It was just him, his chauffeur and I when I said, "Can I talk to you, in private?" "Young man, I barely even know you! Besides, didn't you just say you came here to interview Sandra?" "Yes, sir. But this is a matter of life and death." He gave me a long and hard stare before waving his driver off. "This better be important, young man cause I don't like people that waste my time. Time is money!" He had an attitude but I understood. Usually wealthy people act like they own the world, right? Anyway, since he didn't want me to waste his precious time, I had to blurt the truth out. "One of your maids and guards are planning to murder you." "Excuse me?" "Look, sir, I know this sounds farfetched but you just have to believe me if you value your life..." I went ahead and narrated to him what I'd overhead earlier. "I swear am telling the truth, Sir." He was quiet for a few seconds and then said, "Let's assume I believe your story, are you able to identify the so called conspirators?" "Yes." "Cool, let's go into the house then." Mr. Mulimba led me into the house and straight to the dining hall where a buffet was served on the table. Sandra joined us too. "Finally," she exhaled, sitting down. "I'm starving!" she almost dished out but for her father stopping her. "Just chill a bit, honey," he told her. Mr. Mulimba later summoned all his guards and maids after he instructed me to pin point the culprits. The respective employees queued up and I did my job. Mr. Mulimba looked at me questioningly but in the end sent away the rest of the maids and guards. "Shall we all sit," he begun. Sandra looked as baffled as the maid who said, "Even us, boss?" "Yes, Edna. You and Kabwe will sit too and dine with us too. I asked Mr-" he stopped short, gesturing at me. I realized he might have forgotten my name so I said, "Lubesha Pondamali." "Yes.. I asked Mr. Pondamali here to pin point two employees he'd like to join us at this buffet and he picked you two. I guess today's your lucky day so sit and let's all enjoy the food." "But Dad-" "Not today, sweetie," he offered Sandra a dismissive hand and she kept quiet though she looked infuriated. Obviously the idea of sharing the table with a maid and guard appalled her. I even wondered why she'd opened an orphanage if she treated people of lower class the way she did. Anyway, what did I care? Kabwe hesitantly said, "We've already eaten, boss. Haven't we, Edna?" Edna fervently nodded her head. "Yes we have." "Is that so? Then just a bite each won't hurt, right? Let's see," Mr. Mulimba opened a serving pot filled with chicken. "Grab a piece, both of you. Or maybe you haven't poisoned the chicken?" he opened another pot which contained salads. "Try these salads maybe?" "What's going on here?" Sandra inquired, looking from her dad to me to the two employees. Mr. Mulimba replied, "Honey, can you believe these two ungrateful dogs are audacious enough to poison our food?" "I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about," Edna immediately said, her head bowed. "Don't you? Then I reckon you taste all the dishes you've served. Right now!" Both Edna and Kabwe remained stationed on their spots. Mr. Mulimba shook his head in disdain and wiped beads of sweat off his forehead. "You know for a second I wished this reporter was just making up stories but now I know he wasn't. Edna and Kabwe," he bid his time to get his phone from his pocket and dial a number. "I'm getting you both arrested for attempted murder." "It wasn't my idea," said Edna sharply. "Kabwe here is the mastermind!" "Edna! You know that's not true..You-" "Shut up!" yelled an angry Mr. Mulimba. "I don't give a damn who the mastermind is. All I know is you two will spend the rest of your pathetic lives behind bars!" As he conversed on the phone, Sandra couldn't seem to stop staring at Edna and Kabwe in disbelief. She finally whispered, "You two are the devil's advocate. My God, you people are wicked!" ☆☆☆ It had been three weeks since the story of me saving the lives of a reputed politician and his philanthropic daughter had blown like wild fire. I was seated in my humble apartment working on my next story when I received call from a private line. I picked up without hesitation nevertheless. "Lubesha Pondamali?" "Yes." "It's Enoch Mulimba, I'm outside your house." Outside my house? Why? I ended up saying, "Oh..okay." "Yeah. Do you have a minute to spare?" "I guess so." Minutes later, I'd locked my house and was joining Mr. Mulimba in his car. This time he was being driven in a Hilux. We exchanged greetings and he said, "I'm not one to waste people's time so I'll go straight to the point. I am really grateful to you for saving my life weeks ago and as a token of appreciation, I've decided to buy you shares at the company you work for." "I beg your pardon?" "Yes, Lubesha. Can I call you Lubesha?" I nodded thus he went on, "I've bought you several shares in that company so you're officially a share holder. Congratulations." This was too much to grasp. Me becoming a share holder meant I was going to become rich soon. "I'm afraid I'm not materialistic so I can't take your gift." "I've already bought the shares," he shrugged. "Congrats once again." My head was spinning as I went back to the house and as if Mr. Mulimba buying me shares in the company I worked for wasn't a surprise enough for one day, I found Sandra standing on my porch with a bottle of champagne in her hands. "Hey," she enthusiastically said to me, pecking my cheeks. "I'm guessing Dad has already given you the good news so am here to celebrate. Will you say something or at least usher me into your house?" She added when she noticed how frozen I'd gone. "Um..Hey. Nice to see you again," I was on the brink of stammering. I unlocked the door and welcomed her into my apartment. "I apologise for the mess," I sheepishly said, shoving papers off one couch and gesturing she sits there. Sandra broadly smiled. "I don't mind, it's a guy's house after all. Kindly bring two glasses cause my throat is itching in anticipation. I can't wait to drink this amazing champagne." Everything was awkward and was happening so fast. Once I'd brought the wine glasses, Sandra insisted I open the bottle which I did and she screamed with joy. I poured the champagne into the glasses and we had a toast. Had I known what she was like, I'd have just gotten the champagne from her on the porch and sent her home. ☆☆☆ THE WEDDING DAY. Seeing Tracy in the chapel during my wedding service felt like a nightmare but there she was, clad in red from head to toe and looking as beautiful as ever. The dull click of her heels on the carpet felt like music to my ears but her being here after so many years would just complicate things instead of making them better. "I do oppose," she clearly said. "Who is she?" Sandra whispered in my ear and I opted to ignore her. The Pastor asked Tracy, "Why?" "Because I love Lubesha..I've loved him since I was 14!" "Oh please," Sandra rolled her eyes as people in the chapel murmured. "That's not reason enough to oppose two people's union though, my child," the pastor was exercising patience. "Okay," Tracy turned and snapped her fingers. A few seconds later, a teenage boy walked into the chapel and one look at him was enough for me to decipher he was my son. Tracy had a lot of explaining to do!

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 33. From the hospital, Alice and Frank went straight to Frank's apartment where Frank offered his girlfriend a glass of water. "I ran out of juice," he sheepishly said and sat beside her. "And I assume you can't take those ciders you love so much now that you're pregnant, right?" "Nope," Alice said, shaking her head. Frank was hesitant for a while. "But how did this happen, Alice?" "Me falling pregnant?" "Yeah. I mean, weren't you on the pill? Aren't you still?" "I am..I guess I just skipped a day or so. You know how the pill works, hun." Frank's thoughts were scattered all over the place but he was certain of one thing, he wasn't ready to become a father. Yet. Alice sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. He played with her hair and sighed too, "What are we going to do?" "You tell me," she didn't remove her head from his warm shoulder. "And please don't tell me to get an abortion cause that's the last thing I'd do on earth." He'd considered it and now knew it wasn't an option so he kept it to himself lest he annoys Alice. All he said was, "We'll figure something out." That's all? Alice almost yelled. Nigga you better marry me or else I'll kill that Bertha bitch. Alice was slowly starting to see the flaw in her plan and all she could do now was pray hard it works or else she was doomed. From Frank's, Alice went to her own apartment which she'd moved into seven months back, leaving her Dad and Junior staying alone. It had been a tough call to make but she'd come of age to stay on her own and was working so there was no need for her to squat at her father's no more. Once in the apartment, she took off her heels and called Bertha. "The son of a gun said he'll figure something out," Alice burst out with anger. "Can you believe his nerve?" "Relax, boo. He's probably shaken up and will come around soonest. Pregnancy isn't a small thing to drop on someone so please exercise some patience. After all, patience pays." By the time she was hanging up, Alice was reassured Frank would marry her. He just had to! She was over at her Dad's place where Lubesha was too. He and Junior were playing football outside. Donald who was now 55 and would be retiring in a few months time said to Alice as he watched Junior and Lubesha play, "Those two are inseparable." "Yeah," Alice agreed. "Lubesha is good like that. Treats Junior like his own son." "I am grateful to God for him." Alice's phone rang before she could reply. It was Frank calling so she excused herself. "Hi," she spoke into the phone. "Hey..where are you?" "At my Dad's, why?" "I need us to link up and discuss things." "Cool.." she almost jumped for joy. "You say when and where." They met at a park and sat on a bench watching happy looking kids play around. "I'll take full responsibility," began Frank. "Will buy all the baby's necessary stuff." "That's it? You're joking right?" Frank was baffled. "Did I say something wrong?" "Oh my God! Everything you just said is wrong, Frank. So you expect me to carry your child and that's it? We've been dating for two years for crying out loud and I love you and believe you love me too so what you should be suggesting is marriage and not all this rubbish you're telling me. Gosh!" She did sound desperate but Frank took it it was her hormones getting her worked up. As a result, he was patient. "Marriage isn't just something you abruptly walk into. It's a commitment, Alice." "Do you love me?" "Of course I do." "Then you'll do right by me, Frank." "I don't have money to plan for kitchen parties and weddings, Alice. Besides-" "Is that your worry? Rest assured then, honey. We can do all those later but for starters we can just get married before a Judge. What matters is we have each other." His heart was flattered. Frank always thought girls love fancy weddings and kitchen parties and here was one fine girl willing to settle with him without any of those. He'd have to be a big fool to let her slip through his fingers. Frank cupped Alice's face and kissed her lips. "I love you." ☆☆☆ It had been three months since Lubesha got acquainted with the Mulimbas and now Sandra was all over him. She saw to it that she was at his apartment every chance she got. She'd go over and do his laundry, clean his house and cook for him. "Why are you doing all these things for me?" he asked her one day when he got back from work. She was in the kitchen baking a cake. Sandra flashed Lubesha a smile, "Because I enjoy taking care of you." They sat on the same couch an hour later and were eating the cake together when Lubesha said, "This cake is super good!" He said that about everything she cooked thus Sandra was now accustomed to hearing those praises. She blushed nonetheless. "Thanks." "I've been wondering why a beautiful lady who knows how to clean, cook and all is still single at your age, Sandra." "It's the men I find, they don't appreciate any of my efforts. Honestly, I don't even wanna talk about them cause I despise them all. Can we watch a movie tonight? I'll pick." She picked Me Before You, a romantic British movie which left in her tears at the end. She was a mess and was sniffing. "He can't just die..Will Traynor didn't just die.. Oh my God, poor Lou. I can't imagine what I'd do if I was in her shoes." Lubesha had watched a similar movie before, The Fault in Our Stars, and now he wondered what an emotional wreck Sandra would be if she watched that movie too. Anyway, he didn't like seeing someone cry so he wiped her tears and tried his utmost best to calm her down. "It's just a movie, Sandra." "How can you say that?" now she totally broke down. "You don't have a heart, do you?" Not knowing what to do, Lubesha abruptly locked lips with Sandra. She was hesitant at first but got into the kiss pretty quick. Things steamed up and they found themselves undressing one another. "Protection," said a breathless Lubesha. "Let me go get a condom from my drawer." "I've got that covered," Sandra hastily said, reaching for her bag and removing a condom. "God bless you," Lubesha said with gratitude as he grabbed the pocket and a few minutes later, they were rolling on the floor, fingers digging into each other's backs. "Why are you ignoring her calls?" Mark asked Lubesha. They were out having drinks with Mark's girlfriend. "She blows my phone up like crazy," Lubesha shrugged. "I just want some time away from her today." It had been a couple of weeks since Lubesha and Sandra had officially become lovers and he'd come to learn she was the clingy type. "Ouch," teased Mark's girlfriend Manda. "I hope Mark doesn't say the same thing when I call." "Of course he doesn't," Lubesha assured her. Sandra showed up at the bar a few minutes later. "Why are you ignoring my calls?" She rudely asked Lubesha without even bothering to say hi to either Mark or his girlfriend. "How are you here?" Lubesha was curt too. "You stalking me or something? Don't tell me you put a tracking device on my phone, Sandra." Manda couldn't control her urge to laugh so she burst out laughing. "What's funny, bitch?" Sandra yelled, not caring about the scene she was causing nor all the people that were staring. "Yoh," Mark intervened. "Mind your language, miss." "Who asked for your opinion you pussy ass nigga? My boyfriend and I are having an important conversation so you better shut your broke ass up before I shut it for you!" "Okay you've said enough," Lubesha stood in anger. "And I don't appreciate you bitching at my friends so you better leave!" he grabbed her arm and was about to lead her out when Sandra grabbed an almost empty beer bottle from the table and smashed it atop his head. Blood was running down his face in no time and Mark hurriedly helped him to his (Lubesha's) car. Mark and Manda later rushed him to the hospital. A month after that particular incident, Lubesha received a call from Enoch requesting he goes to Enoch's place asap. Once at Enoch's, Lubesha found himself making a sacrifice that even he himself couldn't believe he'd made. ☆☆☆ THE WEDDING DAY. "Lubesha Junior," said Tracy warmly, spreading her arms in welcome. "Come." Lubesha Junior walked into his mother's arms. "This is your son, our son. The product of the love we shared while in high school." Sandra's head was spinning and she staggered. "I need some air." Minutes later, Sandra, Enoch, Lubesha, Tracy and Donald were seated in the Pastor's office. The Pastor was saying to Tracy, "Young lady, kindly explain what's going on." "It's a long story, Pastor." "My dear," Enoch said. "Today's my daughter's wedding day and I want to see her wed this great man come what may so you better explain what your drama is all about. I don't give a damn how long your story is." "I agree with him," said Donald placidly. Tracy took a deep breath and told them her tale. When she was done, Lubesha couldn't seem to stop shedding tears. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand was Tracy. The love of his life and the mother of his son. On the other hand was Sandra. The woman whom he'd promised to marry and who was expecting his child. Which was which?

