“Tell him to go to hell!” Temwa ordered her friend Tito, who had brought the news that her dad was outside.

“But he’s your dad, Temwa! Don’t be hard on him.”

“I said I don’t want to meet him!” She headed to the kitchen.

“Okay, I will do that,” he said and went outside.

Tito was not sure if that was a good idea but he still went ahead.

“Hello Mr. Msiska,” he greeted, stretching his hand to him.

“Hi my son. Uhm,” he scratched his head, “can I meet my daughter please?” he asked.

“No. She just left a few seconds ago via the back door when she saw you coming.”

“Ooh! Did she say the reason?”

“She just said she is not ready to face you,” he explained.

“Tito, I want you to help me persuade her to come home. I want to make amends with her.”

“I will try but I can’t promise to be successful,” Tito said.

Mr. Msiska thanked him and left, hurt.

Tito went back inside and found Temwa who was peeping at them through the window.

“Thanks, Tito,” she said, standing up.

“I feel sorry for myself. I’m turning into a monster. A lying machine,” he said and left for his room.

Temwa and Tito were childhood friends. They became friends when Tito was eight while Temwa was six. Tito was then in standard three, a class ahead of Temwa. Despite that difference, they went to the same church and their houses were close.

When they both graduated, Tito started living alone in the same township while Temwa was still under her parent’s shelter. One day when Tito was busy cleaning his bedroom, he heard a knock. He went to check, in his khaki shorts and black bare muscles. To his surprise, it was Temwa, with her travelling bag and a suitcase.

“What are you doing, Temwa?” Tito was surprised.

“I’m moving in with you,” she said.

“What? You are not my wife. Why should we be staying together?” Tito asked.

“I know. I just need a place to stay before I find my own place.” She was now forcing herself in.

Tito led her to a room next to his.

“You’ll be sleeping here. I know this is meant to be a storeroom but occupy it as we won’t share a room,” Tito warned.

“Tito!” She threw her bags down, annoyed.

“Do you think I’m here to strip for you? Huh? I’m just a homeless nobody trying to start a life!” she cried.

“Okay! Don’t shout in my house. Get some rest and we will talk later.” He left the room.

Later that day, Tito prepared lunch for them and invited Temwa to his little sitting room.

Tito collected the dishes then came back for a conversation.

“Well, before I welcome you in my house, tell me what is going on,” Tito asked.

“I want to…” she paused and looked at Tito with a confused look.

“I hope I can trust you,” she said.

“Yes you can. We’ve always been close. Plus, I’m twenty-three now so you can trust me,” he encouraged her.

“This is something else Tito.”

“What is it? Don’t frighten me dear,” Tito was now more eager to hear her story.

“It’s about my dad. I… I…” she paused and let her tears flow down her little brown cheeks.

“Temwa,” Tito said, holding her hands. “I’m here for you.”

“Tito, you don’t understand. I caught my dad with our maid in my room!” she broke the news.

“Ooh?” Tito was surprised.

“Yes! When I ordered the maid to leave, she slapped me and it was clear that my dad had defended her. How could my dad cheat on my mom? In my room? I just had to leave!” she cried.

“That was bad indeed.” Tito imagined how bad she was feeling.

Then it was three months since she moved in. In that period, her dad had visited her countless times but she had always found ways to turn him down. All this was happening while her mother was overseas completing her master’s degree.

“Tito!” Temwa followed him to the kitchen, “I’m sorry for everything I’m putting you through but I feel like you are the only person I can trust.”

“When are you getting a job?” Tito asked, while making his tea.

“Pretty soon. I have been invited to attend interviews at SetApart Company.”

“I pray they pay you well so you can move out soon,” Tito said without facing her.

“Don’t worry I will,” she said and hugged him from behind.

“What is it?” Tito asked.

“Nothing. I just thank heavens I have a good friend like you,” she replied, with her eyes closed.

Tell us: What would you do if you were in Tito’s shoes?