Zvatinoitirana

Kuchikoro Zvekare

Mwana wakati kabu kushama wakavharira zuva padhoo paari.

“Iwe! Uri kudo- ndaifunga kuti uri kugulaka ini!”

Ndamutarira hangu ndiri pandiri pano ndichida kuseka. Nhasi China – rava zuva rechithree ndisingaindi kuchikoro. Ndiri kunyatsa kumuka zvangu kumanaini; a good two hours after vamwe vatanga kudzidza kuVuravhi.

Kungoti chete vanenge vasingadzidzi vamwe vacho. Wakambovona kupi chikoro chinotanga vhiki yekuvhura iwe? Vhiki yekuvhura ivhiki yekuvhuraka. Kozoitavo vhiki yekutanga maleseni. Vhiki yekuvhura, almost hafu yevadzidzisi vacho inenge isati yambodzoka. Kozoitavo isu vana nhingirikini tisingadivo zvekuinda kuchikoro vhiki yachinovhugwa. Iwe – saka chinodzidziwa chii vadzidzi vacho nevadzidzisi vasiko? Munhu unodotyira hako vana Steve vari kunyora manje manje kuti vanenge vabikwa vakaibva here kana nguva yekuomeserana yakwana.

Zvino kana ini ndikafuma hangu ndivete vhiki ino panenge pakaipeiko? Haikona chero vatete vacho havatodi kuti ndiinde kuchikoro kwacho. Wikendi yose yapera iyi vaidovata vakandigumbatira pazimubhedha ravo naba’mukuru wani! Iko mati zvaizoita here kuti ndivate mumba imwechete naThandi, nekuvhumuka kwandaiita ikoko. Kuzoti dei kumeso kwangu kwakazoita kavanga, kusina kuzongozvimba chete, muno muraini maidoita Gukurahundi chaiyo.

Handina kuvudza vatete chokwadi chakazara pamusoro pezvaiitwa naThandi neshamwari dzake.

Chokwadi chiripo ndechekuti ini handidi kuinda kuchikoro vhiki ino yose; hwani nekuti vatete havadi. Tuu, nekuti Steve haadi. Three; nekuti ini handidi. Ino ndiyo vhiki yandadozorora kubva zvatanzi tiinde kunozorora muna August paya. Ende zvinoratidza kuti ndiri kupika, nekuti haana kumbovona kuti fesi yangu yanga iri matuzu oga oga. Which means kuti Steve hapana zvaakamuvudza. Hamheno, pamwe imhosva yekuti haasati anyanya kunditarira. Nekuti unenge wadouya kuno uchifunga kuti unowana ndivete mumachiraka; kwete kundiwana ndichikuya dovi zvandiri kuita mukicheni muno.

“Ende bakithi; vele haungalunganga, uyazi,” chadzungudza musoro. Ichi; chadzoka futi nechiNdebele chose. Ndanga ndachishuva mhani. Icho ngachisimbe! Chii chakamboitika musi wazvashongana naSmiles kekutanga after separation yemwedzi wose? Kana kuti vanga vachiitei pavanga vachiuya kuno nhasi? Uchandiudza zvake – mupenyero uri kuita maziso ake hausi wemunhu uri kungofarira chete kuti wandivona ndiri mupenyu.

“Ehe,’ ndadavira. Ndiri kuda kuchema. “Handina kunaka, Molly. I’m pregnant.”

Ndakamutarira uchisvava uri mberi kwangu. Nhaimi, zvaachatandadza ukaoma ndichivona! Wamboidza kushama muromo kuti utaure, asi wakonewa. Maziso ake azonyatsa kubuda manje – hautauri iwe.

Vatete ndivo vanditengesa pavabuda pazhe vachiseka. Kana kuti vandinunura futi; nekuti Molly waigona kungondidira gwati munguva pfupi iri kutevera.

“Oh my God,” wazodero pava paya semwana waQueen Eliza. Ivo surname yavo vanombonzi aniko kwini vacho? Ndofunga Molly uri kufunga kuti chii chakamboitika kwandiri chinondipa kunyepa zvakadero.

“You are such an improper fraction.”

Ha! Ha! Ha!

“So uncouth, hypocritical, perveting and so presumptuous. Zvisinei,” uchindipa ruvoko gwake, “Ndafara chaizvo kukuvona uri mupenyu, Shami. Ndava kudzokera kumba kwedu. Usandiperekedza; kana kutaura neni futi.”

“Iri bhoo,” ndinivo ndichinyemwerera. Molly haadi zvekunyemwerera. Ndikasamuvudza ini zvakasara zvichiitika kuno usiko uchadozvihwa nemakuhwa, mwana wevanhu ukaburana hake naSteve. Steve mahwani chaiwo.

NaSteve takatozonyatsogara pasi tichitaura tose madeko chaiwo. Kubva musi uya wandamukwatura nembama kuchibhorani. Iye waidoita hake sekuti hapana chaiva chaitika pakati pedu. Asi waizviziva hake kuti pandakainda kurhumhu kwake ndaiva ndichida kuti sori. For everything. Manje ndakadomuwana uchidochemavo neyake hake.

“Shaa.” Ndozvaakataura. Ukafema uchivhara kumeso kwake nemavoko ose. “Molly ukazvihwa izvi unondiuraya naMwari. Ndinomuudza ndichiti kudii nhaiwe?”

“Wambotraya chokwadi here?” Ndakavhunza kudero ndavona kuti Steve waiva usingadi kufungiswa zvedrama reMugovera. Kwete kuti waiva usingadi kufungiswa nezvazvo, asi kuti waiva usingadi kuti ndifunge nezvazvo. Plus futi iye wakati hausi kundishora pane zvose zvakaitika. Kwahi zvinoitika kuvanhu vose, mainini. It happens to the best of us. Ndizvo zvinoratidza kuti tiri vanhu izvozvo.

Ndakamuudza kuti ndaiva ndisingatendi zvose zvaaitaura, ndokubva waseka wena. Kwahi horaiti; kana uchida kuzvibhlema handigoni kukumisa shamwari. Asi ini handimo mazviri.

Manje madeko waiva umwevo Steve.

“Ha, mahwani chaiwo,” wakandipindura. “Chokwadi chacho ndinoziva kuti chinotangira papi mainini? Ko kana akazviramba achiti ndatanga zvangu zvemusoro wangu? Nekuti zviya shamwari hazvingotendeki zviya. Kuzvifunga chaiko kwakadooma wani. Ndezvemufirimu.”

Waitaura chokwadi. Chero musi wacho paaitaurira vatete waifunga kuti wairota chete. Aizve, handiti chero vatete chaivo vanozviidza mugoni wepwere vakamanya kwaMai Rumbi kunovadana kuti huyai muhwe mwana wava kuhumana kuno? Voice rake raiva pasi, richiita kunge raiva risiri rake, ende waitaura zvakavhunika vhunika – ungati ndiye waiva abatikidzwa ari mushishi yekuda kundirhepa.

NeMugovera Steve waiva usiri Steve. Hamheno kuti waiva chii. NaMwari, kana zvaiva zvisiri zvekuti ini ndaiva ndakapfeka hembe yake yaiva yakazara ropa, uye dei ndisina kuhosumudzira kubongomora, handifungi kuti pane waihotenda zvitaugwa naSteve. Tafadzwa chaiye kurhepa? Kuponda Steve nesanhu? Hakuna waimbotenda zvakadero.

Kuzhe kwaLavhu woga pamwe.

Madeko ndakaraira Steve kuti waigona kungotangira nyaya yacho kuna Genesisi.

Wakanditarira; mutarisiro wake wamazuva ose kana uchida kunditanga. Mutarisiro waunosiita kana uchida kuti, hona zvagunoita gwana guya, kana miromo yangu yoita zvainoda, zvandisingadi inini.

I wonder kuti mazuva iwawo achadzoka here. Handifungi.

Zvose zvandairota izvozvo haana kumbozvitaura. Wakangoti, “Saizvozvo.”

Ko ini ndaiva ndamboti zvaiva nyore here ini? Steve unoda Molly hake vakomana. Ndinoshaiwa kuti ukanzi shara pakati pe‘O’ level certificate ine Maths naMolly unotora chii ini. Asi ndine idea yekuti unoita sei zvangu.

Kwahi, mainini ihwai zvandiri kutaura – Molly uri kundidzvinya paanongohwira chete kumuvhara kwandakaita. Ugondikandira kugomba remoto komene.

Ndakangoseka hangu. Ndakazongotivo ndaigona kungorondedzera musikana nyaya yacho kana mukomana wake waikonewa kuita saizvozvo.

Steve wakanditarira. “I hope hausi kutamba neni.”

Kana neni ndinovimba kuti ndaiva ndichirevesa futi. I think Steve waneta nekuvona vanhu vachida kuputika neshungu nenyaya iyi sezvaida kuitika musi weSaturday – ini ndichipfikura ndiri mumavoko avatete avo vaingovhunza Steve kuti waiva right here, kuti waiziva here zvaaitaura. Lavhu uchizvidhinda pahuma nechibhakera uchifemereka uri kubhenji. Uchigwisa zvaitaugwa namai vake zvekumurambidza kuinda kunopedzisa Tafadzwa.

(Steve wakanakigwa vasikana zvawakafunga kuti waiva wataridza mwana wevanhu zhira yekuinda kuGehena nekudzoka. Zvaiva zvarobwa nemhepo manje, zvichitaura zviri tuu naLavhu zviri pazhe.

“Ndamaputisa iwe,” Steve wakadero ndokubva zvagwanguka kuseka. “Aita kuzara pashangu yose iya – ndofunga aita mvura chete ini. Iwe wanga usipoka kuti undibate. Saka ndamukwesha nefive zvematsenganzungu. Ndikafenengura mhino yake nebvi iri. Ndikavhiya shoka yemwana nekuru. Shamwarika, bwe rinohi kuti harina kumbomira mushe iwe. Harisi bhoo zvachose. Ndiwo watinoti museve wade nyama iwoyo. Zvekuti dei ndanga ndarinangisa nechemugotsi rakeka, dei bhinya raho raoneka nyika kare.”

“Zvino dei wanga wadero ndaisati wagona here?” NdiLavhu wakadaviravo. “Shiti. Mupfanha uya ndikamubata inika! Waregereiko kungozvipedzisa nhaiwe?”

Steve wakambonyarara. “Iwe – ngatichingosiya zvakadero, nekuti ndezvemufirimu izvozvo. Minana yawahwa nhasi yakwana.”

“Ndiedze futi,” Lavhu wakanyengetedza. Ndofunga Steve paakahwa shamwari yake ichiti ndiedze wakasekerera – kwahi Lavhu wakapambiwa nemaZezuru zvekuti manje manje unenge wava kutaura kuti mombe dzataika.

Paifungwa naSteve kuti wotaurira umwe wake secret here kana kuti kwete, I was wondering kuti pane zvimwe zvaiva zvaitika here zvandaiva ndisina kuvona kana kuudzwa nezvazvo. Nekuti chero paaivudza vatete naMai Rumbi, Steve haana kumbotaura zvoseka. Haana kutaura kuti vana Thandi naVoni vaivawo mudhiri racho. Kana zvekuti paakahosvika ndaiva ndangosara nechipfeko chandakazvagwa nacho, uye kuti Tafadzwa waiva wasara nechidimbu chesekondi kuti…

(Ndatsinzina ndichivhara kumeso. No no no).

“Ndabapwa Lavhu. Ndabapwa neGogaz. Unogona kuzvitenda, unogona kuzviramba. Hazvina shumo. Asi ndizvo zvaitika izvovo.”

Gogaz! Gogaz ndiani?)

“Ndinenge ndakuhwa uchiti wava kuinda wani?” Ndadero ndavona kuti tanga toramba tichingozuzana mavoko.

“Yha.” Molly wadavira. “Ndiri kuinda so.”

Wandiregedza ruvoko…

Ndokubva tambundikirana sezvinoita shamwari mbiri dzanga dzava nemwedzi dzisina kuvonana. Zvekuti imwe yeshamwari dzacho ikarovha chikoro kwethree days pangadoita ngozi.

“Hesi Mollyne Tadiwa,” ndiri kutaura seri kwazheve yake, ndichifunga kuti wakambotamba uchibatana zvakadai here naNyemwe.

“Vasikana, hindava kuita imihlolo so.” Hausi kumboita semunhu wakatsvinyigwa kwandiri.

“Shiti.” Ha ha. Steve uri kudzidzisa mwana zvakaipa veduwe. “Unoziva – for a time ndakatombofunga kuti makatizisana mukainda kuhoneymoon naClass Monitor!”

Yea right. Mwana unofembera chete uyu. Ndangoseka hangu. “Ndiri kuzvivona kuti uri right Molly.”

“Ndingagovonei zvangu.”

Shuwa ungavonei Molly? “Hamhenoka. Ndiudze iwewe.”

Mazuva andairovha kuchikoro Molly waitandara uchimbozivana neumwe mwana waSteve – Mildred Tatenda Chikara. Vazukuru vekwaChikara valarge chaivo wakati Steven Chikara. Ini ndaifunga kuti waidowanza hakeka paya paaitaura kuti waiva usisadi kudzokera kuMasvingo. Ndakazovhunduka pawakauya kuno uchikumbira foni musi weMonday uchiudza mai vake kuti vamuvigire hembe dzake dzose nekuti iye waiva warimirana kumuganhu nedhorobha. Mai Midhi neni takangomira hoo. Asika Midhi ndiMidhika – waiva wadotsvaka nzvimbo ukaiwana kare. Kwahi pandakavhunziwa naBig Boss kuti ndiri kutsvakirei transfer muna September muno ndakangoti circumstances beyond my control.

Ndakademba kuti dei BB vasina havo kuvhunza kuti macircumstances acho aiva macircumstances erudzii.

“Saka wazoti chii?”

Ndazoti chii? Ndingagoti chii zvangu; Molly wacho ndiye ungatondiudzaka. “Tafadzwa here vasikana.” Ndavhara maziso angu sendoonyara. Molly waseka. “Pavanhu vose pano pasi. Sei washara Tafadzwa?”

Miromo yake yaparadzana zvakare. Inoita kunge miromo yeAfrican Girl yekuimbiwa naChimbetu gore riya. Mumukanwa make ndemepink, mune karimi kepink kari kudauka dauka sekamoto kamberevere. Mazino ake akakura. Akanaka. Akakura kunge mazino aSteve, zvekuti ukatarira mazino aMolly nemazino aSteve unovona kuti musiyano wawo wakangofanana. Ndakamboseka Molly one day ndichiti kana vakaita mwana vose, mwana iyeye unenge une mbango chaidzo dzinenge mapadza etarakita mumuromo.

Zuva rinoita Steve naMolly mwana ndingafa nekuseka.

“Kana ndimiwo amai.” Mavoko ake akagukuchira gotsi rangu. “Kana ndimi veduwe. Pafungeiwo – three days munhu usina kana kumbovona bhachi raclass monitor richipenya aini mu3B.” Uri kutaura uchizororera samuzvinafundo wematchmaking. Ini ndaramba ndakamuyeva ndakateya zheve.

“Kodwa; mana mbijana uzwe – kana- kana senior prefect vacho havasi kutsika rushoka gwavo mu3B futi. Now. Ain’t that a scandal.” Wadzungudza musoro. “Dei Maths dzaiuya dzakadai pa‘O’ levelka, chero mukomana wangu waidoita zvekudzibvisira hembe usati wadziseva idzi.”

Kuseva chii? Kasi vana ava vakambobvisirana hembe? Kugumira papi pacho?

Ndangonyenama hangu. Pawaindinyaradza uchirondedzera ngano yake neMugovera, Steve waiva usina kuvhara mabhatani ehembe yake (iyo iya ndiyo yauchadorasha hembe iya – ropa rakatsatikirapo handifungi kuti rinobva chero rikawachiwa nesipo ine extra power inenge magetsi). Ndaihwa mhasuru dzechifuva chake dzichikwira dzichidzika mwana uchichema nhuna dzake kuna mainini vaidozvizhambiravo neyavo yavaiva vachiri kuedza kubatanidza kuti chii chaizvo chiva chamboitika kwavari – kana kuti chaiva chisina kuitika kwavari. Ndaihwa hana yake ichirova zvisina direction, mucherechedzo mukuru wekuneta kwayaiva yaita nekusenga mutoro wavatenzi.

Ndaizviziva kuti somewhere nechemukati kati, Steve waichema misodzi yeropa. Ikoko hakuna waigona kukusvika ikoko. Not even me. Zvakare ini wacho ndaigodiivo ndaiva nedzangu dzaindimomotera; and Steve waigwa kudzikamisa fungwa dzangu dzaiva dzoda kuita yaziva kwayo yaziva kwayo. Iye ndiye waidova mapirisi angu. Zvekuti pandaiva ndohumana ndichipengera Midhi kuti waiva warangana nehazvanzi yake kuti vandiite party, Smiles wakambokangamwa nhamo yake wani kuti urandusire.

“…the fuck??!! Midhi – pane chiri kuitika here chandisiri kuhwisisa pano apa?”

“Zvose zvaataura ari right, ba’munini. Ndaandisingambofaniri kudzokera kumba. Ndawana mbuya kumba vachitaura zvunhu zvinotyisa.”

Zvakadoita kuti Tawanda wakadzokavo; nekuti dei taiva toga hamheno kuti yaizopera here nyaya iyoyo, nekuti ini wacho I was very convinced kuti vana Midhi vaiva vaita dhiri – and I was determined to prove it too. Steve wakapinda basa vakomana.

Munhu unokwanira kusvika kune misodzi yaSteve panguva ino ihwani chete. Molly. Asika ndipo pane nyaya ipapo. Molly unoti ukatarira mukomana wake unovona zienda nakuenda rerudo nerufaro gwemandorokwati. Hapana kana chinenge misodzi chaunovona. Izvozvi haikona wakatarisira kuti ndimuudze kuti kuHarare kwandaiva ndainda kwaiva kwakadii? Molly unongoziva kuti Steve is just an innocent guy who thinks of only two in his life – mabhuku ake nemusikana wake. Kana kuti musikana wake nemabhuku ake, zvichiindirana nekuti munhu unotarira nyaya yacho nedivi ripi.

Izvi zvekuti unombopinda mumabotso uchipfura vanhu nerhekeni kana kuvafutsira mumifuku isina mvura hazvimo mumarecords aSteve ari mumusoro waMolly. Kuzoti ukahwa hake kuti mukomana wake wakambokambhigwa nevasikana zvekusvika pakuti wakadombodanana naShamiso pazororo apa vakadoita zvimwe zviya izvi pakati pedondo, ungadopenga naMwari. Unobva wabatanidza hake mwana wevanhu nezvawambofungira uchangouya kuno paya kuti ini naSteve taiva nekumwe kuzivana kusingazikamwi nevamwe vose. Zvinozobuda ipapo – hiiii. Ngozi yomene. Disaster.

Asika Molly unofanira kuziva chokwadi usati wavudziwa zvakakangwa nevakangi venyaya kuchikoro kuya. Mhamha kani, wakati Molly. Iye Steve wacho chaiwaiva womborevera nhema dzacho chiiko. Waidi kungotaura chokwadi – unofunga kuti Molly une simba rekumuramba here, chero ukamuwanikidza red handed wakashamidzana naSandi muCherupasa?

Ha ha. Ini ndava kuwanzavo ini, kurebesa nyaya zvisina musoro. Ndiri kunyatsa kuziva kuti Steve waifunga kuti unenge wagadzirisa nyaya panozozikamwa chokwadi namai mupfanha. Manje nemagadzirikiro akaita nyaya dzacho – ibasa idi. Steve wakadoisa rudo gwake pawaya nekuda kwaizvozvo. Poor guy.

Zvinhu zvinoitirana shamwari pano pasika – zvinopfeka midhebhe yomene. Madururasvita emibheri.

“Mmm.” Ndanyemwerera ndichivhura door repabedroom. Ndasvetukira pamubhedha nemanhede. “That’s…that’s impressive. Wava kufunga mazuvano, handiti?”

Waseka. “Kasi ndiri padhuze nechokwadi?”

Ini ndangodzosera nyemwerero yake zvisingagutsi. Zviri mysterious.

“Heyi – chii chakasara chichiitika kuraini kuno uku? Ndakaruza nyaya valembe, haikona?”

“Hamheno Molly shamwari,” ndadavira ndichifunga hangu kuti handisi kunyanya kunyepa. Kundivhunza muvhunzo mumwechete musi weMugovera mangwanani handaisadavira chunhu – nekuti hapana chandaiziva zveshuwa. Asi ndakahovirigwa ndochemedzewa nezvunhu zvandaisambofungira kuti zvingaitika kuvanhu pano pasi. Thandi. Tafadzwa. Vonai. Huye unopa kutenda – vana vaiva varonga chamboko chepulani. Ndiri kufunga kuti chii chaidei chakaitika kana Thandi waiva usina kuzoita weakest link yecheni.

Vamwe zvavo vanogona kuronga. Manje isu dei tine hafu yenjere dzana Tafadzwa haikona hazvaimbotinetsa kufunga kuti toudza Molly side ripi rechokwadi. Hazviitizve kuti ndimuudze kuti vanhu muno mumusha vanofunga kuti Shami naSmiles vanopengesana serhosvo nesheche yaro yakapfumvura. Ndirini Molly ndinobva ndafunga kuti ndiyo mhaka Steve yakandivhara musi uyaka kuti Shamiso wakainda kuHarare. Ende Molly ndizvo chaizvo zvaakangwarira izvozvo. Yha, Steve waireva paya – vakuru vekuoma chaivo.

“Heyi bantu; pane munhu uchandiudzavo nyaya here muno mumba?”

“Hapana.” Ndadavira ndichizvivhunza kuti ndiyo yedzimwe nhanganyaya dzingadiwa naVaTadiwa here dzakadai.

Kumeso kwaMolly kwaita sekwemunhu wadyisiwa mhiripiri. “What!”

Ndasumudza mavoko. “Horaiti. Paivapo vakomana vaviri. Loveness. NaSmiles.”

“Pandakapedzisira kubva kuno ndini ndoga ndaiva nekodzero yekudana zita iroro,” wajinyura.

“Gara nazvo wena.” Ndatsinzina. “Asi inivo pandakapedzisira kuziva ndini ndaiva mai, iwe uri muroora wamai.”

Molly wazvambarara pasi nemusana ukaisa mavoko kugotsi. Ndakunguruka kuti ndivate nedumbu.

“Wakambomupa kuti amanhafe here awa?” Ndanga ndakayeva chifuva chake. Paazoziva kuti ndiri kutaura nezvei wavhara chifuva chacho usingafungiri, uchitsinzina pamwechete.

“Mainini musada kutiza nyaya.” Wamwekurira. “Imi enyu ati ambobatwa?”

Ndaseka. Hamheno kuti sei, asi mufungwa dzangu mapinda musi uya wandakagumhiwa naSteve tichidzinganisana. Ndakahwa sendaiva ndarobwa nemheni. Vakomana handichavimbi navo nemazamu angu. They are too sensitive. Kutondikunda wani.

“Nekuti dei wakambomuhwisaka; waikuvudza zvose.”

“Iwe unopenga chete iwe. Ndizvo zvawakasara uchidzidza izvozvo zvekutaura zvisina basa? Zvese zvekuti chii?”

“Ok. Sezvandamboreva, Molly. There were these two boys. Vana ava vaida havo kuverenga mabhuku avo vasingatauri neumwe munhu. Chero neni, kana naMidhi chaiye.

“Asivo pakazoita mukomana wechitatu waiva nemiidzo yakevo yakaisa mapulani evamwe mudondo. Mukomana uyu unonzi…”

“Tafadzwa.”

“Right.”

Wafema. “I knew it.”

“Ihwaka Molly. Steve waida kukuvudza nezvenyaya dzacho, asi wakakoneswa nekuti dzaiva dzisati dzanyatsa kujeka zvekuti chero naiye waiva usingambozivi kuti chii chaiitika. Asi chikonzero chakakosha chaakaregera kukuvudza ndechekuti unokuda. Usashamiswa. Ndicho chokwadi ichocho. Nekuti shamwarika, vanhu vakapinda nguva yaChimbetu chaiyo. Vakapinda bhizi.