This is a very hard decision to take

But i suspect that child sandra is carrying is not for him

Hmmm... Dilema

marry both of them. lol. cancel d wedding nd follow ur heart.sanda is a thorn in ur flesh u better choose tracy

na wow

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 34. Sandra maliciously smiled as she looked at her pregnancy test for the 3rd time. She was pregnant. Finally her sabotaging the condom had paid off. At initial thought it had looked like the longest shot and she was even losing hope of moving with the condom in her handbag wherever she went until the opportunity presented itself and she got laid. What an exhilarating experience that had been. So her plan had worked, now what? Enoch was seated in his study going through important files when there came a knock at the door. Assuming it was one of his maids, he beckoned who was knocking to go in and in went Sandra, looking gloomy. "Darling," Enoch rose with immediate effect and went to hug and kiss his daughter on the cheek. "When did you come home?" "A few minutes ago," she flatly replied. Noticing her foul mood, Enoch asked, "What's wrong?" Sandra bid her time, circling her father's desk and finally sitting. "You look distraught, Sandy, talk to papa." "I'm sorry," Sandra broke into a sob. "I didn't mean to end up like this...Am pregnant, Dad." "Say what? Who's the bastard that you've been screwing, huh?" Enoch was overprotective of his daughter thus wanted the best for her and the mere thought of her falling pregnant for a good for nothing excuse for a man appalled him to the core. "Sandra, who's the father?" She buried her face in her hands and sobbed louder. "It's Lubesha, Dad. Lubesha Pondamali is responsible." "Oh," Enoch slumped onto a comfy couch. "Shit. I knew you two were screwing but didn't expect you to be so careless, Sandy. Do you know what this means? How it jeopardizes my political career? I can already see the headlines of me being mocked. I'm the minister of Religious Affairs for crying out loud!" he took a deep breath and blew out some air. "In as much as that Lubesha reporter is a good man whom we owe our lives, you two screwed up and the only way to fix this is if you terminate the pregnancy." "Excuse me? I can't do such, Dad," said Sandra sternly. "I just can't!" she had known her father would suggest abortion but she was a drama queen who knew what she was doing so she manipulatively suggested her father think of a better solution. "The only solution I can think of is abortion, Sandy. I'm running for Mayor soon and you falling pregnant without being married makes me seem like a hypocrite so for once think about someone else but you." Sandra wiped her tears using her bare hands. "You want a solution? Get Lubesha to marry me as soon as possible. That's the only solution," she pushed back the chair and headed for the door but stopped to add, "Forget about me having an abortion by the way." "Shit, shit, shit!" Enoch couldn't seem to refrain himself from cussing. He was a corrupt hypocrite, yes, and he loved power, fame and money too much to let Sandra ruin his plans for a secure future. She wanted to get married to some newspaper reporter? Fine. Lubesha wasn't a bad choice so Enoch had no choice but to dance to his daughter's tune this time around. He summoned Lubesha to his house the following day after Sandra had gotten tested by a doctor who had vouched for her, she was 6 weeks pregnant. Enoch placed the pregnancy report in his drawer as he waited for Lubesha to come. He kept on hoping Lubesha would not refuse to marry Sandra. "You said you had something urgent you want us to discuss?" Lubesha asked Enoch without preamble once he was in his study. "Yeah..take a seat." When they were both seated, Enoch took the pregnancy report from the drawer and handed it to Lubesha who hesitantly took it. Lubesha read the content and was baffled beyond measure. "Sandra is pregnant? Wow..How does her pregnancy concern me?" "Great question," Enoch clasped his hands together. "Great great question, my guy. Here's your answer though, it concerns you in the sense that the baby Sandra's carrying is yours." "Say what now?" Lubesha had to chuckle, he couldn't suppress the urge. "Is that what she told you? Then I reckon you ask her who really got her knocked up cause definitely that ain't me." "Are you calling my daughter a liar?" "I didn't say that, you did." Enoch leaned in and slowly asked, "Did you or did you not sleep with her?" "I did..used a condom, since you wanna know." "Condoms have faults, Lubesha, and I expect you to know that by now. Sandra claims the baby is yours so it definitely is. We can run a paternity test if you wish." He knew the possibility was high. He'd noticed the condom had been ripped after he was done having sex with Sandra some time back. He didn't wanna go down the road of doing a paternity test whilst Sandra was pregnant so he said, "Let's assume am the father..what now?" "One more great question, my boy. You need to promise me you'll marry Sandra asap and save her and I the shame this pregnancy will bring." He didn't need time to think about it. "I don't love Sandra one bit so what makes you think am willing to marry her just because she's carrying my child, if it's even really mine." "Look, you don't need to stay married to her forever. All I need is her to be married before her belly starts showing or else am taking her for an abortion. Trust me, am not bluffing." Now he needed time to think. Here came an opportunity for him to become a father and here was some corrupt politician literally blackmailing him into marrying his daughter, what a dilemma. Being wise, Lubesha said, "Why do I get the feeling you're simply using me for your selfish gain?" "Because I am selfish, Lubesha. Now I need you to promise me you'll marry my daughter or else I promise to kill your baby and rid you of the chance of becoming a father and deprive you the awesome experience of fatherhood! It's your cross to carry." It took some time for Lubesha to finally come to a conclusion. He didn't know nor care whether it was logical or not, all he knew and cared about was the fact that he really wanted to have a child even though it had come unexpectedly. He also didn't want to bear the guilt of an innocent unborn baby losing it's life due to his decision. "I'll marry your daughter," Lubesha heard himself say. "I promise." Enoch took a sigh of relief and wiped sweat off his face. "Welcome to the family, son," he said with a huge grin while Lubesha cringed. ☆☆☆ "I don't want your gift! Take it back with you!" That being said, Donald Jr. dashed off to his bedroom, leaving his mother seated on a couch. Juliet wasn't going to cry, not today. She'd shed enough tears already and had now come to know they didn't solve nothing. She stood by the window and watched Donald and Alice chat their hearts away on the swing that she'd enjoyed sitting and relaxing on once upon a time. Alice's baby bump was beginning to show and her court marriage which Juliet was surprisingly invited to was coming up in a few weeks time. The man she was marrying was a good man whom both Juliet and Donald had known for the two years that he'd been dating their daughter thus they had no problem with him marrying her. In fact, Juliet was ecstatic Alice had found such a kind and loving man. Despite promising herself not to cry, Juliet found herself shedding tears when she took a look at the pair of shoes she'd bought for Donald Jr. just for him to reject them. She'd had to eat vegetables for almost a fortnight in order for her to save the money equivalent to the price of the shoes. Besides, she'd bought them with so much love. "Daddy says you're a bad woman," Donald Jr's words rung in Juliet's mind. "He says I shouldn't get close to you and that you'll poison my mind like you did brother Amos' who's in jail all thanks to your bad upbringing." Recalling those painful words only brought more tears to her eyes. Donald was really doing a number on her via her son. Juliet wiped her tears, left the pair of shoes on the table and went outside where she asked Alice to excuse them. "What do you want to say to me now?" "You're agitated by my mere presence, I get that. But don't you think you poisoning my 6-year-old son's mind against me makes you as bad as you constantly tell him I am? I wronged you, Donald, I've accepted that countless times already but you need to deal with your ego and forgive me. Let me not remind you there was once a time you denied Donald Jr. way before he was born and threw me out of your house, not giving a shit what happened to me next," she was furious but was fighting hard to stay calm. "It's only because of the changed person I've become that I'm letting you lead a drama free life. You wanna be different from the evil Juliet I was, do right by Donald Jr. and me." Juliet's speech kept on reverberating in Donald's mind long after she was gone and finally, he swallowed his pride. He stood from the swing, went into the house, grabbed the pair of shoes Juliet had left on the table and headed to Junior's room. It was time he taught his son not to hate his mother. That wasn't going to be easy but it was only right for Donald Senior to stop being selfish and include Juliet in their last born's life. She was his mother after all. ☆☆☆ THE WEDDING DAY. Mark who was Lubesha's best man asked his friend as he was helping him get dressed, "Why are you marrying this girl if you want nothing to do with her whatsoever?" "Because I owe her Dad, that's why. I promised him I'd marry her." "Come on, promises are meant to be broken. Just because you promised some old corrupt politician you'd marry his daughter doesn't mean you should throw your life away by marrying that nightmare." "Sandra isn't really that bad," said Lubesha. That was a total lie. Mark scoffed. "So says someone who got stitched up because the crazy bitch had smashed a bottle on his head. What exactly is going on, Lubesha? Why are you marrying Sandra? I want the truth, man." Lubesha told Mark everything and all Mark could say was, "Wow..this is a selfless thing you're doing. I'm proud of you, man." It was Lubesha's wedding day and he was marrying a woman he didn't love but had no choice anyway. Both the bride and groom were gloomy as they stood before the altar. Well, the groom had reasons to be gloomy while the bride's hormones were doing a number on her resulting into her surprisingly foul mood on her wedding day. The Pastor was saying, "If there's anyone who has reason to oppose this union, please come forth or forever hold your peace." Silence. "Alright. I hereby-" "I do!" echoed a vaguely familiar voice and when Lubesha turned, he couldn't believe his eyes. There she was, his first love. In flesh and blood. She still looked dashing after so many years. But what reason did she have to oppose his marriage? Seeing Tracy at in the chapel during his wedding service felt like a nightmare but there she was, clad in red from head to toe and looking as beautiful as ever. The dull click of her heels on the carpet felt like music to his ears but her being here after so many years would just complicate things instead of making them better. "I do oppose," she clearly said. "Who is she?" Sandra whispered in Lubesha's ear and he opted to ignore her. The Pastor asked Tracy, "Why?" "Because I love Lubesha..I've loved him since I was 14!" "Oh please," Sandra rolled her eyes as people in the chapel murmured. "That's not reason enough to oppose two people's union though, my child," the Pastor was exercising patience. "Okay," Tracy turned and snapped her fingers. A few seconds later, a teenage boy walked into the chapel and one look at him was enough to decipher he was Lubesha's son. Tracy had a lot of explaining to do! "Lubesha Junior," said Tracy warmly, spreading her arms in welcome. "Come." Lubesha Junior walked into his mother's arms. "This is your son, our son. The product of the love we shared while in high school." Sandra's head was spinning and she staggered. "I need some air." Minutes later, Sandra, Enoch, Lubesha, Tracy and Donald were seated in the Pastor's office. The Pastor was saying, "Young lady, kindly explain what's going on." "It's a long story, Pastor." "My dear," Enoch said. "Today's my daughter's wedding and I want to see her wed this great man so you better explain what your drama is all about. I don't give a damn how long your story is." "I agree with him," said Donald placidly. Tracy took a deep breath and told them her tale. When she was done, Lubesha couldn't seem to stop shedding tears. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand was Tracy. The love of his life and the mother of his son. On the other hand was Sandra. The woman whom he'd promised to marry and who was also expecting his child. Which was which? Before he could make a decision, Lubesha put himself in Tracy's shoes and mentally lived her tale...

