A piercing ring pulls Hector out of dreaming, It’s his Six O’clock alarm slapping him awake. He gets out his seventeen times scarred phone under his pillow, it’s screen cracks defining how busy his life is. He turns off the alarm to a huge Friday for him! He turned eighteen last month and his mom has made him a great agreement to let him go out to groove. For nearly three weeks he and his friends planned and saved money to have a huge party to celebrate their young adulthood entry.
He wakes up and prepares himself for school. He pens down a star drawing on the day 13th of February on his calendar which is written ‘Party night’. In the meantime his classmate, Samantha, is sending him text messages.
SAMANTHA: Bro, did you do our homework?
SAMANTHA: If you didn’t, I’ll kill you. I did my part Hector!
He checks the messages, “Yoh Samantha! You never chill.” He says and texts her back.
He replies,
HECTOR: You have to relax sometimes, why do you always suspect me of wrong things? Anyways good morning to you too, and I’m fine thanks. Where are your manners? I’ve memorized everything, I know my lines by heart and we’re good to go Juliet.
SAMANTHA: See you at school, and I’m not your Juliet manners boy!
“Mom I’m off to school!” He says heading out.
“Good luck and come home early.”
He comes back, and knocks on his mom bedroom door.
“What is it now? Come in.”
He enters walking like a child who’s in trouble.
“I almost forgot, so my beautiful mom. The love of my life.” He gives her a persuasive look.
“No Hector don’t ask me for any favour.”
“You’re the only woman in the world who can read my mind.” He hugs her.
“Okay stop! What is it?”
He sits down on the bed, “I’d like to have some cash on me just in case we run short of anything at the party. So my dear mom, can you please bless me with just R200. Please!”
She rebels, “That’s a lot of money, and on top of that I don’t like you going to have a party on that friend of yours uncle’s house who’s an irresponsible drunkard.”
“But mom, we talked about this. It’s the only place near home as you wanted. You’ll even hear the music sound from here. And at least you know where I’ll be, you’ll just have to follow the noise if you suspect anything and you’ll find me.”
“If he dares put you in trouble I’ll surely get him arrested, and I’m serious. And you have to come home early, no later than 10 O’clock. And don’t dare go to that party in your school uniform, you come home first and change then you can go.”
“Okay, but please until midnight.”
“10 O’clock or no money, your choice.” She insists.
“Okay 10 O’clock.” He goes down in energy.
She takes the two hundred bucks from her wallet and gives it to him.
“Thank you, love you.”
“Love you too.”
He then heads out in a rush for school.
She lies on her bed listening to the radio, wondering about how the troublesome years of her son has begun. ‘I’ll have to deal with him going out every weekend. What a bad decision I’ve made,’ She thinks to herself. She then turns up the volume.
RADIO NEWS REPORTER: The local police station of Mayview has issued a warning to residents to be vigilant after a report from the local wild animal park that a pack of 3 lions have escaped after the surrounding fence was left cut open by supposedly illegal wild animal hunters. Residents are warned to be on the lookout and stay alert. The Police have adviced that If anyone happens to spot any of the lions, you shouldn’t try to attack them, instead phone the local police station on 063 456 6875 or the Animal Patrol Agency on 013 655 3478.
“Oh my god! That’s terrible. No wild animal has ever escaped, they need to get caught way before they reach our township otherwise our lives might be in danger.” But then a thought breaks her mind, ‘It’s unusual for wild animals to reach the township. They’ll get caught way before they do, surely.’
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