The Perfect Copy
#4
Three Months Later
At Tsona’s house, Neo jumped into her aunt’s car early in the morning and Tsona drove off, headed to the rank. She breathed out and took some money from her pocket.
“Give this to your granny when you arrive. Don’t let your mother see the money because she will take it to give to her useless boyfriend.”
Neo took the money and put it away.
“Okay.”
Tsona shook her head. “I still don’t understand why your mother is still with that man. It’s as if she is waiting for him to kill her so she can be satisfied that he hates her.”
Neo took a deep breath in. “Maybe this time she will leave. She has never had to be rushed to the hospital before.”
Tsona shook her head. “I don’t know, Neo. I am tired of the unending stories.”
She drove into the rank and Neo stepped out of the car with a small bag. Tsona got out and walked her to the bus.
“Bye. Call me as soon as you arrive.”
“Eemma.”
Neo got inside the bus and took a seat. Over fifteen minutes later, she picked up a call on the small phone Tsona had bought her.
“Hello?”
“I am here. Fologa. (Get off.)”
“Okay.”
Neo got up and jumped out of the bus while the conductor collected payment from those who didn’t have tickets. She looked around, then smiled looking over at Quinton’s car.
Neo walked over and jumped in smiling.
“Hey.”
Quinton chuckled at her big smile. “Amme tota o robetsi? (Did you even sleep?)”
Neo laughed. “Ke robetse ke shwegashwega. I even dreamt about being in Gaborone. It’s my first time kana.”
He joined her laughing. “Waitse gona village girl ke mathata hela. (Being a village girl is a problem.)”
Neo laughed harder, shoving him. “Leave me alone!”
He started the car and drove off.
“I brought you some coffee.”
Neo threw her bag onto the back seat and took the warm flask between them while Quinton connected his phone to the car. He handed it to her.
“You can play some music. O seka wa tsameka Culture Spears.”
Neo rolled her eyes, laughing. “Ke tlhabologile, rra.”
She opened his Spotify and played Rejoice by Bucie. Quinton glanced at her, catching her smiling happily, her smile radiating through her entire face.
Neo looked over catching him staring and giggled, looking away while singing along.
***
In Gaborone, Neelo sorted clothes in one of her mother’s boutiques later that morning. She put up the new stock while taking pictures for the Instagram page.
The doorbell rang as someone walked inside. She put down the dress she was holding and walked over to the male customer.
“Dumelang.”
The customer looked at her and smiled.
“Hi, I have been sent to get pink bottoms for Tina.”
Neelo smiled. “Oh yes. I spoke to her yesterday. Size five, akere? You are the husband?”
He smiled back. “Yes, size five. And no, I am just a courier.”
Neelo glanced at his ring. “Mhmm.”
He looked at it and laughed. “It’s a deco ring.”
Neelo laughed walking toward the box of shoes. She picked it up and put it in the paper bag with the boutique’s logo.
“Please tell your wife to shop with us again.”
“You are very pretty. Can I get your number?”
“Thank you.” She looked at him handing over the paper bag. “I don’t do married men. Goodbye.”
The office line rang and she moved toward it, picking up.
“Elizabeth’s Boutique, hello?”
The man smiled and walked out.
“Uh, hello? Can I speak to Elizabeth?”
“Unfortunately Elizabeth is not in store. Can I take a message?”
“Who am I talking to?”
“Neelo.”
There was silence.
Neelo looked at the phone and put it back to her ear. “Hello?”
The caller cleared her throat. “This is Maria. Please tell your mother that I called.”
“Eemma.”
Maria hung up.
Neelo quickly noted it down on a sticky note then picked up her own phone calling her cousin.
“Neelo.”
“I don’t understand mma. All the men that ever approach me are married. It’s as if Kgosi cursed me.”
Her cousin laughed. “Mme kana I told you. Once you sleep with a married man, all you will ever attract is married men.”
“Mxm. I can’t wait for UB. After that, I just want a job abroad.”
Neelo’s heart skipped at a bomb-like sound coming from outside.
“Uhu! What’s that?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe an accident. Anyway, let me carry on working. Mama’s other employee hasn’t arrived and I am still alone.”
“Okay, sharp akere.”
“Bye.”
Neelo hung up and put away her phone.
The door burst open minutes later.
Neelo frowned looking at the man holding a black bag. He smiled at her.
“Hi.”
“How can I help you?”
Just looking at him she could tell he wasn’t a customer. She slowly walked to the front desk to hit the emergency button.
He took out a gun.
“Okay, we can play nice or rough. How do you want it?”
.
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