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 35. ~TRACY~ I fell pregnant at the age of 15. That wasn't my intention but it happened anyway. I was staying with my Dad, cousin Laura and Dad's mistress who occasionally stayed over at our place so basically it was just my defence attorney of a father, cousin and I at home. People would have gauged Laura to be the one to fall pregnant at such a young age but me? No. I too was devastated by the outcome of a one night of bliss. Did I just say bliss? To hell! I loved Lubesha Pondamali with all my heart and that night had meant everything to me. And please don't you go judging nor questioning what I knew about love at such a tender age..All you ought to know is I knew I loved Lubesha and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. It was two days prior to the beginning of my final year in high school when I woke up feeling all weak and sick. I was pale and was excessively throwing up. "Are you pregnant?" Laura confronted me. I was agitated so I rudely told her to mind her own business. She shrugged. "Cause I can help you if you're ka." "Laura!" Thanks to her big fat mouth, Dad caught wind of my not feeling well and thanks to his paranoia when it came to Laura's and my health, he rushed me to the hospital where the doctor told him I was pregnant. Dad gave me one long look then said to the doctor, "Thank you." The drive home was awkwardly silent and not liking the aura around, I said, "Dad, I'm sorry." He didn't respond as he completely ignored me, making his silence dig a hollow hole in my heart. I knew he was mad and had every right to be. All he had done all these years was take care of Laura and I as best he could that I didn't even feel the absence of my mother who had died when I was still an infant, leaving me a bracelet as a reminder of her. And this is how I repaid Dad? By falling pregnant? I was just as disappointed as he looked. When we got home, Dad led me to his room where we both sat on the bed. "Who's the father, Tracy?" I knew better than to lie to a defence attorney who dealt with pathological liars and sociopaths almost everyday. "It's Lubesha, a fellow grade 12. I love him, Dad." "Will you shut the hell up!" he almost smacked my face and I gasped. Dad withdrew his hand and took a deep breath. "What do you know about love, huh Tracy Fulilwa?" I was shaking. Nobody liked Dad when he was angry. "I'm sorry," I repeated. "You better be, young girl. And listen to me carefully, you and that Lubesha boy or whatever his stupid name is will get punished for this but as for you, count yourself out of that school until you deliver and let me warn you, should the boy catch wind of your pregnancy, there will be dire consequences. I'll bring hell on earth upon him!" "But Dad, he's the father." "Whom I assume has no job to his name, right? Just shut the hell up and do as I say before I change my mind and get you to abort that bastard you're carrying. Now get the heck outta my room!" I stood, my invisible tail between my legs and headed for the door. "And oh," Dad added. "Tell Laura I wanna see her." "Okay." Me being suspended when I went back to school didn't come as a shock to me seeing as I already knew that was my father's doing. The hard part though was me looking Lubesha in the eye, seeing the love he felt for me imprinted in them and yet I was unable to tell him I was carrying his child. And me even having the audacity to accuse him of ratting us out to his friend. I delivered a baby boy eight months later and went back to school to write my final exams a month later. I ignored Lubesha once more even though my heart and conscience were constantly beating me up to tell him everything. When results came out the next year and I found out I'd done exceptionally well, Dad informed me he was sending me to the United States of America in July and I'd begin class at an expensive college in August. "And Junior? Who'll take care of him while am gone, Dad?" "I've got that covered, sweetheart. I love my grandson as much as I love you and Laura so don't you worry about anything. You're a single mother, yes, but that don't mean you should throw your future away for your kid. You need to further your studies so that you can be able to take care of Junior without having to look up to anyone." Dad was right. He loved my son very much and despite the fact that I dreaded the idea of going overseas and leaving my son, I had to better my future. I did think about Lubesha often but thought he was probably better off without me. Me keeping his son away from him was wrong but it was too late now. In July, I flew to the U.S to study Business Administration. 6 years down the line, I'd graduated and was working as a Secretary at a fancy and legit law firm in Miami, Florida. Yes, I'd decided to settle in the U.S. Dad was arranging some papers for Lubesha Junior to come stay with me in America soon. I did miss my whole family in spite of the fact that no day passed without me seeing their faces graced on my computer screen. Laura made sure I was abreast of all their affairs back in Zambia. For example, she and Sylvester were planning to get married soon. I went for their wedding seven months later and savoured spending time with my son. "Why don't you want to come stay with us, mum?" Junior asked me as I was tacking him into bed one night. "Because I have work in America, sonny. But don't you wanna come stay with me?" "And leave grandpa and aunt Laura?" I was hesitant. "Um..yes." He too was hesitant now. "I'll think about it." He was too attached to his grandpa and aunt. Even more attached to them than he was to me. And then out of the blues, he asked, "How come nobody ever talks about my father? Is he dead, mum?" "No!" I was a little stern. "Sorry for my tone..I didn't mean to sound upset." "It's fine. Is he a bad man?" "No he's not, Lubesha Fulilwa. Let's just say it's complicated. I'll explain when you grow up." "Grandpa and aunt tell me the same thing." ☆☆☆ I went back to America a few days later where I met my nightmare. My friend from college Caroline was having a birthday party and lots of people attended seeing as she was quite popular. I was seated alone by the bar, sipping on a martini when a strikingly handsome man sat beside me. "Anybody seated here?" "Why bother asking when you're already seated there?" "That's dumb of me, I'm sorry," his accent was charming. "Can I buy you a drink?" People bought me drinks all the time so I accepted. "I'm Jake Millstone," he introduced himself, extending his hand which I hesitantly shook. "Tracy Fulilwa," I blushed. I wasn't really into white hunks but Jake was a funny guy who was only three years my senior, a successful defence attorney like my father, and I adored his sense of humour. We exchanged lines and got talking everyday when we had time to. "You and Jake a thing now?" Caroline asked me. She had come over to my apartment and we were watching Scandal. "Yeah.. why the question?" "You make a great couple," the brunette said with a careless shrug. A year down the line, things had gotten heated between us and Jake randomly proposed. It hadn't been a proposal from fairytales as he'd just knelt before me in a coffee shop with lots of people staring and he proposed. I so wanted to say yes but couldn't do so without telling him something I hadn't told him in the past year. "I love you, Jake," at least that's what I told myself. "And would love to be your wife but-" "But what, Tracy? People are staring." "I know...I have a 7-year-old son!" Jake stood and quizzically stared at me. "Why did you keep this a secret from me?" "I wanted to tell you, trust me. Anyway, I've told you now. Do you still wanna marry me?" "Of course," he knelt and offered me the ring which I let him slip on my finger. People applauded as Jake and I shared a kiss. "We've got things to discuss by the way," he whispered. "Cause am mad at you." We talked the issue through and Jake seemed to be cool with me having a son so we had ourselves a June wedding the next year. June being America's summer. I was elated to have my father, Laura, Sylvester and my son attend my wedding. That meant the world to me. Junior remained with me after the wedding and the three of us begun staying together. Jake's family wanted to have nothing to do with me as they were racists but that didn't matter. What mattered was Jake wasn't. Well, Jake seemed initially kind towards Junior but all that changed when I fell pregnant and bore a son whom Jake named after his maternal grandfather, Rafael. At first I ignored how Jake sidelined Junior since the birth of Rafael until a year later when Jake finally decided to give me a piece of his mind. "I want your son to go back to Zambia." "Excuse me?" "Yes, Tracy, you heard correctly." "In what world do I send away my son, Jake?" "In the world you're living in. Look, I want us to be a family. You, Rafael and I." "You're sick in the head, I hope you know that." I spent the night in Junior's room with him and Rafael. I got to know how twisted in Jake's mind was when he started physically abusing both Junior and I. Wanting my independence, I immediately filed for divorce. Jake laughed in my face and tore the papers. "You're in America, bitch. And you also an immigrant so don't think you'll win this case. If you go ahead with divorcing me, I'll make sure I gain full custody of Rafael and then see to it that you and your bastard son are deported back to your pathetic country." I had been too blind in the beginning to notice Jake had traces of racism in him which were now manifesting a few years into our marriage. Junior was twelve when I decided I'd send him back to Zambia and remain in America to figure out how to rid myself of Jake. Well, I'd called the plug quite too late as Jake came home intoxicated one night and went to Junior's room. Thinking it was Junior under the sheets, he fired several gunshots at them sheets, killing Rafael who was actually under the sheets while Junior was in the shower preparing for bed. For some reason, Rafeal had insisted to spend the night in his brother's room. I had been in the kitchen when I heard the gunshots and I rushed to Junior's room just to find Jake holding a pistol in his hands. Everything after that happened so fast. I was rushing to Rafael who was dead.. Jake lost it and turned himself in once he realised he'd murdered his own son... Rafael was cremated a few days later, as per my request and I put his ashes in an urn. Now let me pause to tell you all how no pain in this world can be measured to the pain of losing a loved one. The pain is so intense it leaves you scarred for life. I later divorced Jake who was given a death penalty. A few months after Jake's persecution, Junior and I went back to Zambia to start our lives afresh just for me to see his father on the news. He was marrying a minister's daughter and I knew it was now or never. ☆☆☆ THE WEDDING DAY. In the Pastor's office, Lubesha warily said, "Sandra, Enoch, I am so sorry but I can't go through with this wedding." "You're joking, right?" said Sandra, she was in shock. "This is for all of us," Lubesha pressed. "For our good. Or would you rather you and I end up like Tracy and Jake did cause honestly I don't love you, Sandra. I am so sorry. It's Tracy that I love and wanna spend the rest of my life with her." "How dare you?" an angry Enoch sprang to his feet but Sandra held his hand and shook her head in disapproval. "It's fine," she said, standing up too and wiping her tears. "Lubesha has made his decision and we can't force him." she then scornfully glared from Lubesha to I and back. "You'll dearly pay for this, both of you. I swear on my late mother's grave you two will regret ever crossing paths with me!" The way she ominously said it sent chills down my spine.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 36. ~2 MONTHS LATER~ She was home alone, on maternity leave and was bored to death. Her baby was due in a month's time. Alice decided to make herself busy by doing some laundry so she picked curtains as the first stuff she wanted to wash that day. She knew Frank would chastise her once he was back from the mall where he'd gone to grab some groceries but her sitting down doing nothing left her on the verge of losing her senses so she cared less about his scolding. Alice climbed on a couch and took out one beautiful curtain, a gift from her mother in-law. Now she had to take out the one on the other side of her living room. She grabbed a stool and propped it against the wall. Taking a deep breath, she climbed on the stool and raised her hands to unhook the curtain. She was at it when the stool toppled, shaking her side to side and with an ear splitting scream, Alice fell sideways. She landed on the floor with a loud thud. The explosive pain came instantaneously. Alice's waist was on fire so she held it and tried to stand but the pain was too intense, preventing her from moving. Hoping the pain would subsidise soon, she held on to her waist and took deep slow breaths. And then the blood caught her attention. In a bid to move, she crawled a couple of inches towards the nearest couch and that's when she noticed the trail of blood that she was leaving. "Oh my God," she winced. "This can't be good." Closing her eyes and praying with every fibre of her being it wasn't what she was thinking, Alice unwrapped her wrapper from her white skirt. When she opened her eyes, she screamed once more. She was sitting in a pool of blood. "Not my baby, no, no, no," she was frantic and on the brink of going hysterical. "Please be safe, baby, please." Fighting the pain with the sole aid of all the strength she could muster, Alice crawled her way towards the table where her phone was. She reached the table after what seemed an eternity and dialled Frank's line. "Please pick up," she muttered as his phone rang. The first call unfortunately went unanswered. As if to add icing to the cake, the profuse bleeding wasn't getting any less nor was the pain. Taking more deep breaths, she dialled his line again and this time he picked up. "Miss me already?" "Help..I need help, Frank. Something terrible has happened..I..I..think am losing the baby." "The baby's due in a month," said a confused Frank on the other end of the line. "What do you mean you're losing it?" "Just get home asap..please.." She ran out of credit and the got call cut as a result. Frank called her back but she didn't pick up. She was in too much pain to talk on the phone anymore so she hoped and prayed Frank was on his way back home. Frank got home 15 minutes later only to find Alice laying in a pool of her own blood on the carpet. "Jesus Christ!" exclaimed an astonished Frank who threw his shopping bags on the floor and rushed to Alice's aid. "What happened, honey?" "I fell.." "Hold on tight..hang in there," he scooped her into his arms and rushed outside. Neither him nor Alice had a car so he started rushing towards the taxi rank when a Corolla abruptly stopped beside them. The driver stuck his head out. "Looks like she needs immediate medical attention, hop in please." Once they were en-route to the hospital, Frank took his phone out and dialled Donald's line. ☆☆☆ "What have you been telling him?" asked a surprised Juliet as Donald Jr. dashed out of the house after pecking his mother's cheek and thanking her for bringing him chocolate. Donald Senior was seated opposite Juliet, he was busy pressing his phone. He shrugged. "Let's just say I've been rectifying my mistakes...You're his mother after all and I've wronged you immensely," he then placed the phone aside. "Your words two months back made me realise that and since then I've been instilling good morals and manners in our kasuli (last born child)." "I'm proud of you, Donald. And thanks." "Anytime.." he bid his time as he was about to tell her something that had been on his mind for the past few days when his phone rang. "It's Frank," he thought aloud and picked the call. "Hello, son in-law." "Father, you have to rush to the hospital asap. Apparently Alice fell from a stool and now she's bleeding non-stop and is in so much pain. I'm scared for both her and the baby, father." Frank's worry could be deciphered over the phone. "Calm down," Donald fought to stay calm. "What hospital?" Frank told him the name. "Hurry up, father..please." "I'm on my way." Donald grabbed his car keys as soon as the call cut. "What's wrong?" Juliet asked him. "It's Alice..I'll explain on the way. Let's go, Juliet." They locked the house and left Donald Jr. at their neighbour's. Alice was being rushed to the operating room when they arrived. The blood on the stretcher she lay on was nauseating. Frank who was covered in blood was being stopped from following the team of nurses and doctors to the O.R by a male nurse. "She's my wife," he desperately told the nurse. Alice saw her father and mother rushing towards the stretcher thus she instructed the doctors and nurses to stop wheeling her. "Are you insane? You're losing a lot of blood, ma'am." "Just a minute," said Alice in a low tone, she was too weak. "Please..am on my deathbed here." "Don't say that!" scolded an elderly female nurse. "Alice!" Donald and Juliet grabbed her hand in unison. "You'll be fine," Juliet assured her daughter. "No I won't," Alice quietly mumbled. "There's a secret I'd like you to know..I've..been keeping it from all of you for so many years now." "You'll tell us after being operated on," said a concerned Donald. "Your husband, mother and I will be praying for you." "I lied against Lubesha!" she blurted the truth out. "Him and I have never had sex and you catching us almost doing it was all my doing.. I framed him, Dad and Mum because I was too ashamed to admit I was crushing on my own cousin. Frank," she reached for her husband's hand with much effort. "You're the love of my life and if I've wronged you in any way I ask that you forgive me. Please take care of my baby, all of you... and Mum, Dad, apologise to Lubesha on my behalf. I love you all." "Stop speaking like you're dying," Frank scolded her. "You'll be operated on and you, our baby and I will go home together." Alice glanced at all the familiar faces and tears of sorrow streamed down her face. "Okay enough of the melodrama," said the doctor urgently. "We'll do our best to save both mother and daughter." Alice's family nodded and watched as she was wheeled into the O.R. ☆☆☆ "You sure this is a good idea?" Lubesha's palms were sweaty, he was meeting Tracy's father for the first time after all so that explained the pulsation he was going through. "Just relax," Tracy held his hand. "He doesn't bite, you know." They were leaving Lubesha's car, coming from Tracy's new workplace where she'd been working for a few days. It had been two months since their reunion and Lubesha still recalled how awkward his first conversation with his son had been. "So, you're my Dad," the 13-year-old boy had said as his mother, father and him went to his father's apartment. Lubesha was behind the wheel so he gave Tracy a glance and sighed. "Yes." "Where have you been all these years, huh?" "You don't have to answer that," intervened Tracy who scolded her son and asked him to behave. Junior looked out the window. "I can only imagine what will become of that poor woman he refused to marry." Both Tracy and Lubesha heard him but decided to keep quiet. Tracy on the other hand couldn't help feel guilty and selfish for what she'd just done. Laura had told her Lubesha didn't love Sandra seeing as they'd only been dating for a few months. "How do you know that?" Tracy had inquired a few moments before going to stage drama at Lubesha's wedding. "I just know," Laura had nonchalantly replied. "Besides, rumour has it she's pregnant. I can bet you K1000 she fell pregnant to trap Lubesha into marrying her." Unbeknownst to Tracy, Laura and Sandra had been friends for four years a couple of years ago until their friendship ended over a guy who ended up with neither of them so they knew each other well and Laura knew Lubesha would have to be crazy first for him to fall in love with a woman as despicable and shallow as Sandra was. For the next two months, Lubesha Senior and Junior were slowly studying one another while Tracy watched with delight. Finally her life was falling into place and now she decided to introduce the love of her life to her father. "Just be yourself," she reminded Lubesha as they approached the porch. Lubesha's phone which was in the breast pocket of the black jacket he was wearing chose that exact moment to ring, startling him. "It's just your phone," Tracy chuckled, beckoning him to pick the call. "It's my uncle," he informed her and slid the answer icon. "Where are you?" "At Tracy's..Is everything okay, uncle?" "Alice is being operated on as we speak and being a doctor, I can tell her condition is terrible..come to the hospital as soon as you can." Lubesha asked the name of the hospital and he turned on the spot, heading back to where his car was packed. "What's going on?" asked Tracy, running after him. "I'll tell you later, I gotta go!" He got into his car and left Tracy standing on her spot like the statue of Liberty. Upon arrival, Donald explained all that had transpired to Lubesha who couldn't believe Alice had finally confessed. To think that he'd even forgotten she'd framed him. Too many years had passed and so much had happened, he had no time recalling such a trivial thing. "I am so sorry for doubting you..I should have believed you when you said you were innocent." "It's fine, uncle. You just did what every father would do." "No...I-" "The doctor!" Frank exclaimed and rushed towards the doctor who'd just emerged from the theatre. Juliet, Donald and Lubesha followed suit. "How's my baby and wife, Doc?" "Your baby is fine but as for your wife, she lost a lot of blood," he went ahead and gave them the cliche of him and his team trying their best. "Just freaking tell me how she's doing!" Frank snapped. The doctor took a breath, in and out. "I am so sorry..we lost her. Your wife is no more..."