“Rega ndikuudze zvakaitika.”

“Usati wainda mberi – Tafadzwa wacho uri kupi?”

“Tone ine voice rako ndeyechii nhaiwe?”

“Ndeyeumhondi. Wakainda kupi?”

“He’s gone.”

“Wakaita sei!”

“Ndati wakainda, Molly. Wakatranzifeya.”

XXX

   

“Akaita sei! Tafadzwa! Transferred!!”

“Unoziva chii – vocabulary yangu ishoma chaizvo kuti ndikuudze zvandataura nemamwe mahwi, Samuel. Unogona kungondibetsera.”

“Chii? Muri kutamba vasikana imi. Kutamba chaiko. Ungaindepi Chiks kwawaizotadza kuudza boys kuti paita journey pazororo pano?”

Inga mataura wani kuti ndimi boys dzacho. Ndimi mungadotivudzaka kuti zvakafamba sei. Isu tingazivei zvedu?”

“No. Hazviiti. Pane chakaitika chete. Imi – Chikara chaifanira kuva chiri kuno holiday yose iyi. Hakuna kwachakainda. Pane zvakaitika kwaari chete zvamusiri kuda kutaura imi. You are sure kuti haasi kugwara mufesi wedu?”

“Hamheno Dhuve. Pamwe pane zvakaitika zveshuwa. Asi chandinoziva ndechekuti Class Monitor…”

“Former class monitor mhani iwe.”

“Ok. Tafadzwa Chikara, uyo waimbova class monitor wemu3B haasi kugwara. Ndiri kunyepa here Midhi? Ndiweka hazvanzi yacho.”

“Ichokwadi wani. Saka imwi vakomana muri kuda kuramba kuti mukoma Tafadzwa vakachinja zvikoro?”

“Kwete, Miss, errr – what did you say your name was?”

“Tatenda.”

“Not Mid- something.”

“Aa aa.”

“Horaiti. Tatenda. Or whatever you are called. Handina kumboramba kuti Tafadzwa wakatranzifeya ini. Ndati hazviiti.”

“Same difference.”

“Wakainda kupi?”

“Ku- kuMasvingo.”

“Ko iwe wakabvepi?”

“KuMasvingo.”

“Hmm?”

“Takachinjana mwani. Unofunga kuti nzvimbo taizodziwana nyore nyore here third term ino?”

“Zvinogona kungo… heyi! Saka Chiks wakasiya wakutemeraka masummary ekuti wakasiya chigaro kuno uku. Plus futi wakasiya mafesi ari panzara?”

“How come?”

“Hazvinetsi amai. Ini nemafesi angu awa tasara takashotesewa nekuti munhu atakasiya tatsvakigwa neumwe wedu wakabiwa nezvimwe zvibhebhi tuu zvakanaka so.”

“Hokeyi! Nhai. Saka manga mafunga kuti tiite seiko nhai vanhu?”

“Shaaz; desk redu iro riri apo iro! Tinongotakura bhegi redu, totenda vasikana ava nekutichengetera kwavakaita kwethree days dzapera idzi. Tobva tarova pasi.

“Pari gudhuka?”

“Yha. Asi haufungi kuti ndinofanira kuva ndine maproportions ari right here kuti tiite zvakadero?”

“Maproportions?”

“Mm hmm. Zvinhu zvidukuduku. Zvakaita sekuti bhudhi Tafadzwa – ha! Ha! Ha! Bhudhi Tafadzwa vanga vanawoka maparts ari right ekuti vatambe nemwi. Vaipfeka blazer. Ini handina. Netrauzi. Ini handina. He had an eccentric growth. I have, uhhhh… a tight soft cavity. Ha! Ha! Ha!”

“Iri papi cavity iyoyo?”

“Somewhere pakati apa.”

“Ha. Mahwani. Uri hazvanzi yake zveshuwa. Saka apa mai Nyemwe muri kusmaila chii ipapa?”

“Handizivi Sammy wena. Asi – unoti chii zviya? Isn’t it – discombobulating? Gobsmacking. Obfuscating. Macabre. Ludicrous. Infra dignitatem. Isn’t it all that for your affinitous amity; that you are all in the murky waters about dear class monitor’s deportation? Is it a schatological manifestation of your putrid psyche? Or the veritable kerygma in which we value your ultimate interpersonal relationship? Right girls?”

“What!!!”

“Yebo gogo.”

“Uyu mwana wava kudopengesewa nenyemwerero uyu.”

“Iwe Sam siyana nemhepo idzi. Hausi kuvona kuti dzakasvikigwa neSmilesmania ipapa?”

“Ndiwo mashoko ekupedzisira auri kuzotaura pamusoro pake iwawo Dhuve. Vona svihwaga svako svava kubvunda neshanje mberi uko.”

“Oo. Shit. Bitches.”

“Apa wataura chokwadi apa. Kubva zvawasvika pano.”

XXX

Kutarira Mollyne Tadiwa unofunga kuti wafa ukainda kuya kunogara vatsvene iwe.

Kana kuti aiwa futi – unofunga kuti kudenga kwacho waita zvekuindako nengoro yemoto ukashongana nengirozi. Mbonga.

Nekuti mwana wakaipa uyu vakomana. Murungu chaiye. Kana usingamuzivi ukamuvona unodoti ndeuya murungu une ganda rakasvibaka; zvekuti ungadomuvhunza kuti mambokadzi Eliza vari sei sei.

“Ko nhai dhedhi.” Ihwa uhwe mutauriro wachinoita chimhamha chacho. Kuita sekuti tava nemakore gumi tamisa kapango kedu umo tiri kushemwerana tiri. Zvekuti takagara pazimupani rakawa kare kare asi richiri kuraramiswa nemudzi hwani zviri kure nefungwa dzedu. Hatisi kana kumbokendenga kuti break iri kuzopera after twenty minutes.

“Ko muri kusekerera chii moga?” Uri kuvhunza zvakapomhodzwa segaka rechirungu. Ndikaramba ndichifunga Molly zvandiri kuita izvi chero Shona chaiyo panouya pasina pabepa re‘O’ level. Kuda munhu kunge doro kudai so! Hamheno kuti ndiri kutsvaka muidzo upivo kumhepo gwendo gwuno ini.

Ndakabata shaya semwana wanyimwa bota rine bhinzi nemunyu rakabva kumadhona riya.

“Ndiri kufunga iwe wena.”

Molly une mamwe mavhuriro aanoita maziso ake so kusvika oita semazinyimo endoro chena aya. Anobva atanga kutenderedza maziso aya ari mumapako awo imomo zvekuti ini ndinongosara ndati kabu kuyevegwa semhebwe yaitwa shurondisunge neshato iri kuchinja mavara ayo.

Zvekutenderedza maziso Molly unongozviita kana mukomana wake wataura kana kuita zvunhu zvausingafungiri zvinoita kuti upindiwe nekakunyara.

“Zvino haunyari?” Wakatsinzina. “Unofungei pamusoro pangu?”

“Handizivi, Molly.” Ndakwenya gotsi sendootsvaka zvekutaura. Ndinozviziva kuti zvandiri kutaura zviri stupid. “Ndinofunga zvunhu zvakawanda chaizvo. Ndaandichi… aaa, handizivi kuti ndaandichifungei.”

Wanditarira uchida kuseka. Handisi kutenda kuti ndava nemwedzi miviri ndichiti kuna Molly musikana wangu. Iye uchidotendavo futi. Vamwe vanhu vane malaki vakomana. Yha. Ndofunga ndinogona kungofa ndakatarira Molly ndikasazviziva kuti ndafa ini.

Zvisina yambiro wasumudza gumbo rake ndokutanyanga zihunde remupani ratakagara. O oo. Mwana wabva wasara wakati bhaa zvake. Siketi yake yakwira yose kumusoro uku. Ndafema zvine ruzha ndichida kuvona kuti munhu uchatirimuka here. Iwe wangochenama chete.

Imwe part yesiketi iri pakati pemakumbo emusikana yasara yakavhara hunde yemuti. Ndadhanairisa zvanza zvangu sechikukwana chinodzidzira kufamba, zvanza zviya zvichikwira nesiketi iya  zvichiinda…zvichiinda…

Zvichiinda.

“Steve – uri kuvona here; kana kuti uri kuziva zvauri kuita?”

Ehe. Ndiri kuvona uye ndiri kuziva zvandiri kuita. Ndaizozviita here kana ndaisava nechokwadi chekuti ndiri kuitei?

“Funga shaa.” Ndiri kuita semunhu uri kufunganya uri woga, pasina umwe pedo naye. “Kuti dei makumbo awa anga ane malaiti – kubva pachigumwe chikuru ichi, achipfuura nepamipimbira apa” – ndichibata mipimbira iya – mwana une vutano uyu. “Achikwira nepamabvi apa; hawo achikwira achikwira…”

Ko ndazombopedza zvandanga ndichida kutaura here; mai yanga yoganduka kuseka. Kwahi, “Handifi ndakaita umwe mukomana unopenga sewe.”

“Ndozvaunondidira izvozvo,” ndapindura. “Lady; your legs lead all the way up to heaven.”

Mmm. Handiti ndiye wataura here kuti haafi wakaita mukomana unopenga futi?

Haana kupindura. Wabata kola yangu ndokutanga kundikwevera kumeso kwake zvinyoro nyoro. Kusvika ndava kuzvivona mumboni dzake.

Ok – handizivi kuti chii chiri kuda kuitika pano apa – but it’s surely making me hot.

Mazuva ose pandinotarira maziso aMolly ndinohwa kuzara. Kukwana chaiko. Maziso acho ane kumwe kuchena kunochenura zvitadzo zvangu. Ndosaka ndichifarira kuvona maziso aMolly ewhite. Kunyanya ari padhuze dhuze so…

Asi nhasi kuchena kwacho hakuna kukwana mhani. Hamheno kuti chii, asi handisi kufarira zvandiri kuvona mumaziso amai m’fana. Pamwe kushuva mainini kwaanga aita; nekuti zuro wakanga abheja kuti kana ndaisazoinda naye kuna Shami zvekuti panodyiwa rine mapundu ndezvekutamba zviya. Ranga risingambobikwi kuti ridyiwe rine mapundu racho.

Musikana wangu une nharo vakomana. Ndiye futi wakaita kuti mainini vauye kuchikoro nhasi.

Saka chii chiri kuita kuti maziso ake aite kunge azorewa zvitema so?

“Steve,” wadana zinyoro nyoro.

“He.”

“Unondida here zvechokwadi?”

Ndanyatsa kumutarira. Kubva pano pandiri nepane maziso ake pane distance yethree centimetres. Saka ndiri kuziva zvandiri kuita kana ndichifunga kuti kudiwa neni handiro dambudziko rasvibisa maziso ake.

“Molly. Unoziva Rumbi sisi vangu vaya? Anofunga kuti ndakafoira chikoro last term nekuti ndava nemusikana. Tose tinoziva kuti ari right. Asi haana chokwadi nezvaari kufungidzira. Saka ini ndiri kuda kumuvudza kuti ehe, ndakadiwa naMolly, ende hapana kana chikoro kana vhunzo dzinondikonesa kuti ndimude. Chero maexam emuna November ndinogona kurega kumanyora kana zviri izvo zvaunoda kuti ndiite kuti uvone kuti ndinokuda sei.

“Hona maziso ako awa. Anondifungisa musi wandatanga tanga kukuvona ndikagwara. Kana makumbo ako…horaiti ndambotaura nezvawo. Teerera voice rako shaa, rinoita kuti ndide kuita muimbi kana ndakura. Kana ukaseka ndinoita sendichasumuka ndikarova gigi. Mitsetse inogadzigwa pahuma yako kana ukafinyama…mitsetse inogadzira moto mudumbu mangu. Kana ndikafunga vhudzi rako…haa, rega ndirege kupedzisa.

“Sei wandivhunza zvakadero nhai Molly?”

Pane chinhu chiri mandiri chandiudza kuti ndiwo muvhunzo wandanga ndichifanira kutanga kuvhunza iwoyo. Yha. Now it tells me.

Molly wambondistadha kwekanguva. “Handizivi dhedhi.”

“Good,” ndapinduravo. “Hauzivi. I like that.”

“Nhai dhedhi. Kana ndikakunyeperai mungafara nazvo here?”

Ndadzungudza – muvhunzo rudziiko wakadero? “Molly – iwe haunyepi. At least ndinofunga kuti haunyeperi inini. Unless uchida hako kundiudza kuti pane pawaindinyepera ndichingotenda hangu nguva yose iyi?”

Haana kutaura. Wangodzungudza musoro.

“I didn’t think so. Chero ini ndikakunyepera handifungi kuti ungazvifarira. Zvingandinakidza kuti ndifambe ndichivhara vamwe vanhu kuzhe uko, but handifungi kuti ndingawana chikonzero, chero chisina musoro sei, chekuti ndikufidhe nyaya dziri padivi pechokwadi.

“What’s wrong? Sei uchindivhunza zvakadai nhasi?”

“Hapana chakaipa. Ndanga ndichingoda kuhwa hangu. Zvunhu zvose zviri right.”

Saka ndiri kufanira kutenda zvauri kutaura izvozvo! Very very funny. Wadhonza miromo yake – uri kuzviziva kuti ndiri kumutuka nezvemukati zvose. Guru rako. Susu rako. Uterus yako. Ovary yako. Oestrogen cycle yako. Menustral period yako. Appendix yako. Warm blooded animal yemunhu. Saka uchiinda kumwedzi.

Ndazoramba ndongosvotwa nekuti Molly hauna basa nezvandiri kufunga zvekuti ndapedzisira ndaputika.

“Hymen yako.”

Chero neni ndapedzisira ndamujoina pakundiseka. Regai mwana uzotaura kuti haufi wakaita mukomana unenge Steven Smiles Blessing Chikara. Zvunhu zvekutaura here izvozvo?

“Saka chindiudza,” ndazodero paanga adzikama. “Chii chiri right?”

“Ndinenge ndiri kufarira History mazuvano zvangu baba,” chibhebhi chapindura. Kuita sekuti changa chichida kuti ndinenge ndatsika mwedzi mazuvano baba. Baba.

“Hokeyi? Saka tava tuuka.” History! Unoda History unoidii? “Ndidzidziseka ndivone hangu kuyambuka November. Unofarira History ipi yacho?”

“The Great Betrayal.”

O oo. Ndiyo ipiko iyoyo? Irevolution ipi? Chinese? Russian? Ko wakatengesa umwe ndiani – Judhasi?

“Uri wrong. Ndeyemuno muZimbabwe.”

“Muno! Unopenga here iwe. Muno mune History inonzi great betrayal?”

“Ehe. Ndeyegore rino. Musi wa4 September.”

“Raaaaaiti,” ndaisa musoro divi rimwe. Makuhwa. Ndavhunza kuti chii chakaitika musi wa4 September gore rino.

“Ndiudze iweweka Steve. Ndiwe waivapo. Chii chakaitika?”

Ndaivapo! Saka History yacho ndini nhai? Musi wafoo wacho chaimbova chinganiko – Mugovera? Ndakauya kuno wani – ndikaita mahwekwe neumwe musikana akanaka so. Heyi! Ndikazvifunga ndinoita mudumbu. Ndinohwa mudongodongo. Handivatizve.

Ari kuda kuti tiite zvatakaita futi musi uya here?

Mutarisigwo wandakaitwa naMolly wandifungisa Mbuya Nehanda, pavaiva vakatarira munhu waivatongera rufu kuti vaidirei kutora nyika yavo.

Chii chiri kumboitika pano apa?

Kana ukandibhagura nembama yegudo yandakambozendemugwa nayo namainini gore riya handimbovhunduki. Mainini. Mainini mai vanokwatura veduwee; nekamuturi kavo kaya!

“Steve,” Molly wandishamisa nekutaura zvakavota. “Wakanditi chii pamusoro paShamiso last week?”

Oh, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Ndapeta mutodo wangu kusvika kumabvi. Ndauya ndisina masokisi nhasi. Actually kana bhutsu dzacho handina. Ndakapfeka masandals matema andakavigigwa naRumbi. Hapana unombondivhunzaka nekuti ino ivhiki yekuvhura. Munhu ukauya wakapfeka chero hovhorosi nemajombho akachekwa hapana chinoitika.

Ndiri kupuruzira shafu yangu, ndomboirova rova. Haina mvere dzakawanda seyaMolly.

Ndingapika kuramba ndichirova shafu iyoyo zuva rose kusvika yazvimba pane kuti ndimbodhiskasa mainini. Zvunhu zvakawanda uye zvakakomba zvakaitika kuna mainini neMugovera. Zvunhu zvandiri kuidza kubhana mufungwa dzangu nekuti handidi kufunga nezvazvo.

Molly. Shamwari ndapota hangu, ngatisiyane nenyaya idzodzo.

“Hoo; uri kureva izvozvo.” Ndaseka seka. “Ndakati chii zviya?”

“Makandinyepera baba.” Uri kutaura semunhu uri kunyatsoziva kuti wabatira gororo panzvimbo.

Ko iye haunavo here? Yha, ndakanyepa. Asi handina kunyepa. Plizi. Ndaidozvitambira hangu ini. Iye hauna kuzvivona kuti ndaidoseka naye here paya…

“Steve. Wakandinyepera neSaturday. Uri kuda kundinyepera izvozvi. Handisi kuzvida. Wazvihwa here?”

Uri kunditarira seunogwadziwa nemoyo. Maziso ake aya ari kudowedzera kusviba kubva zvandapedzisira kumavona two seconds ago.

Yha; ndanga ndichifanira kuziva nguva yaandivhunza kuti kana akandinyepera ndinoita sei paya.

“Pane zviri mumusoro mako zvausiri kuda kutaura Molly.” Iye unogoita hasha kuita sekuti Shami wacho akafa sei? Ini handidi zvekufungiswa Shamiso ini. Nekuti ndikafunga Shamiso ndinobva ndaziva kuti wakapotsa afa zveshuwa. Joe akandiudza nezuro kuti sisi vake vari kuvata vachivhumuka; hazvisi zvinhu zvekufamba uchishambadza kuvanhu izvozvo.

“Kana. Zvunhu zvacho zviri mumusoro maoko iwewe. Ndiwe usingadi kunditaurira.”

Handina kupindura.

Iye haachadi kundisiya – wakandidzvondora sembwa zvere yakaringa vana vayo.

“Shamiso wakandiudza zvose nezuro.”

“Yha.” Ko ini ndaifunga kuti zvichainda nepi – haikona ishamwari dzemandorokwati here? Nyaya yaMolly yandifungisa kunyara kwakaita njere dzangu, saka ndadavira nehwi riri pasi. Kana Molly wahwa kuti handidi kuvhunziwa nezvenyaya iyoyo – kwete nhasi anyway – hamheno hake.

“Zvaiva zvakadzvanya shamwari.”

“Ndokubva wasarudza KUSANDIUDZA inini.” Kana Molly wazvihwa kuti handidi kutaura nezvenyaya yacho wazviiginowa.

“Shamwarika, ndanga ndichazokuudza chete kana nguva yava right. NeMugovera zvanga zvisingaiti kuti ndiinde newe kuna Shami. Zvunhu zvanga zvisina kumira mushe, ende ini ndaiva ndisingadi kuti upinziwe munyaya yacho.”

“Mmmm. Is that so? Tafadzwa Chikara. Thandiwe Chiremba. Vonai Somebody. Mainini. Ende iwewe wanga uri pakati penoise yacho.”

Kekutanga muupenyu bwangu vupfupi ndavona Molly uchindipa nyemwerero yakaoma kudarika kuoma kwaiva kwakaita dhamhu rekuMushandira nerekwaTaru akabatanidzwa muzhara ya92.

“Unoziva chii Steve – you are right. It’s none of my business!”

Ndaramba ndakanyarara. Kwechinguva ndambofunga kuti Molly uchatanga zvekuchema. Ini ndakwana nevanhu vanochema hangu ini. Ndofunga ndikavudza Molly kuti nguva yose iyi ndanga ndichifunga kuti uri kutamba unonditsvakira danda ukandiponda ponda.

Ndasumudza ruvoko kuti ndibate dama rake. Ruvoko gwadzorewa pasi zvinyoronyoro.

“Chimbomira izvozvo.”  

This girl is serious.

“Handisati ndapedza.” Ndazviudza nechemumoyo kuti yandapinda ndiyo inonzi curtain lecture. “You must love errors of omission and commission. Wakavona kuti zvekundivanza nyaya hazvina kukwana ndokubva wafunga zvekundinungira nhemaka kuti shamwari yangu yaiva isiko kumba.”

“Molly…”

“Steve, ndofunga ndambokuudza manje manje kuti handidi…”

“Molly mhani! Hausi kuda kuhwa zvandinotaura here!”

Ndakambopinda mumochari musi hwani. Handidi kudzokeramo futi. Chero ndava chando. Handidi. Mumochari mune runyararo gunotonhora. Kunyarara kwaita Molly kwandifungisa mochari. Handifungi kuti chero mumochari macho mungamboita vasikana vangashamiswa nemahwi nevakomana vavo ari pamusoro sezvaita Molly. Ndatsikira ndikatanga kurova musoro wangu ndakatsinzina.

Ndanonoka kudzoka. Shamiso wakati rabu uri pasi paTafadzwa. Ndofunga wafa chete ini. Kumeso kwake kwakavharidzigwa nemunhu wakamugadha, saka handisati ndava kuvona ropa rakanama fesi yacho. Tafadzwa uri kushanyarika kuti unyatse kukwana pakati pemakumbo emwana. Ini handisati ndavona musikana nemukomana vashamidzana pakati pedondo; ndisingadotauri zvekuti ndakambozviitavo.

Asi chandiri kuziva ndechekuti zviri kuitwa pano apa hazvina kutenderana mukati…

“Molly,” ndadzungudza musoro ndichiidza kudzinga fungwa dzinopengesa. “That was one hell of a day. Tenda izvozvo kana ndichikuudza inini. Handidi futi kuti ndirarame life yandakararama zororo rapera iri. Ok? Handisati kana ndava kuda kuti nditaure nezvazvo. Nekuti hazvisi good.

“Holiday yaAugust ranga riri Gehena kwandiri naShami wena. Believe me, ndakatoraramiswa nemabhuku. Taipwera mudondo muya naLavhu. Tichidzoka kumba kuzhe kwati tsvaa kusviba.

“Saka nezvose zvandakavona izvozvo waida kuti ndirege zvichiitikavo kwauri? Not even over my dead body. Handidi.

“Molly; yandakakutaurira musi uya ndiyo inonzi white lie iya. Haina kana basa. Ndaizviziva kuti kana ndaizokuudza chete kuti Shamiso uriko taiinda tose kumba. Ini naShamiso taiva tisingatauri tose. Ndizvo zvawaida kuziva here izvozvo?”

Ndiri kutya kumubata. Ndofunga kuti ungangovhunduka ukatanga zvekuzhamba futi. Ndigowanikidzwa zvangu nemwana wevanhu akapfeka vhesi chete. Vhesi yangu futi. Achichema. Vagovona pakati pake pakadzugwa dzugwa apa. Ndofunga ndava kuda kufenda chete ini – munhu anoginyabvura vana vevamwe zvakadai anenge ari munhu akaita sei?

Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit!

“Ndaigona kungozvihwisisa Steve.” Hwi raMolly ndiri kurihwira kure. Wanga wakanditarira seunovona nhema mberi kwake.

“Hai. Haikona Molly wandinoziva ini. Kwete Molly wandakada ini. Chero vana Steve five chaivo vaisazombokumisa kuinda kunotsvaka chokwadi. Ini ndizvo zvandaiva ndisingadi izvozvo. Pane chokwadi chakaipa Molly – and this truth was ugly. Ndaiva ndisingadi kuti upinde pakati pazvo. Iwewe uri kungogumbuka nekuti hatisi kuwirirana panzira dzandakashandisa chete.

“Kana Steve. Ndiri kuramba nekuti zvawakaita izvi hazvisi zvinhu zvinoitwa naSteve wandakada inini. Ende Steve andinoda ini munhu ari streti. I trusted you, Steve. Ndaifunga kuti tinoita zvunhu zvedu tose. Obviously I was wrong.”

