After being promoted to travel other countries, Alfred decides to look for his friends. He misses them terribly. He hasn’t seen them in a whole year. He goes to see Tendai’s mother who tells him that he disappeared but she heard he went to Joburg. He has been worried about them even though they did bad things.

“I don’t think he cares about me. I am suffering with the children. He went to Joburg long time ago and still he hasn’t sent money,” she shred tears.

Alfred brushes her shoulder softly to comfort her. His mother wipes her tears with a dirt cloth that she took from her pocket. Alfred pities her but he hides his emotions.

“Maybe things aren’t well where he is,” he says, full of thoughts.

“I wish he stopped stealing. I can feel it in my heart something happened to him,” she says sadly.

“Don’t think like that. I will try to look for them,” he says, deeply troubled.

“Thank you, son. At least you are doing something for yourself and your mother should be proud,” she cries.

Alfred hugs her and rubs her shoulder. He takes a twenty dollar and gives her to buy what she needs.

“It’s not enough but it will help…” he says standing up.

She holds the twenty dollar note with hope; at least they can go through a few days. Alfred proceeds to visit Innocent’s home.

A middle-aged woman opens the door, she recognises Alfred.

“Where is my son?” she asks looking outside but sees Alfred is alone.

“I thought you might know where he is,” he says

“Come in… I thought you were with him. I know you are his friend,” she says escorting him to the lounge. She looked at him vigilantly. She wore expensive clothes and perfume that has strong aroma. Alfred knows Innocent had a good life but why did he want to steal with Tendai. He has a lot of questions.

Alfred searches the house, it has beautiful things and wonder what Innocent didn’t have. She motioned him to seat on the leather sofas.

“Anything to drink?” she asks.

“No, I am alright.”

He saw pictures on a frame, Innocent looks like a disciplined child wearing good clothes. Innocent’s mother sits opposite him. She moves her lips but mutters nothing so he has to start the conservation.

“I heard Innocent left to Joburg,” he says, staring at the worried woman.

“I heard so, his father’s still destressed with what he did. He will never want to see him ever again. He stole from his father before he left. His father thinks I spoiled him. When I mention his name, he gets so furious,” she says giving a glare to the frame. Tears milks her eyes and her face changes to sadness after looking at the picture of her son.

“I am sorry but I will do my best to look for him,” he says cautiously.

They had a chat for a few minutes. Innocent’s mother thanks him for passing by. She feels soothing after the talk with Alfred, she has hope he will one day come home. She prays his father will have to accept him in the home and forgive .

Alfred’s mother rejoiced after he passed his driver’s licence and also got a job here and there. He has brought a stand for his mother and he is building a big house for her but he’s kept it a secret. She brags about her son’s success especially when they always said he was a thief.

Alfred will in a week find some information about his friends as he’s going to Joburg. He sits on the seat looking towards the gate waiting for paperwork that will be needed at the border. Mr Chengai gives him through the window.

“Thank you sir,” he smiled.

The Masvingo road is too narrow and busy but the ministry of roads wasn’t attending to this road. He sighs angrily with the thought the country is full of corruption. He plays music on the road so he can come on the road. It’s been approximately nine hours to the border. It took an hour to process his papers and get a gate-pass.

He finally enters the Gauteng Province. He will be in Joburg in an hour. Lucky he didn’t arrive at pick hour, there wasn’t a lot of traffic he heads to the industry for the raw materials. He drove inside the yard. He sighs and remembers driving those trucks is a big job.

The material got off-loaded. He left the truck and went to find a lodge to sleep in. Today he rest then tomorrow he find where his friends are. A cheap lodge is in Tembisa, he walks down the road to buy his supper. He meets some Zimbabweans. He asks them about his friends. He has a picture of three of them.

“These two men who got arrested here in Tembisa,” he said.

“How sure are you?” He asks as he gives them a photo.

“100%, it’s these two,” he said pointing to the picture.

Tell us: Do you think Alfred’s visit will bear any fruits?