Rest in peace Alice so touching

The wages of sin Alice.

eeyah,,, Alice RIP to you oooo

marry the two now

so sad

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 37. Everything felt surreal to the bereaved until mourners begun to gather at Donald's house. Juliet sat in a corner alone, unable to fathom the terrible turn of events. Her only daughter was gone for good. Tears flawed but the pain still felt raw and the lump on her throat wasn't helping matters. Her emotions were all over the place. She was slumped in her corner when Alice's friend for quite some years approached her. Bertha was clad in black from head to toe. She hugged Juliet and broke down. "I can't believe my friend is gone just like this..Alice can't be dead..this must all be some sick joke or terrible nightmare." "I'm afraid it's neither of those," sobbed Juliet, clutching on to Bertha as if her life depended on the hug. They broke the embrace seconds later and sat on the floor, crying and reminiscing together. "I've done so many terrible things in my life, you know," Juliet was saying. "Why didn't God take me in place of her? She was only 28 and was full of life..who's gonna take care of her baby now? What are we going to tell the baby when she grows up and asks about her mother? That her mother fell and died a few hours later? This world is cruel," she beat her breasts in agony. "It's cruel for leaving people like me and claiming my innocent daughter's life." Bertha was vaguely listening as she too was too emotional by the sudden death of her friend. Somehow she blamed herself for it. "Alice sure..why did you have to heed my advice and deliberately fall pregnant?" Bertha cried, not realising what she was revealing in the process. "Wemunandi sure ngepoli nga tawakonkele ifyabula amano ifyo nalekweba..nine nakwipaya, Alice (My friend sure you'd still be alive had you not listened to the nonsense I was telling you..It's me who's killed you, Alice.). Nine. (It's me)." "What did you just say?" "Aunt Juliet, Alice came to me for help concerning getting Frank to marry her soon rather than later and I advised her to deliberately fall pregnant and trap him in the process. My conscience is eating at me, had I not-" she paused to sniff. "Had I not told her to do so, maybe, just maybe, she'd be alive as we speak." "Wensoka weh(You snake)!" Juliet rose and adjusted her wrapper. "You have no business being here as if to mock my daughter's memory..get out." Bertha stood too and grabbed her clutch from the floor. "I am so sorry, aunt." "Sorry won't bring back my daughter," Juliet yelled. "Get the fuck out of my house before I wring your stupid neck and strangle the shit out of you. Get out, Bertha!" Her yelling brought forth Lubesha, Donald, Frank and some other mourners. "What's going on here?" inquired a distraught Donald, holding Juliet back. "This bitch here should be blamed for our daughter's untimely death!" "How so?" asked Frank who hadn't spoken a word since they'd left the hospital 3 hours earlier. Alice's death had shaken him to the core. Juliet told them. Frank was the most hurt amongst them but he said, "We can't blame Bertha for Alice's decision making. Alice was a full grown woman who was in charge of her own decisions." "I think Frank is right," agreed Lubesha. "Oh my God," Juliet shook her head in disbelief. "Are you all even listening to yourselves? Why do I get the feeling you people aren't mourning Alice as she deserves?" "People have different ways of showing grief, Juliet," came Donald's reply. "Just because we aren't shedding rivers like you're doing doesn't mean we aren't hurt by Alice's death. She was my daughter too.." Not wanting to be the cause of the bickering, Bertha repeated that she was truly sorry and left the funeral house. No Zambia funeral is without drama but Juliet seemed to be in the centre of all the drama that day. Next, she threw out a friend of hers for badmouthing Alice. Juliet had caught her friend saying to someone, "The girl in particular just had a death wish if you ask me. I mean, who climbs stools while heavily pregnant?" "What did you just say?" Juliet exploded with fury. "Nana, you should be the last person on earth to judge my daughter! Aren't you the same person who drunk herself unconscious despite being heavily pregnant when you discovered your husband was banging your maid? Aren't you the reason you went into premature labour and your child died, paying for your reckless behaviour? Get the fuck out of this house this minute!" Nana stood with immediate effect. "My condolences." "Keep them to yourself," Juliet clicked her tongue. "Wow," Lubesha said to his uncle. "Alice's death is doing a number on her." Donald remained silent and couldn't fight the tears no more so he let them flow. Lubesha gave the eulogy during Alice's church service a day later as he was the only one who seemed strong enough not to break down on the pulpit. After Alice was laid to rest an hour later, everybody went back to the funeral house where it was decided that Frank and his family would look after the baby whom they'd already named Misozi (Tears) seeing as her birth had brought forth so much tears. ☆☆☆ Juliet and Donald watched as Amos was led towards the table they were seated on by a stern looking warden. "Dad, mum, hi," he took a seat. Donald and Juliet said a gloomy 'hi' in unison. "There's something off about you two," Amos noticed. "What's going on?" Juliet who seemed not to have control over her tears lately let them roll down her cheeks. "Are you crying? Will somebody tell me what's going on?" "Alice's no more..we buried her yesterday." "No," Amos could not believe what his father had just told him. "How? Cause the last time I heard about her she was pregnant and happily married to a man she loves and who loves her as much in retain." Donald told Amos how Alice had died and Juliet wept even louder. People in the visiting room were beginning to stare but she cared less. Amos felt a huge lump form on his throat and so much pain and sorrow gripped his heart. He tried to open his mouth to say something but no words came out. They were on their way back to Lusaka when Donald said to Juliet, "Alice's death got me thinking we all have such little time on earth." "I know right. Though I still think it should have been me in her place..there's something really wrong with the fates for them to claim her life so soon." "Don't say that, please.. Anyway, what am trying to say is that I want us to get back together and raise Junior together." That was the best news Juliet had heard in like forever. "In as much as I'd like us to get back together, I think it's best we let Alice's death settle first. Us getting back together days after losing our baby will seem wrong." "I know..I'm just happy to know you're willing to move back in with me." "Trust me," Juliet smiled, for the first time since Alice's death. "I'm more than willing." Lubesha sat in his room going through photos of him and Alice together. He just couldn't believe she was really gone. Unable to withold the tears no more, he wept with grief..staining the photographs with his fat teardrops. ☆☆☆ Sandra grabbed her purse and walked out the door, she'd made up her mind to go embarrass Tracy at her new workplace, all just for the fun of it. According to her, the whore had snatched her man from her and Sandra was still planning how she was going to make Tracy pay for humiliating and snatching her man from her on her wedding day and turning the day that was supposed to be the happiest day of her life into the saddest one. It had been two months since the incidence but the shame Sandra carried with her everywhere she went made it seem like everything had gone down just a day ago. People pointing pitiful fingers at her, shaking their heads and whispering to their friends saying how unlucky she was made Sandra want to go crazy but she stayed sane for the sake of the baby she was carrying. Her father had suggested he murder Tracy right after the wedding. "That will seem suspicious, Dad," Sandra had argued. "Who cares?" retorted a furious Enoch. "The police need incriminating evidence to prosecute someone and I can promise you they won't find any..they'd have to be lucky to even find that bitch's body!" "This is my fight," Sandra told him. "I'm the one Lubesha dumped..I'm the one carrying his child and am the one people will be pointing fingers at so let me be the one to deal with that Tracy bitch my way." "Just let me kill her, Sandy." "No, Dad. Promise me on mum's grave you'll let me handle this my way. Promise me." It was one of the hardest things Enoch had to do. "I promise." "Thanks," Sandra hugged him and from there went into her room to tear her wedding dress to shreds. "I'm coming for you, bitches. Get ready cause you won't see what hit you." She then decided to lay low and wait for the dust to clear so as not to raise suspicions when she actually decided to punish Tracy. But before that day could come, Sandra decided to happily go stage some scene at Tracy's workplace so she got into her favourite car and drove to the place. She got out of the car and went into the building. She had been stalking Tracy for two months now so she knew where Tracy worked since the first day she had reported for work. Sandra went to the lobby elevator which unfortunately wasn't working. "Stupid elevator," she cussed. "Now I'll have to use the stairs." Reluctantly, she headed towards the staircase and began her ascent. Tracy worked from the 5th floor and Sandra who wasn't used to taking stairs was already tired by the time she got to the 4th floor. She paused to catch her breath and was about to continue her ascent when she saw Tracy descending the stairs towards her, files in her hands. "Look who I just happen to run into," Sandra said as Tracy reached the landing. "You're so petty," Tracy chuckled. "What, you stalking me now?" "Actually, I just came to tell you to enjoy Lubesha's company while it lasts." "I ain't got time for your bullshit," Tracy curtly said, rudely shoving Sandra aside and attempting to continue her descent but for Sandra holding her arm. "Nobody walks away from me whilst am talking!" "You know what, Sandra, I was initially feeling guilty for ruining your wedding day but after Lubesha told me how petty you're, am glad I ruined your wedding and I'd do it a thousand times again given the chance. Now let go of my arm and watch how I walk away from you. You're the biggest joke I've ever come across, mama." Tracy yanked her arm free and began her descent but Sandra who was fuming for being called a joke caught Tracy by the weave and pulled her back. "I'll show you who the bigger joke between the two of us is," she said through gritted teeth, relentlessly slapping Tracy hard across the face, sending the files she'd been holding flying. Tracy slapped Sandra back and a fight ensued. Before the knew it, they were pulling each other's hair and dragging one another from rail to rail and boom! One of them was rolling down the stairs, their bones breaking while the other one stood at the landing, covering their mouth in awe and hoping they'd not just committed murder.

