The Holy Prostitute

d north from Mpongwe town to Ibenga. Various drivers

ance at the Baptism Unionized Church (BUC) and other neighboring religi

ized congregation from a Roman Catholic Church which was within ear touc

h a track, thereby injuring her severely. She had been admitted to the local hospital in Mpo

es screeched at the gate which guards promptly opened. And as soon as the

icle past two buildings and parked it in the hospital garage. Then

a’s residence. It was made of raw bricks, no

e concrete floor, three yellow 20- liter plastic containers served as seats for visitors. The young man had worked for three years as

acket of sugar, fifty grams plastic of salt, spoon, two constantly dir

low the clothes, was a pair of worn out tropical sandals that had pieces of wire holding the straps together. The back was missing, so when Be

o curving upward like a shooting off fighter plane. When wearing the shoes he limped a bit. They had become painful as constant r

rly be seen in the roof. Whenever it rained at night, Ben had to spend that time standing about in pitch black darkness with beddings in his

his beddings. It meant having to dose near a hot brazier all night long; and only dries the beddings in the sun the following day. Becaus

rly see people pass along the track that lay 30 meters in front. If there was a knock, Ben could easily see who was at t

f. To avoid prying eyes and embarrassment, Ben would go to the toilet at night. When he was presse

ally at night. Therefore almost every morning, Ben would find faeces on t

e of poles and thatch. It was coiled, like numeral six. When ha

or were not problem enough. Dogs would leave their pool every night for Ben to clear from his yard

anatomy so that they could stop leaving their shit anyhow. Therefore

the phone on the bed. It was a small object with a faded dial. One had to gu

l of the phone to make the device stable enough to pass power. Meanwhile, the device had to be held tig

no mealie meal for him to cook nshima. As he drank the sugared water, Ben once more reflected o

ostensibly because there was no lady to coerce him to pour water onto his own body. To him, it was the duty of a woman to force a bath on her hubby every day. Thoughts ran acr

shon, eighteen had got married two years before. The boy had impregnated two village girl

ge eight kilometers east of Chibote to solve the pregnancy charg

e told Fashon had impregnated another girl. To their astonishment, the boy confessed to the charge. Consequently, the

pots and cooking sticks over a man. As a result she left for h

in marriage. The twenty year old had eloped with

0 from the poor family because Francis had eloped with their daughter. Ben remembered that it had

his young brother had caused. However, after struggling, Ben only managed to pay US$20.Then the couple ma

n ox as they believed that he was not man enough to have romantic feelings and impregnate a woman. Their judgment was clear that Ben coul

ar- old man, as most of the men had wives and children. They did not care how much he earned or job

omen consistently stared at the zip below his belt in a curious frantic effort to

day and feeling justified since many succulent girls desired marriage in the community, one woma

bleached face. She was married to a teacher and had three children in her e

was a business woman who dealt in fish from the Kafue River eighty kilometers south of Ibenga. It was widely believed

Her milk-white teeth sharply contraste

a man at his age shamelessly queue for water with women at a co

ersonal choice. He has to take a d

is right,” r

er?” asked Sala. “T

This man will be a bachelor for ever if we, responsible women,

help him?”

ea,” said Est

Sala suspiciously while poi

a?” asked

oman in mind,” she said w

e showed that she had been beautiful in her heyday. They unlocked Ben’s house and laid a drunken

s house? Had burglars broken in? But was Ibenga notorious for that? And what kind of thief could break into the h

that he was wide awake as he drew closer to

eled with fear. The scared man cursed the little animal before he heard someone …apparently snoring in his house. Yes in his bed. Once inside he notic

p. Ben promptly lit a candle with a match stick and moved it closer to the naked stranger. Surprisin

ho hated beer, was disgusted by the stench. He held his no

house! Look at the mess you have vomited onto my blankets,” complained Ben while standin

adies were at the scene soonest. Ben did not notice their presen

d worse still, she has even vomited onto my blankets,” complai

l get along with your new wife. Just cope. It is just be

aining about a drunk strange woman wallowing in my bed? I thought you

blem is that you have no wife. That is why the woman has been found in y

no women in this community. Where do you think their parents will take young women if you men

eople who feel I should marry this drunk stran

with you. You left her here early in the morning. Now you want to pretend to be a saint. You are married Mr. Man. You cannot mistreat someone’s daug

rama at Ben’s house. Suddenly a visibly angry a

the past three days? Is it you, idiot?” he sh

scover that there is a woman in my house. I do not kno

have taken her to many drinking places in the past three days. You have married my daughter for t

that. These people are in love. Your daughter is m

n asked. “Married to whom

ere you have been taking her to drink illicit brews. Have a happ

ed loudly in the house and the growi

be the most interesting marriage in this neighborhood!” shouted

ge?” replied

rriage! You are now mar

outside. Huddled up against the wall, through out that night, the man wondered what his

sing near the door, she dived onto him. The irate woman wrestled Ben to the ground and sat on his belly before swinging stinging slaps into his face. The woman pummeled Ben for ten minutes before he suddenly pushed her away and st

ry when we arrive,” a tall muscular polic

the two men had already bundled him onto a pick up light truck that roa

e off his belt, shoes and shirt before guiding him to a grill g