The next day was Saturday and Stella let Boago have Moemedi for the day. He hadn’t seen his son since everything happened and he wanted time to explain things. Also they needed to buy him some new shoes. They headed to the mall.
“So, your Ma and I are having some problems so I’m going to stay at Granny’s,” Boago started.
“Yeah, she told me.” Moemedi was only six but clever for his age. “It’s OK. Some parents live like that. Like Bobby’s parents. It’s fine. I know how it works. He told me everything. Sometimes I see you and sometimes I stay with Ma. You’ll get your own house and I’ll have two rooms, one at your house and one at Ma’s. It’s OK.”
He seemed to be taking it all better than Boago was. They entered the mall and headed for the sneaker shop. Boago knew better than to buy any takkies that were not name brand; Stella would complain. These things apparently mattered. Paying R600 for a pair of takkies the boy would grow out of in less than a year seemed crazy, but he needed to try his best not to upset Stella just now.
As they were walking into the shop, Boago was surprised to find Tito leaving.
“Hey man,” he said.
“Boago, how you doing? Is this your son?” Tito asked.
“Yep, Moemedi. Moemedi, this is one of South Africa’s best ever goal scorers, my friend Tito Sebolai.” Moemedi shook his hand and then rushed off to check out the shoes. “Sorry, he’s keen on fancy shoes, a bit like his mother.”
“So you’re married then? I didn’t know,” Tito said.
“Well … it’s complicated at the moment.”
“I get that. Listen, this is one of the brands I do endorsements for. Let Moemedi pick any shoes he wants. It’s on me,” Tito said.
“Really? I don’t think I can accept that …” Boago said.
“Sure you can. I get shoes for free, I’ve got more shoes than one man should be allowed to own. Anyway, you can pay me back. I’ve got this thing tonight, one of these boring awards dinner things. How about you come with? Old times and all.”
“Sure, that sounds great,” Boago said. “Thanks man. And my kid is going to be over the moon.”
*****
Boago felt like some of Tito’s celebrity was rubbing off on him at the awards dinner. Tito took it in his stride, but Boago was star-struck and it pulled him out of the depression he’d sunk into.
“You’re not going to believe what happened the other day?” Boago said, remembering he hadn’t told Tito, and wondering if he knew.
“You mean Warnick? I read it in the paper. Crazy. Who would have thought some bully would take down the biggest bully at Lyon’s Academy,” Tito said.
They’d stopped for a drink after the awards. Boago was feeling good that he and Tito were friends again. He’d told him all about the problems with Stella.
“Women problems,” Tito said. “We’ve all had them, they’re tough. But time really does help. You might find moving on will be the best thing for you. Start over, reboot. It’s worked for me more than once,” Tito advised. And his words helped.
“But a bully with a gun is on another level. Not much Warnick could have done, I think,” Boago said.
“Yes … perhaps.”
***
Tell us: Is it likely Boago and Stella get back together?