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 38. She hurriedly descended the stairs and for the first time in so many years, actually asked God to rule in her favour. She couldn't have possibly become a murderer in the blink of an eye, could she? It had been nothing but a terrible accident. Sandra reached the landing where Tracy lay as if lifeless. There was blood oozing from the cut she'd sustained on the forehead. "Please be alive," Sandra prayed in a whisper, crouching before Tracy and turning her over to feel her pulse. She couldn't feel any and that got her in panic mode. Sandra rose and ran fingers through her hair, her emotions scattered all over the place. "Oh my God, I'm a murderer. I've just killed someone." She glanced up the flight of stairs that Tracy had come rolling down only but a few minutes ago and decided it was time to bail when she saw no one coming. It'd be better if no one placed her at the scene of the murder. The police and people in the building would obviously assume Tracy had tripped and fallen down the flight of stairs by sheer accident. As fast as her legs could carry her, Sandra begun her descent into the lobby and out of the building. She was profusely sweating by the time she got to her car and hit the road. Her mind kept on reeling her back to her fight with Tracy. Once upon a time she'd contemplated ending Tracy's life but now that she thought she'd done it with her two bare hands, she actually realised she was an emotional wreck as she was dead scared. With one hand on the steering wheel, Sandra reached for her phone in her purse and called her father who picked up sooner than she'd expected. "Sandy." "Daddy, I..I think I may have just killed someone. I am so scared..am going to jail, aren't I?" "Calm down, sweetheart. Where are you?" "On my way home." "Okay, I reckon you take deep breaths as you drive home and then you can explain what's going on..Deal?" "Deal," said a frantic Sandra. "I didn't mean to do it, Dad." Enoch calmed his daughter a bit and she hang up, promising not to do anything stupid. Once home, Sandra went straight to her father's bedroom where she found him eagerly waiting for her. She ran into his arms and broke down on his shoulder. "Ssshh," Enoch shushed her. "Tell Daddy what's going on.." "It's Tracy," Sandra spoke, her head still buried in her father's shoulder. "I went to her office to tell her to enjoy her relationship with Lubesha while it lasts and before I knew it, we got into a hair pulling match and the next thing I see is Tracy falling down the stairs. She fell so badly, Dad, I could literally hear her bones breaking. And then there's the blood..oh gosh, she's dead." "Isn't that a good thing?" "How can you say that when am certainly going to jail?" "Hey," Enoch cupped Sandra's face and softly said, "Not when am still alive, Sandy. Besides, it was a mere accident. Now go to your room and take a shower or something but please act normal, like nothing has happened." Enoch got ready for his meeting as soon as his daughter was out of his room and he was out of the house half an hour later. Sandra on the other hand had showered and had even tried taking a nap but she couldn't just seem to fall asleep. She was dead worried about Tracy so she turned on the radio and tuned in to reliable local radio stations when it came to news. The news for 4 PM past without Sandra hearing anything related to what had happened earlier and music begun playing. Sia and Kendrick Lamar's 'The Greatest' was playing when she started dozing off just to be awakened by someone yelling in the living room. "Where is she?!" "Lubesha?" Sandra bolted out of bed and put on bed slippers. She and her father stayed in a fancy bungalow so she was in the living room in no time. "Why all the yelling?" She inquired. "You devil!" Lubesha screamed, taking long and quick strides towards Sandra and before she knew it, his hands were wrapped around her neck and he was squeezing every ounce of air out of her. The maid who'd been trying to stop Lubesha from barging into more rooms came to Sandra's aid but Lubesha jabbed an elbow into her belly and she retreated, wincing. "I'm going to kill you," he angrily told Sandra with clenched teeth. "I swear if anything bad happens to Tracy, I'll single handedly murder you in broad daylight!" He let go of her neck and she began to constantly cough. "What..what the hell's gotten into you, Lubesha? What are you talking about?" "Don't you play games with me, Sandra," he pointed a threatening finger at her. "The receptionist described you very well and besides, there's CCTV in the lobby so you've been busted. I'll make sure you get arrested for this!" "It was an accident!" she desperately blurted out, her neck still hurting. "Tracy and I got into a fight and she accidentally fell, I didn't push her." the part about not pushing Tracy was a lie. "Save that explanation for the courtroom," that being said, Lubesha stormed out of the house. "What the hell are you still looking at? Don't you have work to do?" Sandra vented her frustration on the maid. "My friend, will you get your sorry ass out of my face before I fire you!" "I'm so sorry," apologized the frightened maid before going away and leaving Sandra alone in the living room. ☆☆☆ Lubesha had had some free time off work and he'd decided to utilise the time by visiting his favourite cousin Donald Junior. He'd barely gotten to Donald Senior's house when he received a call from Tracy's workplace informing him of Tracy's accident. Lubesha whose mind had become disturbed by the terrible news did a u-turn and was on his way to the supposed hospital Tracy had been rushed to. He arrived at the reception and asked the receptionist how Tracy was doing and he was told she was in the O.R. "I'm afraid that's all I can disclose to you, sir," the receptionist had ruefully told him. He turned and came face to face with Laura, Tracy's cousin. It had been so many years since he'd last seen her but they were able to recognize one another nonetheless. "How's Tracy?" Laura asked Lubesha. "All I know is she's being operated on," he replied with a shrug. "Who's this?" A tall and rich looking man appeared beside Laura who swallowed. "This is Lubesha, uncle." "Oh," Tracy's father brushed past Laura and went to inquire about Tracy's condition from the receptionist. Lubesha was old enough to tell Tracy's Dad didn't really like him and him staying at the hospital causing congestion wouldn't help so he walked out the building and got into his car. Where to? Being a reporter, his intuition told him there was more to Tracy's accident so he drove straight to Tracy's workplace where he bombarded the receptionist with a myriad questions. "Look here, Sir, so many people come here and I can't exactly recall exactly how they were all dressed and such, can I?" "That's not what I'm implying," Lubesha was argumentative. "All I'm asking is you recall if someone walked up and down the stairs a few moments before and after Ms. Fulilwa's accident. Any vague memory can be of much help," in the years that he'd worked as a reporter, Lubesha had learnt to always follow his gut which right now was yelling at him, telling him Tracy's accident was no ordinary accident. The attractive receptionist racked her brain. "Now that you mention..I think I saw someone.." She went into a frenzy, gleefully describing someone who looked and dressed like Sandra except Lubesha knew it was indeed her. "Thanks a lot for your cooperation," and he was out of the building, headed south and was at Enoch's in no time where he gave Sandra a piece of his mind. From there, Lubesha went back to the hospital where luckily, Tracy had regained consciousness and only Laura was by her side. Laura excused herself saying she had to go inform Lubesha Junior his mum was doing better and make him get ready for his visit to his mother in the evening's. Lubesha took a long glance at Tracy who lay looking frail on the bed, a bandage wrapped around her head. "Hey, I thought the worst had happened to you," Lubesha sat and caressed her face. She smiled. "Apart from sustaining two fractured ribs, a now stitched up cut on my forehead and a broken arm, am as good as new." "Laura looks happy.." "She is happy. She and Sylvester are both happy in their marriage such that they might as well pass for my second favourite couple in the world. Jay-Z and Beyonce being my favourite of course." "You're crazy," he chuckled and deciding he'd done enough stalling, said, "How did you really fall, Tracy?" "Sandra happened," she revealed with a deep sigh. "Followed me over to my workplace, talked trash cause that's the only thing that comes out of that trash can she calls a mouth, I retaliated and alas, we are pulling one another's hair! Everything happened so fast, Lubesha. Last I remember, I was banging my head hard against the steep stairs and it was lights out for me." "She pushed you, right?" Tracy gave Lubesha a quizzical look and shook her head. "I know where you're getting at...Look, it was nothing but an accident. I even thank God I'm the one who fell cause heaven knows I wouldn't be able to deal with the guilt of being the cause of someone's miscarriage. Sandra would definitely have had one after falling down those stairs." He couldn't believe someone could be that empathetic but in the end he decided to let it go. "I'm letting this one go, Tracy, though the next time Sandra even dares to lay a finger on you I swear I won't be held responsible for what I'll do to her!" ☆☆☆ A devastated Sandra drove straight to the hospital where she'd made an appointment with her doctor earlier that day. Lubesha strangling her the previous day had really annoyed her to the fact that she decided to abort the baby she was carrying. What use was using the baby as leverage if Lubesha wanted to have absolutely nothing to do with her the mother? What use was carrying a baby for nine months and going through labour just for her to become someone's baby mama cause that's all she'd ever be to him, his baby mama! "You sure you wanna do this?" "Yes.." She breathed, spreading her legs. She was lying on a comfy bed in her doctor's private ward. "Flash this thing out of me already!" The procedure went more smoothly than she'd anticipated and Sandra went back home feeling low. She'd taken a bold step and decided to pin all the emotional pain she was going through on both Lubesha and Tracy. "I'll hit them where it stings most," she promised herself as she lay on the bed to take a nap which she really needed after what she'd just done. She only slept for like an hour before she received a call. "Yes?" "How could you?" "How could I what?" "Abort my baby, how could you?" Her heart racing, Sandra sat up in bed. "I don't know how you came to learn about my abortion but the only explanation is that you're stalking me and FYI, the baby wasn't yours." "Tell yourself that one more time and you might as well believe it.. You and I both know that baby you were carrying was mine and you had no right to kill it without my consent so-" "Who're you talking to?" Sandra heard his wife's voice on the other end and the line cut. A nervous Sylvester swallowed and hurriedly locked his phone, "No one important." "Okay," Laura yawned, stripped herself naked, grabbed a towel which she wrapped around her body and stepped into the shower. "That was close," Sylvester muttered with relief. "Aren't you joining me?" called Laura from the shower. He smiled and threw his phone on the bed. Sylvester stripped himself naked too and joined his wife in the shower.

dont be a ghost reader

Hmmm... Interesting

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 39. ~3 MONTHS LATER~ It was a boring Sunday evening and Sandra sat in her room reminiscing. Her life hadn't gotten better after she had an abortion..in fact, things had just worsened. Lubesha for instance wanted to have absolutely nothing to do with her once he came to learn she'd had an abortion. Sandra had gone over to his office a day after her abortion. "What are you doing here?" he had rudely asked her, literally dragging her all the way to the parking lot. "I came to see you..and ask how Tracy is doing." "Well thank God your evil plan didn't work, she's still alive." Sandra exhaled with relief. Now she could rest assured she wasn't getting jailed any time soon. Lubesha said, "Is that all? Some of us have work to do, you know. We fortunately do not have rich fathers to spoil us rotten." "I had an abortion yesterday, Lubesha." It took a moment for him to grasp the news. "Why the hell would you do that?" "Because of you and how you treat me. It's obvious you don't give a shit what happens to either the baby or I and that's why I decided to get the thing flashed out of me." "Wow..you're evil. Anyway, it's your life." he turned to leave. Sandra called after him, "Karma doesn't forget an address, Lubesha." "I think you should be telling that to yourself seeing as you're the heartless one here," he called back without even bothering to turn his head nor look at her. He was hurt she had murdered his unborn baby but a part of him was relieved he now had no business with Sandra whatsoever. They were officially over. She'd unknowingly freed him from her crutches and he was inwardly grateful. Sandra on the other hand was beginning to regret her irrational decision. Maybe she'd have had a chance with Lubesha had she kept the baby after all. She got into her Peugeot to go meet up with Sylvester who was waiting for her at a secluded fast food restaurant. Speaking of Sylvester, he hadn't intended to cheat on his wife. That was before he'd had a sexual encounter with Sandra, the tigress in bed. A year ago, Sylvester had gone to get himself a drink at a nice bar in town. Sandra happened to be at the same bar when he arrived, ordered Castle and sat at a table alone and began to sip on his drink. Sandra was seated in the corner, thinking about the man who'd just dumped her. Not that this was the first time she was getting dumped by men for being rich, no. She still couldn't get used to the shame of being told to your face that the relationship you're in can't go on no more. And the problem was that she always invested so much in every relationship she got into and always got her hopes up, thinking she'd finally found Mr. Right but oh boy was she wrong. When she saw Sylvester, she rolled her eyes at no one and nothing in particular and started going through her former friendship with his wife. They'd been such great friends until Laura snatched a man from her who ended up dumping her too. She was happy about the dumping part but still held a grudge and today felt like the perfect day to finally act on that grudge. Sandra gulped down the rest of her Strawberry Lips, grabbed her purse and cat walked to the counter. This was her usual drinking spot so she was friends with Chiko the bartender. "Hey, Chiko.. You have the usual?" Chiko leaned in, "You mean sex pills?" "Of course you idiot." "But I thought you just broke up with your man..planning on forcing him into having goodbye sex with you? Or maybe hoping the sex would remind him just how great you're in bed?" him and Sandra had had one sexual encounter which he constantly teased her about even though she made it clear to him the encounter had been nothing but a careless mistake which would never repeat itself. "I'm not in the mood, Chiko. Do you have the pills or don't you?" "First will you tell me who you're planning on using them on?" "You're shameless," she snorted, taking out 3 hundred kwacha notes from her purse and slipping them under his beer bottle. Chiko usually drank in the evening's despite being on duty. "Is that enough?" "That's my lady," he beamed, pocketing the money and disappearing into the adjoining room. When he came back, he tended to another customer just for the fun of getting on Sandra's nerves by keeping her waiting. He finally gave her the pills after she gave him a deadly glare. Sandra slipped the pills in her bra and went to join Sylvester. "Can I take a seat?" "Um..why not?" Sandra sat. "Long time eh?" "Yeah..what are you doing here?" "The same thing that you're doing," she tactfully called Chiko and ordered a bottle of Strawberry Lips. "Put the bill in my name," Sylvester told Chiko who merely nodded. "Thanks," Sandra shamelessly blushed, pouring the pink milky liqour in a glass. "How's Laura?" He knew she and Laura had once been friends but still didn't know why they now hated each other with a passion and he knew Laura would pour hot cooking oil atop his head if she was to find him seated at the same table with Sandra so he quickly said, "She's fine." he had plans of leaving the bar as soon as he finished his beer. Silence. Out of the blues, Sandra exclaimed, "Oh my God, is that Laura?!" On impulse, Sylvester craned his neck to check who Sandra was talking about but he saw no one. By the time he turned his head to look back at her, she'd already slipped a couple of pills in his beer. "I don't see anyone." "My bad, I thought I saw someone who looks like her. Should be the beer, think am getting tipsy," even as she said it, she picked her glass and maliciously smiled when Sylvester took a drag out of his beer. Some minutes later, Sandra was in Sylvester's car which he'd packed by the roadside once he couldn't withhold his sexual appetite no more. Sandra had taken some pills too so they literally tore one another's clothes and had crazy sex right in Sylvester's car. After that incidence, Sylvester always found himself turning to Sandra to quench his insatiable sexual appetite. Not that Laura was failing him in bed and as a wife, no. Actually, she was such a great wife that he found himself cussing himself every time he banged Sandra. And Sandra? She felt satisfied every time she slept with Sylvester cause that meant she was finally getting back at Laura. She arrived at the restaurant that day, packed her car by the roadside and went in to see Sylvester. "What?" She rudely sat. "Why'd you kill my baby?" he inquired without preamble. She laughed. "The baby was Lubesha's, you already know that." she was telling the truth. "You're just saying that to get me pissed cause you know I hate Lubesha." Sylvester hadn't forgiven Lubesha for the incident back at school where he accused him of being a bad friend and all. He never really liked people who act all holier than thou as they were hypocrites in his eyes. "Is that why you called me here?" Sandra impatiently asked. "No," Sylvester caressed her hand across the table. "I've missed you." "So have I," she sighed. So all she did for the next 3 months was play Sylvester's sex machine while Lubesha and Tracy played happiest and latest couple in town. Rumour had it they looked like a perfect family every time they went out together. Lubesha, Lubesha Junior and Tracy..all holding hands. She sat on her bed and an evil idea popped up in her mind but before she could put in into motion, something happened which made her change her plans. ☆☆☆ Amos sat in his cell, bored to death. His cellmates weren't talking too, seemed everybody wanted some quiet time to think. His mind had wandered off to how his life had been had he chosen a different path seven years and some months ago. He'd single handedly introduced himself to Lily's crew and look where that landed him. "Amos Musongo." He impulsively got to his feet upon hearing the warden call his name out. "Come with me," the warden unlocked the cell and beckoned him to follow him. He locked the cell once Amos was out. "Do I have a visitor or something?" "Nope, just keep quiet and follow me." A few moments later, Amos was clad in different clothes, not the hideous orange prison uniform with the word 'PRISONER' printed on the back. "How did this happen?" he couldn't believe he was getting out of jail. "Don't I have like 2 and a half more years to serve?" "Just count yourself lucky for being among the very few inmates that have been released today for portraying good behaviour in the time that they've spent here. Now go home to your family and don't murder any one cause next time you won't be so lucky." It was not until Amos felt fresh air hit his face outside the prison that he actually believed he was free. He begun laughing on his own, so hard that tears fell. And then he screamed, his hands in the air, "I'm a free man!" ☆☆☆ Tracy and Lubesha were coming from Juliet and Donald's court wedding. It hadn't been anything fancy, just the couple exchanging vows and rings and signing some documents, that's all. "Alice would have loved seeing her parents get back together," Lubesha said in a sad tone. "The world is so cruel. Poor Frank, did you see how distraught he looked last time we went to see Misozi?" Tracy knew Lubesha always got emotional every time he talked about Alice. "She's in a better place," she said and kissed him on the lips, just to distract him. "Kiss me one more time," Lubesha grinned. "And I might as well just rip those clothes off your body. And then we'll have an accident..am driving, remember?" She'd completely healed after three months and she and Lubesha played lovey dovey every chance they got. "Is that so?" She giggled. "Let's get home then so that you rip them clothes off me properly." They'd barely gotten into the house when they started kissing each other like their lives depended on it. Lubesha threw Tracy on the couch and impatiently took off her blouse. He was reaching for her bra straps when the feeling of deja vu swept all over him. It was on this same couch that he'd gotten intimate with Sandra from. "Why'd you stop?" a breathless Tracy asked Lubesha. He flashed her a smile and scooped her into his arms. He led her to his mini dining table where he aggressively shoved all his documents aside and he made her sit there. He took off her bra, pulled down her skirt and underwear and got undressed too. He wrapped her legs around his waist and entered her. With a gasp, Tracy pressed her breasts hard against his chest and locked her arms around his neck. "Harder," she whispered in his ear. Like the good man he was, Lubesha listened to Tracy and thrust harder. When they both hit climax, Lubesha slipped his penis out of her and kissed her on the lips. "I love you." "I love you more." And then he knelt before her. "I know this is awkward but I can't wait anymore. Will you marry me, Tracy?" "Was the sex really that great?" brow furrowed, she asked. "This has nothing to do with the sex..What are we waiting for? So, will you marry me?" "Oh my God, this is huge.." She got off the table and begun pacing the room. Both of them were still naked. "In as much as I love you, I don't think I'm ready to fully commit myself to you." To say his jaw dropped is a massive understatement. She claimed to love him and he loved her too. They had a son together so what or who was she waiting for? And then she laughed. "Silly you," and hit his bare chest. "Was just pulling your leg," She teasingly extended her hand. "Where's the ring?"

