In the morning, Karabo put Butch on his leash and they set off for their before-work walk. As they were coming back she saw an ambulance in the street right by her house, and a crowd forming around it. She noticed her next door neighbour, Anita, standing back a bit, and she went to her.
“What’s going on?” Karabo asked.
“It seems there’s a problem at Jono’s.” She lowered her voice. “He’s very odd. I’ve always expected the police would be pitching up one day. Probably a body in the fridge or something like that.”
“I hear you,” Karabo said, glad to know she wasn’t the only one who found him creepy. She watched as the ambulance people carried Jono himself out on a stretcher. He was awake and had an oxygen mask on, but even from where she stood, Karabo could see the bruises on his face.
“It looks like someone beat him up good,” Anita said. “I hope it wasn’t thieves. I don’t want to be staying up all night scared about thieves.”
“I don’t think it would be thieves. Where are the police?”
“You’re right,” Anita said. “It must be someone tired of his constant complaining. I’d have done it if I wasn’t such a wimp.” They laughed as they walked away. The ambulance drove off, the show was over and the crowd dispersed. Maybe it was mean, but Karabo thought what a relief it would be to have Jono out of her life for at least a few days.
*****
At work Karabo was busy with a new case, copyright infringement, something she’d never worked on before. She spent most of the morning researching cases. Then her phone rang, just before lunch.
“Hey, what’s up K?”
“Hi DT.” Every time he called she couldn’t stop her heart and its little excited jump, and every time it annoyed her. “How’s things?”
“I’ve got good news. Everything’s sorted. I’ve signed the lease on a workshop, got an overdraft at the bank, and received my operating licenses today. I am now the owner of my own plumbing business: One-Stop Plumbing. We’ll sell parts and go out on calls. I’m on my way, K!”
“Congratulations, DT! Gosh you certainly are determined. I don’t think anything can stop you from being successful.” Karabo truly was happy for him.
“Thanks. I told you I’ve changed. Prison taught me that I needed to decide what kind of man I wanted to be – and I decided.”
“I’m really happy for you, DT, honestly.”
“And you? Is everything OK?”
“Yes, I’m fine. But a weird thing happened this morning. You know that guy, that white guy across the street, who I told you was always hassling me about Butch? Someone beat him up. Ambulance came and everything.”
“Better. No-one needs to be troubling you about anything. I hope someone sorted him out for good.”
“Yeah … well. So congrats again, DT.”
***
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