by Gloria Obizu
I think that’s fine.
So let’s set the ball rolling. Temba said.
About how much do you think the whole thing will cost me? Wallis asked.
The disguise thing could cost like five grand and I think it will be a good idea to start with that. That kind of stuff cost money if you want the real thing. The passports for which I’ll need the photos of both of you will cost about the same thing. We discuss others as they come up.
So how much do you need for a start? Wallis asked.
Five grand will be fine, Temba said.
Ok, get into action.
With money at hand, Temba left the house and returned late in the night with some stuff which he showed to Wallis.
Perfect! That’s what I’m talking about, Temba! See why I’ll always need you? Wallis reacted thrilled that he got exactly what he asked for.
I know! Temba concurred. Tomorrow I’ll work on the Passport thing.
Fine! Isabel, that’s the name of my girl, will be here then.
Cool! I’ll get to meet her then, right?
Yeah! No hanky punkie man.
Cross my heart and hope to die, Temba said to the amusement of the two. I’m gonna start looking up cars to buy too and I think it would be better to buy some of the expense ones that could take up a whole lot of money at once.
That’s a good idea. But it could take a longer time to sell those off too, don’t you think so? I want quick action you know? Wallis said.
Trust me, the African rich have lots of money and buy real expensive cars fast.
Ok! I guess it’s what you’re used to so go ahead and do whatever you think is right, okay? Wallis conceded.
After so much effort, it took Temba one week to conclude all arrangements and get everything set up exactly the way it was meant to be with a high degree of success too. And by Sunday, everything had been taken care of before Barry Pickles and Loretta Rowland set out from a secret location in Arizona for the one way ticket journey to South Africa.
Once at the airport things proved a little difficult especially for Wallis now travelling as Barry. Increase in Police activities at the port that faithful day was enough to convince both that the guys in uniform was not fooled altogether. But after every background checks was done and everything returned ok, Barry was allowed to continue with his journey. There was no doubt by immigration officials that the guy standing before them is the same Barry Pickles whose passport and ID was verified and returned genuine so you can’t hold the guy.
Loretta had an easier passage. A sudden transformation by liposuction from a fat babe to a slim girl was most obvious to familiar observers and she carried herself just in the same fashion by relishing in her new slimmer body. Finally they made it into the airplane and confidently seated as the journey began for both who were not travelling as a couple but as separate individuals with a plan to hook up once in South Africa. That was another perfect arrangement from the fast thinking Temba.
Their first port of call was in Brazzaville Congo. Temba already had a solid arrangement with the immigrations there, so passing through the Congolese airport was really easy for both still travelling as separate individuals. In Brazzaville, following Temba’s plan both checked into separate hotels where each of them spent four quite days glued to their hotel rooms, after which the journey continued to their final destination of South African city of Johannesburg.
Zingy Nuwanga took it up from there. He was the guy contacted by Temba to make hotel arrangements and help the two some settle into their new lives in South Africa. Zingy shades his real business in cab operation and what that means is that he knows the ins and outs of the city to his fingertips. He was born and bred in that city anyway, he lived there all his life and never ventured into any other part of South Africa talk more of the world except for a few weeks spent in Soweto during the core Apartheid season and the Soweto massacre that followed. For him at fourteen years, all that the event offered was a golden opportunity to go looting Indian and Chinese stores and he was quite lucky in only a few cases. The Police was everywhere and no one allowed running wild beyond Police lines or you die. Yet the very crafty boy he was at the time was still able to lift a few items.
For the older man, everything has changed in the country that he once knew as a place made almost inhabitable for black folks. It still marveled him that things could turn out the way they did in today’s South Africa and he never stopped talking about it. He is not the type to judge anybody and never asks a lot of questions ‘cause he has seen it all. With Loretta and Barry as he called them sited in his cab now, he couldn’t help but relate the same story he had told to so many of his passengers in the past, a story he told with so much enthusiasm and excitement.
Hi guys! Welcome to the South African city of Johannesburg, ‘Jozi’ for short, he spoke in a heavy South African Ascent.
You call this place ‘Jozi’ too? Wallis asked.
Yes man! That’s the short for Johannesburg
Jozi! Sounds kind of cool, Wallis continued.
Yea! You guys know my name, right? He chattered willfully. I’m Zingy. Friends call me Zing for short.
Cool! Wallis affirmed.
I tell you something, you should count yourselves lucky you are coming into a different country. Zing continued. I can’t believe how fast things changed in here in such a short time, truly! It wasn’t always like this! Back in the days of Apartheid, I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing now, and that is operating my cab on the streets of Johannesburg like this. Oh no! That was unthinkable! A black guy like you and I couldn’t move around freely the way he wanted and his entire life tied up to some kind of pieces of papers. Yea man! You carry what is called ‘PASS’ everywhere you went.
What is called what? Wallis asked.
