“What!? What will you do in Mpumalanga?” Lulu asked.
“While I’m there, I’ll search for my father. I need him as his son,” Samson admitted.
“But where would you start looking for him?”
“I have his address that mom gave me before she died.”
“You never told me that.”
“You never asked.”
“How can you say that? You never wanted to talk about him. So, when are you going?”
“Anytime I get paid.”
“Oh, Samson.”
“That’s it, I’m going to work.”
He stood up and went for the door.
“Papa, wait, I need your help,” said Sihle.
“Yes, my boy.”
“Please listen to my speech and hear whether it’s fine.”
“Okay, go on.”
Sihle stood formally, “Ladies and gentlemen, standing before you is Sihle Nkalanga. I’m here to present a speech under the topic of what many don’t know about the world and Africa our home. The world is made up of seven continents with about 197 countries technically, 215 from a travel standpoint. There’s 180 currencies in the whole world with Rand as our South African currency. Ronald Rodger is the world president, our country’s president is Chauke John, he’s 56 years old. His wife is Rosaline Mhlongo Chauke and they gave birth to two children, Junior and Londiwe Chauke. There’s nine provinces in our country and attracts tourists …”
“Wow my boy, that’s a great speech.”
“I’m not done yet,” Sihle said.
“I’m getting late, but it’s really great. You remind me of myself back in school.”
“But Daddy?”
“That’s my exit.”
“Bye,” they said and he left.
He turned back to get his face towel and heard Lulu making a call.
“Daddy, I have a problem, Samson wants to leave me again.”
He listened closely at the door.
“He’s going to Mpumalanga to look for his father. I think he’s planning to leave me for good…Daddy, please you must stop him, he respects you and listens to whatever you say to him. Please come tonight, he’ll get paid today and I’m sure he’ll leave tomorrow morning…Okay, thank you very much….I love you too.” Lulu hung up.
Later Samson finished work, and got paid. He deposited cash into Lulu’s account and then texted her.
Samson: Won’t be comin home. I’ll sleep at friendz house and travel to MP 2morrow. Love you both.
Lulu: Dad is home waiting for you.
Samson: Say hi for me, must go.
Then he switched his phone off.
Lulu rushed to the sitting room, holding tears back.
“Dad, he just texted me, he’s not coming home and says he’ll sleep at his friend’s house.”
“What is going through my son-in-law’s mind? Do you know this friend of his?”
“He’s lying, he has no friend; he’ll be traveling throughout the night.”
“He’s a grownup, my girl, he knows what he’s doing. You have to trust your husband.”
“It’s hard, daddy, it’s hard.”
“It’ll be fine.”
Samson slept at the bus station and by dawn he took the first bus to Nelspruit. From Nelspruit he took a taxi to Pienaar. He asked around until he got one promising direction. He arrived at what used to be his father’s home but now there were rooms for renting. He stood outside and saw the owner’s number on the wall. He dialled it.
“Hello.”
“Hi.”
“I would like to speak to Angel Nkalanga, the owner of Nkalanga Pienaar rooms.”
“Yes, I’m the one speaking.”
“Oh uhm, I’m outside the rooms and would like to meet you today if possible?”
“Oh I’m inside, I’m on my way.”
She came out of one of the rooms.
“Sawubona.”
“Yebo, how are you?”
“I’m fine,” Angel said, opening the gate. “Come in.”
They went in and she offered Samson a chair.
“So how can I help you?”
“My name is Samson, Samson Nkalanga. I’m from Durban, I’m here looking for my father, Justice Nkalanga. I have his address, I was looking for his house but it led me here. I have a copy of his ID, here,” Samson said handing Angel the document.
She looked at it for a while.
“I know him, he was my father.”
***
Tell us: Do you think Samson made the right decision to leave home?