Darrel had told his friend, Aron, about his homestead, and Aron had listened to know every detail. Aron knew a lot about Darrel’s family and life.

“Promise you won’t tell anyone. I told you because you are my one and only friend,” he said.

“What do you take me for?” Aron answered.

Darrel and Aron were in Diaspora. Aron was going to Zimbabwe, back to his family and Darrel wasn’t yet going home. Darrel was planning to visit back home in December when he got three weeks off. He only got that when it was holiday for everyone towards Christmas.

They had been friends since they came to Joburg. They came from the same village in Birchenough Bridge in Mutare.

Darrel gave Aron two-thousand Rand and some groceries to take to his family. The groceries were: rice, sugar, tin food, samp, beans, flour and cooking oil. “Thanks, my friend. My mom appreciates it when I send something,” Darrel smiled.

“That’s what friends are for,” he answered, waving to Darrel as he entered the bus.

Darrel felt goose bumps but didn’t understand why he felt that way. He thought they were his nervous instincts. He went back to work at the mine as a data capturer. Aron worked underground. Darrel felt at peace, at least his friend had helped him to give money and groceries for his family. After work, he met up with Lydia, his girlfriend. He started to feel those goose bumps again.

“What is wrong? Are you OK?” she asked concerned.

“I feel like something bad will happen,” he replied. His mind was absent, he couldn’t eat so he ordered his dinner to be a takeaway. “Maybe something will happen to Aron. I pray he gets to Zim safely,” he said, confused.

“Stop worrying, babes. Let’s go home. You need rest,” Lydia said, consoling him.

They took a taxi home. Lydia stayed in Midrand, while Darrel stayed in Yeoville. Lydia was dropped off first because Darrel wanted to know she was home safely.

He went to sleep in his flat, which he shared with Aron. It felt so quiet, and the loneliness was killing him. He already missed him. It will only be a few days, he thought, Aron will be back.

The next day, Darrel was very busy at work, forgetting that he should check if Aron arrived safely. He had a lot of papers to be captured. After lunch, he got a call from his mother at home. He was puzzled, but at least his mother called him.

“My son, Darrel, thanks for the groceries,” she said calmly.

“OK, Ma, I hope it’s enough,” he answered.

“Why was the food opened as if you shared it?” she asked mildly.

“What do you mean ‘shared’, Ma?” he asked cautiously.

“The Rice, sugar, flour, beans, samp and the tin foods were not in the pack,” she answered sadly.

“Did he give you money?” he asked, more concerned.

“What money?” she asked as the phone cut out.

The call ended. Maybe her airtime was finished. He had to call back so that he could understand what had happened to the parcel he sent to his family. He asked a workmate from the office to buy him airtime. He had to finish his capturing today. When Timothy gave him the airtime, he punched the codes into his phone quickly.

“Hello, Ma, it’s quite busy at work. What were you saying?” he asked.

Maybe it was a misunderstanding. He was getting confused.

“Darrel, we were given food, opened like it was shared. You send groceries not opened,” she answered. “There is not enough food here. What will I feed your younger brothers and sisters with?” she continued angrily.

“And the money?” he said.

“He didn’t give us money,” she answered.

Darrel dropped the phone. What has Aron done with the money? He can’t say he lost it or someone stole it, Darrel thought as he dialled Aron’s number. It rang and rang, but he never answered it. Darrel was furious. What has Aron done now? What has changed him? Did he betray him?

He kept calling it until it went straight to voicemail. He went to see his boss. The only option he could see to solve this was going back home. He had to meet Aron before he got away. The boss agreed he could take some days off since it was personal.

“Only three days off,” Mr Makana said.

He went to his flat, packed a t-shirt, jeans, and some socks. He left at the Park Station at 9 p.m. He hadn’t eaten anything except the tea he had after his mother’s call. His conscience became distressed. He sat alone, only smiling briefly at whoever sat next to him.

***

Tell us: What do you think Aron will say in his defence? Why did he open the food?