Zvaari kutaura handisi kuzvihwa. Fungwa dzangu dziri kuita bararamhanya. Pane chunhu chisiri right pano apa – Molly wataura Tafadzwa naThandi naVonai. Right.

Haana kumbotaura zvaMidhi naLavhu. Kana kuti ini namainini takambovonekwa tiri kuCherupasa. Hauna kana kumbotaura zvakaitika chaizvo chaizvo musi weMugovera.

Kasi mainini vakasarudzira mwana chokwadi?

“Steveka; ini hangu zvevanhu vanondinyepera kana kundivanzira zvunhu zvandinofanira kuziva handizvifariri wena. Handina kuzvijaira.”

“Horaiti Molly. Ichokwadi kuti pakaita communication breakdown pakati pedu. Imhosva yangu, nekuti handihwi kugadzikana ndichitaura zvakadero pamusoro peshamwari yangu iyo isipo...

"Shamwari yako! Ko inini! Ini handina basaka; asi shamwari dzako ndidzo dzaunotembha kudarika inini. After all I'm just your girlfriend!"

Mangwana handisi kuzorega zvakadero zvichiitika futi. Tichadzidza kuvimbana futi. Zvinongoda nguva chet…

“Nguva ndicho chinhu chandisina Steve…”

Sshh, handisati ndapedza. Sori hako pane zvakaitika Molly. Ndaifunga kuti ndiri kugona ndichikudzivirira kubva kunjodzi. Sori hako.

Molly wadzungudza musoro. “Sori Steve. It’s rather too late for that.”

Kungoti chete kana uchida umwe wako….

“Wati kudii!”

“Steve, iwe ndiwe unoda nguva yekumbogadzirisa maproblems ako nehunhu hwako. Ende since wakashara kuti ini handikwani munyaya dzakoka, ndafunga zvekusatambira nyaya dzacho zvachose. Gore razvichakunakiravo ndinovimba kuti uchamuwana munhu wekuita naye vupenyu hutsva, waunovimba naye uye kumuudzawo kana pane zvaanofanira kuziva zvinoitika kwauri asipo.

“Bye bye. Good luck. In both your exams and your life.”

Chii chiri kumboitika pano apa?

Handizivi kuti ndasumuka nguvai pandanga ndigere, asi Molly paazomira ini ndanga ndadova pashoka dzangu kare ndichigwa nekubata mavoko ake. Pawaramba uchinzvengesa mavoko acho ndamushamisa nekuzvishamisawo ini pandakaruka ndati mba hudyu dzake. Futi hadzisi hudyu dzandabata – mavoko angu akakiyana ari seri kwemagaro ake.

Handisi kugona kutaura. Handizivi kuti munhu unotaura chii pakadai. Mashoko akawanda chaizvo ari kuuya mufungwa dzangu, asi hapana kana rimwe riri kupfuurira kumuromo.

Ndamubata kwekanguva. Hausi kuita nharo; kana kumbotaridza kuti ungachema. Pandazowana hwi rekutaura naro ndangotaura shoko hwani chete.

“Ndinokuda.”

Ndatarira maziso ake zvakare. Imomo ndimo mandazvivona zvose. Musoro wangu wangowira pachifuva chake ndisingafungiri. Dei changa chisipo musoro wacho waingoti pasi pu.

Ndizvo zvaandisiya ndakaita izvozvo. Pandazonyatsa kupindiwa nechokwadi chezvaitika pano ndahwa ndichifufunyuka kubva kushoka uku sendiri kunyura mudhiramhu resulphiric acid. Ndazongoti vhorokozho paside pezihunde remupani.

Saka ndiko kupera kwazvo ikoko? Ndiko kurambiwa kwacho?

Rudo gwakatanga musi uya wandatanga kuvona Molly kumba. Paya paaiita kune mangwanani emusi weKisimusi. Nemaziso ake akandigura nungo. Rudo gwakabuda pachena kumasevheni manheru musi wa29 July 1998 kwaMushandike kuya. Manje nhasi, 9 September 1998, rudo gwemandorokwati gwaperera muzvikwenzi zvepachikoro.

Ndavhunduka ndahwa kuvavira kwemvura iri kupinda mumukamwa mangu ichibva kumusoro kwairi kuita kuodzvoka. Handizivi kuti ndakapedzisira kuchema riini. Chero dziya dzinonzi crocodile tears chaidzo handidzizivi. Kuchema chinhu chisingori mandiri so.

Asi kana Steven Smiley Nyemwerero Blessing Chikara ukabva pamuti pano uchiri mupenyu unenge wabudisa misodzi inokwana kuchema hama dzake dzose kubva kuna tateguru wekutanga. Dei iri yekunzi vaisvina munyuka, chero matengu ekupedzisira aya vaizadza.

XXX

Handisi kudzokera.

Zvimwe zvunhu ndezvekungoziva woga munhu. Handifi ndakatsika rushoka gwangu kumusha kwaChikara futi. Pamwe ndava mubhokisi kuda.

Asi kwete nguva dzino. Shiti. Uku ndiko kunonzi kuibopa nekumwise kwandakaita uku. Kuizora rupazho chaiko. Hamheno kuti dei isiri gogazi yakafunga kuti tisvove vusiku chii chaizoitika musi uya. Chandinoziva ndechekuti vaindiita kanyama kanyama. NaMwari oo. Hasha dzaiva muziso rimwe raSteve dzaikwana kupukuta hondo yose yaNapoleon paWaterloo. Pawakandiriga nerhekeni paya ndaiva ndoti pangu paperazve, munhu wava kuhondikohovedza nesanhu. Kutozonunugwa naShami chaiye munhu wandaiva ndoda kutamba taundhi naye.

Shamiso.

Shit. Ndaiva ndasara neapa chaipo. One more second zvunhu zvangu zvose zvaipinda mugwara. Dhemeti mhani. Chibhebhi chakaumbiwa mhani chiya. Pasi pehembe dziya pane Fanta zvayo yakangomirira kuti munhu uzvivhurire umwe hako kumwa kwevadzimu. Kufunga kuti doctor vakakuta paduku – paduku duku – vashevedzera kuti tapinda tapinda tapinda neoperation. Kungofunga chete zvakaita mwana uya ndobva ndahwa kudoda. Paya chero president chaiye ukavona udohwa hosha paya. Valarge chaivo wakati Steve. Chero iye Steve wacho unozviidza jaya chairo unohwa kuzvimba paya.

Actually I doubt kuti hadzina kusara dzikaita take over pandakasiyira – munhu ungafuratira Shamiso wakashama ndiani iyeye kuzhe kwebofu?

Kuzhe kwaSteve wachozve. Zana rakavata mhani riya. Shit (Ndarova masimbi emubhedha ari kumusoro kwangu. Zvimubhedha zvemuno zvimhasa chaizvo zvinogogonera sezvine mhihwa yenungu mukati mazvo. Shoka yangu yakavhiyiwa naSteve yavhuta kuti hongu. Ndofunga ichadopora kwapera mwedzi mishanu yose).

Ndava kure nemafesi angu nekuda kwaSteve. Shiti. Ndakarambwa naMolly nekuda KwaSteve. Double shit. Ndikarambwa naShamiso nekuda kwaSteve. Shit, shit, shit. Ndakakona kuita zvinorova nebhebhi nekuti Steve wakanyuka kubva mumhepo. Double, double shit. Izvozvi raini rose riri kuda kundiponda nekuda kwake – haikona ndizvo zvawaichemera zvekuti ndiite mistake kuti ugovona kundiyanika pachena panopondesa nemusha wose. Zvitsiga zvose zveupenyu bwangu zvinongova nechiso chaSteve Chikara.

Ndafema. Ndikafemazve. Kechitatu. Zvinofanira kuguma izvi. Handisi mumvuri wemunhu ini. Ndichaita bhoo. Ende nguva yangu ichauya. Regai umboshaina muzuva maari imomo; richati ropisa zvaro. Tichabatana zvedu magaro pakuyambuka.

Zviri zvekumusha kwavo ngazvigare zvakadero. Ngavagare nechiraini chavo chakavora nevana vacho vakavora.

Tsanga Yarwaivhi

“Waita sei!”

“Heyi! Welcome back. Ndiripo hangu wakadiivo Shamiso. Ndanga ndava kuti hauchataurika ini…”

“Mollyne Tadiwa. Ndati waita sei mwana wangu?”

"Horaiti mainini. Mwana wenyu wanga uchida chidzidzo kana zviviri pasubject reHonesty. Iye wanga usingadi kudzidza, so I kinda like gave him a little push in the right direction. Unoziva zvandaita Shamiso. Ende usandiudza kuti ndanga ndiri wrong futi. I’m not gonna like that.”

“Tsk. Mwari haana tsitsi shuwa.”

“Mainini. Sori kuti handina kukuudza ndisati ndazviita kuti ndizvo zvandanga ndichida kuita. Ok? Asi ndanga ndine zvikonzero zvakakoshaka. Hausi kuzvivona here? Ndanga ndichizviziva kuti uchandirambidza. Asi chokwadi ndechekuti ini ndizvo zvandanga ndichida kuitaka. Kana usingadi kundisapotavo ndizvozvo.”

“Unombova neidea yekuti waitei here nhai Molly?”

“Inga ndiri kukuudza wani kuti ndamudzidzisa; in a practical way. Ndiyo inonzi learning from experienceka iyi mainini. Haazombofi wakandinungira nhema futi.”

“Yha. Nekuti anenge afaka. Nhaiwe, unombogaravo pasi wofunga kuti zvinhu zvaunoita zvinogumira kupi here?”

“Izvo usavhunza ini shaaz. Iye wakambogaravo pasi ukafunga kuti zvawaindinungira nhema nekundivanzira nyaya zvaizoguma nekupi here?”

“Yha. Wakaoma wena. Saka ndofunga pawanga uchitaura zvose zvawataura izvozvo wanga uchizviziva hako kuti vana vasara nemwedzi umwechete kuti vanyoreka?”

“Aaa…well…aaa…horaiti, ngatiti handina kuzviisa mumusoro izvozvo. Asi mwedzi wakarebaka. Anorhikavha.”

“Anorhikavha nhai? Akamborambiwa here vupenyu bwake bwose?”

“Mainini, muri kungotya imi. It will not come to that.”

“Mhmm. Rega ndityire shamwari yangu wena; nekuti zvawaita zvinotyisa. Hauna kudzidzisa munhu, Molly. Wauraya munhu. Wazvihwa? Munoti chii kumusha kwenyu – usebulal’ umuntu? Yha. Ndozvawaita izvozvo. Saka uri kuda kuti ndikuti makorokoto kuti wauraya mwana wangu?”

“Oooo, mainini. Muchaita mai vane rudo nehanya chaivo, ha! Ha! Ha! Ende handina kuuraya mwana wenyu sezvamunofunga. Kana iye wazvivona kuti ndiye wakatadza uchadzoka hake. Haikona dei usina kundiudza iwewe ndaitozozvihwa nemakuhwa nana Tafadzwa? Zvino iye Tafadzwa wacho zvawakadai kutranzifeya ndaizvihwa nani hangu ini?

“Steve wakandiratidza kuti handina zvandinoreva muupenyu hwake. Unofunga kuti zvinogwadza zvishoma izvozvo?”

“Waizongokuudza rimwe zuva Molly.”

“Yea right. Kana oda zvake, asarudza kuti zvandingaudza chimunhu ichi ndezvipi, zvekusiya ndezvipi. Ha! Gimme a break people!”

“Horaiti. Tora break rako iroro. Asi chunhu hwani chaunofanira kuziva ndechekuti ini ndakanyepavo futi. Tafadzwa haana kutranzifeya.”

“Ha ha. Mainini musada kuita kunge mwana wenyu, mazvihwa? Hazvina kukufitai. Chinombova chiiko chakaitika ndisipo? Wakaindepi Tafadzwa wacho? Akafa here tiinde kunotamba parinda rake?”

“___ ___.”

“Shamiso. Shamiso? Chii chakaitika? Tafadzwa wakainda kupi? He? Shamiso. Steve naTafadzwa vakaitana sei?”

“Wakatiza. Wakatiza mhosva. Tafadzwa wako wakatiza musha.”

Sixteen years. Sixteen fucking years. Handina kana kumbochemedzwa nemunhu. Kana nani zvake; tisingadotauri zvekuchemedzewa nevasikana. Sixteen years. Kana kumboti ndarobwa zvinogwadza nemunhu regai ndicheme. Handina. Kana.

Ende pandatangira kuchema pacho – what a bad debut. Wati kuzenge kuchema here ikoko! Chero Oliver Twist unochemera poriji haudero. Kuchema kwakadero kunoshura vakomana. Ndofunga ndadoruza 20kg nekuda kwemisodzi yandatevura nhasi. Nekuti kurema kwanga kuchindiremba zororo rose iri kwanyangarika pandachema. Chero pandadzokera kuclass Gavi yazvivona wani – kwahi ndangosara musoro woga. Ha ha. Kwahi kumeso kwacho kuzvimba kuita kunge huku yavurayigwa mhuri huru stereki, zvekuti vanodombotanga vaizvambura isati yabikwa, kuti izvimbe vavone kuikwana.

“Kasi wanga uchichema?” Wanga uchingovhunza zvake kuti uwane zvekutaura. Plus futi wanga une kumwe kuchema mumusoro make kusiri kwandaita. Ini ndangosekavo ndichidzungudza musoro kuti kwete. Ndambofunga zvekugumira ipapo, asi ndahonyumwa kuti mukomana ungandifungira zvisizvo. Saka ndamuudza kuti ndanga ndichibva kuna Molly wavona, saka…

“Yha,” chikomana chaita kuvhura muromo wose sedhongi riri kudya masese. “One month. Kasi manga mava kudoita zvemakumbo kani?”

Unohi Gavi iyeye.

Yha. Regai vana Rumbi vakafamba neko vazotinyeurira kuti zverudo rudo izvi hazvidi mafomu foo. Kudzingana nembiri hakusevenzi. Ini mugonizve ndikati ndezvemadofo asingagoni kumaneja hupenyu hwawo, mastep father nemastep mother anoita one step at a time segwaivhi. Manje ini ndinotamba bhora, ndiri kudebate club, ndinoita nine subjects, plus Maths. Shamiso unoitavo zvose izvozvo, neusenior prefect pamusoro. Tisingadotauri hedu zvekusuka, kutsvaka huni, kuchera mvura nekurima.

Manje ini chaindikonesa kuwedzera rudo ipapo chii?

Dei ndakateerera hangu ndichiudziwa naTakabveyo. Zvino nhasi ndava muna Taisireva. Iye Rumbi wacho waiziva zvose izvozvo, kasi wakambozviitigwavo uri fomu foo? Kana zvakadero, aa, inga vana vaTendero naMabasa vane munyama. Ndoraramazve nekuverenga sezvandakaita pazororo paya? Manje zviya zvinongoda Lavhu uri pedozve. Nekuti ndiye unohwisisa nyaya dzachoka. Ndikada zvekurondedzera vana Gavi naEddy izvozvi tingadotanga nyowani. Zvanga zviri nanizve dei ndanga ndisina kuratidziwa zhira yekuGehena. Manje zvazvadai…hamheno. Pamwe Lavhu waiva right paya pawaiti ndinyenge mainini hangu. Nekuti namainini tinozivanaka. Ndevematongo. Chokwadi. The devil you know is better than the angel you have never met.

Asika ini ndakadavo zviuya zvacho zvandaisaziva izvozvo. Unlike poles attract – haikona ndizvo zvavakatidzidzisa here kuScience? Yha. Manje nhasi ndiwo mubhadharo wacho iwoyo wekuda opposite pole.

Chero ini wacho ndinodopengavo; chakazomboita kuti ndide Molly wacho ini ndangosara nemwedzi umwechete kuti ndinyore vhunzo dzeupenyu chii? Muidzo werudii wakadero? Mashavi evurombe zvaanoitavo futi. Ndizvo zvandaida – ini ndaidonyeperavo munhu wandaigara ndichiudza kuti ndiye wepamoyo ndaiti zvichandipeiko? Ndamama. Yandaita ndiyo inonzi practical lesson, yakafanana nedzatinoita kuBuilding dziya. Heyo tsanga yako rwaivhi. Handifi ndakazviita futi.

Handifi ndakazviitira ani?

Oo. Steve. What has become of us! Tsk tsk tsk. Hauzi kudombohwa kuti kune shoka dziri kutinhira sure kwake kana. Kana kuti kune hana iri kurova sure kwake. Vasikana. Unobva wandifungisa zvawaiva wakaita musi watadanana, paya pawaisambohwa kuti mvura yaimupura kumeso. Nguva dzino Steve uri kuita kunge gehena. Hamheno kuti kumba kwavo unosvika uchakabatana saizvozvi here.

Kungoti kubatanavo hangu zvekungoti munhu hausi kuchema chete. Chokwadi ndechekuti mukomana wangu uri kufamba sebenzi. Ende imhosva yangu futi. Basa rangu pano pasi rinenge rekungokanganisa zvunhu zvake kuti zvisafamba nemugwara kasi? Hapana kana chunhu hwani chakanaka chandakambomuitiravo.`

Chero zhira yekumba wairasha nhasi. Hamheno svimwe sviroad svemudondo svauri kutevera. Svinenge svemhuka chete isvosvo. Steve wakambondiudza kuti kana uchida kumbofunga kana kuti watsamwiswa unombotenderera nerhekeni dzake musango.

“Ndinovona zvunhu zvichindijekera nekundirerukira. Pane kamwe karunyararo kari mudondo so kanongodzikamisa njere dzangu. Chero kurira kweshiri chaiko kunonyaradza, Molly. Hakupunzi musoro sekwevanhu.”

Wasumudza ruvoko gwakatemwa nesanhu naTafadzwa. Ndigwo guya gwakambokuvara kugiraundhi paya. Laki handigwo guchanyora mafinal muna November. Ini ndiri kungomutevera ndisingazivi kuti tiri kuinda kupi. At least kana ukada zvekuzviuraya ndinenge ndiripo.

Tinongofa tose.

Mainini vanga vari right – semazuva ose – ndauraya mwana wavo.

“I don’t believe this. Mainini; zvandanyepegwa naSteve nhasi zvakwana veduwe. Ha ha. Zvekuti kana mukada kundivharavo nhasika…iii, vasikana regai kudero. It’s too much for one person for one day, don’t you think?”

“Hoo? Saka Shamiso ndiye munhu wawawedzera mublack book rako revanhu vanonunga nhemaka.”

“Shamiso. Usada kufonyora mashoko angu. Hausi Class Monitor iwe. Unozviziva kuti handina kumbodero. Chiripo ndechekuti shamwarika, ini Steve handichambomuhwisisi ini. Thirty days dzatanga tisiri tose idzi andichinjira kuita munhu mutsva chaiye. Haachambotauri neni zviri nyore sezvataiita last term. Tiri kudoita kunge vanhu vari kutanga kuzivana. For all I know, ther could be another girl out there!”

“Yha. Ndizvo zvandinokudira izvozvo Molly. Unofunga zvine musoro. Aripo umwe munhu.”

“___ ___”

“Usambomutsvaka hako kure musikana wacho.”

“Wa… wa… he!”

“Ndati wafungira chokwadi. Steve waiva naye musikana pahoridhe apa. Wakamutarira nguva dzino.”

“Y- y- y- you!”

“Yha. Handiti uri kuda kuudzwa zvose zvakasara zvichiitika? Gara pasi. Siya bhasikoro ravaTadiwa iro. Haugoni kunditema naro. Tiri kumba kwenyuka. Unozondiponda ndakuudza zvakaitika. I’m not gonna run away.”

“Shit! How could you…!”

“Molly, ndati gara pasi, uti tyo. Handisi kuzokukumbira futi. Kana usingadi ndiri kudzokera kuchikoro. Haikona wakanganisa Steve kudhara. Saka ndiri kuda kukupa justification yezvawaita. Kuti usazozvidemba mangwana.”

Right. Imagine my shock. Ndiri kungozvidzungairira ndiri mudondo muno, ndakananga nedirection yandinongoziva kuti yakatarira kumba. Zvisiri zvekuti njere dzacho dziri kugwendo gwekumbazve. Dzose dzakaunganira moyo wangu, uyo uri kujuja ropa rekurambwa naMolly. Hadzisi kumunyaradza. Dzakangotariravo dzakamirira kuti uparare muintensive care mauri.

Aa, hushamwari.

Chunhu chakanaka sei kuvapo uchivona hama yako ichitandadza. Unoibata bata uchiipukuta pukuta nekuivhunza kuti iri kuda kudyei, haisi kuhwa kutsva here; haisi kutonhogwa? Asi nguva dzose uchiziva kuti zvose zvauri kuita hazvina kukwana. Haukwanisi kupa hama yako hupenyu hwairi kuda. Ndosaka uchizongopedzisira wangogara wakamirira rufu guchauya.

Moyo wangu watarira. Ukavona hama dzawo dzakarinda. Wavona makumbo achifamba, achibetsegwa nemavoko. Musana wakabereka bhegi. Zheve dzichitapa mahwi eshiri dziri kufarira chirimo. Munguva pfupi inotevera nyenje dzinenge dzotonga zheve dzevanhu. Chero nduru chaiyo iri kuhwa kuti yazara, zvekuti inombotimisa kuti imbohafura tank.

Zvino moyo uchivona rudo gwakadai wazvivhunza kuti ko, inga vamwe zvavanongorarama nekugwadziwa kwavo wani. Ini ndini ndofireiko – ndofira rudo here vakomana? Why not give the guy another chance? Kurambana inga kwangova pose pose semakondhomu wani mazuva ano. Manje isu kana tadzingwa mumoyo wemunhu chitsva chinenge chiri chipi ipapo?

Hongu, vamwe vangu vakandigarisa mumoyo waMolly. It was good while it lasted. Asi Molly wandidzinga nhasi, hama dzangu dzikandigamuchira. Ndofunga handina kusiya ndapisa musha. Handina kudya chikangamwahama. Pane vhunzo dziri kuuya, ende zvingandibetsera kana ndikaita bhizi. Pazororo takamborarama wani Molly wacho usipo. Zvaiva zvakaoma, asi takararama. Mafesi angu ari kusevenza wani, zvisinei kuti vari kugwadziwa sei. Saka chiri kundikonesa kuvhara pari kuvhinza ropa ndobatana nevamwe pakukunda jambwa iri chiiko? Inga chero meso chaiwo ari kubetsera wani. Ari kutiratidza pane mhihwa nepane zvitsiga.

Achicheuka sure achitiratidza Molly.

Achitiratidzei!

Molly?!

Ndazviseka ndichivhara meso; ndofunga ndava kuita mupengo chete ini. Ndava kuvona mahallucinations. Haha. Ndadhakwa manje. Molly must be the opium of my soul. Asi wakanaka! Hazvina basa kuti ndamuvona ndivete here, ndichipenga kana kuti ndakadhakwa. Kunaka ndekweuroyi ikoko. Sei ndisingavonivo chunhu chakaita sekuti nzvengei kunaka paari? Ndofunga ndosaka ndarambiwa ini. I think she is too perfect. Vanhu havatendegwi kuita too perfect. Pose pandinomuvona bhureni dzangu dzinoita bararamhanya nemurakatira…

Hezvo, asi ndava kudhunya kanhi! Ndazvizuza zvine simba kuti ndidzinge fungwamupengo dzanga dzava kundipamba.

Ndasvunura.

Zviri funny. Ndichiri kuvona chikoro pedo pedo apa. Kuita sendabvapo manje manje. Asi ini ndinenge ndava neawa yose ndasiya zvepaVuravhi. Ndatora svimwezha svinoinda nana Cecilia nhasi; svizhira svitete svine matondo nemaware mavhu nemarara. Ini ndiri kuda zhira ine matondo nemaware mavhu nemarara. Ndichazonokonera mberi uko ndotora rhodhi inonondisiya kumba.

Saka zviri kuratidza kuti ndanga ndichingombeya muno ndisingaindi kumba. Zvinenge zvodoreva kuti ndabapwa nechadzimirazve. Ha ha. Hazviitizve. Haikona iyo minda yamudhara Vhinga here iyo? Zvandiri kungovona zvakanaka wani. Plus futi hapana pandambobuda muzhiraka ini.