PASS man! PASS! That’s what every black folk needed to have to move around in the days of apartheid. In that piece laid the story of your entire life and without it you are nobody. Lose that ‘PASS’ guys, and you are considered as good as dead ‘cause you don’t exist no more. Dead, gone, finished! That’s, no pass no Zing, end of matter. Yea man! Those were hard times until the father of the nation came and changed everything.
And who is that? Wallis asked.
What?
I mean, father of the nation, who is the guy?
What is that supposed to mean? You don’t understand the word respect? Or are you joking with me or something? Well if that’s a joke, I tell you it is the wrong kind of joke with someone like Zing, okay? Anyways, I forgive you because we are just getting to know each other. Hey listen! If you go to the street with that kind of attitude, I tell you, you’ll be lynched in a minute. Don’t say I didn’t warn you man. Zing reacted.
I’m not trying to disrespect you or something, but just being curious. I want to know who the guy is, that’s it. Wallis said
Oh well, you use your words in the wrong way man. Anyway, I want you to find that out by yourself so you can learn. Go read some books and learn.
Hey! I didn’t do a lot of schooling, okay? But that doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing, alright? Wallis stressed.
Sure! Sure! I myself didn’t go to school at all but there are things everyday people hear and talk about! Zing said in a jovial manner.
I understand! I must have heard about that South African do guy though, just can’t think right now. So forgive me.
Yea! I’m sure you must have heard of the greatest African alive, continued Zing. Today’s South Africa is different because of him. Look! Look at me now driving my cab around all over the places. It is really so sweet a feeling that I can say it for sure that nothing compares with the freedom.
So it is nice here, ha? Wallis asked.
Just like in any other country it is a fantastic place for the rich folks and for others, it is a better place today.
You need to watch your back sometimes though ‘cause it is a very big city. A lot happen in Jozi that make me think sometimes that is only meant for smart folks.
Man! Do you know where I am coming from? It is a city called Los Angeles. I was born and raised in LA just like you were born and raised here, so don’t worry about me, okay? I can more than take care of my shit!
Zing laughed out loud. You are right man! If you survived in LA you will surely make it in Jozi ‘cause there is not much different in lives in both cities though, you will notice as time goes on. This is your first time to South Africa, right?
It’s my first time to anywhere. I’ve never left the American soil since I was born. Wallis said.
Just like me! Never went anywhere outside this country too! Zing continued.
You guys got good night life too, ha? Club houses and good music, you know, where to go hang out with folks and dance away the night! That was Isabel who has been quite all the while talking.
Lady! If that’s what you are looking for, you’ve come to the right place. Modern African music was born right here and made popular all over the world by the one they call Mama Africa, the great Mariam Makiba. And top class babes like Brenda Fassie produce original African sounds that make this place really unique and a wonderful place for music lovers.
Great! I want to listen to some of these African sounds ‘cause that’s what I always wanted. You know, listen to music from other lands, especially Africa and feel what they sound like.
I’ll warn you beforehand though, South African music is intoxicating. Don’t say Zing didn’t tell you. And everyone laughed at that before Zing asked; how is my friend Temba? Is he alright?
He is ok, said Wallis.
Oh! Great! Great! When did you see him last?
About a week ago! Wallis responded.
Here is your hotel right there, Zing said pointing at a beautiful edifice in front of them. It is a middle class stuff but very clean and roomy which was why I decided for it. I understand you wanna stay here for a short time before moving into the places I rented for you guys.
Sure! Wallis said.
You need to relax and get your mind set right before joining the larger Society, Zing suggested. As soon as you get ready to leave, call ahead of time so we can fix every other thing that needs to be taken care of before you guys get moving. I’m also going to help with those cars coming in. Most of it will get here through Cape Coast and a few I heard will end up at Port Elizabeth. Whatever happens I’ll make sure everything works out fine. Pretoria is fast with cars, so I might have to get some down there for quick sales. Jozi is great too’ so I expect fast sales with good results.
I’ll rely on you a whole lot Zing.
Don’t worry, I’ll do the best I can for you guys. Temba sent this through my bank, Zing said and handed Wallis a bag filled with South African Rends.
Oh! Thanks a lot Zing!
Listen, don’t you guys run around so much, okay? Stay a little while in doors please. What I prescribe is a day at a time for the beginner. And with that Zingy took his leave.
Inside the hotel, Loretta and Barry checked into separate rooms. Each of them has something in mind he or she wanted so much to share with the other but at the moment both were too tired for further heart bugging issues. Besides they can’t work against their plans now by taking the risks of being seen together until they know for sure how things are going to play out. So, all they could afford at the moment was a solo dinner and shower before each of them retired from a very long day in renewed hope. And like it seemed, old things are gradually streaming away and tomorrow brings in a new dawn with fresh hope and endless possibilities under the Johannesburg blue sky.
Chapter Eleven
When Carissa got home from the Police station that Saturday and did not meet Isabel at home, she took it she had left for Wallis’s place as usual and would be back on Sunday night on time to get some rest in preparation for another day at work on Monday. She will have to call her latter to let her know how the interview with the Police went. In the mean time she had to find something to eat.
