Dad never had the best timing. Like the time he wished me happy birthday a week late; or the time he picked mom up three hours late from the airport. I forgave him then, but disturbing my fantasy of naughty Betty and I making love was inexcusable.

I choose to ignore the message so I can get back to Betty. Minutes later I receive incessant phone calls from dad. This must be serious, dad never calls. I wipe my sticky hands on the bedsheet and answer the phone call reluctantly.

“Hello?”

“Hello Son. Are you busy? I need your help. Can you come over to my place now? It’s an emergency. Bring that cell phone that I gave you.”

Without letting me answer, he hastily hangs up the call, probably trying to avoid hearing my refusal. The sound of utter desperation and urgency in dad’s voice rings in my ears. It has only been a year since dad got kicked out and already he is in trouble. Well, who am I to judge, seeing as I just failed?

Our Rosebank home is a thirty minute bus trip away from Dad’s Hillbrow loft. A bus drive to a place where murders, rape, theft, drugs and human trafficking are the average daily occurrence definitely is not appealing. But my curiosity overcomes my fear. Maybe dad misses me? After much thought and deliberation, I wash up, get dressed and take a bus to Gandhi square, then another to Hillbrow.

In the bus, I take out Samu and start updating my Instagram profile and at the same time check my updates. The bus trip feels especially long as the midday heat shines through the window. With the foul stench of the packed bus I continue to browse Samu, paying no attention to my surroundings in the hope that I will not bump into anyone I know. As soon as I see dirty, pedestrian-filled streets, I know that my stop is close. The bus comes to a halt and I jump off.

I put my hoodie over my head and cautiously walk to the Ponte tower where dad lives. I try not to look conspicuous as I hide Samu away from the tempting eyes of pick-pockets. The very striking thing about the building is how uninhabitable the ruined place looks. In addition, there’s a sewer-ridden stench that assaults my nostrils as I block them with my fingers.

As I pass the reception, I notice a buff, mafia-looking man in a black suit, violently arguing with the receptionist. Choosing to ignore the conflict (as always), I carry on with my mission. I take the lift to floor five and walk to room Y24. Doff! Doff! Doff! I knock on the door, waiting nervously as the sound echoes down the corridor along with my beating heart.

“Who is it?” dad’s deep voice cautiously calls out.

I hesitate as I contemplate leaving, but my curiosity replies “It’s me, dad.”

Dad nervously asks: “Are you alone?”

“Obviously,” I reply with growing impatience. The door swings open, releasing a horrendous smell that engulfs me like a Durban wave.

I slowly step forward as my eyes adjust to the darkness. As I enter the cramped loft, I trip on an empty bottle of Black Label amongst the many dirty dishes scattered in the already small room. I see dad lying on the couch with drool dried up on his cheek, wearing shabby pyjamas and holding a beer bottle in his hand.

Dad begins to speak and, as he does, a gush of alcohol stench comes out of his mouth. “Son, I need that phone that I gave you. I’ve gotten into some shit with some people and I need money. If you love me, you’ll do this for me,” dad explains, taking a sip of beer.

My curiosity instantly turns into rage as I realise that all dad wants is Samu. Without thinking my voice explodes with anger. “How the hell can you ask me to hand over a gift that you gave me for my birthday? Look at this place, look at you! You’re a drunken mess! No wonder mom left you!” I walk towards the door.

Dad runs after me and places his arms around me, shouting, “Wait Cavee, I know it’s complicated, but…” I turn around, pushing dad away, and that is when I see it. I walk to the corner table and I notice white powder smudged across its surface. I take a closer look and a quick whiff. Drugs! My jaw drops in shock. How could he do this? First gambling his life away and now this? I hate him!

Suddenly sounds of ‘Bang! Poof! Wham!’ hammers from the door! Without warning, dad pushes me underneath his bed to hide me. What the hell was happening? Darkness surrounds me as my claustrophobia kicks in. I hear the door swing open, hitting the wall with a forceful impact and dad’s voice crying out, “No G, please my man, I will get you the cash, please! I just need to do this one transaction I told you about.”

I take a peek from under the bed and to my shock I see the same mafia-looking man that I saw in the reception area. My body freezes with fear as I see him slapping dad across the cheek and shouting in a foreign African accent, “You think zol comes cheap? Time’s up! Pay up or die! Ku wasa da wutar da ku kadan shit!” The man takes out a knife and places it onto dad’s throat.

With agonising panic, I hide my face back under the bed. Bam, bam, crack, bang, zap, crash, pow! Dad’s slender body flings to the other side of the room against the old kist given to him by his father. Sweat intoxicates my senses as my breathing becomes heavy. Is this really happening? I have to do something! I take Samu out from my pocket and I use my left hand to remind me of the number 10111 to dial the nearest police station as I whisper the details of the crime.

Dad lies on the floor, helpless, as he gets beaten to a pulp. I cannot bear the sight any longer, so I close my teary eyes and put my hands over my eyes. Where the hell are the cops? To my surprise, within minutes I hear the sound of police barging in as they roar out, “Put your hands up in air!”

From my viewpoint, I see two pairs of police boots stomping order and authority into the already chaotic Hillbrow room. I glimpse the mafia man trying to run, but he gets shot in the leg and I see his body fall to the floor. The sound of handcuffs chink as I peek out and see dad and mafia man getting arrested.

“Sizobathatha ejele,” yells out one of the cops. As they exit the room, I frantically get up and look out the tinted window. I catch a glimpse of a blue-lit police car labelled ‘Hillbrow Metro Police’.

Taking out Samu, I call mom with a stuttering voice, “Mom I need you! Dad’s been arrested.” It takes a few minutes for my dazed senses to calm down as I squat and catch my breath. On the bus back home, I take out Samu and escape into Facebook.

***

Tell us: What would you have done in Cavee’s shoes?