Saka chiri kundinetsa chii kana ndisiri kuvona madzengerere?

Sei ndichiri kuvona Molly mumaziso angu?

Ndofunga Steve uri kuvona chidhoma mumaziso ake. Pawatanga kundivona waseka uchivhara kumeso. Kuseka chaiko – pamwe wanga uchifunga kuti uri kurota chete. Pawazovhura futi maziso aya ukavona ndichingovapo wavhara muromo uchindinan’aidza kuti uvone kuti ndini here zvechokwadi. Haisi mhosva yake – panguva ino ndofunga ndini munhu wakavengwa naSteve kudarika kuvengwa kwakaitwa Satani nevanhu.

Ndaramba ndichifamba ndakananga kwaari.

Ini ndini munhu une vurozvi bwazobhuleya manje. NaMwari wedenga. Handisati ndambovona munhu unotanga kupenga uchizviziva kuti wava kuda kupenga sezvandava kuita pano. Ndizvo zvandava kuita pano izvozvo. How can it be her?

Hauna unifomu. Une chit-shirt cheblue chakangoita zvacho so. Siketi yacho murabaraba wecheck check unoguma kushoka uku. Ha ha – ini ndaimbopenga ini – kare ndaifunga kuti check check yaiva colourka. Kare ndaifunga zvunhu zvekupenga zvakawanda. Chero mvura inopisa chaiyo ndaifunga kuti haidzimi moto wani. Siketi yacho inobata magaro nemakumbo acho, yozoita falhalha kubva nechepamabvi apa. Hamheno kuti yakatsemugwa here sure kwacho.

Dei ndanga ndisina kubatwa nechando mumusoro ndaseka. Molly wakapfeka hake semunhu unoinda kumasteps ekuperekedza muchato. Mazamu ake akanzi mba nechisikipa chake.

Yha; wakachena wena. Ndiri kushaiwa kuti waziva sei kuti ndauya kuno, nekuti hapana munhu unomboziva kuti ndauya nekuno. Kana kuti ndiri kupi futi. Chero Shamiso chaiye. Mainini havazvizivi futi kuti handichina musikana.

Aa, hamheno. Mazuva ataiva tichagupisa ndaitaurisavozve ini. Ndofunga ndakamuvudza kuti kana ndichida kumbokiliya musoro ndinombopinda mudondo. Molly haukangamwi.

Asi waziva sei kuti ndauya nekudondo KUNO uku?

Ende futi URI KUDEI?

“Yha, ndizvozvo Mollyne Tadiwa. Ndizvo zvawanga uchichemera kuda kuvudziwa naSteve izvozvo. Kubva parakatangira kusvika parakaperera, raini rose hapana munhu unombotenda kuti Steve haasi mukomana wangu. Nezvanana zvose zvinodoziva kuti chii chandakaita naSteve tichifunga kuti tiri toga. Believe it or not, zvimwe zvacho ndakahwa zvichiimba zvichiti, Shami naNyemwe vanodanana zvakanyanya, nguva nenguva inongova shandukuminya gumbo muchoto chi.

“Kwose kuri kuronga kwaTafadzwa wako iyeye. Ndava kuhwisisa manje kuti kana uchizviti ndidoctor wekuronga unenge uchirevei. Unomboziva kuti pose paitaugwa zvose izvozvo ini naSteve taiva tisingambotaudzani? Kana kuvonana chaiko. Holiday yose handina kana kumbochinjana shoko hwani haro rinoshura naSteve. Asi taifanira kuva takanyengana. Kuronga kwerudzii ikoko? He? Kuti munhu unobatanidza zheve mbiri dzakaparadzaniswa negomo remusoro. Akapengaka? Ini ndaingogara ndiri mumba zororo rose, uyuvo Smiles waigara mudondo naLavhu. Raini raiti tinogara tose.

“Ndizvo zvawaida kuti Steve akuvudze izvozvo musi wamavonana. Unofunga kuti haafungi? Nekupindiridzana kwatinoita ikoko waizofunga kuti ndezvenhema here iwe? Izvozvi apa haikona wanga uchida kundipondera izvozvo? Kana iko kudhara kwacho haikona waidombofunga kuti pane zvaiitika seri kwekutamba kwataiita. Ko kana paizoita munhu waizvitsinhira manje? You think kuti Steve haana kufunga zvose izvozvo? Mollyne Tadiwaka, you are a pathetic little creature.

“Unoziva chii – nezvawaita Steve izvika izvi, ndiri kudemba kuti dei zvose zvataipomegwa kumusha kuya chiri chokwadi wena. Dei tisiri kutemesana misoro izvozvi. Nekuti Smiles unodavo kuzorora shamwari. Iwe ndiwe munhu wekupedzisira waaifunga kuti ungatadza kuhwisisa nyaya iyi. Pamwe ndiyo mhosva waisada kukuvudza ichiri mbishi. Waigoziva sei kuti Nyachide wake wakangofananavo nevamwe vanhu vose?”

“Maybe we really really should have done it. Haufungi kudero? Nekuti hapana chinhu chinogwadza sekunyepegwa zvakadero shamwari.

“Ndizvo zvawanga uchida kuziva izvozvo, Molly. Wafaraka?

“______”

“Wanyararaka. Kana kuti uri kufunga kuti ndiri kukunungiravo nhema futi? Hazvina basa. Zvagara zvadoipaka zvunhu zvacho, tichagozviita sei. Pity, Tafadzwa haupo kuti upembere.

“Unoziva kuti Steve ndakatozotaura naye musi weSaturday madekwani? Yha. Mwedzi wose tisingavonani. Zvaiva zvakangofanana nekuti ndaiva ndainda kuHarare. Ende unoziva kuti mashoko aakatanga kunditaurira musi wacho ndeekuti chii – kwahi, mainini kana tavhura zvikoro ndiri kurambiwa naMolly. Ndizvo zvaakataura izvozvo.”

“____ _____”

“Kana. I don’t expect you to say anything. Ndiwe uri kuda kuhwa zvose, saka basa rako nderekuteerera. Zvinoratidza kuti mukomana wako unokuziva kudarika kuzviziva kwaunoita iweweka. Saizvozvo, wakangondiudza kuti gwangu guya naMolly zvaingova zvemugotsi mashuro chete. Usachema hako, hapana unokushora. Handifungi kuti ungazvihwisisa. Neither does Steve. Unofunga kuti ungahwisisa zvunhu zvinotemesa musoro raini rose kuti ndiwe wadii hako? Hazvina zvazvinorevaka kuti uri musikana wake?”

“_____ _____ _____”

“Oooo! Uri kufunga kuti ndizvo here zvakatiziwa naClass Monitor? Zvine musoro handiti – munhu unosiya wabonderedza vanhu misoro worova zvako pasi. Tsuro magen’a. Asi handizvo mhai; zvekuti tivonekwe semahure muraini muya ndizvo zvaichemegwa naTafadzwa, zvekuti dei usina kuhofosewa nemacircumstances waigara kuti uyemure maresults edikita rake.

“Asi wakazongochinya chete kupinda nemwenje mudziva palast minute.”

“_____ _____ _____ _____”

Ok Molly. Bata hana. Wasvika pana Steve pawanga uchida. Zvaunoda unozviziva. Ingoita zviripo chete. Chauya chinenge chauya.

Ndafema. Ndaramba ndichifamba zvishoma ndichipwedera paari, ndichisekerera zvishoma. Haisi tarisiro yangu yekuti tiite sekuti hapana zvaitika makuseni. Asi kana izvozvo zvikaitika… ndizvozvovo.

Steve waramba unyerere wakanditarira.

Please God.

“Hi,” ndadero. Hakuna kumwe kwandinorangarira ndichishandisa hwi nyoronyoro sairoro.

Wangotenda zvisinganyatsi kuvonekwa. Hausi kubwaira – maihwe, mukomana washamiswa sei uchindivona!

“Uri right?” Manje chii chaita kuti ndivhunze zvakatsva kudero?

Iye wangotenda hake unyerere.

At least uri kudavira. Ndanyemwerera futi. “Nguva dzakadai unosindimhorosa uchiti, hesi mai m’fana.”

Maziso ake. Maziso ake zvakare mwana uyu. Ndiwo andisunungura. Handizivi chiri kuitika hangu, asi pandatarira maziso acho ndahwa kakugadzikana. Haasisina kusviba sezvaanga akaita makuseni. Kuchena kwawo kwegemenzi raMadzibaba Tiihobvu kuya kwadzoka.

Munhu uya andanga ndichitaura naye makuseni ndiani? Nekuti uyu akamira mberi kwangu ndiye Mollyne Tadiwa chaiye uyu.

“Yha.”

“Yha?”

“Yha.”

Yha! Ndini here ndiri kudero kana kuti ndiani? Ishoko rinotaugwa nemurume mukuru here iroro?

Ndakanda mavoko mudenga – kusvotewa kuti ndashaiwa zvekutaura – ndikamufuratira ndowira muzhira zvakare. Hana yangu yatanga kurova zvakare.

Molly, plizi. Ndiregevo ndakadero nenhamo yangu wena.

Ndafamba kwechinhabwe chikuru chaizvo zvekuti ndapotsa ndakangamwa kuti handisi kufamba ndoga. Iye ndiye wadohondimutsa futi kuhopemupengo dzandanga ndichirota.

“Steve – what is that supposed to mean?”

What is what supposed to mean?

Ndavhunduka. Inga mukomana wava kudopenga ndakatarira nhai. “Saka uri kuda kundiudza kuti hausi kuziva zvawabva mukutaura izvozvi? Kana kuti haudi kuzvidzokorodza?”

“Ndati kudii?”

Ndashama ini. “It’s ok, Steve. Hazvina basa.”

Kasi ndasasa rhabha kanhi? Ha ha. Makorewa aya anofanira kubuda nekune rimwe side redigestive system risiri muromo. Zvinofanira kundityisa kuti ndava kuda kupenga. Kana ndikaramba ndichimuvhunza kuti ndataura kuti chii unondiudza – hazvina basa kuti wandiramba.

Asi handina kana basa nazvo zvangu. Hamheno hake iye unongotevera vanhu vaabva mukuramba. Ndiko kuti avone maresults emabasa ake. Most probably wazvivona kuti ndambochema futi; ndamuvona uchishunya kumeso paambotarira maziso angu.

“Mollyne,” ndadero papera dzimwe five minutes takanyararidzana sevanhu vakarasha fungwa. Asi chero benzi chairo rinongozvivona kuti pane chakakomba chiri kuda kuputika pano.

Hamheno havo vamwe. Isu zvekuputikigwa mumakumbo tadochembera nazvo vana Smiles. Tava kungozvichenamira kusvika zvadarika.

“Ndiri kuinda kumba,” ndiri kutaura ndiri serious. “Kwababa namai Chikara.”

“Ndiri kuzviziva.”

“Ok. Uri kuda kuti ndikuudze kuti zhira yekumba kwedu ndinoiziva?”

Wacherechedza mwezha watiri kufamba nawo; wakakombewa nemipani nemivunga nemaware mavhu nemarara. “Ndinozviziva Steve.”

Hwi racho rakatonhorera. Molly wakadzikama; wakanyanya kudzikama. Semunhu watumwa nemessage yerufu. Ava kuda kutanga kundirovesa nehana.

“Horaiti. Asi iwe handizivi kuti uri kuinda kupi?”

“Steve,” wasekerera. Hwi rake harikwiri, haridziki. “Ndiri kukuperekedza. Haikona ndizvo zvandinogara ndichiita?”

“Yha. Sembavha iri kubuda mumusha.”

Wabata ruvoko gwangu gwerudyi neake ose. Ha, ndabva ndaita kuti nzii kani, sen’ombe yapuruzigwa panotangira mwise ichinyengeregwa nemuridzo.

“Steve. Ndiri musikana wako. Ende iwe uri mukomana wangu. Handifaniri kukuperekedza here?”

Ndanga ndichida kuseka. Asi ndahwa miromo yangu ichitsemukira, zvekuti ndikada kuimanikidza ndingadoita munhu wekutanga pano pasi unoita malips ane man’a.

Ndanga ndichizvizivaka kuti pane chakanangwa. Munhu haungangoti homu kubva kumba kwenyu kune rugare kuti uzongondiperekedza chetezve.

“Mollyne T…”

“Molly.”

“Ok. Molly,” ndasumudzira, shungu dzangu dzava kudokwira maladder. “You don’t have to rub it in. Wazvihwaka? Kana ndichiri kurangarira mushe, wapedzisira kuita musikana wangu kumahalf eleven mangwanani pawandiudza kuti hauchandidi paya. Wadozvikangamwa namanje? Wandisiya pamupani paya ndichi…” Ndambonyarara ndichichihwa mavoko emusikana achindidzvanya zvishoma nezvishoma. Ndokubva ndadhonza ruvoko gwangu zvisina hasha ndichigusunungura.

“Wandisiya paya. Haisi mhosva yako. Ndaifunga kuti zvikonzero zvangu zvine musoro. Asi chokwadi chaicho ndechekuti ndaiva ndisingafaniri kukunyepera. Ndini ndakaigochera pautsi. Mhosva ndeyangu, ende – wati kudii paya zviya – ndichadzidza kutaura chokwadi mune ramangwana. Haha. Nezvawandiita izvi handifungi kuti ndingamboita imwe mistake iri stupid saiyoyi. Ndadzidzavo zvandadzidza.

“Asi izvi zvawava kuita zvekuuya kuhondiseka kuti wandiramba izvika izvi… handisi kuzvida wena. Handizvidi hangu. Kundiramba kwawaita kwandigwadza zvakakwana shamwari. Zvekundisvotesa zvawava kuita hamheno zvawava kutsvakavo hako.”

Ndakurumidza kubumira. Hasha dziri kuungana mumusoro mangu dzikadzatukaka, chero lava inobuda pavolcano inosara pasi. Ende ndiri kuzvivona kuti dzasara paduku duku kuti dziputike. Dzakangomirira kuti munhu arashe muromo mbichana chete…

Ndavona kuti mve mberi kwangu, ndikahwa kuti dzvi, gumwe  ruvoko guchibapwa. Kubapwa kwacho kuita kunge mbavha yasungwa  naNdhini Ndhamubata.

Molly uri padhuze dhuze neni. Padhuze kupfuura zvataiva takaita musi wandatanga kumuvudza kuti ndaimuda. Uri pedo zvekuti munhu unodovona vhudzi rake richikura. Kuhwa hana yake ichirova, ichisumudza chifuva chake zvine slow motion.

Uchidemba fuma iri mberi kwako; pfuma yawaiva wapuhwa nevadzimu ukarashira muna Cherupasa hako munhu. Miromo yawakangosveta kuhope chete. Mikaka yausisafi wakambokama zvachose. Purazi rawaiva wanzi rima mufana, iwe ukarimamira hako.

Rudo zienda nakuenda gwekuti dai wainzi nyora nezvagwoka, waidoda gungwa reink, denga repepa nenyeredzi dzemashoko. Unozviramba kuti warambiwa iwe.

Asi ichokwadi wani.

Molly wakanditarira. Zviri kundishamisa kuti unodoitavo semunhu wagwadziwa nezvandataura. Ha ha. Dherira wemunhu.

Waisa chigumwe chake pamuromo wangu.

“Steve. Ndamboti handichakudi here nhai vakomana?”

Ndiri kukonewa kubvisa nyemwerero iri kumera kumeso kwangu. “Saka apa uri kuita sei – uri kundipomera mhosva yekunyepa futi?”

Watsikitsira. Wapotsa paduku wandivhunza kuti sei ndichingotaura zvisina basa nenguva dzinoda maserious. Kana kundiudza kuti haufi wakaita mukomana unopenga seni.

“Steve; unozviziva kuti handina kumbodero.”

“Inivo handivoni kusiyana kwazvo ini. Wasiya wandiudza kuti nditsvake umwe musikana. Zvinorevei izvozvo?”

Hauna kumbovhunduka. In fact maziso ake adonyanya kuchena pandataura kudero, kuita sekuti ndizvo chaizvo zvaanga akamirira.

“Dziya ndidzo dzinonzi nhema dzandataura paya Steve.” Unotaura semunhu wazvivonera pamhino sebute, uya unoti kana uchiyambira vanhu hauna basa nekuti vanotenda here kana kuti havatendi yambiro yake.

Nekuti chokwadi chiri simple.

“Ngamanga sibili. Little white lies.”

“Ko kana ini ndanga ndafunga kuti ichokwadi? Ko kana ndatsvaka musikana wacho wawati nditsvake nhaiwe?”

“Kana! Chii ichi! Waka… this can’t be!”

“Ohoo? Can’t nhai? Iwe ndiwe can’t yacho iwewe. Ndiri kuda kuti uvone futi.”

“Kana Shamiso. I really don’t wanna. Handidi chokwadi.”

“Uri kuzotarisa futi. Ndiri kuda kuti uvone kusvika waguta. Nekuti ndiyo nyaya chaiyo warambira Steve iyoyo. Tarisa. Look at my pubis, Molly. Pakatanga kusviba manje manje wena. Kutoita kasango wena. Saka handitombodi kupagera zvachose. Kungovona vhudzi racho ndinohwa kuti ndava mhandara chaiyo yadokura. Handichanyari kubvisa hembe pane vamwe vasikana.

“Chifunga iwe kuti ndakahwa sei pandakawanikidzwa naTafadzwa ndiri ndoga mudondo, akasara nechidimbu chaicho chesekondi kuti kuti undibvutire humhandara ihwohwo.”

“Oooooo. Kana.”

“Yha. Ndiye wakadzura dzura apa. Pacho pandinodada napo ndichiti ndini Shamiso Tariso ipapo. Unofunga kuti maronda aripo ndeereaction kuperfume kana hair remover? Funga zvakare shamwari.

“Akanyatsobvisa siketi yangu zvakanaka naka. Hapana zvandaiva ndichakwanisa kuita kuti ndizvidziviridze nekuti ndaiva ndaibva nekurobwa. Ndaiva ndangoti rabu pasi sendakafa. How is that for romance? He! Class Monitor wako akabata bhurugwa rangu – and everything chaiva mukati imomo – ndokubva adhonza. Akadhonza. Akadho…”

“Ndazvihwa, Shamiso, plizi! Usandiudza hako.”

“Zviri kukutyisaka! Ko ini ndakapinda mazviri! Two hours dzandakapedza naTafadzwa. Asi dzakandirebera kupfuura makore angu ose neako akabatanidzwa. Kana zviri izvo zvinoita gehena Mollyka, idotanga kunamata izvozvi.

“One second Molly. I came within one second of being robbed of my virginity. Steve ndiye wakandinunura; otherwise dei makadondichema mukandicherera mukandikangamwa izvozvi. Nekuti ndaiva ndadopika kuti kana Tafadzwa waikona kusiya wandiponda ndaizozvipedzisa ndoga.

“Steve wakandiwana ndava half dead, Molly. Ndaiva ndakangovata pasi paTafadzwa ndakashama. Ndisisahwi kuti chii chaiitika panyika. Manje ipapo paaiva woda ku… ku…”

“Sori Shamiso. Sori mainini.”

“_____ _____.”

“Sori mainini. Chinyarara shamwari. Ndaandisingazivi chokwadi. Steve ndanga ndichidotamba hangu naye ini. Ndaandisingambozivi kuti ndiko kune nyaya yacho wena. Shit. Plizi, chinyarara shaa. Ukaramba uchichema unondigwadzisa wena. Sori hako.”

“Ipapo ndipo pakasvika Steve ipapo. Handizivi kuti wakabva nepi. Pafunge hako. Kuti dei waiva usina kukunyepera kuti ndaiva ndisiko, haikona dei makauya henyu muchirezvana murhodhi, mugopfuura nekumba futi muchimbonditsvaka. Ini ndichingovako kuCherupasa nebhinya.”

“Sori shamiso.”

“Chero neni ndaiva ndanyanyavo kuoma musoro. Pakatanga kubuda nyaya yacho Steve wakambondiyambira kuti shamwari ngwarira mwana wamukoma vangu uyu. Ini wanikei ndafuririka kudhara, zvitanda muzheve ndonye.

“Handizivi kuti sei Mwari usina kundiranga zvandaikodzera. Asi ndakadzidza kuti second yakareba sei Molly. One second. Ndiyo yaidiwa naTafadzwa iyoyo. One second. Ndiyo yaiva yasara kuti ndizviuraye.

“Asi tose takainyimwa second iyoyo. Tafadzwa waishaiswa. Inivo ndikaishaiswa. Ndiwo wakava musiyano weupenyu nekurarama iwoyo. Ende Steve wakabhadhara sekondi yacho neruvoko futi. Wakatsemugwa ruvoko nesanhu naTafadzwa. Waidei wakaguriwa musoro dei waiva usina kuvhika neruvoko.

“Asi iwe hauna kana kumbovona zvose izvozvo. Wanga uri bhizi kufunga nezvako zvekuti hauna kana kumbovona kuti mwana une bhandeji paruvoko.”

“Steve akakuvara ruvoko!”

“Now you notice. Ende futi haumbozivi kuti zvose izvozvo zvakaitwa naSteve waigwira iwe nguva yose iyoyo. Chero panguva yaakabvisa Tafadzwa pamusoro pangu, waigwira iwewe.”

“I… ahhh, I don’t know what to say.”

“Right. Ndizvo zvoga zvunhu zvine musoro zvawataura nhasi wose. Tafadzwa wakatsamwa chaizvo temu yapera patakadhingura madhiri ake paya. Saka waifunga kuti wotsiva sei mazuva ose awa. Haafi wakazvikangamwa.

“Saka kundirhepa kwaaida kuita kwaiva kubhadhara zvivi zvandaiva ndaita. Ndizvo zvawarambira mukomana wako izvozvo Molly.”

Steve wanditi meso wee, uchinanzva miromo yake. Ndazvihwa zvaataura zvekuti watsvaga umwe musikana. Ende ndofunga iye wazvivona ndichivhara kumeso – well, zvanga zviri pachena anyway – ndavhara kumeso kwacho nemavoko ose. Ndofunga ndiri kuda kuchema sezvaita Shamiso palunch.

Paahwa kuti miromo iya yanyongovera mukomana waputika kuseka.

“Tafanana manje,” wazodero. “Saka uri kuda kuti ndiite sei nhai Molly – ndokutora toinda kuzimuti kuya ndonokuvhunza kuti nhai mhamha mukandinyepera munoziva kuti ndinoita sei? Ndobva ndakuudza kuti utsvakevo umwe mukomana futi. Ndozvaunoda here?”

“Steve, ndiri serious.”

“Yha. Kana ukandiudza kuti uri kunyepa unenge uchitaura chokwadika.” Zvimwe zvunhu zvinotaugwa naSteve ndinoshaiwa kuti sei uchikwanisa kuramba wakasunga chiso chake.

“Steven Chikara.” Ndofunga ndashandisa voice rine masaisai, riri kugwagwadza nhamo iri mberi. Steve, uyo wanga wodofamba uchindisiya ndakamira pakati pezhira, wamira pandamudana. Maziso ake ari kuita sekuti wanga achimbochema. Handifungi kuti ndichambofa ndakavona Steve achichema kusvika ndafa.

Asika kuvona misodzi yake handiro dambudziko rangu nguva dzino.

"Moyo wangu uri kubaiwa shaa. Handizivi kuti chii changa chandipinda kuti nditaure zvandataura nguva dziya. Ichokwadi kuti ndanga ndakatsamwa; ndanga ndine shungu dzekuda kuziva zvakasara zvichiitika kwauri wena. Ende ndanga ndichida kuzvihwa kubva kwauri. Hazvindifadzi kuhwa something pamusoro pemunhu anondinoti ndinovimba naye kubva kuvatogwa wena. Saka ndanga ndakakutsamwira. Chaizvo. Zvandanga ndichida kukuudza ndezvekuti zvawakaita handina kuzvifarira chete. Manje zviri pachena kuti zhira yandasarudza kukuudza nayo was the worst way to do it.