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 40. Tracy picked her phone as soon as Lubesha was fast asleep, she dialled Laura's line and called. "Cousin," Laura picked up after a few rings. "What's up?" "You won't believe what just happened," Tracy whispered, not wanting to wake Lubesha and closing the bedroom door behind her. "Lubesha just proposed." "No way! Did you say yes?" "Of course I did, my heart literally beats for the dude. I'm just so happy words can't express how am feeling right now!" she was admiring the diamond ring Lubesha had produced from the pocket of the jacket he'd been wearing that day. Laura was saying, "This is huge news, honey. So, when's the wedding?" "We are yet to set a date. Anyway, just wanted to share the news with you but please don't tell Dad. Let me be the one to personally tell him." "Noted." "And please kiss Junior good night for me..tell him I love him to bits." Junior was spending the night at Sylvester and Laura's. "No problem,"Laura calmly said and yawned. "It's late, gotta go to bed. Sleep tight, cousin and congrats!" "Thanks, babe. Have a great night too..my regards to the best brother in-law." Laura said with a chuckle, "I'll tell him you said hi." And Tracy cut the line, clutching the phone close to her chest. She couldn't believe she was finally getting a second chance at happiness after the Jake phase. For a moment she recalled her late Rafael and a tear rolled down her cheeks but she hurriedly wiped it. "He's in a better place.." she only told herself that so that she couldn't become an emotional wreck. Heaven knows no single day passed without her thinking about her beautiful son. Oh God, life can be so cruel at times. The next day, Lubesha and Tracy had breakfast in bed and freshened up. The day being a public holiday, neither of them went for work. After freshening up, they went over to Donald's place to go share the great news. They'd just sat down and Juliet was serving them tea and biscuits when Donald Junior who was peeping through the window screamed, "Brother Amos!" Startled, Juliet and Lubesha scuttled towards the window and they saw him. Amos had just entered the yard and was approaching the porch. With euphoria at it's best, Juliet opened the door and rushed to hug her son. "My baby," her hands were all over his face. "My baby boy...is this really you?" Amos had the biggest of smiles plastered on his face. "The one and only, mum..am free. Got released for good behaviour." She couldn't withhold the tears of joy so she let them roll. She took his hand in hers and ushered him into the house where Donald Junior hugged his legs. Donald Senior had taken Junior to see his elder brother in jail one too many times so Junior and Amos knew and loved each other a lot. "Hey champ," Amos ran a hand through Donald Jr's head. "Your bro's home." Juliet branched off towards her bedroom, calling out Donald's name. "Honey, our son's home!" Lubesha gave Amos a brotherly hug. "Welcome back home." "Thanks." Tracy who had been seated looking lost finally cleared her throat. "Um..who's this?" Amos asked as politely as he could once his hug with Lubesha was broken. "Pardon my ill manners," said Lubesha. "This is Tracy, my fiance. Tracy, this is Amos, my cousin." "Did you just say fiance?" came Donald Sr's voice in the doorway. "Yeah. Actually we came here to inform you that we're now engaged." "Today officially qualifies as the happiest day of my life..first my son is out of jail and second my other son is getting married? Wow!" he took quick strides towards Amos. "Son," he mouthed. "Dad." And they hugged. That had to be the best family reunion all of them had ever witnessed. ☆☆☆ Never had it occured to Laura and Sandra that they'd find themselves at the same beauty parlour but it's a small world we live in so it so happened that the sophisticated daughter of now Lusaka Mayor and the niece to one of the most renowned Defence Attorneys in the country found themselves sharing the same beauty parlour. Sandra was having her hair done when Laura arrived, in need of a manicure. The two locked eyes and clicked their tongues in unison, rolling their eyes. "Can you please make it quick," Sandra snapped at her hairdresser. "The air in here just changed. I think a rotten backstabbing bitch just walked in." Laura decided to clap back by saying, "I wonder how it feels to get dumped on your wedding day," she took a seat and sighed. "And as if to add salt to injury, your groom proposes to the love of his life only a few months after dumping you. In the end, love wins and love isn't for everyone so I guess some whores will always be whores..marriage ain't for them." Anger bubbled up inside Sandra but she took several deep breaths and was calm in no time. For her clap back, she sarcastically laughed and said, "I'd rather stay unmarried than be married to a cheating husband." The hairdresser who couldn't hold her tongue no more said, "Sorry to interrupt but all married men cheat..it's in their nature to do so." "Mine doesn't," Laura said. "How sure are you?" Sandra tilted her head. Laura knew Sandra would go to any lengths to get at her so she grabbed her clutch and said to the lady who usually did her nails. "I'll come back later." "Sure," the lady nodded. Sandra remained laughing and only stopped long after Laura was gone. Once home, she barged into her father's study, fuming like hell. "I can't believe he's marrying that bitch!" "Who are we talking about now?" "Lubesha of course! Who else if not that ungrateful son of a bitch? Dad, take a good look at me," she paused to spin around. "I'm more pretty and way sexier than that slut Tracy but Lubesha picked her over me! Can you believe his guts?" Not interested, Enoch pursed his lips. "I thought Lubesha is a closed chapter by now." "What do you mean?" "Sandra, I once offered to take care of both him and Tracy but you refused...saying you knew what to do seeing as this was your fight. Might I ask why you're in my room whining about such nonsense? The man doesn't like you, get over it!" "But Dad-" "Don't you Dad me," Enoch angrily stood. "I've got work to do so get the hell out of my study!" "Fine," she angrily stormed out of his study. Enoch hadn't meant to yell at her nor be rude but he had problems of his own to deal with and didn't appreciate his immature daughter troubling him with trivial matters. He sat down and looked at the files on the table and a headache immediately gripped him. He was buried in debt and his debtors were coming for him if he didn't clear his debts soon. Sandra slammed her bedroom door shut and threw her purse on the bed. She was on the verge of screaming her lungs out with fury. Tracy ruined my wedding, she wryly thought, pacing the room back and forth. I'll do the same to her. An eye for an eye. She laughed, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Karma's a bitch," she muttered under her breath. ☆☆☆ Since Tracy had a kitchen party first, the wedding day only came seven months after her and Lubesha got engaged. Laura was her maid of honour and was helping her with make up when Tracy said, "I have a bad feeling." "About?" "The whole of today.. there's just this nagging and ominous feeling I have that something bad's gonna happen." "Hey..don't say such things. Today's your wedding day and you've got every right to he nervous but that doesn't mean you should have negative vibes about such a huge day, you hear? Now clear all those negative thoughts off your mind and smile for me." Tracy forced a smile. "Perfect," mouthed Laura who continued with the make up. For his second wedding, Amos was Lubesha's best man. His friend Mark was out of the country and Lubesha had to turn to Amos for help. "Of course I'll be your best man," Amos had happily agreed when Lubesha asked him two months prior to this day. "It's the least I can do to repay you for what you've done." Lubesha had entrusted him with a huge sum of money to start a business and Amos whom prison life had changed was wise enough to use the money to open a garage of his own in town. And by God's grace his business was flourishing. Now that Dad has retired, Amos told himself. I'll do my utmost best to take care of him, mum and Junior. Donald was expecting his pension of course but Amos just felt at ease to know that for once in his life, he was going to be productive. "Tracy's gonna drool as soon as she sets eyes on you today," Amos teased Lubesha once he was done helping him get dressed. "You think so? Oh God, I'm so nervous one would think this is the first time I'm doing this, Amos." "Judging from what I've been told, this is different. You were marrying Sandra out of convenience but today you're marrying Tracy out of love so you have all the right in the world to be nervous. I think we're done here. Shall we go?" "Sure." They bumped into Juliet and Donald in the doorway. Juliet's eyes became watery the second she saw how handsome and grown Lubesha looked. "Janet would have been so proud," her voice breaking, she said. Lubesha took her hands in his. "Today's a happy day, aunt, so wipe those tears. For my sake." "Of course," she fervently shook her head and wiped her tears. Donald patted Lubesha on the shoulder, nodding. "I'm so proud of you..wishing you all the best in your marriage, son." "Thanks." "People, we are running late," Amos said, pointing at his wristwatch. Meanwhile at Tracy's, her Dad gave her his blessings too. "All my life," he was saying. "All I wanted was to see you happy and now that you're, I can die in peace." "You aren't dying any time soon in the near future," Tracy hugged him. "Thank you." "For what?" "For being the best father in the world." Sandra slipped into the chapel and sat in the back. Amos who saw her nudged Lubesha in the ribs. "Look who just decided to show up," he whispered. Lubesha turned his head and saw Sandra seated in the back, smiling at him. "I'm not surprised to see her here," he honestly told Amos. "I knew she couldn't resist to show her face here. She's that desperate and predictable." "Should I get her thrown out?" "And risk her causing a scene? I say we let her be." Tracy arrived minutes later and everyone in the chapel stood, Sandra inclusive. Tracy saw her from the corner of her left eye and scowled. She took deep breaths to calm herself. The nerve! She angrily thought. The huge grin on Sandra's face spoke volumes. Westlife's "Beautiful in White," was softly playing as Tracy was walked down the aisle by her father. They'd barely reached the altar when a distraught looking Laura came rushing in. "There's a problem," she whispered to Tracy and her father, panting. Tracy's heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong?" Laura knew she had to tell them. "Lubesha Junior's missing. I've looked everywhere for him but couldn't find him." "This has Sandra written all over it," Tracy said with clenched teeth, throwing her bouquet of roses down and running towards where Sandra stood. Without thinking twice, Tracy slapped Sandra hard across the face. So hard that Sandra fell.

still observing

I pray they should find him, Sandra go an rest

what??? so Sylvester is d one responsible for dat pregnancy!!!

Where is junior?

