Wild Heart

EPISODE ONE

He was standing alone behind his door, staring unseeingly out of the dusty window. He was a man who was at home in a dozen capitals of the world, but Victoria falls was one of his favourite towns, Victoria Falls is a town in western Zimbabwe and a gateway to the massive waterfall, he loved the view.

His waiting had the patience of a hunter, the quiet stillness of a man in control of his body and his emotions. He is dark and has the stormy good looks of his ancestors. He had dark hair and a strong face, he has quick intelligent eyes that were deep blue. He was over six feet tall, with the lean muscular body of a man who kept himself in good physical condition.

The parlour was filled with dirt, and almost everything was scattered on the floor.

"Why do they keep doing this, believe me when I say I desperately want to leave this town, seems we are always the dartboard" Mrs Patience said this with a groaning frown as she bent to pick her favourite video tape which was almost destroyed.

Beauty just waking up came out quickly to the parlour, the noise in the parlour carried her up"What!!" ``Beauty shouted. Something in her mind seemed to freeze, and it was as if there was a thin veil between her and reality. Her father's voice brought her back to reality

" Clean up, this is not the first time it has happened to us," Mr. Eze said while cleaning his radio.

The first time our house was robbed, it was our Neighbour Emmanuel who climbed in through the parlour window and stole our TV, and some of my dad's favourite videotapes. This was unexpected as the robbers broke in last night very quietly, without making a sound to send alarm to those sleeping inside.

It took about 2 hours to clean up the mess they did, they nevertheless continued their daily activities, Beauty was almost done with secondary school while her younger brother Victor just entered secondary school. The preparation for school was hurried since the clean up consumed most of the time.

Mrs. Patience, the wife of Mr. Eze, is a teacher of a small school down the street. Both are the beautiful couple that raised Beauty and Victor.

Everyone was set to go except Mr. Eze,he stays at home most of the time, doesn't have a job at the moment but he was searching for one to support his family.

The traffic was horrendous, but it was always horrendous at this time of the day, rush hour. God, she hated those words. Especially today. She clapped the palm of her hand on the horn and muttered under her breath "C'mon you jerk, move"

"Take it easy mum" Victor said behind the car with his eyes on the slow moving traffic.

Mrs. Patience leaned on the horn again even though it was an exercise in futility "Why would they do this to us again" she didn't realise she spoke out loud.

No one uttered a word until they reached their destination "I love you" Mum said to beauty and Victor as they followed their chase.

………………….

It came by mail, regular postage, the old-fashioned way since Dad was almost seventy and distrusted modern devices. Forget email and even faxes, he didn't use an answering machine and had never been fond of the telephone. He pecked out his letter with both index fingers, one feeble key at a time. It came with another letter, he recognised it immediately since the envelope had been part of his life for as long as he could remember. It was from his father.

Mr. Eze studied the letter uncertain whether he should open it right there or wait a moment. Good news or bad, though the old man was dying and good news had been rare. It was thin and appeared to contain only one sheet of paper, nothing unusual about that. Mr. Eze's dad was frugal with words.

Mr. Eze quickly carried his okpu ozo which was close to him and went straight to his dad after reading the mail. It was an urgent message and he needed to be there.

It was just about one hour drive to his father's little clay house. Mr. Eze left a letter for his wife and kids telling them to come to their grandparents house immediately when they saw the message.

Mr. Eze's heart stood still.

He stared at his father, wishing he had conjured the sickness away. The world seemed to teeter and dip, then abruptly righted itself.

This was real, he was dead, standing before him in the flesh, Mr. Eze wrenched at his inside, he clutched the covers to his breast and gave a tiny shake of his head. "You will forever be loved, IKE " he said, laying so much emphasis on IKE. He was already too old and tired, he needed to rest.

Mr. Eze straightened his shoulders, his demeanour regal.

He left his room with a sigh, he was the only son of his parents, raised by his dad since his mum had died a long time ago.

It wasn't long before his wife and kids came over with tears already raining from their eyes.

"I thought cancer has a treatment" Victor whispered to his mum.

"No baby, the person just has to follow the doctor's medication and help for the period of time he or she has left" mum replied. "he is already too tired to stress his legs here" Dad whispered to Victor.

Victor raised his shoulders and told his dad that he always hears his whisper even if he was in London.

Mrs. Patience consoled her husband, helped to get things done in the small room because Mr. IKE had to be carried to the mortuary.

Things became really tight for them because most of the money made was going for the burial.

They had to cut their three square meal to two squares. Everything became expensive.