“Asi ndanga ndisina kana idea yekuti wakazviitirei, Steve. Ndangoibvajuravo nepadumbu, saka ndatozozviziva when it was too late. Handidi hangu kuti ndifunge kuti ndakugwadzisa kusvika papi.”

Wanga akangonditarira anyerere nguva yose yandanga ndichitaura. Ndofunga kuti uri kungoti uri kurota chete.

“Zvaunodova serious.”

Ndaramba ndakanyarara. Handizivi kuti ndoti kudii. Kwahi namainini kushaiwa zvekutaura ndicho choga chunhu chine musoro chandaita nhasi.

“Shiti.”

That’s my boy. Wakabata chiuno nemavoko ose uchitsenga muromo wezasi.

“Saka ndanga ndauya kuzoti sori chete. Asi izvozvi ndiri kudovona kuti chero sori yacho haina kukwana. Asi handina chimwe chekukupa, Steve. I’m really sorry. Ndanga ndisingafaniri kutaura zvandataura paya. It was my mistake.”

“Mistake. Ndozvaunofunga kuti waita nhai? Mistake. Hauna kuita mistake, Molly. You’ve just fucked me with a knife. In the ass.”

“Yea. I just did.”

“Wandigura kunorira Molly.”

“Ndozvandaita Steve. Ndichagara ndichizvirangarira.”

Ndinenge ndavona inenge nyemwerero kumeso kwake. Pamwe ndiri wrong.

“Honaka; zvakaitika pazororo ratabva irika, chitsauko cheupenyu bwangu chandisingadi kuvhura kwenguva yakareba chaizvo. Kana ndikadofa ndisina kuchivhura ndingafa ndakafara chaizvo. Hadzisi ndangariro dzakanaka, Molly.

“But kuti ndicharamba ndichikuvanza hazvichabetserika. Wangondiramba zvakadero. So what else is there? Ini ndipo pandaidofunga kuti ndikakuudza ndipo pauchandiramba.”

Wasumudza musoro ukaedzesera kuseka. “Dei ndaiziva hangu.

“Anyway zvinoitika. Hazvichabetseri kuchemera yadeuka nekuti inenge yadeukaka. Pamwe Musikavanhu uchazvinyora somewhere kuti zvose zvandakakuitira ndaiitira…” Wafema semunhu wazvibata uchizvitengesa.

Asi ini ndanga ndadozvihwaka.

“Waizviitirei Steve?” Ndiudze kuti unondida shamwari. I miss it that much. I miss you that much.

“Aaa, sori, Molly. Bhureni dzacho dzakangovhengana vhengana saka… ndinombovhiringika mbijana. Nhasi ndiri kufamba pabhodha chaipo pekuti ndiite mupengo. Ha ha.

“Horaiti. Zvunhu zvandiri kutaura pano ndiri kuzozvitaura kamwechete. Hatisi kuzozvidhiskasa futi. Ndiri kuzvitaura kamwechete, ende kachava kamwe chete…”

“You don’t have to say anything, Steve. Ndinozviziva.”

Waseka. Wandiseka. “Hapana zvaunoziva wena.”

“Shamiso wandiudza zvose.”

“Iwe, mainini hapana zvavakakuudza paya. Akaidza kuita zvine musoro kuti akutaurire. Asi haanaka. Waifunga kuti akakuudza taizonetsana.”

“Hauzi kuteerera, Steve. Ndati wandiudza zvose nhasi. Pandakusiya makuseni paya.”

“Oo.” Haana kana kumboita sewanyadzisiwa nazvo sezvaaita makuseni. Kwaari ndofunga yangova chauya chauya ini. Hapana kana chichamushamisa.

“Saka wava kuziva manje.”

Ndatenda nemusoro, ndichigwisa chaizvo simba riri kundikakatira mumavoko ake.

“Zvose.” Ndanyarara. Handizivi kuti ndoinda mberi ndichiti kudii. Why did I even want to know? Why do I always want to know?

Ndakakamira ndichiinda mberi. “Wwwandiudza ppppamusoro pako naye. Wanga uri right, Steve. Handifungi kuti ndaihwisisa zvakadero.”

Paavona ndanyarara washama uchida kutaura, asi ndaisa chigumwe pamuromo wake.

“Ndavona maronda ake Steve. Hazvisi zvunhu zvekufamba uchiudza munhu wose izvozvo. Chero neni handitodi kutaura nezvazvo. Ndatadza kana kumutarira chaiko.”

Kwekanguva tambonyemwerana, nyemwerero yekusimbisana kuti ngatipfavire ngoma, zvunhu zvichaita bhoo. Zvinongoda nguva chete.

I hope I’m right.

Ndangogumira mukutarisira chete.

Nekuti nyemwerero yakaruka yadzimika pachiso chake, mukomana uchitarira kusaidhi zvekufura mhepo zviya. Wazodzora chiso chake zvishoma nezvishoma sebhuru riri kutya kupinda muzvibhakera.

“Uri kudei pano nhai Molly?”

What! Ndaramba ndakashama ndakamutarira. Zvisina yambiro wangoti tendeu ndokutanga kukaima wakananga kuziruware rine chinhabwe chinenge hundred metres kubva pano.

Uyu ndiye munhu unohi wadumbigwa nehasha.

Kasi pane chandataura chakashata? Ndiwo muvhunzo wandiri kungozvivhunza ndichitevera ndiri sure kwake. Iye haumbodaviri – hamheno; uri kuita sepane chauri kumanyira kuruware kuya. Mwari musaita kuti ukwire muMt Everest umo, nekuti ini handina hangu simba remountain climbing nhasi.

Chiiko ichocho chisingadi kundivona ndichifara naSteve nhai vedu?

Handina kuramba ndine hope yekuti mukomana uchasvikomira kana wasvika mujinga muruware; nekuti iye wadowedzera speed uchituza mukwidza wegranite. Hausi kumbocheuka kuti uvone kuti ndiri kutevera here. Handifungi kuti uri kundifunga nguva dzino idzi. Kana uchifunga nezvangu ndine chokwadi chekuti uri kufunga kuti haafi akada kundivona futi, kana kuti ndimutevere kwaari kuinda.

Ndasara ndakangoti kanha pashoka dzeruware ndichivona munhu uchishamisa chero makata chaiwo, nekutedza kwaari kuita paari, seunodhidha hake mumvura.

Ndafema. Mukaha uri pakati pedu uri kukura nekufamba kuti kuita masekonzi acho.

Hakuna zvakadero. Ndatora nhanho imwechete ndichiinda mberi. Mbiri. Nhatu.

Ndamuwana wakazendama pane zibwe riri pasi pechimwe chikwenzi chakapfumvutira. Mumvuri wacho uri kutonhorera semvura yemutsime rekuchikoro riya riri pasi pemuvonde.

Ini ndiri kuda mumvuri unotonhorera semvura yemutsime. Ndava kungofemera pamusoro sembwa yasiiwa neshuro. Mapapu angu ava kuda kuputika muchifuva maari. Ko iko kutsva hako – chandanga ndopfekeravo zvitema chikati pano. Laki, yakafara kumakumbo sketi yacho; nhasi yaibvaruka mai ichikwira makata. Ende kana yanga yada zvekundinetsa ndaiibvisa; inofunga kuti ndinoinyengerera?

Haana kumbovhinyuka pandasvika. Wakangoti zenda padombo riya seriva rateyewa muteyakwindi. Chero pandatsatsarika ndichizvikanda pabendekete rake hauna kumboita reaction yeupenyu. Panguva ino iyi chero ukakadiwa mhungu mbiri, Steve haambovhunduki.

Ndambonyararavo ndichikokorodza mweya wangu; ndakaisa musoro wangu pashoulder rake ndakatsinzina. Haana kumbozungunuka; hapana kana nhengo yemuviri wake iri kufamba, kuzhe kwemoyo pamwe. Mupenyu, handitika?

“Ndava right, Steve.” Ndini ndazodzinga runyararo gwanga guri pano. Ndangozvihwa ndotaura; hamheno kuti chandituma kutaura zvakadero chii. “Unogona kungondiudza kuti chii chandakanganisa kana uchida.”

Ndaturika mavoko angu pabendekete riya (ende rine nhamo) ndikaisa chirebvu pamusoro pemavoko aya. Wacheuka. Ndahwa misodzi ichivava mumaziso – Steve wanga akandimirira kuti ndizorore.

Mwari wangu imi.

“Ndizvo zvawavinga handiti?”

Kuvingei?

“Hauna kuuya pano nekuti wanga uchitamba neni makusenika?”

“Steve, plizi…”

“Hauna kuuya pano nekuti unondidaka? Ndoda kuti undiudze chokwadi. Chingangotisunungura tose.”

Handina kana idea yekuti uri kutaura nezvei.

“Wanditevera nekuti uri kundihwira vuromboka? Haumbondidi kana kamwe hako.”

I don’t believe this; ndiSteve here uri kutaura kana kuti ndiani?

“Watii!”

“Ndati ndiudze chokwadi. Kana anga asiri Shamiso azokuudza nyaya yacho wanga usisadi kuzondiona futika iwe? Zvako zvanga zvadoita.”

Waramba akavhura muromo, asi hapana chiri kubuda. Chero mweya unonhuhwa hawo. Uri kuzviziva kuti ndiri kutaura chokwadi.

Ndatsinzina. Ooo. Ndahwa kunzi dyu kudyudyungwa pamoyo nechokwadi cheukama bwangu naMolly. Saka ndizvozvoka. It’s really over between us. Chokwadi chinogwadza vakomana. Vanhu vangani pano pasi vakabaiwa nechokwadi vakasara moyo uchiri kupfura dzvuku riri fresh? Vangani vasina kupengeswa nechokwadi? Nekuti ini kana ndikasafa nhasika; ndiri kuzopenga chete.

Molly. This whole time ndichidozvinyengera ndichitiwo ndine musikana wangu kani. Kudozvirova chifuva. Nhai wedenga ndaiva ndamboiteiko zvamakandikanda murudo? Zvandanga ndava kutanga kuzvirapa wani – sei maita kuti anditevere kuno?

Saka pose paya pawaindichemera uchindishemwera zvaiva zvekundibata kumeso chete nhai? But why? Izvozvi wauya pano kuzoti sori nekuti Shamiso wakutumaka? Nekuti dei pasina Shamiso dei ini newe tisina kumbozivana kusvika pakuti waizondinungira nhema dzekuti unondida idzi. Chokwadi chaicho ndicho chawataura makuseni paya.

Ha ha ha. Ndinofanira kuva ndiri benzi rekupedzisira pano, unoziva. Dununu; wongavhovha regomana rine dzakabhonona. Kudosara ndichema wena makuseni. Yha. Ndachema. Zvandisati ndakamboita since I don’t even know when. Plus futi handisati kana ndakamborota ndichichemera musikana vupenyu bwangu bwose. Asi ndakuchema nhasi wena. Kuzhamba kusvika hembe yangu yati dhabhadhabha nemisodzi. Handifungi kuti kana ndikafoira vhunzo dziri kuuya ndingachema zvakadero.

Kukutaurira chokwadika, handifungi kuti ndichakwanisa kuchema futi kusvika ndafa. Misodzi yangu yose yapera ndichikuchema mangwanani.

Ko wakaregerei kundiudza kudhara ndakarega kutambisa nguva yangu neyako? Pamwe ndiri kufanira kukushaudha izvozvi Molly, sezvandakavona zvichiitwa umwe musikana waiva waramba mukomana wake. Kukutuka matumbhu zvandamboita makuseni. Pamwe ndinofanira kukubata huro uhwe kugwadziwa kwandahwa ini. Pamwe ndikaita izvozvo vamwe vasikana vangazvihwa nemakuhwa vagonditiza kana vandivona.

Kwete kuti ndichambovadazve vasikana vacho. Ndiwe munhu wekutanga nekupedzisira wandada iwe. Laki zvaitika kwandiri ndichiri mwana kudai – chii chaizoitika kana ndaizozviziva four, five years kubva nhasi?

Girls. Bitches. Whores. Mahwaga evanhu. Shiti. Pane chimwe chamunotogonavo kuita chine musoro chisiri chekusunga varume mbira dzakondo?

At least ndava kuhwisisa kuti sei vana Tafadzwa vachingofunga zvekugadha mabhebhi chete pasina zvekumborezvana zvemanhema nhema zvekuti tinodanana izvi.

Kana washaya zvekuita chikomana

Pwera uchivhima kwete kutamba nezvisikana

Chihwazve zijaya, ndati rega kutanda idzi mhandara

Dzinokusveta ropa uchi mucheche ukatandadza.

Ndanyarara – ndanga ndichimbotaura here zviya? Ndiri kuhwa sedovo risina mweya, makodo kana nyama. Ndikazungunuka pano ndofunga mhepo inondipupurusa ikanondisiya kuPacific Ocean. Handisati ndakambohwa kureruka zvakadero – kuita sekuti ndatura muviri waJaindhi wandanga ndakabatiswa.

Dzinenge mbanje chete idzi. Ndakambohwa Lodza chichiti ndizvo zvadzinokuita munhu kana dzakurova. Asi ini chero kala yembanje kana munhuhwi wayo chaiwo handiuzivi. Haikona musi uya wandabva kuchikoro naShingi ndakasvika kuti pamana gidhi ndisina kana kumbofungira kuti ndaifamba nemunhu wakamonzewa nemondo? Chamba chakapenga vakomana – mukoma vaitendeka mabwe vachindiudza kuti munun’una unoziva kuti ndinogona kungonunga magear lever nematyre lever andiri kuvona awa ndotanga chimoto murhodhi muno? Taura tihwe Shingi!

Zvaiitiwa naShingi musi uya ndizvo chaizvo zvandiri kuita nhasi. Molly uri kutaura. Kwete kutaura chete, asi uri kuchema futi. Pamwe hamheno zvandataura zvamuchemedza. Zvekuti kudii asi; haikona ndapedzisira kumuvhunza kuti kasi watumwa kuuya kuno naShamiso? Manje zvinochemedza here izvozvo?

Haa, zvinonetesa izvi. Misodzi yaMolly haiperi. Ndangomuregavo wakafunya chisero ipapo uchivhenganisa mashoko ake nemisodzi; ndichizviudza kuti ndinoda kuvona kuti unokunda umwe kuchema ndiani. Asi chokwadi ndechekuti I’m just too tired kuti ndimbonyaradza umwe munhu, plus ndinotya zvinozoitika mberi kwekunyaradzana ikoko. Haikona zvakamboitika here izvi rimwe gore?

Manje nhasi handizivi kuti chii chinoitika, but I think the temptation is too great…

Molly uri kutaura. Uri kumbopota uchimbonyarara kuti umbofema. Umbochema. Kana achichema anenge akanaka semunhu wepatv. Ndosaka ndisingadi kutarira maziso ake kana achierera. Sezvandamboreva, muidzo wacho iforbidden fruit chaiyo.

Kwahi Steve rega kudero shamwari. Unozviziva kuti ndinokuda kudarika vupenyu hwangu. Musi wandakatanga kukuvona chaiwo ndakazviziva muhana mangu kuti waiva wakasiyana nevamwe. Vakomanazve!

Yha. Ndapindura nechemumoyo. Ndinoita sebenzi. Ndiko kusiyana kwaari kurevaka ikoko. Nhai. Pane munhu kwaye chaiye chaiye ungafunga kuti musi wandatanga kuvonana naMolly ndaiva munhu kwaye chaiye chaiye?

Ndaramba ndakanyarara. Ndahwa kugwesha munhu uchipwedera kwandiri; ndoshaiwa kuti uri kuda kusvika papi, nekuti wanga agara akanamira pandiri nechekare. Pamwe uri kuda kundipinda.

Uchitaura kuti shamwari usataura nezvevamwe vasikana nekuti zvinondibaya moyo. Kana ndichiitira Shamiso godo unofunga kuti ndinozoita sei nevamwe vasikana? Usataura zvevamwe vakomana nekuti ini handigoni kuvada hangu. Ende handidi kuvada kwacho. Handina kumanikidzwa kukuda Steve; ndakakusarudza. Pakati pevakomana mavhu nemarara. Ndiwe woga wakapa chiedza kumoyo wangu. I cannot love any other person who is not you. Ndinogona kuinda kunoba manovel foo abhudhi B kuti uvone kuti ndinokuda sei…

Ini ndichisekerera. Ndichioma ndahwa kutungwa nenyanga yakapfava, kutanga padivi pebicep apa, then, mukatikati muhapwa umu. Ndagwinha gwinha. Molly ukainda kuhondo nemazamu ake chete ndofunga unouraya churu chemauto.

Uri kundiuraya izvozvi, zvishoma nezvishoma. Uchiri kutaurira muzheve yangu, asi wava kuinda uchinyangarika zvishoma nezvishoma semhute iri kusumuka mumusha ichisiya dzimba muchiedza.

Ndashevedzera kuti usandisiya. Pakarepo ndahwa kugogodza pahwindo, Shamiso uchinditi muka, wava kupenga here iwe. Ndatarira pandivete.

Panongova nepilo chete nhai. Hapana Molly.

Ndazviseka ndichitarira Shamiso nekasiyamwa, nekunyaririra ndokubva ndakunguruka pasvione man band svemubhedha wangu.

He! Chiiko ichi? Steve zvauri kutsumwaira ndakayeva nhaimi. Wangoramba wakanditi ndee, uchisekerera pandataura kuti ndiri kunomubira mabhuku kuna B; ndokubva ndavona hoyo munhu tsutsumwa tsutsumwa, maziso vharei, ndiye zenda pachifuva changu, ndokutanga kudzipfodora zvake dzeumambo. Haurambi uchichema pakadero iwe. Ndagegedzera ndoga pandavona kuti Steve wanga wakotsira zvomene, hausi kuita zvejee. Ndaradzika musoro wake pamakumbo angu, ndikatanga kuzvivaraidza hangu nekuimba ndichikama vhudzi rake zvaanosiita rangu.

Everything’s gonna be fine…

“But tinofanira kuzorodza mwana wevanhu shamwari.” Mainini vakapetera mavoko avo pahwindo. Zvatamuita zvakwana wena. She deserves a break.”

“Haikona wadovapo here pazororo pacho? Wandirambaka.” Ndiri kudavira zvangu sendinoita chidzidzo chekurambana kwevanhu kuchikoro.

“Smiley usaita zvekutamba mukomana iwe. Unofunga kuti ungarambiwa naMolly pauri ipapo? Simba racho achiriwanepi hake? Haikona mukaparadzana ndiye ungadofa.”

“Serious?” Kwandiri Molly unoratidza kuti wakasimba zvekuti chero ukahi warambiwa naMwari unosara uchirarama zvakanaka.

“Don’t be so daft. Unoziva kuti wapotsa wandiponda pandamuudza kuti takambodanana paholiday? Wadombondizuza makurugu wani.

Ndaseka. “Dei T-one wanga aripo waisofara hake.”

“Hazvisetsi mhani iwe,” mainini vadzungudza musoro. “Dei waifunga wadoinda kunomunyaradza izvozvi. She is not right. Taidei takamuudza chokwadi musi waadzoka uya.”

“At least wazongomuudza hako, waita basa.” Kana mutoro wacho wanga uri wangu hamheno kuti ndaitaura kuti chii hangu ini. Ko kana zvakadai zvoitika futi Shamiso usipo ndichaita bwumwe vutera bwekutiza chokwadi here?

“Yha,” wakwidza mafudzi. Zvinofadza sei kumuvona une ganda rake chairo rakafuma riya. It’s really good to have my Nigga Bitch back. Ndanyemwerera pandafunga kuti ndakapedzisira kudana zita iroro rini.

Ndabva ndangopindiwavo nefungwa yekuti ini naShamiso tiri kukura. Kubva mazuva aya iye uchiri nyhunyhu paVuravhi, paaitiza mazigomana ekufomu foo achiuya kuzogara nesu kuclass kwedu. Tichipwera kun’ombe tichichera zvikugwe. Tichitamba hwishu nechute nebakery kusvika takangamwa kuti taifanira kudya.

Tichiita speed tina Lavhu kubva kuchikoro tichida kuvona kuti tikamanya tinosvika kumba nguvai. Tichinakigwa nekunokera Big Boss door makuseni oga oga tichida kiyi dzepagedhe rechikoro. BB vachisunga kumeso vakapfeka zimorning gown rewhite nemabhande aro ewhite.

“Imi anami kundhau kwamunogara ngepiko kwamunorare munzira ikweyo?”

Three years later, Big Boss vachiri kuziva Shamiso; ndiye unenge uri headgirl wavo next year. Kwahi namainini BB vakambotivhunza rimwe zuva, kwahi ndikati kwasara hwani chete; unohi Smiles ende mazuvano wakura zvekuti wava kuverenga mabhuku evakuru, zve wava zvekuda kutema imba saka…ha ha ha.

“Big Boss vakangoti, “Never heard of him. You said he’s in 4A? I will check him out someday. Uchiri kufumire kuskuru zvemwaiita mazuva aye zvekupenga here?”

Headgirl. Ndadzungudza musoro. Pataiita setichaidzigwa tichitamba Chamuvandemuvande, Chitsvambe, ngano, Chitima kwee kwee (raimbonzi chiiko gemhu iroro), Mapere, Sarura Wako, sipoti sipoti, nerimwe so ratakazopedzisira tangotumidza kuti mukadzi wadoctor (ko taiva taspakwaka naLavhu rimwe zuva vadetemba wena – kwahi, “Aa, iyeni, mukadzi wadoctor; ndashaiwei. Chingwa mubhedha. Mabhanzi ipilo. Zvihwitsi mudodo…)!

Tichitamba… ha, zvose kani. Manje mazuva ano tava kuidzigwa tichiita maverb extensions, macumulative frequency curves, maregisters, pooling of risks, Nato and the Warsaw Pact… ha, zvose kani.

Tsika yatakakura nayo yatiri kukonewa kusiya ndeyekuteerera Top 30 paRadio 2 musi wa31 December woga woga.

Yha. Nguva dzinofamba. Manje mainini vakazvitsvakira muroora.

“Dei wavona kuvhunduka kwaaita pandamuudza kuti ndaida kurhepewa naTafadzwa,” Shamiso wasumudzira. Saka zvinoreva kuti vava vanhu vangani vanozviziva kuti mainini vaiva vobhinyiwa – ten? Fifteen?

Sekuru vaTafadzwa vakashaiwa pekupinda nekunyara pavakazvihwa. Tafadzwa wakaoma vakomana – shuwa munhu ungada kunyadzisa sekuru vako zvakadero!

Shuwa vakaitinha mbudzi pakati pevusiku murume mukuru pavakasvika kumba vakawana mukadzi nemuzukuru vanyangarika. Midhi ndiye wakatozovavudza nyaya yose. Chero doro ravaiva vakagungwa kubva kuimvi kusvika kuman’a rakati hwaa. Ndakahwa kugwadziwa vakomana pandakavona mudhara uchitifukurira mhazha yake wakati pasi furugwada. Ko vanhu vakahwa nekuvuchiranaka musi iwoyo –muchembere namai Lavhu vari seri kwechoto, avavo mudhara vari kuchigaravakwati.

Kwahi musadero Murambwi; kuita kwevana. Kuita kwemwana wepi kwakanh’ora kudero? Hapana hapo wakavhunza, asi muvhunzo wacho waiengerera mudenga uchida kuwira pamuromo wemunhu wose waiva mumba imomo.

Dei zvisiri zvekuti vana muchembere vakanyara mudhara, bhinya racho dei rakasungwa kare. Unofunga kuti hatizvizivi kuti wakatizira kuChipinge kuna baba vake here? Kupusa zvakunoita futi – kana mbuya vacho vakadzoka vanoti vaiva vaindepi?

Mbudzi yacho takaibaya musi weMonday naFatso naJoe. Hapana waida kuzoitarira wofunga zvisizvo.

“Munotombobatanavo here nhai Steve?”

Ndaseka. Tava kudzokera kwedu komene mene. “Well, aa, handidi kutaura zvakawanda. Asi nguva dzakawandisa unodzipedza wakavata apa.”

Ndichitenderedza paanovata pacho.

Wadhonza miromo yake. “Ko iwe unombopavatavo here ipapo?”