After meal, she dilled Isabel’s number, and with that action the ordeal got even deeper. “The number you’re calling is no longer in service” announced the familiar voice at the other end of the line.
No! Not again, she soliloquized. Thinking as usual she dialed the wrong number she tried again, still nothing changed. After a long pause, she dialed several times in a row and with each try her spirit got weaker and weaker until it downed on her that Isabel was never gonna pick up the calls, so she had to stop.
Where is Isabel? Carissa’s mind jumped to that. Has something horrible happened to her or is she hiding somewhere for some reason? And what could that be? But most importantly, what would be Carissa’s next move? Go to the Police? Quickly she discarded that line of thought. I won’t go to the Police but wait and see what happens next, she thought. If Isabel is in any kind of trouble, she is sure the Police will contact her pretty soon.
Her own personal problems suddenly came to the forefront. If for some reasons Isabel never comes back home, where does Carissa go from here? She will be left all by herself in a one bed room apartment and how is she going to pay the rent without support. She is not even sure of her Job anymore and even if the job is secured, her earnings cannot pay for a studio unit and take care of her other needs talk more a one bed room apartment. Struggling in a hot pot without the route for escape an idea came to her mind. Suddenly she jumped on her feet and with much courage rushed into Isabel’s room and began a frantic search of the entire place in a move with astonishing findings. Much of Isabel’s valuables were gone, forcing her to conclude she will never ever come back to the home they shared together and she will probably never know her whereabouts or see her again. She thought of Wallis, fished his number and dialed. And just like in the case of Isabel that one was also out.
At the height of it all, she saw a flicker of light afar off when she remembered Aunt Monica, and her heart raced in that direction. It was also the moment she recalled her last conversation with Isabel concerning her Aunt and wondered whether Isabel had some sort of premonition about what is happening right now. Or was it a plan? Her Aunt’s line was already unhooked, that she knows for sure, so there is no need trying at all, but the home address lives in her mind and for that she was hopeful. Even though it’s been about a year since the girl left her Aunt’s place, she still remembers what the house she spent much of her child hood looks like and sure to get there without difficulties. Thank God, tomorrow will be Sunday, she thought, so I’ll leave early for New Port Beach. She had a vivid imagination of what her situation will look like if she failed to produce her rent at the end of the month which is fast approaching and because it’s not the kind of outcome she would like, she also worked on a plan B. That is call Tasha to see what help she can offer just in case plan A failed to pull through.
Dialing Tasha’s number saved the day in some ways ‘cause as both girls began talking, Carissa felt relieved momentarily. She explained to Tasha in clear terms what has been going on. She returned from the Police Station to discover that Isabel was not home, so she dialed her number and all that went with that. Now she finds herself alone in a one bed room apartment without means of paying the rent. She is not even sure of her job any more considering the way her boss Mrs. Gupter has been acting ‘cause the lady was already showing signs she may no longer require her services, so she wasn’t sure how things will play out with Gupter. Her Aunt’s phone has been dead for long but she plans to go visit her the next day.
Don’t worry too much, okay? We can handle all that, Tasha said in her usual manner. You go ahead and see if you can find your Aunt and see what she can do for you then we take it from there. Relax babe ‘cause there is no problem without a solution.
Know what? Tasha you’ve been my angel all these years,
I hope you know that.
Call me when you get back from New Port Beach tomorrow and we talk again, is that okay? Life is full of shit stuff and nobody understands that more than I do. Tasha added.
Babe this one swept me completely off my feet. I wasn’t expecting a thing like this will happen at all, Carissa declared.
That’s ok! We find a way! Go ahead and do what you got to do and I’ll talk to you again as soon as you get back from Newport Beach tomorrow! Right now I’m gonna get ready for my job.
Carissa kind of found something to hold on to and strength to deal with the rest of the evening. Early the next day, she took off on her journey from Los Angeles to New Port Beach.
It was a long journey but she took it in good faith. On getting down from the bus at her final stop, another four blocks or so stood between her and Aunt Monika’s house and she walked real fast without doubt everything will be fine just as she had it all planned out. Yes, all things are familiar now, she thought, faced with land marks she obviously recognized from the past as she continued with strong motion.
It wasn’t really a very long work before the house she spent much of her child hood and early teenage life stared at her. With the sight of it, her heart lipped for joy and her steps got even faster until she finally made it to Aunt Monica’s door, pushed the doorbell and waited. After a while, nothing happened but that was no reason to lose faith, so she tried again. This time around, she sensed some movement inside the house and thought Aunt Monika is finally coming to welcome her home. She held herself high in anticipation, poised for next action.
Shortly, the door opened slightly and a face peered through. It was not the familiar sight of Aunt Monica she expected but that didn’t really mean anything to her immediately. The person behind the door could be anybody, a house keeper or even a visitor who opted to help her Aunt check out who is on her door she contemplated and continued waiting in high spirit. Eventually the lady inside the house opened the door fully. Can I help you miss? She asked.