Mpumi and Dion were at the grocery store and they did not have enough money to pay for the items in their trolly. Mpumi was still trying to convince Dion why it was okay to cheat people into paying for their grocery.
“Remember when you said presentation is key? Yeah, you look pretty convincing and no one would say no to you. Look at you—homeless and tired. Me… well skinny and hungry. Boy, we can do this.”
“We’re cheating people. That can’t be good. When did we get to that?”
“Living in the orphan home taught me to hustle, forget your shame. Just hustle to keep living.”
“I thought you had a mother. How did you end up in the orphan home?”
“She neglected me a lot when she was alive. I was hungry, cold and lonely. So, I went and searched love from other places. Come, let’s go.”
The line was lessening at the till. Dion was becoming much more nervous. He coul
When Mpumi and Dion returned home, they started packing everything away. They had something to eat and left some for the young ones. Mpumi saw Dion begin to be miserable again. He sat at his corner with the book facing down on his knees. He stared into space and sat quietly. She went to him. “Dion,” she put her hand on his shoulder. He startled for that while and got himself together again. “What’s wrong?”He did not know what to say to her.“How do I comfort you?” she asked the silent man. She held his cheeks, and that immediately reminded her of something, “Hey, I also bought something.” She got up. She took out a bottle of cream and razors, “You, my dear, are getting a new haircut and we’re definitely doing away with that bush on your face.”“What are you talking about?”“I bought cream, and razors. I’m giving you a trim and a shave. We’re getting your
Mpumi was shocked to have been caught especially by her in her office. Mpumi stood there shaking terribly. “The same way that you are staring me into my eyes was the very same way you stared at me when you would lie to me. So, I’m complaining… Calling in investigators to find the thief, but here you are. You know what? I won’t stand here and do all the talking. Say something. Convince me that I’m wrong. You’re just moving the pills to a much safer place. Or as you were wiping my desk they fell, and I’ve just caught you putting them back. Tell me something sweet. As sweet as you’ve always pretended you were. Tell me…”“…Please don’t report me. Please don’t take me to the police,” Mpumi started tearing in her face. “Please I won’t do it again.”“We have been running short of medicine. Patients have suffered because of you. You know we could only order so l
Vincent pulled the belts that spiralled around his ankle. He looked closely at the piece. It roused concern, “Mpumi, what is this doing here? You go to strip clubs? This looks kinky…”Mpumi quickly shoved the book away, hurried to the young, and snatched the piece of belts from him. “Learn to mind your business, butthead!” and then she walked out leaving only Dion, Vincent and Dave inside.“A stripper’s costume?” Dion would not believe it.“Yeah,” Vincent said, “a bunch of belts and chains. Too revealing, if you ask me.”"You know too much for young kid.”“I had a friend. She was 17, and she worried that by the time she turned 18 she would get kicked out of the home. She had to find alternatives. Stripping at the club was the option she picked. She would go to strip clubs and I would stick as close, just to have her back.”“Where is she now?&rdqu
Mpumi had just told Vincent about her great news. She got an internship from Mr. Carlson—the man who helped her and Dion pay for their grocery. “Wow. That is…Mpumi, that is great!” Vincent was excited for her. “Yeah! He is the acting CEO of Metallic Wholesalers. He said something about the previous acting CEO gone missing. But hey, thank God he’s the new CEO, right? Else I wouldn’t have gotten the internship. He is the sweetest rich person I have ever known!” “Wait, how serious is this thing? I thought it was only business, now you’re talking about knowing the man.” “Why are you always so concerned?” “I just don’t want Dion to get hurt.” “Ow, that.” “He’s hurt too much. I think it’s enough now. Anyway, you say you will be working in the Metallic Wholesalers?” “Oh, no. I’ll be in the International Transport Service Unit (ITSU).” “Ooh, sounds fancy.” “Wait till you actually see the biggest branch which is
There was a knock on the door. Mpumi answered the door. It was the authorities. She knew them, she had been avoiding them the entire month. “You shouldn’t be here,” the man said. “You have your own house allocated to you.”Mpumi was astonished, “I do?”Vincent and Dave were at school. It was a matter of thirty minutes until they returned. Mpumi was shown to her new house. “Your mother changed her name to yours as the owner of the house in Muden 10 years ago. Moving the entire town, we have allocated each of the owners of the houses built that side new ones here.”Mpumi was in disbelieve to hear that she had a home of her own. It was strange having to have things work out for her so simply. Mpumi was lucky to have had all her furniture moved in from Muden. She realised that she only had to arrange it around the house.Mpumi had to go fetch Vincent and Dave from school. She was happy to let them know tha
“So, any interesting emails today?” Dion asked. Mpumi had told Dion when she went to the internet café. She had been checking her emails every single day and Dion had become very enthusiastic and eager with her. He would be excited every time she went, he would be excited over any news she would bring home. “Ow, um.” -**I’m telling him. It’s not fair to keep him here. If we’re heading to Johannesburg and he finds his life and rejects me, so be it. I will not hold a good man hostile all his life. **- “I got an email saying that I—” “Daddy! Daddy,” Dave ran into the room. “Is it true that you’re calling me?” “No. You just love me too much. You wanted some reason to come see me, didn’t you?” “No. Vincent told me that you called me.” “Well, I did not call you. And did you change the shirt? It’s not so easy to wash. It is white, I heard. And for a blind man, a white shirt is the hardest thing to wash.” “Yes.” Mpumi decided to hand him in, “No, he did not. He’s wearing the white shi
“MPUMI?!” Dion was shocked and amazed. “What are you doing here? You followed me…” he was standing in the presence of the little frail woman down the stairs of the giant company. “You found me…” …………………………………….. Being the team leader, Mpumi hosted a camp for her Marketing department. It wasn’t a big deal however, the CEO of the company had to be there. This was to lift the team morale and give esteem to the project. ITSU was a huge company at the end of the day. The scary CEO had to be there. Mpumi wasn’t sure if she was glad to see the CEO. The CEO was Dion. It was awfully strange to see Dion in a work suit and a billionaire. The Dion she knew was a lost homeless man, who was blind and hopeless… The tour agent welcomed them with a noon feast. They all gathered at the table to have their meal. Mpumi sat at the length of the long rectangle table. She was in between her two close friends, Thabo and Sam. She had her face bowed to her plate—she wouldn’t look up because Dion was sitting
It was a miracle long awaited. Dion finally could see again! He started off by seeing clamps of colours, and then blurry vision. He would hold back from telling anyone in the little home about his eye progress. He especially wouldn’t tell Mpumi. He worried about letting her hopes up only to disappoint her. This one morning, Dion woke up from his bed and he, clearly, could make out the furniture in his room. He thought it was all a dream, this wouldn’t be the first time he would be dreaming of gaining his sight back. He went around the house and found that it was empty. The children had gone to play and Mpumi went on her morning jog. This gave Dion enough freedom to tour around the house and to make sure he could really see. He then decided to broaden his horizon—he went outside. He would be touring the town. Dion was still so terrified. More terrified than excited. “Oh, my God. I can actually see,” He sighed to himself. “What now? What happens next?” It was sinking in on Dion that