FAMILY SECRETS
CHAPTER :9
UNEDITED
[NANDI’S POV ]
I watched while seating up on the bed as an angry mthokozisi pace around the jet after he just yelled at the pilot to get us home as soon as possible.
“what the heck was he thinking getting a tattoo??? I know he looks up to me and likes coping everything I do just like last time when I caught him trying to drinking my whiskey in my glass and he said he was trying to be me and now a bloody f*cken tattoo???? ”
” But how can he copy a tattoo on your neck that you yourself know nothing about? You didn’t even know you had a tattoo please think about it. “I said trying to calm him down
” if he did do the same tattoo as me it means it has been on my neck long enough for him to see it and get it done. ”
” “God so help me after I am done with this whole child welfare service thing I am so sending that boy straight to boarding school!” an angry mthokozisi said and I got up immediately upon hearing the words boarding school, he can’t do that to Duma.
“Don’t you dare….. Don’t you dare or you will not be different from my father, abandoning your children and your problems for someone else to fix. We don’t know the full story yet and here you are ready to send your son away, what will sending your son to boarding school solve? If you have a problem child you fix him or her yourself as a parent and do you seriously think a soon to be eleven years old is capable of getting a tattoo? Who on earth would agree to do a eleven year old a tattoo? Think about it, it’s more than just a tattoo and we will find out when we get there, we are just thirty minutes away from landing so please try to calm down. ” I said, Duma is a very good boy, he might be naughty sometimes but I don’t think he got that tattoo done. I know I can’t prove it yet but I know that tattoo on Duma’s neck got there the same way it got on mthokozisi’s neck, it must be a some kind of a symbol or something because there is no way.
Mthokozisi set down on my instructions but the anger in him was visible, he couldn’t even hide it, he was like a volcano waiting to erupt.
Thirty minutes later the jet landed and a certain someone stormed into the car and ordered the driver to drive to the children’s house as fast as possible.We got there in like twenty minutes and mthokozisi stormed into the house, he was so quick I couldn’t even catch up with him walking so I ran after him.
He was very angry, he reached Duma’s room and he pushed the two door open with so much force that the sound of the two door hitting the walls could be heard three rooms away which is where I saw following him but I stopped on hearing the doors slamming.
He was so angry even his face said it all but one minute after opening the door and standing frozen in the door away changed his facial expressions. He was no longer angry, there was shock and worry in his face,i wondered what he was looking at so I walked closer only to see a sad and hurt breaking scene.
Duma was covered in sweat all over his body and a bucket which he was vomiting in was held for him by one of the help while akhona pressed a wet and cold cloth on his forehead.
A crying akhona left what she was doing and ran to hug mthokozisi, mthokozisi hugged her back but his eyes were on his ill son. ” I am so glad you came our son is very sick he has been like this since yesterday, we have called the doctor two times, he checked him and didn’t see anything wrong with our son but he still gave us a prescription but the medications are not working. He is still vomiting, he is vomiting water…. I… I don’t know what to do, I am helpless as a mother, my son is dying in front of me and I can’t do anything to help him. ”
Mthokosizi wiped akhona’s tears, let go of her and went to set on the bed next to his ill and pale son.
“Dad… I… I swear I didn’t get a tattoo done, I don’t know how it got there please don’t get angry with me……..
“shhhh…don’t talk save up your energy my boy, everything is going to be okay and dad is not angry with you okay.” mthokozisi said with the most calm and gentle voice ever.
Mthokosizi looked at a crying akhona. ” akhona let’s go call all the best doctors we know, one doctor won’t simply do. ”
He got up from the bed and left with akhona. A pale Duma looked at me and smiled ” hello miss pretty lady.” he said with his little weak voice and it immediately melted my heart. I walked to his bed and set next to him.
He pulled me closer signaling me that he wants to whisper something into my ear. So I put my ear closer to his mouth.” pretty please tell the lady to leave I want to tell you something.”
And I did as he wished. ” ah… Hand me the bucket you can leave I will take care of him.” the lady nodded and put the bucket down and ran out, she looked disgusted I guess she wanted to vomit to because watching someone vomit can make you want to vomit too.
” what did you want to tell your pretty lady my little friend? “I asked
” I saw you. “he said
” saw me where? “I asked
” in my dream when I was hiding from the monster with scary loud footsteps which was chasing me. You came and gave me your hand and told me that I am safe now, I don’t have to be scared you will protect me. ” he sa and I held his hand
” and just like I held your hand in your dreams, I will also hold your hand in reality and protect you,it’s a promise from your pretty lady, I won’t let anything happen to you. ”
*cough **cough * he coughed, his coughs were getting worse so I took my hand and put it on his forehead and he was burning up. His condition was getting serious if we wait for the doctors to come he will be in serious danger,i have to do something.
” friend just hang on there your pretty lady is coming.” I said and got up from his bed, just when I was about to step out of Duma’s room I bumped into mthokozisi’s hard chest.
“oh sorry.” I said
“where are you going?” mthokozisi asked
” I am going to the garden to get some herbs I saw when I walked in to make a concoction that will help Duma.”
“the doctor’s prescription didn’t work so what makes you think your concoctions will help, leave it the doctors are on the way.” akhona said
” mthokozisi please we can’t wait for the doctors by the time the doctors get here things might be worse so please mthokozisi and akhona give me a chance. “I pleaded
” akhona I think we should give her a chance, back at the village she and her grandmother grew some herbs in their garden and treated the ill who couldn’t go to the clinics or hospitals because of financial issues and transportation issues and also I was one of their patients when I got attacked few months ago. “mthokozisi said
” fine I guess you may. ” akhona said
I got their permission and I ran to the garden, got the herbs I needed and I started making the concoction in kitchen.