“Have you forgotten that you raped Shamiso?” Gerald said, speaking calmly. “She could have reported you to police, but I protected you. Leave that poor child alone, or find a woman to marry. I know how you can’t keep that thing in your pants.”

Instead of responding, Lovemore chewed on some bubble-gum and fidgeted with his Nokia 3310. His head was swinging to and fro like a pendulum, and the buttons of the phone were chirping as he pressed them. He tried listening to his father, but he saw it as annoying. He was leaning drunkenly on the wall and he could not hold his posture straight

“The girls come to me, baba,” Lovemore yelled in protest. He then blew a balloon with his bubble-gum and it popped, making his father angrier.

Melody softly grabbed Gerald’s hand to calm him down, but he shook it off.

“I am talking to you. This time you are on your own. If you rape any girl, I will let you rot in jail,” Gerald said, and then sighed. He then bolted out of the kitchen, leaving Lovemore smiling and popping another balloon.

“What should I do if those girls reveal the insides of their bodies to me? It shows they need it,” Lovemore said, and then he chuckled and touched his groin. “I will give it to them if they want it,” he shouted, mocking his father with facial expressions, but he did not notice Melody peeking at him throw the door.

“Son, I don’t like your tone,” Melody said, shaking her head in dismay.

Lovemore threw his hands on his face. “What have I done Ma?” he said, and his mouth was wide open as he spoke, showing off his pink bubble-gum.

“You must find work and be like other men. You will be an imbecile of this village,” Melody responded softly.

Instead of responding, Lovemore jumped up from the chair, and then kick it in anger. He then shoved Melody aside and stormed out.

“I wonder who was like you in your father’s generation. All of them are responsible and good men. Whose child are you?” Melody said, and then checked the pots on the fire.

**********

After leaving the house, Lovemore went straight to the bar. It was mid-week, so it was not crowded. His favourite companions were there, but it looked like they were unhappy. They were all dressed in short dresses of different colours but the same design. The women loved attention and bling. He strolled with confidence towards them, and then smacked Cynthia and Betty’s buttocks, who then gave him attention. They were busy whispering about Ashley, Elizabeth and Beauty.

“If you don’t have money, stop that Lovemore,” Betty said, frowning at Lovemore with evil eyes. He then ignored her and pulled Cynthia closer, but she planted her elbow on his shoulder while chewing a bubble-gum and showing off her teeth.

“I can give you anything, just do what I want,” Lovemore whispered, eyeing Betty’s curvy breasts with his eye. “I will buy you a round of beers,” he added, blowing a kiss to them all.

“If you lie, I will bring my brother to kill you,” Betty said, frowning at him and pointing at him with her long fake nail.

Lovemore pulled her to sit with him until he ordered the beers, but the women’s faces changed as they were served the drinks. Cynthia threw her hand over him with her fake, long nails brushing his skin softly. Lovemore behaved as if he was rich, but everyone knew how foolish he was.

Elizabeth, on seeing that she could do a threesome, she joined Cynthia, but she was not happy. She wondered how Lovemore would be able to afford them both. But all the woman knew that Lovemore never crooked them, and that he always paid. The women left were unhappy because business was not booming, and so they left to his home with his drunken self.

**********

Back at Lovemore’s house, when they were all finished, Elizabeth took her time in the bathroom washing her buttocks and privates. Cynthia peeked on her after they had exhausted Lovemore with love-making.

“Girl, you still have those pimples?” Cynthia asked, unconcerned, and relieving herself on the pit.

“I wore a condom, so don’t worry,” Elizabeth responded while wearing her clothes quickly.

Cynthia was surprised at the answer and gazed at her friend. “You must go do some tests. This business needs people who know safety,” she said, and then she clicked her tongue and tried to walk away.

“He gave you more,” Elizabeth said, dragging Cynthia’s hand, but she pushed her away.

“This boy loves me, I should be paid double and the worst part of it, look at you. Your cookie is bad, smelly, and those pimple … arg,” Cynthia responded, mocking Elizabeth, and then she walked away. She then grabbed her bag and left Elizabeth worried and full of guilt in her conscience.

At first, Elizabeth was not worried about her sickness, but at that moment she was She loved raw sex, and Lovemore did too, but other women wore condoms. That was all they had said. She always knew he would pick her or Cynthia, but he had slept with them all.

“I should just forget these pimples, as long I am not sick,” Elizabeth thought to herself, and then she grabbed her bag and left Lovemore sleeping and snoring.

***

Tell us: What advice would you give someone in Elizabeth’s situation?