dis Sandra needs to be arrested once and for all

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 41. A scene had officially been staged and now people gathered around Tracy and Sandra, wondering what the brutal slap Tracy had given Sandra was all about. "Baby, what's going on?" inquired a curious Lubesha who had appeared at the scene too. With an angry finger pointed at Sandra, Tracy uttered, "This desperate, shameless and clingy excuse for a woman has kidnapped our son!" "Excuse me," Sandra recoiled back to her feet. "That's outrageous! Do you know I can sue you for defamation of character?" "Oh please shut your mouth and sit your dramatic ass down, Sandra. I swear I'm giving you 30 minutes to return my son otherwise I'll peel your skin off your flesh and will enjoy every minute of the act!" Totally confused, Lubesha pulled Tracy aside. "What do you mean she's kidnapped our son?" It was Laura who replied, she'd overheard his question. "I've looked everywhere for him and he's nowhere to be found. Last time I saw him he was leaving the car that had brought him and the bridesmaids. Doesn't that strike you as odd?" "Ask him," Tracy hissed. Minutes later, the chapel had been cleared of many people such that it was only family members of the groom and bride left..Sandra was there too seeing as everybody was convinced she'd kidnapped Lubesha. Tracy's father approached her where she was seated, she sobbing. "I am aware you and my daughter have beef," he began. "But please have mercy on her son, my poor grandson. You do know being kidnapped has traumatic effects, right? You're going to ruin the boy's life in so many ways. Yours even cause kidnapping is a serious and punishable offense." She disgustedly looked up at him. "I didn't kidnap your grandson," and stood. "You wanna talk to me, come with the police and enough evidence against me." Her purse in hand, she wiped her tears with her free hand and walked out of the chapel. "What a drama queen," Tracy snorted and added, "What do we do now, Lubesha?" "Report to the police, I guess." "I hate to be the bearer of bad news," said Donald warily. "But if my memory serves me right the police only take in missing person's reports 24 hours after the person in discussion went missing." "Great," Powerless, Tracy's knees buckled and she sank to the floor. Thinking about what Sandra's minions might be doing to her son filled her heart with immense terror. "My baby," she sobbed. "Heaven knows I can't go through the pain of losing a son once again..the pain is immeasurable!" Juliet crouched before her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're a good person, Tracy. Sandra might be crazy but I doubt she has the guts to end a human life." "The bitch had an abortion for crying out loud!" Laura exploded with fury. She was so angry she felt like Junior was actually her son. Hell, she loved him like her own son. "I think aunt Juliet is right," Sylvester offered. "How would you know?" Laura gave him an incredulous look, crossing her arms. "Unless of course you know Sandra well." "You don't need to know somebody well to tell they are capable of murder, sweetie. I say this is just a desperate move by a desperate woman. She'll probably get back to her senses soon and get Junior released." "I still say we call the police," came Tracy's weak and quivering voice. Her Dad intervened, "Leave that to me. I have people who owe me favours in the police department so am working on that," he patted his daughter's shoulder and stepped aside to make a string of phone calls. He came back a few minutes later and announced, "Done! A search party for Junior has been launched as I speak.. Tracy," he crouched down too. "I promise I'll do my best to find him." Fearing he'd lose his mind, Lubesha jerked his arm free from Amos who was comforting him. "I can't stay here and do nothing no more.." He began to scuffle out of the chapel while almost everyone asked where he was going, begging him not to do anything crazy. Lubesha had no access to his car that day so he got on the first taxi he could find and told the driver where to take him. Lubesha was at Sandra's within 35 minutes thanks to less traffic. He paid the driver and went to knock on the gate. A guard peeped through and opened the small gate. "You are not allowed here," he curtly told Lubesha. "Just as I thought..Is Sandra in?" "I'm not at liberty to divulge any information to you." "I assume she's in then. Alright, she'll come out." catching the guard off guard, Lubesha kicked the gate with so much might that it made a loud banging noise. "Hey," the guard caught Lubesha. "Go in peace before I get rough." "Sandra! Come out and face me! Sandra! Sandra!!" "Sir-" "It's okay ba Benja," came Sandra's voice. "Let me talk to him. You can go inside." "I thought your Dad said-" "I just gave you an order, don't make me repeat myself please." "Okay," like the loyal dog he was, ba Benja went back inside. Sandra crossed her arms and looked Lubesha straight in the eye. "What?" "Junior has nothing to do with this so please let him go. I don't need to be psychic to decipher you kidnapped him. Come on, he did nothing wrong to you." "But his parents did. They treated me like trash so now he's paying for their sins." "So you admit you're behind his kidnapping?" She shrugged. "I didn't say that." Lubesha went down on both knees and folded his hands as if praying. "Sandra, in the name of the love you claim to once have had for me, please let my son go. He's been through too much already. You and I can strike a deal if you like but please just let him go." Sandra was about to reply but the sound of an approaching car cut her short. Still kneeling, Lubesha turned his head and saw the decorated BMW pull over and Tracy emerged. "Why are you kneeling before this Jezebel?" she restlessly demanded. "If you have any sense in that your head," Sandra mocked. "I suggest you kneel beside your husband and maybe I might just reconsider not killing your son." "You wouldn't dare do such a thing to an innocent boy!" "Tracy sweetheart, don't test my patience." Tracy decided to swallow her pride and actually knelt beside Lubesha, not caring about ruining her K5,000 wedding dress in the process. She too folded her hands and pleaded with Sandra to have mercy on them. To Sandra, this was a billion dollar moment if not priceless. This moment was to die for. The looks on their faces were just simply priceless! She nodded her head in mockery, laughing. "Aha..didn't I warn you? Didn't I tell you you'd regret ever crossing paths with me? Lelo mwatolamo amano. How does it feel, huh Tracy? How does it feel to experience so much pain on the day that is supposed to be the happiest day of your life? It hurts, right? Well, this is just the beginning. By the time I'm through with both of you, I swear to God muzamuziba Yesu (you'll know Jesus)." She clicked her tongue and called Ba Benja. "Please get these pathetic people out of here and the next time they show their faces don't hesitate to inform me so that I sue their asses for trespassing." She clicked her tongue again and walked out on them. "Sir, Madam, please stand and leave." "Don't touch me," Tracy sternly warned the guard and got to her feet. Lubesha followed suit and together, they got into the car that had brought Tracy. "I'm finished," Tracy broke down once the driver hit the road. Lubesha was equally finished but being a man, he had to be there for Tracy so he hugged her tightly and assured her they'd find their son. "You mean his dead body, right? Lubesha, you never know the pain of losing a child..not until you experience it. I just can't lose Junior, I can't. Heaven knows I'd give my life away if it meant me saving him. I'd sacrifice anything to see him fine." Lubesha didn't reply, all he did was engulf her in his warm and assuring embrace. ☆☆☆ Sandra dialled the number as soon as she was in her room. "How's the boy?" "Apart from talking shit and threatening us to let him go before his grandfather unleashes hell on earth, he's fine." "He's tied up, I assume?" "Madam, you know you don't have to tell us how to do our job." "Good. Right now, I want you to make a video of the boy getting bitch slapped. Make sure the slaps are harsh. I'll send you a line to which you'll anonymously send the video. He's paying for his mother's deeds, by the way." "Is that all?" "For now," she hung up, threw the phone on the bed and lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't stop herself from smiling upon recalling how foolish Lubesha and Tracy had looked when begging her for forgiveness. Served them right for thinking they could toy with her feelings and go scot free. ☆☆☆ 10 hours after Junior's kidnapping with no news as to his whereabouts, Tracy received a video on whatsapp from an unsaved line. Her phone had been in her hands as she was awaiting phone calls from her father, Donald, Amos and Sylvester who had gone out to sort out the kidnapping issue. She opened the video and screamed. Lubesha was outside Tracy's house, on phone with a cop regarding getting the suspect arrested. "For Christ's sake, the psycho accepted she's behind the kidnapping!" "I'm afraid your word isn't enough evidence to get Ms. Sandra Fulilwa arrested. I can't do anything unless you provide me with incriminating evidence...then I can get an arrest warrant." Lubesha sighed. "Thanks," for nothing. He hung up. No sooner had he cut the line than he heard Tracy scream from the living room. Fearing the worst had happened, he rushed into the house just to find her stifling a sob with her hand. "Take a look at this," she said and gave Lubesha the phone. He watched the video and was appalled. Such brutality was beyond him. Who slaps a 13 year old(turning 14 in a week's time) so harshly? Such hostility towards a young teenager was intolerable and inhuman! "That woman is crazy," Tracy shook her head in disbelief. "We need to do something asap before my baby gets brutally murdered. I won't be able to forgive myself if that happens. My actions got us into this mess. Maybe if I hadn't interrupted your wedding none of this would be happening." "Don't blame yourself," Lubesha sat beside her. "Why don't we give the line that sent the video to the police? See what they find out." "Don't bother..I tried directly calling it, it's off. Probably the SIM card has already been destroyed. Sandra's smart, she knew we'd think of tracing the line." "You have a point. Oh Lord," Lubesha buried his head in his palms. He'd thought too much since the kidnapping such that he now had a terrible migraine. Juliet who'd been preparing snacks with Laura in the kitchen showed up with the snacks but nobody seemed hungry. "Any word from Donald, Amos, Sylvester or Mr. Fulilwa?" "There's nothing yet," Tracy pursed her lips. Laura said, "Sylvester's getting all the help he can." "Great," Tracy only said it out of courtesy. Lubesha's phone chose that exact moment to ring. It was a private line calling him. "Pick it," Juliet urged. Lubesha swiped to answer. "Hello?" "Babe," it was Sandra and he immediately put the phone on loudspeaker. "What do you want?" "I've got an offer for you." "I'm listening." "Are you with the police?" "No, Sandra." "Good. Cause don't even dare double cross me. If you do, the next video I'll send will be that of Junior having his balls cut off. Or better yet, that of his mutilated cadaver." "What's the offer?" "I'm on loudspeaker, aren't I?" Was Tracy's house bugged? Or maybe she just guessed? "You want the truth, yes." "Even better. Now listen and listen good...you'll come over to my house, sign some documents which state that am your wife and you my husband and then we'll leave this country to go settle in another country. In simpler terms, you marry me in exchange for your son's freedom." "You're sick!" snapped Tracy. "Lubesha doesn't even love you! Can't you just accept the simple fact and leave us alone?" "Unfortunately, I can't. Let's just say am killing two birds with one stone cause I know neither you and Lubesha will be happy if he marries me but I on the other hand will be over the moon!" "Is that all?" Lubesha seriously asked. "Yeah," Sandra agreed. Lubesha exhaled. "Deal." "You can't be serious, can you?" Tracy asked as soon as he was off the phone. "There just has to be another way!" "I agree with Tracy," Juliet piped up. "You can't just throw away your life to please that witch." "That's the problem, I'm not doing it to please her. I'm doing it for my son. Now both you and Tracy know the pain of losing a child so I'm guessing you'd not wish such pain even on your worst enemy," he took Tracy's hands in his. "Baby, you said in the car that you're willing to sacrifice anything for our son, right? So am I." "But-" "No buts..." He shook his head. "This is the end for us, Tracy. I love you so much, never should you forget that. Tell Junior I love him too." "Lubesha-" He shook his head again, kissed her on the lips for a full minute and wiped her tears. He slowly slipped her hands from his and stood. "Goodbye, people."