“Ani! Inini!” Ndavhunza semwana uri innocent usingazivi kuti pamakumbo aMolly panovatika.

“Yha. Iwewe.”

“Aa, mainini. Munoziva kuti mumusoro wangu makazarei mazuva ano?”

“History, Geo, Maths, English… ndizvo zvinongogara zvakazara mumusoro mako izvozvo.”

“Ehe. Inga munoziva wani. Chindiudza iwewe kuti munosara munei mumusoro macho kana ndikambouvatisa pamakumbo emunhu ndichiziva kuti pane two centimetres pakati pawo ne… ne…”

“Nei?”

“Haa, iwe pfutseke. Unoziva zvandiri kuda kutaura.”

“Ok. I get your point.” Uri kuda kundisvotesa. “Saka uri kutambisirei hako purazi rose riya kana uchitya kuririma zvakadero? Kasi hauna mainputs?”

“Kutya! Unopenga here iwe. Saka unofunga kuti munhu unonamata pandinofamba nekuti ndinomutya here?”

“Hamhenoka. Correct me if I’m wrong.”

Ndatsinzina,ndichifunga kuti zvinofadza sei kushaiwa zvekutaura nguva dzino. Kana ndina mai handina chekuvanza.

“Aa, hamheno. Unodii kumuvhunzavo iwe?”

“Thought as much myself.”

Nhaika mai vangu? Ndosaka muripozve? Saka chitiudzaika – ko imivo?

“Inivo kuita sei?”

“Munombobatanavo here?”

“Ani! Ini! Nani?”

“Hamheno. Ndiudzeka.”

“Uri mwana werudziiko iwe unovhunza mai zvikomba?”

“Inga ivo mai vacho vanovhunza mwana varoora wani.”

“Nekuti ndivo vakaita naini manzizve. Besides; iwe ndiwe unofanira kuita mukomana wangu. Ndakakupihwa neraini; asi unodoita hako zvechijoki.”

Ndaseka hangu. “Problem iripo ndeyekuti ndinonyanya kukuda mhani. Godo randinokuitira ndingadokuuraya wena kana ukangoita kakomana. Plus futi handisati ndoda kuti uite zvevakomana.”

Wavuchira. “Wise words, kubva kuna Mr. Kuzvibata. Vane hunhu hunoyemurwa nenyika yose. Vasina kumbofa vakaita musikana vari pachikoro.”

“Hoo. Ita hako. Asi ndiri kudokuudza so. Ukangoita kakomana chete – chero ini – ndinoudza Mai Lavhu vagokuponda ponda, mwana wemusoja iwe. Kana kuti ndinoudza Rumbi agokushashika pamoto. Kana kuti zviri bhoo ndezvekuti ndokuuraya inini. Yha.”

“Kasi une shanje?”

“Taura zvaunoda, asi ndadoti homu so. Kana nguva yakwana ndichakuudza.”

“And I suppose unobva wanditsvakira mukomana wacho?”

Ndamuchonya. “Unoziva kuti unoda munhu akaita sani? Unoda munhu anenge…”

“Iwewe.”

“Nooo. Haikona inini. Unoda munhu anenge Joe.”

Nguva yose pandinofunga kana kuvona Joe hamheno kuti sei ndichipindiwa nefungwa yekuti wakanyanya kufanana naGavi stereki. Hamheno, pamwe ndinofarira Joe nekuti wakafanana naGavi. Kana kuti ndinofarira Gavi nekuti wakafanana naJoe.

“Benzi riya. Rinofunga kuti ndiro baba vangu.”

“Ndiye munhu unokuda manje uya. Unoda kukuprotecta.”

“Asingadozivi kuti ndini ndinodomuprotecta.”

“Don’t be so sure wena. That guy would marry you if he had to.”

“Yha. Ko iwe?”

Ndamuka ndikainda kuhwindo kwaari. “Takabva kure wena. Kana mavanga ekuti takabva kure tinawo. Mamwe achembera. Mamwe achiri fresh. Kubva musi watatanga kuinda newe kufomu hwani kusvika nhasi – mugwagwa wakareba wena. Iwe neni tichachengeta musikana wedu zvakanaka.”

Shamiso wasekerera. Ndofunga ndine laki kuti haasi musikana wangu – ndaioma nesmairi yake hwani chete.

“Sei uchingoziva zvekutaura nguva dzose nhai shamwari?”

“Handizivi Shamiso. It’s how I feel. Chokwadi.”

Waramba wakanditi ndee. Ndati. “Zvanga zvakaoma wena mazuva mashoma apera awa. Very bad. Asi takabuda mazviri takasimba wani. Nekufamba kwenguva tichazvikangamwa.”

“Oh Steve; chiiko chandinoita kana usipo wena?” Wadzungudza musoro. “Sei uriwe woga unongondihwisisa mazuva ose? Sei kandiro kasingaindi kunobva kamwe?”

Wapinda mumba nepamadziro ipapo. Pamwe ndinofanira kushamiswa, asi handina.

“Hai, hai, hai. Mainini, regai kudero. Zvekuchema hazvisi zvenyu izvi. Ndakakuvona uchichema kahwani, ende kakakwana kahwani ikako. Munhu wakakuchemedza tichamubata, ok? Now,” ndamukwatura kwatura pamatama nezvimbama, ndokubva tamwekurirana. “Ngatichirega zvekutamba izvi tivone zvekuita nhasi. Right?”

“Right,” Shamiso wadavira, ndokutanga kuimba. Kana kuti ndini ndiri kuhwa maungira mumusoro mangu, asi ndiri kuhwa kuimba zveshuwa.

Voice racho kuita kunge raMolly.

Mumaziso ako mwana

Ndaona chigaro chaMwari

Chiregondityora ndiri mbabvu nyana

Zvandakakuda pasina mari

Ooo, baba Zvichauya…

Pazvinokudzimba chiregondivanza

Ooo, baba vaZvii…

Zviedzo zvenyika zvinopunza…

Hapana Shamiso. Hapana mubhedha, hapana hwindo, hapana imba futi; hapana… heyi, ndinombova kupiko ini? Zvandinoita sendivete pamabwe wani? Pamusoro pegomo futi, nekuti ndiri kuvona nyika yaMwari yakaita dhandanda pasi apo.

Chii chiri kumboitika kwandiri inini? Asi ndambokotsira? Ndiri kuitei mugomo?

As…asi… ndati mwiro ndakateerera. Ndahwa mabvumira. Kwete muzheveka, asi kuita kumahwira mumoyo chaimo. Kuita kufila mabvumira. Kuita sekuti hana yangu iri kurova ichibvumira hwi riri kutinhira zvinyoro nyoro muchifuva changu. Kahwi kacho kakateteneka, kari steady, kanonyungudisa chero magedhe epaBuckingham Palace paMambokadzi Eliza.

Handisati ndambohwa hwi rakaurungana zvakadero chizvarigwo changu. Kana kambo kacho futi. Hamheno pamwe…

Oo. Oooo. There is a pillow. Kwete pilo hayozve, asi paasvunura maziso angu ashongana nemakumbo. Shoka dzine guruva, nemapush. Mvere dzichikwira nemupimbira dzichiuya kwandiri kuno uku…

Hoo, mira mbijana. Sei dziri kunditevera kwandiri kuno uku? Ko zvidzva zvemipimbira yacho zviri kupi? Kuti handisi kuzvivona nekuti… oooo. Shiti. Ndipo pandakavata pazvidzva zvacho. Shiti.

Ende hapana muvhunzo wekuti makumbo acho ndeani.

Ha. Haha. Kutambaka uku, handiti? Ndiri kurota.

Ndabva ndafunga zvandarota ndichitaura namainini, ndikatanga kuzviseka ndoga.

Molly uchiri kuimba. Mwana une hwi rake mukaka chaiwo. Unoita kunge Dembo. Munhu unogona kungofa wakateerera hwi racho ukasazviziva kuti wafaka. Ndofunga paakazvagwa haana kuchema sezvatakaita tose tose. Wakaimba. Ko ini ndakachemavo here pandakazvagwa, kana kuti ndakadanidzira kuti DhiMbare woye?

Ndapinduka zvishoma nezvishoma kusvika ndavata nemanhede, ndakatandavara makumbo. Hamheno kuti ndizvo zvazvinoitwa here. Ndapeta gumbo hwani. Ndokubva ndaritasanura. Ndikapeta rimwe futi. Shiti. Hazvisi kushanda. Ko ndiri kudii kungofarira hangu nguva iri pano pane kuipedza ndichitsvaka shaini? Zvekunyepedzera hazvisi zvedu izvi.

Mwana uyu ndofunga une shavi rekuimba chete. Uri kuimba wakatsinzina. Ndasumudza ruvoko ndikatanga kugukwidza zvinyoro nyoro nechiso chake, kubva pachirebvu ndichikwira. Mwana wabva anyarara, akaputira ruvoko gwake negwangu.

Wasvunura papera kanguva. “Masikati.”

Ndanyemwerera. Ndofunga ndagona, nekuti mhinduro yacho yandapuhwa yakakunda smile yaShamiso yakateyewa nemazuva maviri.

Ndati, “Nguva dzakadai unowanza kundimhorosa uchiti ndeipi baba mfana.”

Waramba wakanyarara wakanditarira. Wanga achifunga kuti ndakangamwa.

Ndamuka pandanga ndakavata, ndikapatarira. Ndabata gotsi rangu kuita sendoomema kuti hapana njere yapoya here. But I feel fine. Ndiri bhoo. Handisati ndambohwa bhoo sezvandiri kuhwa nguva dzino.

Ndatarira Molly. Wanga achichema. Kekutanga muvupenyu bwangu naye, I feel very stupid. Kuita Tafadzwa chaiye – ko ndanga ndambopindiwa nei kuti ndimbomudhauta zvakadero?

Ndashama muromo; zvandiri kuda kutaura ndanga ndichifanigwa kudai ndakazvitaura kudhara dei ndanga ndisiri benzi. Chero iye unozviziva futi, asi ndiye uri kda kunditangira kutaura. Ndavhara muromo wake.

“Unokwanisa here kuregerera musoro wangu kuoma kwawakaita?”

Mahwani

Ha. Mahwani.

Ndatenda ini. Vakomanaka, hapana chunhu chakaoma pano pasi sekumirira maresults. Kunyanya maresults eHIV. Kana e‘O’ Level. Vakomana. Chero mimba ine matriplets haimbogwadzi zvakadero. Zviya zvekutamba zvinoitwa nemadzimai, zvekuti hee, mimba kugwadza, hee nhumbu kuita sei – tsk, zvekutungana kwembudzi zviya. Vanofanira kumbonyora zama repafomu foo kuti vavone kuti chunhu chinogwadza chinoita sei.

But pane kamwe kamunozi kakazondipedza hangu ndina Gavi musi watakahohwa paradio tiri kwaChivi kuti marhizo edu aiva abuda. Iko kupenga kweduvo futi – isu taiva tainda kwamudzviti kuzvitupa; chataiva tosvaka kuchipatara ndoochandisingazivi namanje.

Kana takura tichaita mabasa ekupenga chete isu.

Zvisinei, tisu takazviwana iri pachipatara paya tichiyemura kunaka kwacho; ini ndichifunga dei ranga riri giraundhi rebhora raizopinda vanhu vangani – ndipo patakahwa nechepamaternity ward paya chibhebhi chichiyuwira wena.

“Ouch! Oh,my God! Oh, this brat! Oh, Jesus!”

Chichingoshanyarika shanyarika zvisina magumo. Asi manesi aiva pedo naye kana kumbitirimuka wena.

“Achiri bhoo uyu,” chakadero chimwe chimukoti chichizhinya. NaMwari hachifi chakaita nyamukuta wemukadzi wangu. “Kana yogwadza zvomene mene uchataura hake.”

Ha. Chokwadi pasina nguva takahwa zimhere wena. “Yowee kani! Amai ndofawo! Maihwee! Nhaaandi mhaihweeee!”

Ha! Ha! Ha! Takaseka hedu isu. Nhumbu yakapenga wena.

Asi kugwadza ingagwadza hayo. Kumirira zvakabuda pavhunzo dzatakanyora yaiva mbona mbona. Pauchafunga vakomana kuti ndichauya ndakabura chii hangu ini. Dziri seMaths ndaisambozvinetsa hangu nekufunga nezvadzo. Nekuti patainyora Paper II yacho ndakaita zvekukanda bhiro pasi zvine mutsindo, ndatsamwa kuti ndaiva ndaomegwa nevhunzo. Vanhu kudoseka wani vachifunga kuti ndaiita zvemafani. Veduwe ini ndaiva ndagozhegwa ini; ndikadovona kuti zvaiva nani kukanda mapfumo pasi nguva ichipo, pane kuti nditambise ingi yangu nenguva yemumaki ndichimumakisa marara.

Chirungu choga ndicho chaindizvonga matumbhu. Situational composition handina kumbogara ndaibata zvangu. Kana. Kuti ndiwane ruC chaigwo gusina basa kuchirungu, ndinofanira kuva ndakauraya Paper II yacho ne100 percent. Ndiwo mahwanika iwawo. Munhu unowana kupi matsvunha zana kuChirungu ?

Pandakaudza Mlalazi kuti ndakatadza kupedza Chirungu wakapindiwa nechando kani. Ndakakatyamara; ndaiva ndisingambofungiri kuti murume waitembhavo zvinjere zvangu zvakadero. Kuita sekuti ndini ndoga ndaiita Chirungu pachikoro paya.

Kurima nekurisa ndizvo zvunhu zvakadondinunura kuti ndisaita zvimwe nestress. NaMolly. Muchembere waiva asiko payakaturuka yaZame, saka ndini ndaidorima naMartha naTawanda. Aizve, haikona svakambotanga svichida kuita zvemusarinya sviMartha svacho; kwahi, aaaaa, ini zvekuinda kumunda ini, aaaaaa! Handizvigoni ini. Futi kana mai vasipo handimboindi kumunda kwacho wani.

Ndakasvivhurumusa! Ndikati shamwari mai vako havapo pano. Paneni, and as long ndirini ndiripo munhu wose uri kuzoinda kunorima. Inda unoreva kwaunoda. Svakazombopati bufu here ? Haikona kwakapedzisira konakidza kurima kwacho, zvino mwanasikana wongogara uchindinetsa kuti hande kumunda nemasikati ose.

Manje ini zvekuinda kumunda rorereka ndizvo zvandakadamwa ndikarambazve. Kubva zvandakura ndikaziva kuti muchembere unombopota uchibvuma kupikiswa. Tinenge tichida zvedu kuinda kuseri nen’ombe dzedu naLavhu, kunotaimira zvibhebhi zvinenge zvodzoka kubva kuVuravhi manheru. Haha. Ndakazozviseka zvangu musi uno uyu ndatiza chimoko chaiva chasara apa kuti chindiudze kuti chaindihwira shuga. Kana kumbovona hacho kuti ndaizvitambira hangu ndichida kuvona kuti zvichimo here. Mangwana acho ndakabva ndatizira kuchikoro kuna Molly. Chaipenga stereki chibhebhi ichocho – ungabvuma kunyengwa nemunhu wawabva kusangana naye just two days ago!

Plus futi, kwaiva kuda zvedu kurisa n’ombe kwandaiita naLavhu wezheve, asi mvura yakambotizhaka vakomana. Yakatizvagadza. Kutishakadza. Yakatimondokera, ikatimomotera nekutimokotera kusvika tochururuka kuti mokoto mokoto semakosvo akasvika. Ha, yakana mhani; mvura yaishura iyoyo. Yakatitsvokotsvera ikatitsvotsvomera ikatiodzvokera zvekuti chero nanhasi ndichiri kukahadzika kuti sei tisina kumera. Chimvura chaiva chakaipa ichocho. Ai yhai yhai. Chaibva nechepachikomo chemhazha apa everyday kuma11 kubva musi weNew Year. Haikona taiva totovhura n’ombe dzacho kuma6 kuti dzione kununga nunga dzisati dzavhiringwa naMazorodze.

China chapera, musi wa28 January, ndipo pakambodzimuka hasha dzedenga. Nevakomana takabva tatoronga kuti tiinde kwamudzviti kunokura zviri pamutemo. Ende masanga emusi wacho imi; ungati vanhu vose vandaiva ndadzidza navo vaiva varangana kuti vaizoshongana kuzvitupa musi wakarewo. Taiva takawanda kani; kwaiti inini, Lavhu, Gavi, Freddy, Rosie, Sarah, Charity. Nani futi?

Cecilia wekwaTagwirei. Iwe; pakaitwa zvinorova.

Tiri pakati pekuita zvinorova ipapo takabva tahwa paradio kuti chatakadya chaiva chamuka kuCambridge kuya. Ndiyo mhosva ndazosvikavo pachikoro nhasizve. Vamwe vafumira makuseni, manje ini ndanga ndambofumira pamunda apa. Pandazoti ndichibatanavo nemadhishi, vamwe vanga vava muzhira kudzoka – runofara, runoseka nhamo serugare, runochema nehasha kana nemufaro, kana rusina basa nazvo. Ende vanhu vavonerera zvisivonekwi nhasi. Kwahi Cecilia chaita kujambhira pana Gavi pachangovona chete kuti chakaita kutsvunha kunge Nike. Chakadzoka nawo ose. Chakaita B kuMaths.   

Welly ndidzo dzaspaka vanhu manje – kwahi dzangotarira chipepa chiya dzikavona kuti dzakapwora makapu neekuporedzera pachiresult slip chiya; dzikaseka wena. Vanhu vazongopatika munhu woti hutu pagedhe, tande kumagirosa. Svikei kuya, mubhazi reHarare, ngori, warova pasi mwana.

Zvose ndanga ndichizviudzwa nahedhibhoyi pandashongana navo vakaisa chipepa chavo paditi ndichibva kudanga kunokama. Vanga vachipembera kani, kunge mhuru ine mwise wespeya. Ndofunga chero vanga vashongana naMatavire vaimuratidza chete. Ini ndanga ndava nemakore akawanda ndisati ndavona chiresult slip cheO Level. Ndadotanga nechahedhibhoyi nhasi. Heyi, dzakapasa wena. Ndokunge usina kutarisa E iri kuHistory neU yekuMaths. Ndaseka nechemumoyo – wakamama. Kujairira kutuma mainini vangu kugedhe.

Asi ndazosara ndorobwa nehana ndava ndoga manje. Ko haikona vana headboy ndivo vataidokopa macorrections here kana svina dzemabhuku edu eMaths dzadzoka dzakatsvukiswa naChityo. Manje kana svidhara svakafoira zvinodoreva kuti isu chero U yacho hatinaka. Apa chero History yacho haana futi. Mahwani naMwari.

Kuno ndatozoita kukoka zvivindi kuti ndiuye. Zviya zvekuti ndichagotyei kusviba magaro, ini ndateya mariva murutsva kudhara. Plus futi awa adova marhizoka awa; zvakabuda muvhunzo dzatakanyora gore rapera. Zvekuchanamata kuti kwahi hee, dei zvandiitira mashura, kunenge kwadova kutamba nenguva kuya. Chauya chinenge chadouya; hapana chekuchinja.

Kubva zvandakabva pano gore rapera, musi wa24 November, handina kuzombopatsika futi nerushoka gwangu. NaMolly taivonana kumagiraundhi kuseri uko. Ndasvika kunenge kumapast twelve here kana kumato one ikoko. Ndichipinda pagedhe paya, ndiye dhuma dhuma naheadgirl wegore rino. Ndaseka – pane zvinyhunyhu zvanga zvichiita ruzha zviri mberi kwahedhigero wacho. Pazvacheuka zvikavona kuti sure kwazvo kune shumba zvafamba vakomana! Haha.

Ndanga ndisingazivi kuti headgirl wava kutyisa kunge mudzidzisi panzvimbo ino. Ndofunga Big Boss vakavhundusa vanhu vachivaudza kuti kana mukada kudheerera headhigero wangu zvemwaiita gore rapera achiri senior prefect, umwe ndeimutsemura ngekamuparanganda kekuChipinge.

Shamiso wacho ndiye wazondimanikidza kuinda kuclass kwavo. Ku4B. Tsk; inga kukura hakutane nhai – zvadova zvimafomu foo zvinana mainini zvaiva zvimanyhunyhu nezuro chaiye uyu! Asi ndaramba kupinda mumba macho. Ndarambisisa. Nhai. Ini zvechikoro ndakapedza nazvo last year, saka zvekutamba nevana vari mumahovhorosi zvava kundinyadzisa. Chero padhoo chaipo ndaramba kumira. Hazviitizve; ndingatovaonera zvangu kumwe kunhu kusiri kuno.

Mu4B mune vanhu tuu chete vane nharo dzekundiona, ende nharo dzacho handigoni kudzihwinha. Ndivo vaita kuti ndisvike kumaclassroom blocks ivavo. My two favourite and most beautiful girls. Molly naMidhi. Handisi kuverenga Shamiso.

(Aa, sori; zviya kwakahi hakuna munhu wakanaka kupfuura vamweka pano pasi. Vanhu vakanaka zvakangosiyana chete. Ndezvekungoti – heyi, dzimwe nguva musiyano wacho unozonyanya mhani. Ndizvozvo. Kwahi vanhu vakangofanana nemamiriro ekuzhe – hakuna mamiriro ekuzhe akaipa – only different kinds of good weather. Hamhenovo kuti cyclone igood weather here.

Vamwe vakuru ndivo vakazotaura zvandakapa kutenda ini – kwahi hongu tingangonaka hedu zvakasiyana, asi pane vamwe vakanaka zviri kure kure.

Icho chinombovonekwa kunaka chacho chiiko? Shuga tinoiziva kuti inonakaka. Zve, kuvava kwemhiripiri ndiko kunaka kwayo. Saka kunaka kwemunhu kuri pai? Kumeso here; kana kuti mumoyo, sekutenda kwaKiti)? 

Midhi haana kumbosvika achiita zvekumbopedza nguva zvandaitwa namainini; Midhi here – zvake ndizvo zvekusvika uchiti nyaya bvovho nepadumbu. Zvetsika unozvifunga nguva yainda.

Kwahi, “Ko ndeipi m’dhara. Tiratidzeika tivone kuti makadzikwatura seiko idzo dzinodai kutirovesa nehana. Zvakafamba here kana kuti zvakafamba?”

Ini ndangotsenga tsenga mukamwa ndichin’un’unira kuti handisati ndatora, uchatozovona chipepa chacho kana wadzoka kumba time time. Headgirl havana kumbonditsigira kana kundipikisa. Kumeso kwavo kwanga kuri blank. Ndakurumidza kuoneka, ndichitorana naMolly tichiwira muzhira yatakafamba nayo gore riya ratazokwira ruware.

Molly ndiye woga uri kuziva kuti Big Boss vandigamuchidza chipepa chinokosha kudarika zvimwe zvose nhasi. Kuzhe kwechitupa, pamwe. Nekuti ndiri kubva kudomutaurira izvozvi.

Wangodzungudza musoro. “Mwana unonunga nhema uyu.”

Ndakwanisa kuramba ndiri serious pandanga ndakamutarira. “Hazvisetsi.”

Nhai; zvinofadza chii kuti ndawana maresults angu?

Iye wangondichenamira. “Ndamboseka here ini nhai Steve vakomana?” Uchiti kere kere kere sehuku iri kuda kukandira.

Ini ndaramba ndiri serious.

“Saka makabayaka dhedhi. Ndipewo ndione hangu."

Ndamira ndakabata chiuno; Molly watanga zvake zvake zvekudenha. Umwe musi tichimhemhaira muchitondo chiri seri kwemagiraundhi kuchikoro ndakavona munhu wagara pasi uchinyepera kuchema – kwahi shamwari huya undibereke, ndabaiwa nemhuhwa; hihihi. Kudzoka kudai, wanei munhu wakabata chidhongi muruvoko. Ndakachitora ndichinanzvira

“Inga zvavo vamwe vane laki,” ndakadero.

“Laki rei?” 

“Manje unoti chii ichocho kana munhu achingobaya pose pose, chero pasiri pake? Pasina zvaanoitwa futi?” ndakakanda chitumbura chiya pasi ndokuchipwanya pwanya nevhiri rebhasikoro raVaTadiwa rataitambisa.

