“Tick, tock, tick, tock…” I hear my watch making the unavoidable sound.

I fly my hand up to check the time.

“It’s nearly 4 o’clock, where the hell is this guy?” my voice emerges with anger.

A few minutes later, the Red Picanto approaches at a tortoise pace. It stops next to me. I pull the door with force. I fake a smile and greet my step-father.

“Hey, Craig.”

I avoid looking at him but there are forces pulling my head towards his direction. I see him pulling up a straight face, wrinkles just make it look scary.

“Yes Thina, hope school was good,” he says with a wrinkled smile.

All I do is nod my head and fake a smile to avoid those long conversations. I take out my Iphone 5, wipe the screen on my lap as it is cluttered with my face oil. I unlock it, find a text from my dad. My cellphone was on silent and I did not hear it ring.

My darling princess, how are you?

Daddy misses you,

What are we doing this weekend?

Should I come pick you up on Friday or Saturday?

Daddy loves. XOXO^_^

“Ncoooh…” I burst out loud unexpectedly.

It seems like my father knows when I need him; he sent me a text just in time.

“Secret admirer?” asks Craig with a concerned voice.

A part of me just does not want to answer anything he says or asks. A lazy answer is whispered in response to what he asked. Then again the focus is back to the text I just received from my father. It feels like everything is being gathered by the Man above. My prayers are heard.

Finally I get to be free.

The sudden joy I feel is that of a child who will be going for a bus ride for the first time. I feel renewed. A thought disturbs my excitement. I still have to send my request to the Sheriff and the Judge, my parents, and wait for the trial date. After the trial that is when the verdict will be given.

I twist my head to my right. Craig is still focused on the road, his head moving with the beat of Kenny G playing on the background. For some funny reason I could not tell that the twins were around. I turn my head to the back; twins are around and have dozed off at the back seat. They must be tired from swimming practice. This is my chance to ask Craig if I can visit my father!

I clear my throat to get his attention. Within a blink of an eye he turns his heard a bit.

“Craig,” I say with the sweetest voice I never thought I had. Wrinkles rise as if one has just told him they love him. I take advantage of the smile and place my request. “May I go visit my dad for the weekend?”

With the traffic jamming his way he has enough time to think about his response. Seconds later, he turns down the volume and looks at me with that annoying smile.

“You may not go to your dad; you know your mother won’t allow that. I do not…” Before he can even finish what he is saying, my brain just switches off.

It is like I am watching a mime movie, where lips are moving but you can’t hear what they say. I still did not understand why I was not allowed to see my dad. All I want now is to get home and ask my mother, maybe this time she will allow me to. Before I know it we are home.

I take my bag and fly to the house.

“Mommy,” I say with a kind voice. She kisses me, I then place my plea. “Mommy ngicela ukuya kubaba, may I go visit dad for the weekend.”

I though Craig would not catch that as he did not know Zulu. But from the word weekend he just caught it all. I knew since he was around my mother would say “NO!” That doesn’t stop me from texting my father back.

Daddy! Mara wena awusangifuni yooo.

Miss you, Mommy has agreed,

She said you can pick me up tomorrow after work.

I can’t wait. XOXO

A few seconds after the message is sent my phone beeps.

I shall do that my Princess.

I then go to sleep with something to look forward to for a change.

***

Tell us what you think: Is it right for Thina to lie to her dad? What if something goes wrong, would you blame her for it?