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. . . . . Chapter 42. ~FINALE~ He got out of the car and was heading into the chapel when he suddenly felt the urge to ease himself. Lubesha Jr. decided to do a detour to the loo and it was from there as he was washing his hands that a casually dressed man walked in. He saw the man from the mirror but that was a public toilet so he minded his on business. To his surprise, the man was suspiciously approaching him. The young boy instinctively turned. "Can I help you, Sir?" "Actually, yes," the man smirked and before Junior could do anything, the man produced a handkerchief from his pocket and hurriedly covered the boy's nose. The boy wildly protested but the chloroform knocked him out pretty soon. Lubesha Junior awoke with a start and much to his dismay, realised he was still bound to the chair like a criminal or some animal awaiting slaughter. He'd had a weird dream..it was weird in the sense that it was actually a replay of his kidnapping. In his chair and his face burning from all the hot slaps he'd received that evening, Lubesha Jr. scanned his surrounding once again. Seemed him and his three kidnappers were in some sort of abandoned warehouse. Speaking of his kidnappers, they were seated at a distance, playing cards while chain smoking and drinking cheap beer. The mere sight of them turned his stomach such that he wanted to cuss them but he knew better. Oh how he was scared for his life..he'd watched enough movies and had seen how kidnapping ended in murder. The unsettling thought of him getting murdered at the age of 13 brought tears to his eyes but he blinked them away. All he did was hope his parents, grandpa and everyone else who cared about him out there was doing their best to locate him. ☆☆☆ Seated in the backseat of a taxi, en-route to Sandra's place, Lubesha contemplated his options, if there were any to begin with. He'd promised Sandra he'd marry her but now he was having second thoughts. He exhaustedly blew out a breath and buried his head in his hands. The headache seemed not willing to leave him alone. "You okay, mister?" came the driver's voice. Lubesha had taken a random taxi. He shook his head. "I'll be okay if you just shut the hell up and drive me to my destination in peace." The driver shrugged, he was used to snobs. Lubesha hadn't meant to be rude but he was so exhausted he just willed all this madness to be over soon. He shut his eyes and was deep in thought. After some time, a plan popped up in his head. It was a long shot but he was going to give it a shot anyway. The plan was simple. Put his phone on voice recorder and have an incriminating conversation with Sandra which would be enough proof she'd kidnapped his son. He debated calling her right and decided that would be suspicious, talking to her in person was the only option he had. He was headed to her place after all. After what seemed like an eternity, Lubesha finally arrived at Sandra's. He paid the driver and apologized for being rude. "It's alright," smiled the middle aged driver. "I pray to God whatever's troubling you goes away soon." "Amen," he watched the car drive in the opposite direction and then he sighed, approached the gate and picked a stone to knock. "Here goes nothing," he hopelessly mumbled. His guts told him his plan wasn't going to work and he found out a few minutes later he was actually right. ☆☆☆ Tracy's eyes were puffy from all the crying she'd done that day. And the fact that Lubesha was willing to sacrifice so much for their son overwhelmed her and she cried even more. Juliet and Laura tried to comfort her, all to no avail. Laura was easily getting agitated and sighed with relief when she saw Sylvester enter the living room. "Any news?" Tracy got to her feet as soon as she saw him, rushing towards him, her wedding dress sweeping the floor. Sylvester ruefully said, "Nothing yet..I'm so sorry. Your father's contacts seem to be making progress though." "I know you're just saying that to make me feel better," Tracy slumped back to her seat. "Oh my Lord, I guess Lubesha is the only one who can save my son now." "Can I talk to you in private?" Sylvester asked Laura who nodded. Laura ushered him to her old room and shut the door behind them. "Yes?" "I didn't wanna say this in front of Tracy because it'd look like I don't care about Junior..the thing is I have to step out, duty calls." "No problem.." Laura trailed off when Sylvester's phone beeped, indicating there was a message. He got the phone from his pocket, opened the message and smiled. He typed some stuff and hit send. "You were saying?" "I said it's fine, you can go." "Cool," but he dumped the phone on the bed after locking it and headed towards the adjoining bathroom. "I gotta catch a shit first." Laura offered him a sheepish nod and grabbed his phone as soon as he'd closed the bathroom door behind him. Of course the phone was secured with a complex pattern which she'd been snooping to master for some time now and luck seemed to be on her side seeing as she'd mastered it earlier that morning but just hadn't had time to try it. What with the wedding and the kidnapping fiasco? Why was she even going through the trouble of snooping? You might wonder. Well, the answer was simple. Ever since Sandra had mentioned seven months back in that beauty parlour that Laura was married to a cheat, Laura had started watching her husband closely and indeed his actions were that of a cheating man. The time he spent on his phone chatting with God knows who and smiling stupidly, coming home reeking of a woman's cologne and many other signs. To all cheating men, your wife always knows when you're cheating. Some decide to keep quiet while others retaliate depending on the type of people they are and Laura was the retaliating one. She'd sworn to teach her husband's side chick a lesson but hadn't had the luck to find out who the side chick was. Her heartbeat escalating, Laura tried the pattern and it budged. She almost jumped for joy but managed to contain her excitement. She went straight to Sylvester's Direct Messages which were fortunately not locked. She opened the message string on top. Mike technician, 6:46 PM: 'Sex at our favourite hotel tonight?' Slyvester, 6:49PM:'I'm having a crisis at home which I guess you caused. Maybe later.' Mike technician, 6:50PM:'I'm leaving the country with Lubesha first thing tomorrow morning so today's your last chance to have a taste of my cookie' Sylvester, 6:50PM:'Let me see if I'll make it.' Mike technician, 7:59PM: 'Are you coming or not?' Sylvester 8.00PM: 'I am. Just wait up, on my way.' Laura read through the string again and furiously cursed under her breath, "That bitch!" she pocketed Sylvester's phone, removed the key from the keyhole and locked her room's door from outside. "Let's see how you screw that whole tonight you son of a bitch." "Where are you going?" Juliet asked Laura who was hastily walking out of the house. Laura replied, "If any of you care about Junior's safety, don't let Sylvester out of my room!" "What's going on?" Tracy inquired. "I'll explain later, wish me luck," and Laura was out of the house. ☆☆☆ "What do you mean Sandra isn't here?" Lubesha angrily asked Enoch. "She herself called me to come here!" "Then sit your ass down and wait for her!" Enoch exploded too, apparently Lubesha wasn't the only one having a bad day. Shaking his head, Lubesha sat and watched Enoch frantically pace the living room. "Stress is a killer," Lubesha mocked. Enoch opted to ignore his sarcastic statement. His phone rang, startling him. He hurriedly swiped to answer. "Hello?" "Your 24 hours is up," said the familiar voice on the other end of the line. "I'm on my way to the police, Enoch. I hope you'll enjoy your stay in prison." He'd barely gotten off that call when he received another one from the man in charge of his merchandise shipment from China. "What?!" Enoch snapped. The voice on the other end crackled, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the police have a search warrant for your cargo, Sir." "I'm finished!" Enoch exclaimed and even as he said it, he felt the muscles around his heart tighten and then came the searing pain. He clutched at his chest and wide eyed, fell to the floor. Lubesha was by his side in seconds. One look at Enoch and he screamed for help. ☆☆☆ When Sylvester walked out of the bathroom and found Laura gone, he checked his phone on the bed. Nothing. A surge of panic coursed through him and he rushed for the door which much to his dismay was locked. Damn! "Help!" he banged on the door. "Help! Hel-" "Save your breath," came Tracy's voice from the other side. "Laura left strict instructions not to let you out. Now tell me why she'd do that." "I don't know..just freaking open this door!" "I don't have the key, Sylvester." "There has to be a spare one!" "I'm sorry, I can't open the door unless you give me a good reason as to why I should let you out." Desperate times call for desperate measures. "Laura must have found out I'm cheating on her with Sandra," that's the only logical reason as to why she'd have stolen my phone. "I'm afraid she'll do something crazy!" Where she stood leaning against the door, Tracy felt her knees go weak. Sylvester and Sandra? Holy shit, she now loathed him as much as she did Sandra so all she did was silently walk away. She was so angry she felt like cutting his balls off and feeding them to him. "Odd," Sandra mumbled to herself, reading Slyvester's latest text. Apparently plans had changed and he wanted them to meet at a much more secluded place. An abandoned building of some sort. 'Laura happened, I'll explain once you get here.' 'Sharp.' Sandra grabbed her car keys and scanned the plush hotel room one more time. "What a waste." Several miles away, Laura awaited her prey in the dark. This was going to be fun. ☆☆☆ "What did you say happened to him?" the doctor asked Lubesha who with the aid of a guard had taken Enoch to the hospital. Lubesha explained to the doctor exactly what had happened. "I guess the bad news triggered his heart attack." "Heart attack?" gasped the concerned looking guard. "Yes..I'm afraid you brought him here quite too late. Mr. Enoch Mulimba is no more. Am so sorry." Lubesha watched the doctor turn to walk away and his head begun to spin. "That just didn't happen, did it?" It felt surreal to learn a man who'd had the strength to yell into his phone only but less than an hour ago was now dead. Lubesha took out his phone and dialled Sandra's line. She didn't pick up so he called Tracy. "Sandra's Dad just kicked the bucket," he told Tracy without preamble. ☆☆☆ The place was creepy as hell and it surprised Sandra that she even had the guts to turn on her phone's flashlight and head into the building. Crazy sex, look what you made me do, she wryly thought and muffled a chuckle. "Sylvester?" "Over here, bestie." Sandra turned and her flashlight illuminated Laura right in front of her. A container in her hands, she was smirking. Sandra knew she was in danger. "Laura, what-" "What am I doing here?" Laura laughed. "Honey, I'm here to teach you a lesson for spreading your legs for my husband and kidnapping my favourite nephew." "Sweetie, if your husband is screwing me that only means you don't give it to him like I do. Besides, he followed me, not the other way round." "But you're the one spreading your legs so it's you I'll punish. Men will always be men and we all know it's in their nature to cheat." Sandra let out a hollow laugh, "Good luck punishing me," she turned on the spot and sprinted for the exit. Laura did a swift manuever towards Sandra and tackled her, sending her expensive smartphone flying. It fell at a distance and the light went off. Quickly, she pinned Sandra down and climbed on top. She opened her container and poured a bit of the contents on Sandra's arm. Sandra screamed with agony, writhing. The pain on her arm was intense. Laura laughed and closed the container. "This is hydrochloric acid, honey. By the time I'm done with you, nobody will be able to recognize your face. So, where are you hiding Lubesha Jr.?" "Let go of me first," winced the powerless Sandra. "Maybe then I might consider telling you." "Really? You think you're in the position to call shots here? Sandra, hell knows no wrath like a woman scorned so please quit testing my patience cause-" This time it was Laura who screamed. Despite the pitch blackness, Sandra had aimed for Laura's arm and had taken a chunk off it. She actually tasted the warm blood as Laura rolled off her, cussing. Sandra took the chance and ran for her life. Laura fought the pain, picked the container of acid and began pursuing Sandra. Delirious, Sandra ran towards the opposite direction from where her car was parked, screaming for help. She kept on glancing over her shoulder such that she didn't see the truck coming her way. Bg the time the truck driver saw her, it was too late. Laura froze at a distance behind Sandra who was screaming her lungs out and shut her eyes as the driver hit emergency brakes. When she finally opened her eyes after the loud crash, she realized the truck had hit Sandra who lay face down on the gravel road, blood oozing from her wounds. ☆☆☆ Seemed sleeping was the only thing that kept Lubesha Junior sane so he slept again and had a bizzare dream. He was older and was seated in his room thinking out loud, "My family is messed up, this I can't argue. But I love all my family members regardless of their wayward ways and I also like to believe am special. Am special in the sense that I'll right the wrongs of my family and straighten everyone out. How I'll achieve this farfetched goal of mine, am yet to know. You needn't know my name, at least not at this point in time, nor my gender. All you need to know is am this family's saviour." When he awoke, he wondered what the dream meant but nature called, reeling his thoughts off the weird dream. "Hey," he called. "What?" growled one his abductors. "I gotta use the toilet." "You can pee from there." "Who says I wanna pee?" he was agitated. "I wanna catch a shit. Unless you want me to do it right here and right-" "Message clear, brat," snapped another of his abductors. He left his two friends playing cards and warily untied Lubesha Jr. Knife pointed at his neck, Junior was led to a room located at the far end of the warehouse. "Make it quick," the man ordered, motioning into a dark room. Lubesha Jr. nodded and pulled his pants down. He squatted and moaned with pleasure as he eased himself. The man waiting for him took a few steps out of the room, unable to take the stench of human faecal waste. When he was done, Jr. pulled his pants up and bumped into a metal. His eyes widened. This was a sign from God. He slowly and quietly picked the metal. "You done yet?" He almost gasped with fear. "Not yet." "Hurry the fuck up! I don't have all fucking day!" He didn't reply but instead took slow strides towards the man's silhouette, lifted the metal above his head and wham! The tall man fell with a muffled grunt. Jr. quietly put the metal down and ran for the exit and into the night. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him until he reached a main road and flagged down an approaching taxi which fortunately came to a stop and he jumped in. It was past 9:00PM and it struck the driver as odd for a boy his age to be wandering around that late. Hadn't he heard of serial killers? "What's a boy your age doing-" "Drive! I was kid-kidnapped," he was breathless. "Drive!" The driver hit the accelerator and off they were. "Do you have credit on your phone?" Ten minutes had past. The driver silently gave his phone to the boy who thanked him before dialling a number. Tracy's phone rang and she picked up without checking the caller ID. "Mum," came her frantic son's voice. "Mum, I've escaped. I'm on my way home." Tracy thought the boy was playing tricks on her until she finally heard the seriousness in his tone. She closed her eyes and gave God a prayer of gratitude. "But how?" "I'll explain everything when I arrive," Jr. pressed and the line cut. "Who was that?" inquired Donald who had retained with Amos a few minutes back. "It was Lubesha Jr, he's on his way home." When Lubesha Sr. received a call from his wife informing him about the development, he got on the first taxi he could find. Fuck Sandra, he inwardly mused. ☆☆☆ Lubesha, Donald, Tracy, Juliet, Mr. Fulilwa and Amos were standing on the porch anxiously awaiting the taxi and when it finally pulled up right in front of them, they all rushed to welcome Jr. "Where did you find him?" Lubesha Sr. asked the driver after they'd all taken turns hugging Junior. The driver explained and everyone showered him with gratitude and offered to pay him for rescuing Junior but he only accepted a K60. That's how much it cost to take Jr. home. He wished them the best of luck, got into his car and drove off into the night. Tracy couldn't seem to get her hands off Jr's face and it was understandable. They all went into the house and settled in the living room, listening to Jr's tale. "It's a miracle I'm even home right now," he added, yawning. "I gotta go to bed, I'm exhausted." "Poor baby," Tracy held him by the hand. "Mummy will tuck you in." Juliet stifled a yawn too. "Now that my grandson's safe, I think I'll retire to bed too. It's been one helluva long day!" "Me too," chirped Donald. Mr. Fulilwa had given everyone a respective room. "Good night," Juliet and Donald said in unison. There were murmurs of 'good night' in response. It was just Lubesha, Amos and Mr. Fulilwa in the living room when Mr. Fulilwa's phone rang. "Laura?" he mouthed, baffled. He hadn't even realised she wasn't home. He swiped to answer, "Hello?" "Tracy's phone isn't going through so I opted to call you. I've got great news, uncle." "I'm all ears." "Well, the big bad wolf Sandra was run over by a truck and has been rendered paralysed. As if that isn't enough, the accident tampered with her vocal chords such that the bitch will be mute for the rest of her life. Isn't karma a bitch?" Laura had pretended to be a passerby and had helped the truck driver to rush Sandra to the hospital. That's where the doctor explained to them what she'd just explained to her uncle. Sadly for the driver, he'd been arrested though his sentence would be light seeing as he'd reported himself to the police. The smile on Mr. Fulilwa's face was inevitable as he got off the phone. "You won't believe what has happened?" "After all the crazy happenings of today," Lubesha snorted. "Try us." Mr. Fulilwa told them. "Karma's a bitch," Amos carelessly shrugged. "The witch deserves what's happening to her and more. I say we even report her and her goons to the police." "The goons are probably leaving town as we speak," said Mr. Fulilwa and he was right. They'd hit the road as soon as they realised Jr. had escaped. Lubesha sighed. "Sandra's already paying for her sins..jail won't do anything. God has already fought our battle for us." A tired Mr. Fulilwa touched Lubesha's shoulder. "I'm proud to call you my son in-law." and he retired to bed. "Sorry about your messy wedding," Amos told Lubesha. "I really don't care about the wedding, man. I'm just glad everything's slowly going back to normal. Speaking of normal, haven't you found anyone special yet?" "I'm working on it," Amos sheepishly rose to his feet and bid Lubesha good night. Lubesha retired to bed too. He found Tracy singing a lullaby to Jr. "He's asleep," she whispered. Lubesha slipped under the sheets and whispered, "What a day.." he quietly narrated Sandra's fate to Tracy who unsurprisingly felt bad for her. "She's bad, yes. But being paralyzed and mute at the same time? That's just plain shitty luck! I say we drop all charges against her." "Yeah." She then told him about Sandra's affair with Sylvester and Lubesha wasn't surprised. It wasn't unlike either of them to be so shameless. Pushing Sandra and Sylvester to the back of his mind, he whispered in the dark, "Tomorrow will be a new day, new everything, my love. I can feel it." "So can I. I love you, Lubesha Pondamali. After all the ugly things we've been through, the only thing I don't and will never regret is the love I have for you," she wearily blew out a breath. "Goodnight, Lubesha Pondamali. Always remember that I love you." "Goodnight, Tracy Pondamali. I love you too." They both kissed their son who was sleeping in the middle on the forehead and slept. They deserved the rest after the hectic day they'd had. "I thank God the nightmare is over," Juliet was clinging to her husband under the warm bedspread. "You know I hate leaving our Junior at our neighbour's place. I've missed him so much!" Donald kissed her on the lips. "Starting tomorrow, you and I will be with him for the rest of our lives." "Misozi too..heaven knows I adore that baby. Alice left us a gem. Frank's a great father, I'm grateful to God for that. I can rest assured knowing my granddaughter's in great hands." Not wanting to discuss their late daughter, Donald closed his eyes and zoned out on Juliet who joined him soon. They so needed the sleep. Amos lay in bed thinking about the girl he was in a relationship with. He knew his parents would love her. He slept with a huge smile on his face. Laura arrived home and went straight to her room after unlocking the door. She knew Jr. was back but knew he was resting so she'd decided to check on him tomorrow. She entered her room and flickered the light on. Sylvester was seated on the edge of her bed, fully dressed. "Hey," she greeted. "We don't have to talk about your infedility because I've forgiven you. That's how much I love you, you fool. But please never take my love for weakness because I can be deadly when I want to." Her tone scared the crap out of him so he swallowed and awkwardly said, "I'm sorry for cheating on you...I..I promise to be faithful to you henceforth." "You better." Sylvester rose to hug her but she pushed him away. "Don't push your luck, mister." and threw a pillow and blanket at him. "You're sleeping on the couch." "Yes, ma'am." Shooting one last yearning glance at his wife, Slyvester did his walk of shame towards the door, opened it and closed it after him. Laura heard his footsteps fade away and she rushed into the bathroom, stripped, opened the faucet and stood under the jet of hot soothing water. She had flashbacks of Sandra covered in blood. She pushed the ugly memories to the back of her mind and absent mindedly shrugged, mumbling under her breath, "The bitch only got what she deserves." Sandra lay on the bed conscious yet unable to utter a word nor move a muscle. In that instant, she wished she'd just died! Death was way better than being a vegetable. When Lubesha Jr. flickered his eyes open the following morning and saw his lovely parents lying beside him on each side, he beamed. To hell with the weird dream that he'd had yesterday, he told himself. Maybe a day would come when he'd have to play family saviour but that didn't matter and that day wasn't today. What mattered was that for once, all was finally well in their lives. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆THE END☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

wow!!!! this is so wonderful,,,, but in all of dis, I wouldn't have loved Alice sacrificing her life,,,, but even Rose also has its own share of thorns

wow!! nice story, nice ending

Wow so interesting Thank you for this wonderful piece

Dysfunctional family indeed