Molly wacheuka; paandivona ndimire pakati pezhira ndisingaseki ndakabata chiuno ndipo paatanga kufungira kuti something was very wrong pandimire pano.

“Steve?”

Ndaramba ndiri zii, musikana ukadzoka, ndokuisa mavoko ake kumusana wangu, akandiyeva nemaziso manyoro anogona kunyungudusa chero bwe chairo. Ndabata mavoko ake ndikamadzosera pasi. Ndadzosera mavoko angu paanga ari.

Ndadzungudza musoro.

“I don’t believe it,” ndazodero pava paya.

Ndavona mwana uchigwadziwa, kugwadziwa chaiko. Kuita sekuti ndiye wakanyora vhunzo dzacho neconfidence ukashokewa nezvakadzoka ipapo. Handina kuzvitaura here kuti kumirira maresults kunokunda mimba kugwadza?

“Sori bhebhi.” Ndanzi bhi bhi bhi kumusana. “Sori Steve. Sori. Zvinoitika. It happens to the best of us.”

Hazviitiki shamwari, Molly. Hazviitiki. Ende ini handisi umwe webest people dzauri kutaura idzodzo.

Musikana wabata hasha dziri muvoice rangu. “Shiiiit. Asi akaipa zvekusatarisika kahi?”

“Molly, ndinokumbirisa chaizvo, musikana wangu, kuti usandivhunza mivhunzo yakadero nguva dzino.”

Tambonyararidzana kwezvimamita zvinenge gumi, musikana uchida kuti shungu dzangu dzimboserera. Mwana unohwisisa mhani uyu. Ini handisi kubofunga kana chunhu. Chekufunga chacho hapana.

“It’s ok, Steve,” iye zvino waita zvekutora gwangu ruvoko uchigupotesa kumusana wake manje.

“Poshi haagwigwi.” Uchipotesa ruvoko gwake seri kwangu. Saka tiri kufamba takaita shamwari shamwari dzedu, tega tega zvedu. Ndinozvifarira izvi. Kana. Kwete kuzvifarira chete; ndinozvida.

“There is always a next chance. Kufoira vhunzo hazvirevi kuguma kweupenyu, dhedhi.” Wasekerera wena. “At least zvatoita, ini ndinenge ndiri pano. Tichadzidza tose tigopasa vhunzo zvakanaka.”

Ndacheuka ndikamupa nyemwerero yakaoma kuti gwa. Inini manje. Inini kudzidza nana Molly vachine mukaka pamhuno ava. No.

Ndati, “Yha. If at first you don’t succeed…”

“Try, try, try again.”

“Hauzivi kuti zvinogwadza sei.”

“Ndinozviziva Steve.”

“Unozvizivira kupi iwe usati wambonyora maexam ane musoro?”

“Kufoira ‘O’ Level handicho chega chinhu chinogwadza Steve.”

“Saka iwe unodova nezvimwe zvinokugwadza pauri ipapo?”

“Ehe! Kunyanya kana usipo. Zvinoita kuvhuta chaiko. Unoda kuvona kuti panondigwadza ndepapi?”

Iye zvino wazondisetsa manje. “Kana. Handidi.”

Tatarirana tichimwekurirana. Handizivi kuti sei, asi ndofunga kuti zvaataura zvine musoro stereki. Pane zvunhu zvakawanda chaizvo zvinogwadza zvisingasanganisi result slip ye‘O’ Level mukati. Zvakaita sekuvudziwa kuti handichakudi. Ok. Handichaiti zvekupa mienzaniso.

Ndaregedza bhebhi ndichikanda mavoko angu mudenga. “Sori. Handizvo zvatanga takatarisira tose, asi ndizvo zviripoka. Saka tichadhila nezviripo izvozvo.”

Ndabudisa chipepa chacho muhomwe ndokubva ndamutambidza. Ndadzidza kubva kuna headboy kuti quality yechipepa chacho haisi yekuti unofamba uchingopa munhu wese wese kuti abate usati waratidza muchembere. Ha ha; chesvidhara ndofunga chahosvika kumba chadzimika ma‘C’ nema‘U’ anga aripo. Molly ndiye munhu wechifoo kubata marhizo angu, kuzhe kwangu, Big Boss namanini.

Wabata bepa racho sewakabata mari isina simbhi. “Musachema dhedhi. I’m sure Mwari wakakugadzirirai zvikuru chaizvo. Ndiye waita kuti zvidai so. Asi chokwadi chaicho chaichoka, you really didn’t deserve this. Really. Hazvisi feya. Asi hazvina mhosva hazvo; hausiwe watanga neku…”

Ini ndanga ndisisina kuteerera; ndaandongotamba nezvigumwe zvangu, ndakamiririra kuti ndichahwa munhu wondigumha uchinditambidza zvunhu zvangu, nyaya yobva yapera. Ungada kutaura nezvazvo ndiani benzi iroro?

Zvekuti Molly wanyarara kwefive minutes ndatozozvibata papera five minutes. Horaiti; hadzisi five minutes hadzozve, asi nguva yacho yanga yakareba imi.

Svirunyararo sviri pano ndesviya svekuti, dei panga pasina Mollyka, munhu waitiza warobwa nehana; nekuti unenge uchiziva kuti pane chatsveyama pano. Pane svikutonhora sviya svemunhu unoda kuridza zimhere, unombotanga wakwevera mweya wose mukati, kuti kana mweya wacho wozobudamoka; chero pembha yamahobho inosara pasi.

Ndorunyarararo gwuri pano igwogwo. Runyararo gwekuti chero chitupwani changa chichida kukukwatura nayo murima chinombofunga ruviri. Runyararo gunorema. Chero wanga uchida kuti Molly ndokuda hauzvitauri iwe!

Ndacheuka ndichida kuona kuti paside pangu panga pachine unofema here kana kuti hamheno zvanga zvaitika. Nekuti pane kumwe kunyarara kunodhistebha chero newe wanga wakazvinyarariravoka…

“Haa, shiiti!”

Ndavhunduka ndichihwa mwanasikana uchidero. Handina kumbopihwa nguva yekukahadzika kuti zvauya sei; ipapo pandanga ndoti ndigadzirire kuvhunza kuti kasi pabepa pamera imbwa iri kuzvara katsi here, ndipo pandanzi hetu nemutumbi wake nemweya wawo wose. Dzose 60kg dzake dzati ngondo ngondo pandiri. Ndamboti tsatsara tsatsara ndisati ndadhasharara makumbo kuti ndisati pasi zhokoto. Munhu hautombofaniri kuwa hako kana wakamonegwa nebombamupani raunoti musikana wangu. For a lot of obvious reasons.

Mavoko amai mfana akandihaka kugotsi uku, achindimeresa munyaviri nekutsimbirira mhino yangu pamupata uri pakati pemakomo ake. Maihwe zvangu; ini ndini munhu wazofa manje.

Handigoni kuri ndidane rubetsero gwemavoko angu nekuti chero naiwo abatanidzwa mucross-fire akambundanidzwa pamativi paabatikidzwa ari nguva yaturuka mambure emhandara – zvekuti mavoko acho ari pahudyu dzangu nezvidzva zvake zvakandimoneredza iganda to ganda, pasina zviya zvekuti pane chakavharidzigwa neskirt kana hembe. Ndafemera pamazamu ake. Ndiri kufa nhasi chete ini.

Iye uri kungoita ruzha uchipopota zvisina tsarukano.

“Zibenzi remunhu. Tsotsi. Gevha. Goronyera. Zimunhu rinongogona kununga nhema chete iri; zi…zi… you sleazy conniving, lying bastard! Basa rekuda kundirovesa nehana pano uchida ku…”

Ndichimbokwatugwa zvimbama pamatama nekumusana. 

Right. Rudo gwakudhara. Gwanineteen Gochanhembe.

Ndasvinidzira musoro wangu ndichiubudisa mujere rinonhuhwirira mauri kuramba kubuda, kusvika ndaumanikidza kutarira munhu ari kundirova.

“Ko ndaiteiko nhaiwe?” Ndazhinya semwana wakangamwa formula yequadratic equation yaabva kuudzwa two seconds dzapera.

“Haa, pfutseke. Ibva apa. Aaa. Zvekunyepa zvava kutokupinda muropaka.”

Ndiri kushaiwa kuti pandanyepa ndepapi ini. Haikona ndangoudza munhu hazvitendeseki here? Ndaramba ndakamuyeva ndichikonewa kuvhara muromo. Manje mwana woita kupunyaira nekushaiwa zvekundituka nazvo. Tirisu zvedu vana Nyemwe todotaura zvatanga kuuya mumusoro isu.

“Oh, Steve!”

Aa; inga mwana wevanhu wava kuchema nhai. Chokwadi. Wamborega misodzi yacho ichierera wakandiyeva, kwava kuzoviga chiso chake pabendekete rangu.

Ndamurega uchipedza shungu, kuzhe kwekusvubura mavoko angu kuti ndinyatse kumubata zvakasimba. Molly musikana akasimba; anoda kutobatwa zvakasimba.

Kunohi kuchemaka ikoko. Kwahi namainini vamwe pavanga vachichema kuti vakakohwa makapu edoro neetii nemamwe edisplay, vamwe vanga vachizhamba kuti vane maB kuHistory. Gavi vakomana. Ndademba kuti dei ndauya makuseni mhani. Haikona shasha yatozoperekedzwa kumba naShami wachoka. Kwahi dzanga dzadhinhiwa zvekuti.

At least mainini vake vanga varipo kuti vamunyaradze.

Gavi wakapihwa maB maviri; imwe yacho kuBK. KuGeo neChirungu une maC. Zvimwe zvose wakarakasha mwana. Idi une zvireyi foo zvakazvinakira. Haha – munhu ndipo paunodochema History ipapo, kuti ndaitirei B. Ndofunga waiva ahwa nemakuhwa ini.

Manje vana Eddy havana kana shungu nezvose izvozvo. Dzangovona kuti dzine maB adzo foo nemaC matatu kwava kuita mujaho dzakananga kumagirosa kwaJanhi kunotenga Chateau.

Molly wamuka ukandiratidza maziso ake akajenga mvura. Hamheno kuti patiri pano pane achainda kumba here nhasi.

Kumba kwacho ndekupi zviya?

“Molly, uri kuchema.” Ndiko kushaiwa zvekutaurazve uku. Kuita kutsvaka kwewashaya chaiko.

Iye unozviziva kuti ndataura pfocho.

“Ndizvo zvawakambondiudza izvozvo, Stevie. Tiri pakati pedondo tichinaiwa nemvura.”

Mm hmm. Kumwe kwandingataura zvakatsva kudero ndekupi kuzhe kwemudondo?

“Horaiti,” ndatsinzina ndichida kunyepedzera kufunga. Ndatozozvibata papera kanguva kuti handisi kunyepa nhai – ndiri kutonyatsa kushaya zvekutaura zvechokwadi.

“Ok – mmmmm. Ndakapasa Maths. Wazvivona here?”

Mwana waimutsa payanga yakarembera. Ukaizuza neruvoko hwani kuti inyatsomira zvakanaka. Ndokutanga kuinan’nanidza; ini ndichifunga kuti ndiyo here yachemedza tsvarakadenga zvakadero. Pandanga ndichimuudza kuti inochemedza kudarika nhumbu ine maoctopulets wanga uchifunga kuti ndiri kuita zvemasketch nhai.

Results slip yacho yakanzi ‘C’ mberi kwepakanzi Mathematics (Non Calculator). Chokwadi wani.

Molly haasi kuzvitenda. “Wakamboiteiko nhaiwe?”

“Ndini here,” ndavhunza semwanana wawanikidzwa pagaba redovi, unovhunza kuti ndiye here wabapwa uchiba. Kuita sekuti Maths chinhu chandinyora everyday, ndichipasa everyday. All in a day’s work – kutadza nei kubaya dura ini kurima ndichigona?

“Horaiti; ndakaita laki.”

“Smiley!” Wachema mwana kuita sekuti wapenyegwa nechiedza nguva dzainda. “Wakapasa!”

“Yha,” ndinivo, kuita sekuti ndakamanikidzwa kupasa kwacho. “Somebody had to do it; right?”

Asi haikona ini mhani. Kana. Kana kuri iko kugona kwachoka, kwazoshamisa chero mugoni wacho ikoko. Munhu ungabva wapasa neMaths chaidzo dzawakatadza kupedza? Saka nditori kaprofessor kakahwandaka ini? English kwava kuita B. Mungamatenda mashura padunhu akadero imi? Manje dei ndakapedza Chirungu chacho haikona izvozvi ndichitova nesevheni maladder so?

Chero iwo six maA vakomana – ndinomaitisei? Iwe, zvakanyatsa kurongana iwe; kuti B; B; A; A; A; C; A; A; A. Pazama reCambridge – iwe!

Manje mati kana vana Molly vochema ingaita mhosva yavo here, kana ini mwenechiro ndichitambura kuzvigamuchira?

Wamononoka paanga akamonerera, asi haana kuburuka; waramba akarembera.

“Shamwari, zvako zvehumodest zvauri kuda kuita hazvishi kushanda. Ndiudze kuti wakadzizvambura vhunzo dziya wena.”

“Ichokwadi mhai,” ndaseka. “Right now I’m the greatest man on Earth.”

“That’s better.” Taseka. “Asi uchiri mwanana wani.”

Right. Mhosva ndeyangu. Asi une basa nazvo ndiani? Haikona Mollyzve – kwaari Steve une 16 years naSteve une 61 years vakangofanana. Hazvina basa futi kuti ndinonzi Steve here, kana kuti ndinonzi Smiles, kana Smiley, kana Nyemwe kana Blessing. Vose vanhu ivavo vakatora zama rekuzvipa mbiri riya vakaripfekedza saizi yaro chaiyo yeshamhu. Kuita kuritinha.

Chero BB chaivo vangoti kanha nazvo.

“Wati ndiwe Steven Blessing Chikara?” Murume wabvisa mabonifero ake ukamapukuta pukuta. Ukamadzosera kumeso uchitsvaka pamapepa aanga akabata. Zvino hana yangu yanga yongobika mutakura wenyimo iri mumuromo.

“You did very well,” vadero vachiverenga pabhuku ravanga vakabata. “You did extremely well. Ngenyi wanga usipo palist yedu yewana waiwa mastar students edu egore rakapera iwe?”

Ndaudza Big Boss kuti ini, Steven Smiles Blessing Chikara ndaiva ndiri star kubhora, uyezve kuti ndinenge ndafa kuti ndiite star student pachikoro chavo. Asi kudhirowa nyeredzi ndinogona hangu. Plus futi pane imwe yenyeredzi dzacho yandakanyurura kubva seri kwemakore.

Vanga vakangobata chipepa changu muruoko. Manje ini ndanga ndongodokwaira.

Vabvisazve magirazi aya; iye zvino vachida kunyatsa kundicherechedza ini, pamwe vachitsvaka kuti pandiri hapana nyeredzi here.

“Wait. Don’t I know you from some years back?”

Pandavaudza kuti ndini ndaimbovagugudzira dhoo ravo makuseni oga oga ndichida makiyi egedhe rechikoro ndanga ndisingambofungiri kuti ndiyo sometime back yanga ichifungwa nemukuru wechikoro iyoyo. Ndanga ndichitya hangu kuti mudhara uchavhukunyura misikahwa yandakamboita yakandipinza muhofisi yake kuti ndimborangwa nembhoma.

I was wrong. Ndaona maziso emurume mukuru achitoikira toikira pandangotaura izvozvo.

“You- you- you. You’re that friend of my headgirl! Yha mhani. How could I have forgotten? Unoziya – I told Shamiso that you kids were gonna make me proud one day. Mira nditume mwana aende koomusheedze iwe. You!”

Dei vanga varega havo kuzvinetsa – headgirl wavo wanga akamira pazhe pedoor reoffice yaheadmaster, akamirira kuti ndikangobuda chete…

Shamiso ndiye wabva aita munhu wekutanga kuvona maresults angu. Kutotangira inini muridzi wawo. Zve, ndiye waita munhu wekutanga kundimbundikira nhasi. Ndofunga ndinofanira kunyora vhunzo ndichipasa everyday mhani; ndanga ndisingazivi kuti vanhu vanondida vakawanda zvakadero pano panyika.

Mainini vatevegwa naMiss. Haha, Mai Tadiwa vaita kundijumha wena, sechiredzo chabaya hove padumbu yakarivara. Ivo vanga vachinyatsa kuziva kuti vakati huya ndikupe hagi ndaibuda muchioffice chavo ndiri nyere. Vandipulanira wena. Ha, vafara mhani. Hedhibhoyi ndivo voga vakafoira History gore rapera.

Asi Steven Chikara ndiyevo woga wakaita ‘A’ kuHistory kwacho.

Saka Misi vasumudza chanja chavo vachida kuti tipanane chishanu chekumakuhwa. High five. Pandasumudza mavoko angu kuti ndiabonderedze neaMiss – ndaandafarisavozve vakomana – ndabva ndanzi nzvee…ndikahwa dhuma! ndichibonderana nemutumbi waMiss. Kungoti chete yanga isiri dhuma hayozve. Miss vane ganda mutserendende chaiwo, zamu remvana. Ende vanga vachinhuhwirira! Ndichiri kuhwa perfume yavo mumhino dzangu. Mai inogeza iyoyo – munhu kuita kunge unosevenza mundege so! Chero newe unobva wavonavo kuti munhu wakadzidza kuUniversity of Zimbabwe komene.

Kufunga kuti musi wandatanga tanga kuvona gauni neheti yeruzivo yaMiss Gomba (horaiti, ndiMai Tadiwa) taiva tainda kunogadzira dhoo ravo raiva rapaziwa nembavha vusiku. Mazuvayo Misi vaisheya imba yekugara neamwe kamudzidzisi kaiva kakanaka! Heyi; mukadzi waiva wakazvinakigwa hake iyeye. Waidzidzisa vasikana vedu F and F. Wakazombopfuura nekwataiitira Building rimwe zuva, Johnso dzikabondera pazvitinha dzakatarira bhebhi. Vamwe vanhu vakaurungana veduwe; ungati ndivo vakatanga kudamwa naMusikavanhu kuti vazosarudza maparts emuviri avanoda. Ende vakasarudzavo zveshuwa! Waiti uchizvivona zvichifamba zviri tuu naMiss waiti pano pasi hapana zvitikinyani nezvipukandipemwenje nezvim’pon’horo zvevasikana iwe.

(Horaiti, it’s bhoo. Ndambotaura paya kuti pano pasi hapana vanhu vakashata, asi vakanaka zvakasiyana chete. Degree yekunaka kwacho haina basa. System waidopenga paya paakaimba kuti mwana akanaka usafamba naShatrisha).

Asi nekunaka kwavo vakangobigwa wani vusiku bwakati ndoo. Unotamba nembavha dzemuraini iwe. Apa sviMiss svaiva svabva kuHarare musi wakarewo kunogirajuweta. Kwahi takanzi nyatsai kuvata, vanhu vachidhiriza nekurhanda imba yose. Kwahi pavasina kusecha paidova nemudzimu wapo. Handina kuzovhunza hangu kuti pamubhedha pacho havana kuvhendenyura here. Chero ivo Miss neshamwari yavo havana kumbotaura zvekurhepewa.

Dhoo racho rakazonamwa nevakomana rikaipwa naburglar bars zvekuti mbavha kana bhinya rinodoita zvekuuya necaterpillar kuti riwise mukova wacho.

Ivo vasikana vacho vakabva vatama futi; vakainda kunogara kudzimba dzaiva pakati pemateachers’ cottages.

Asi chero vanhu vondimonera nekundivhundusa nekundishamisa nhasi – hapana wandihetura sekuhetugwa kwandabva kuitwa naMolly. Uchakarembedza mavoko pamutsiba wangu izvozvi. Hapana kana wambosvika pedo. Hongu zvazvo, Miss vandishamisa nekuti vandihaka zvandanga ndisingafungiri. Nekundizivisa zvunhu zvandanga ndisingafungiri futi; pavandidhonzera kudumbu ravo pane chanditunga zvandisina kuhwisisa.

Dumbu raMiss ndinoriziva riri flat kunge musana webhuru risingarimi; izvi zvekuti rinomboita chinyungwa izvi…

“Yea. I am.” Miss vatsanangura pavavona ndangoti zvau padumbu ravo zvine question mark. “About five months. Manje manje unenge wava nemuzukuru.”

Vasekerera voga wena – ndofunga vanga vachifunga kushamisa kwesimba raMwari kwekuvapa chipo chekusika vupenyu mudumbu ravo. Rimwe zuva tichitaura hedu zvisina basa, Miss vakandiudza chikonzero nei mwana achinyanya kukosha kuna mai vake.

“It’s because a child is made inside her. The reproduction whole process happens inside the woman.”

Hoo? Ok. Zvanga zvava kutoda vanhu vakaita Law kuUZ izvozvo. Ini ndakazviitira mutete.

Ndangozvivona ndosekereravo. Miss vakomana. Vakagadzira mwana mukati mavo. Muzukuru wangu – muzukuru here kana kuti tsano? Kana kuti mainini? Ndavhura meso angu zvekuda kudenha. Fungwa dzangu dzambokweretwa naRumbi; ndakavudziwa naShamiso wakavudziwa naMartha wakavudziwa namuchembere wakavudziwa naRumbi wacho kuti hazvanzi yangu Rumbi yava neeee…. Neeee….ammm… yava nenhumbu.

Ha ha. Pamwe ndiwo mwaka wacho. Ndatsinzina. Kuvona kwandaita Miss nekufunga kwandaita Rumbi kwaita kuti ndifunge mauyiro anoita vana…

Zvabva zvaita kuti nditarire Miss nemaziso matsva. Ndaandakatarira padumbu ravo. Miss pavandidhonza vandidhonzera padumbu iroro. Makorokoto chaiwo. Asi anga asiri makorokoto ekuti ndini chete ndakarakasha vhunzozve.

Ndarinongedza nemusoro. “Manga muchida kuti ndiziveka, Miss?”

“Kind of.” Vambomonya monya muromo vachifunga futi. “Mm mm; hazvina kubuda zvakanaka.  Kwete kind of. Uri right; ndanga ndichida kukudza, kuti ndava nedumbu. Steve, I’m gonna have my own baby!”

Dumbu. Ndiro zita racho. Ndaseka. Ndafara chaizvo kuti Miss vava necreation yavo isiri History. Yha. Pakutanga yaiva zygote. Ndokubva yaita embryo. Ndokubva yaita…

Ndokubva yaita…?

Ndadzungudza musoro. Handisi kuhwisisa; ko Misi vanondiudzirei kuti vava nenhumbu?

“Steven,” varova zibefu remunhu waneta nekusenga mimba. “Hauzivi kuti chinhu chinogwadza sei kuparadzana neshamwari yako pano pasi.”

Ndizvo zvavataura izvozvo. Zvapotsa zvatondipfuvuraka, asi zvasvika kwandiri nekurova kwehana. Saka Miss vari kuidza kutaura kuti inini, Steve Chikara – no. No. No way.

Miss vafema. Vabata musana vachienda kunogara pasi. Five months; ndofunga pavachazoinda kuleave dumbu ravo rinenge roita kunge bhara rakazara musheche.

Vanditarira nemaziso andakapihwa naRumbi musi waaindinyengerera kuti ndiinde kwaaikumbigwa mwedzi uya.

“I hate to see you go.” Vangodoma sevanoverenga mutemo kubva pagumi yakapihwa Mozisi.

Ndaramba ndinyerere. Ndazvishaira pazvo ini. Ndaifunga kuti ndinizve ndinofanira kubhoikana nekusiya Misi pano pachikoro.

“God, how I hate it.”

God; how I hate it.

Ndangozvionawo ndagara pasi.

“You know what.”

Ndadzungudza musoro – hapana kana chandinomboziva. Aa aa; ndinoziva chinhu hwani – ndasiya mbiri pano pachikoro. Zimbiri rekuti vachaita makore vachitaura nezvaro.

“Kune dzimwe nzvimbo dzatinogara Steve, kwatinofunga kuti ndiko kune zvose zvingadiwa nemunhu akabarwa nemukadzi pano pasi. Mmhm. Kunzvimbo kwatinofunga kuti kana tiriko tinenge tava kuziva zvose.

“Munhu unokura uchienda kuzvikoro zvine mazita makuru munyika. Uchiwana zvose zvaunofunga kuti unoda; zvekuti kana wakazungairawo – kana kuti une mubereki usina shungu newe – unokura uri zungunde nekuspoiliwa.

“So; there you are. You got everything at your beck and call. Maybe uri mwana ane njere dzisingashoreki. Kana uchienda kuchikoro unoteerera zvaunoudzwa nevadzidzisi. Pamwe unopasa chikoro chiya, and the doors of university beckon. Unoda kuinda kupi kuvhasiti? Munyika muno here kana kuti mhiri? Nekuti vana sisi vako nehazvanzi dzako dzakadzidza mhiri kwemakungwaka. Asi iwewe manje. Uri gotwe kumba kwenyu; saka zvekugara kure nemubereki zviri kure newe.

“Fine and dandy.

“Saka kuchikoro kwacho uri kuda kunoitei? Law? Media Studies? Sociology? Psychology?

“Pamwe unoita Law. Asika paunopedza unenge une makore twenty-two chete; and twenty-two years is still too young an age to be trading arguments with other lawyers in court. Plus futi kumba kwenyu magweta mavhu nemarara. Madhokotera. MaAccountants. MaLecturer. Vana aniko. Ndizvo zviya zvaitaugwa nemurume uya gore riya kana taida kuuraya mombe tichidziurayira kuti vana vapasa chikoro dei kwedu danga rakapukutwa rose.

“Saka iwe unoda kuita zvinhu zvako wega zviri different kune vamwe. Unonzwa mumusoro mako muchiti chimbhodzidzisa mbichana. Just for the hell of it. Just because kumhuri kwenyu hakusati kwamboita munhu wakazviedza. Haikona unenge waona zvose pano pasi – saka chimwe chaungada chii?”

Hapana chokwadi Misi. Hamheno; pamwe unofunga zvekuwanikwa?

“Manje Ministry yeDzidzo ndipo painokutuma kunzvimbo kwakaita sekuno Steve. Unouya une pfungwa dzekuti vanhu vachakutora samambo. Wakanzwa makuhwa ose pamusoro penzvimbo ino – kune varoyi, hakunaye, uye kune nzara yaunotoita kusangana nayo mumugwagwa ukamhorosa wani. Ndiyo mhaka uchifunga kuti vanhu vachanamata paunofamba; wauya kuzovavhurira chiedza chedzidzo. Pamwe nekuti uri gotwe kumba kwenyu, unofunga kuti vachakubata sezai. Right?”

Right. Handizivi. Handisi rugopwe kwedu, asi ndini ndoga mukomana. Kukura kwangu kwose hapana mabatigwo andakamboitwa naMai Rumbi akandirangaridza zai. The woman raises all her kids like the military. Kuzhe kwaMartha pamwe.

“Ndipo paunozotsika rutsoka rwako pano manje – and people bring you back to earth. Unotanga kurarama patsva sewakazvarwa nezuro. Unorarama hupenyu hwawaifunga kuti angova matheory anodzidzwa kuchikoro; hupenyu hwawaifunga kuti hwakaparara pakauya mavideo game.

“Unodzidza kuti chibage chawaingozivira musaga chichitengeswa kuHarare chinorimwa sei. Chembere, harahwa, vana vavo nevazukuru vachishanduka ruvara nekuswera pazuva vachishanda. Kusunga mombe, kurima, kudyara, kurima. Kusakura. Kukohwa. Kupura. Unoona hupenyu huchitenderera nemwaka yegore.

“Kuyamurana kunoita vanhu vacho vachikweretesana zvipani zvemombe pakurima. Nekuti munhu wese ihama yemunhuka. Zvinhu zvaindishamisa chaizvo ndichangouya kuno kuti vanhu vaiwana kupi nguva yekutambisa yavaipedza vachimhorosa munhu wese wese wavasangana naye mumugwagwa. But the people here care for each other, Steve. Vanoziva kuti nguva haina kugadzira munhu. Vanobatidzana pabasa. Vachifara vese pamichato. Kuchema vese parufu; hazvina basa kuti rufu rwaitika twenty kilometres away. Chavanofunga mumwe wavo awirwa nenhamo, kwete kukura kwemutunhu waanogara.

Pandakauya kuno ndipo pandakanzwisisa kuti sei gore rega rega vanhu vachitutunuka kubva kumabasa avo kudhorobha; imhosva yekuti vanoziva kuti kwavari kuya kusango. Kumusha ndekuno kwavakakurira vose, kwavanouya vachitsvagana, zvisinei kuti vava neten years vaparadzana.

“Ndihwo hupenyu. Ende ndakahuona nemaziso ako.”

Yha ndihwo hupenyu, Miss. Ende makabwuvona nemaziso a… Heyi, ngatimbodzoka mbichana. Mati makahuona nemaziso ani?

Ha. Ndaseka hangu ini. Ha. Miss vakaita sei? Inini manje. Ndawetsa meso, asi ndanga ndakatarira pazhe. Ndatadza kutarira Miss Gomba. Kwete nekuti ndashamiswazve, kana kuti ndanga ndichinyara.

Asi kuti ndakangwa mate mumukamwa. Maoma kuti pwau, zvekuti dai panga paita munhu unokanda moto imomo vanhu vaizongondivona ndoita zin’angamutai kuti ririri semoto wemakwande.

Mhoti ndashamiswa chinobvira!

Misi ndizvo zvavari kuda kuti nditende izvozvo zvavanga vachitaura. Hakuna zvakadero. Ini ndiri Smiles – Smiles ane kaupenyu kekumusha kanongova simpe simple; kudzidza kurima; kubhora. Nezvimwevo zvishoma shoma, asi, basically speaking, ndiyo summary yeupenyu bwangu iyoyo.

Plus iko zvino pave nesvimbiri sviri kutevera zita racho. Mahwanizve iwe.

Handifungi kuti Misi vanga vachindivona ini. Asi vanga vakanditarira. Ndofunga vanga vachidovona chana chavo chichikava kava maamniotic fluids mudhidho rawo machiri mudumbu muya. Handina kumbofa ndakarota Misi vari munhu anodzamisa fungwa. Vanongoita semunhu une mhinduro dzose muzvigumwe kwandiri.

“Vana vachiuya kuchikoro; hafu yakapfeka mapatapata nemanyatera. Mabhuku ari mupaperbag. They are just kids. Ninety percent haina kana idea yekuti kuHarare kunoindwa nepi. Kuresa kwavanoziva ndekwaTugwi. Zvavanoziva pamusoro peHarare nemamwe maguta ose ndizvo zvavanoudzwa nevadzidzisi vavo kana kuverenga mumabhuku. Vanotembha zvavanoudzwa vevadzidzisi vavo. Kids. And their minds are so creative zvekuti kana ukavati vakudhirowere sky scrapper vanokushamisa.

“Zvekudzidzisa izvi zvaibhabdhara kudhara, Steve; isu vana Carrie tichainda kuprimary. Iye zvino kwangova kuzviita nekuti munhu unongoda basa chete. Nekuti unoziva chiika – mukudzidzisa mune chinhu hwani chisingagoni kubhadharwa chero nemari yose pano pasi – and I would never trade it for all the world’s treasures. Kuumba njere dzevana uchidzipa tariro yehupenyu hwadzanga dzisingambofungiri kuti hungavapo panyika.

“Kana uri mudzidzisi unofamba pasi rose nevana vako. Muchiputsa Berlin Wall kuGermany. Nekumema Great Wall kuChina. Kupinda mumatrench aishandiswa paWorld War I. Nekuseka nhamo serugare pamunoona Lobengula achinyengedzwa kupa nyika kuvapambevhu. Muchipinda mugungwa, pasubduction zone panozvagwa kudengenyeka kwenyika nematombo matsva. Kuenda Tanganyika kwakabva rudzi gwevanhu.

“Dzose nzvimbo idzodzo muchidzishanya from the comfort of your classroom.

“Unopa vana chipo chekuzvifungira vega; vachivhunzurudza kuti sei zvinhu zvichiitika nenzira yazvinoitika nazvo. Sei zvisingaitiki neimwe nzira.

“Uchiona vana vako vachikura; zvose panyama nepapfungwa. Uchirwara navo pavanonyora vhunzo; uchizvitemesa musoro kuti hapana zvimwe zvaungadai wakavawezdera here kuti vapinde mublast furnace yeCambridge vakakwana. Kufara nekuzorora kwaunoita kana vakabudirira – its just like giving birth to your first child.

“Ndakakuona uchikura Steve.” Vasekerera. “Ndofunga haudi kuti ndikufungise mazivanirano atakaita, handiti? Asi kukuudza chokwadika; kana pane chinhu hwani chandakagona mazuva andatanga kudzidzisa panoka – ndiyo panichi yandakakupa gore riya. Nekuti kukutora kwandakaita, ndakaita kuti uzive something about yourself. Your love for literature. And Dynamos.”

Usadheerera DhiMbare. Miss vambotsinzina. Pamwe ini ndanga ndichifanira kudavidza kuti kana pane chinhu chakanaka chakamboitika kwandiri pano pachikoroka; ndiyo panichi yandakapiwa naMiss gore riya. Tisingatauri Molly, of course.

Asi ndaramba ndinyerere.

“Ende waiva nenharo. Haha. Ndaiva ndisati ndambovona zvakadero. Waindifungisa inini ndichiri kuchikoro. Mafirst days ndaifunga kuti waizviitira kuonekwa nevanhuka. But I was wrong. Waiva right. Kwete nguva dzose, anyway, asi zhinji dzacho.

“Nekuti iwewe waitsvaka zvakadzika muhupenyu, shamwari dzako dzakatanga kuita shoma. Pfungwa dzenyu dzaiva dzosiyana madhonzero; ende vanhu vaikuhwisisa vakatanga kuita vashoma.

“And one of those few people was me.”

Dzimwe nguva chokwadi chiri nyore saizvozvo wani.

“Asi handina kuzviziva nekuti ndakainda kuzvikoro zvakawanda kukudarikazve. Ungada kuzvitenda kana kusazvitenda Steven Chikara, but you brought me back to earth. You brought me to my senses. Nekusanzwa kwako, nenharo dzako idzo, wakaita kuti ndizvipenengure, ndione kukura kwandaiva ndaita. Wakaita kuti ndinzwisise kuti ndiri munhu hwani panyika pane six billion vamwe. Wainditeerera.

“Waindihwisisa.”

Ndaramba ndinyerere. Ndashaya zvekutaura; nekuti ndanga ndisina kana idea yekuti Steven Chikara wanga uchitaugwa naMiss ndewekupi. Chandinonyatsa kuziva ndechekuti Steven Chikara wacho haasi inini chete.

“Before you, I didn’t care much for other people. Vaiita zvavaiita, ini ndichiita zvandaiitawo. Asi ndaihwa rufaro gwako kana uchitaura nezvehazvanzi dzako kana shamwari dzako. Chero nyaya yacho yaiva yekuchema chema kukanganisa kwavanenge vaita – there was that concern in your voice. Hanya dzandaisaziva nadzo ndisati ndauya kuno. Ndakakutarira ndikamira kuti ndifunge kuti why you cared so much. Yaiva mhosva yekuti nyika vanhu Steve.

“Chero ini wani ndakapedzisira ndaona kuti ndaiva ndisisiri gotwe rekumba kwaGomba. I had a brother – you. Waiva shamwari yainzwisisa zvandaivanza kudarika zvandaitaura; even though waisaziva kuti zvawaitaura zvairevei. Haha – usambofunga hako kuti ndichafa ndakarega kushamisika kuti baba Tadiwa wakavafungira zvamboita sei.”

Naseka hangu. Ndokubva ndanyarara.

“Unoziva chii – I’m kinda enving your sisters right now, Stevie. Handizivi kuti vakaitei kuti vaite hazvanzi yakaita sewe. Kubva zvandauya pano – musi wekutanga chaiwo wataitsvaira mumba muno uya, when I saw you getting lost in those books, I knew there was something special about you. Handina kana kumbogara ndadhauta potential yako. Zvaionekwa chero kubhora chaiko kwawaipasa bhora rakanyogwa message yezvawaida kuti riitwe.

“Asi pandakabata maresults ako ndakaita sendichadzima wena. Hongu ndaikutembha – but I think I underestimated you. Handina kumbogara ndazvifungira kuti ungapasa zvakadai.

“Ndiko kundidzosa pasi kwawakaita ikoko. Mupfungwa dzangu hamuna kumbogara mapinda idea yekuti zvakadai zvingaitika kumusha kuno. Not at this school panotoita mabhuku ekukonorerana sezvingwa zvishanu zvinoda kufidha zvuru zvevanhu.

“Before you, handina kumboziva kuti zvaiita sei kuita hazvanzi diki yekungongodza musoro neduster kana yaita zvinhu zvinogona kuiurayisa. Asi iye zvino ndava kuhwisisa kuti sei vana sisi nana bhudhi vangu vaigara vachindishunya zheve. Uye kuti sei vaiita kanyama kanyama mutorwa wese waiita mistake yekundigumha. Zvaiva zvisina basa kuti ndini here ndadenha kana kuti kwete. They loved and hated me – in a loving kinda way.

“Feeling iyoyo ndiyo yandaihwa nguva yose yawaigara pacheya ipapo uchindikakisa nharo, kana kuramba zvunhu zvaiva pachena. Kana kundivhunza zvunhu zvaisava nezera newe. You were a dream little brother while you lasted, Steve.

“Asi iye zvino wakura manje. Wava kuchiendawo kunoona nyika wega. Ndiri kufanira kufara kuti wakadzidza zvinhu zvandaikudzidzisa ukahwisisa. Nekuti ndizvo zvawaida panoka, ende ini ndiro basa rangu iroro rekuumba njere dzako.

“But all I can feel is this painful sense of loss.”

Zvakwana Miss. Haikona ndini ndinofanira kusuwa kuti ndava kusiya Misi pano here? Nhai. Anozosara achigadzira dhoo ravo kana mbavha dzapaza ndiani?

“My kid loves you too.” Vanga vachipuruzira pamusoro pedumbu ravo vakatsinzina. “She doesn’t wanna see you go.”

Kid. Ndapotsa paduku ndavhunza kuti Misi vanoziva sei kuti mwana wavo musikana. Ndofunga vaizotora duster vakangongodza musoro wangu kusvika wati mbuu.

Chandinoziva zvisina nharo ndechekuti mwana waMiss unenge wakanaka – zvose chiso nemoyo – zvisinei kuti nditsano here kana kuti mainini. Asi izvo zvekuti muzukuru wangu manje – ha, mahwani. Ndafunga kuti nguva yanga yakwana yekuti Misi vachizonyatsa kundivenga nekundida pamwechete manje. Nekuti hazvanzi yavo diki ine kakunakuna kayakaita nevamwe vatete vaMiss so…

“Aaaa… Miss. Pane zvandinofanira kukuudzai. Pamusoro pemusi wandakakuvhunzai kuti makaudzirei Molly zviya zviya. Maiva right; paya handipo paiva nenyaya…”

Asi vandishamisa wena Misi vacho. Ha, Miss naRumbi vanofanira kuita matwins chete. Dei vakakurira kuno chokwadi vanhu vaidofunga kuti hamheno baba veumwe vakaita gumbo pazhe chete.

Kana kuti nekungomberereka kunoita mudhara nenyika kuya…

“I know about Molly,” vangodoma havo, kuita sekuti zvinhu zvandanga ndichifanira kuziva ndoga kuti Misi vanoziva nezvaMolly.

“Tiri kumba hapana dzimwe nyaya dzavaimbotaura nezvadzo vatete – nhasi kuchikoro Steve wazoti zvakati, munomboziva here kuti Steve unogona zvakati, nhai maiguru ko Steve makawirirana naye zvaita sei; hee, Steve chino. Steve icho. Everyday. Kukuudza chokwadika, vatete vaitaura nezvako katuu pazuva – siku nesikati.

“Saka iniwo ndakatanga kuteerera zvavaitaura. Nezvavaivanza. Nezvawakaramba kutaura iwewe. Takabvawo neko shamwari. Haha. Ndakazviona zvese hangu. Kufara kwaiita vatete musi watadzoka kutrip kuya – ivo vaiva vaindako vachiita kunge munhu aida kunozvisungirira. Ndaizviziva kuti zvaiva nechekuita nehembe dzavo dzavakadzoka nadzo dzakaita kunonera nemadhaka. Haha, usanditarisa zvakadero – I know you didn’t do anything irresponsible.”

Ndavhura maziso – kasi zvinoonekwa kani kana munhu ukaita zvisina hunhu nemwana wevanhu?

“Ende ungada kuziva futi kuti gore riya ravadira drink pabhuku rako, vatete was busy day-dreaming. All the good signs, Smiley. All the good signs.”

Ndaseka. Yha; all the good signs, Miss. Kufunga kuti mazuva iwayo Molly waindityisa kunge makombhi aya ataihwa kuti ukapinda maari unogugwa musoro.

“Chiiko chaunombhovaita chinovanakidza kudero? Unoziva – hazvina kumbopinda mumusoro mangu pandainyaradza vatete musi wavauya kumba vakatsamwa vachiti maiguru indai munoudza vamwe venyu kuti vazvibate, vasadzinganisa vana vachine mukaka pamhuno. Ehe. Vaindiudza vakomana vose vaivaudza kuti vanovada – haikona ndini ndaiva ndagara pano kwenguva refu here? She trusted my judgements. Kana kuti ndiri kuzvinyepera futi. Nekuti hapana kana musi hwani wavambotaura kuti nhasi  Steve wandiudza kuti kana wakatarira maziso angu anoona zuva richibuda.

“Kana zvanga zvisiri zvekuti vaifarira kukunyeya zuva roga roga raMwari hapana chandaimbofungira ini. Tsk tsk; here I was, thinking my brother was the most innocent pupil I had ever known. Ndaigozviziva sei kuti hazvanzi yacho yaitambira kumusana kwangu? I really underrated you, y’know. You’re devious – the Smiley kind of devil.”

“Miss mava kuzondinyadzisa manje,” ndamwekurira. Miss – dei vaiziva kuti ndaiva mwana kwaye sei vatete vavo vasati vaburuka kubva kudenga. “Handifungi kuti ndizvo zvamuri kuda izvozvo.”

“What do you ever do for her? Ende vanokuda. Kuita kunge ndiwe mweya wake wekufema. She thinks the world of you.”

Wow. Molly kufunga inini zvakadero? Hazviiti. Ndakatarira mwana wacho izvozvika; ndiri kuzviona kuti Miss vanga vachifanira kuisa muvhunzo wavo kuna vatete vavo; vovhunza kuti vakambondipei – kwete kuti ini ndakavapei.

“Vanhu vakanaka ndinovaziva Steve. My auntie is terrific. Hamheno kuti uchazofamba sei mberi kwauri kuenda, asi ndinoda kuti uzive chinhu hwani – you will never find another person like Molly anywhere in this world. Vatete munhu anoda independence yake; zvekuti kana vakasundwa vanosundawo, zvakasimba. Asi unozvizivaka izvozvo. Nekuti chero newe ndizvo zvauri izvozvo. Mose muri mombe dzemashanga dzinoziva kuti kana kwadoka tinofanira kudzokera kudanga. Muri zviuya zvakawanana.”

Handizivi hangu kuti zvavanga vachitaura vachinditsanangura changa chiri chokwadi here, asi ndinoziva kuti pana vatete vavo, Misi vanga vachiita kubaya gudo nemumukanwa chaimo kuti bvoo. Molly is a terrific girl.

Chinhu hwani chavatadza kundiudza Miss – vatete vavo vakazara zvishamiso. Ini ndanga ndakadovaraigwa hangu ndakayeva mwana wevanhu uchinan’anidza kumeso kwangu kuita sekwanga kwamera maA six, maB maviri neziC ziguru guru.

Kana wakamonerana nemwana wevanhu ndizvo zvoga zvaungadoita, zvekumuyeva. Terrific girl. Yha.

Saka tanga takasungana zviuno tichiita kombetisheni yekudzvokorana, tichida kuona kuti unotanga kuisa mazino pachena ndiani. Ndichiseka hangu nechemumoyo – kuti nekukura kwakaita mazino edu uku; kana tikaita mwana ndofunga unoita meno makuru kunge mbango dzemapadza anopfugwa namudhara Padzada.

Miniti yapfuura pasina kana mucherechedzo wekuti pane uchatsuguduka pakati pedu. Two minutes. Three. Ndapwededza chiso changu padhuze dhuze nechake, kusvika ndava kuona mukati kati, mumboni dzekurovesa hana yangu dziya. Ndiri kuda kuona mweya waanofema uchifenengedza mhino dzake…

Pane chinhu chepink chaita kunge chamera pazasi pemhuno yacho. Chiri kukura chinhu chiye – chinenge muromo wake wena. Une rurimi gwepink gune musana wakacheneruka. I wonder why her mouth is getting bigger…

Mmm. Mmmm… Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…

Handina kuwana nguva yekushamiswa, nekuti ndazongoti pati muromo wangu wakiyana newake. Iwe; ndambodzima kani iwe. Temperature yangu yava kutambira kuma50 degrees ikoko.

Unoita kunge wandiisa moto usingapisi pamuromo. Heyi. Ndashama muromo nekushamiswa – ndangandisingazivi kuti kukiyigwa muromo wako neumwe kungadhanganyisa fungwa zvakadero.

Ooooo. Terrific girl.

Pandashama muromo ipapo ndamupa mukana wekuti atsvage rurimi gwangu negwake mukati imomo zvinyoronyoro.

Right. Ini zvemawet dreams ndakazvitanga gore rapera; musi wandatanga kuzvirotera wacho ndakazopatika makuseni ndakazvipushira, dumbu rose iri rakanuna. Ha, zvakaoma. Kubva ipapo bambo vangu taiva todorotavo tine zvibhebhi, haa, tichizviuraya kani kuhope ikoko. Hahaha. Nevamwe vandaisamboziva (kwahi nevanhu ukarota une mukadzi ausingazive unenge wavata nemuroyi – frankly, what man cares?

Besides, handisati ndakamborota ndina Molly ndakabvisa chero heti chaiyo).

Saka zvinoreva kuti inini manje, eee, ndava neidea yekuti kana mukomana une musikana wako muri pakavanda makashama – kana kuti makabvisa hembe dzakakosha dzacho – chii chinofanira kuva chichiitika. Yha. Ndakabata mazamu kuhope. Kumayamwa. Kuita zvose zvinoitwa nezvisingaitwi pavanasikana vaNyamunhu. Hope dzakaipa vakomana. Ndakaita zvose kani.

Kuzhe kwekukisana nemunhu.

Handisati ndakambokisa chero chii zvacho muupenyu bwangu. Chero kumbotesta kuti zvinoita sei kana ndikatsvoda ruvoko gwangu, handina. Ko haikona kisi ndeyepamuchato here nhai veduwe? Plus futi pamuchato pacho zvinotoda kusimbaka – sekuru Tavona vakati pasi pu gore riya pamuchato wavo vanzi vachikisa mukadzi wavo wani. Ndosaka zvichindityisa kuimajina kana kurota kuti chinhu chinonzi kisi chinoita sei kumunhu. Ndanga ndisinavo basa nazvo futi. Chinhu chingatoita padhuze nekisi ndiko kupukuta miromo yake neyangu kwandakaita ndichirota gore riya.

Asi kana ndisingakanganisika, Molly uchangobva mukundikisa izvozvi. And I can feel the XX candidates coming right now.

Ko ndanga ndichifanira kuhwa sei?

Padzoka simba rangu ndatarira Molly. Handifungi kuti uri kumbofungidzira kuti chii chaitika kwandiri. Maziso ake akati kovoo, seemunhu wahwa nehope. Ndananzva miromo yangu; iri kuvavira netaste yake. Hamheno kuti ini ndinotesta sei?

“Ahhhhhh. Can we please do it again?”

Chokwadi handizivi kuti ndiani wataura kudero pakati pedu.

This is an interlude part from a yet to be published work of Jere.