Who killed Kelsey? The couple, kids or the groundman

WHO KILLED KELSEY
THE COUPLE, KIDS OR
THE GROUNDMAN?
By Ephraim Leo Chaparadza


1

“It wasn’t---------!”
The loud voice echoed irritably filling the eardrums of them both; he looked at her fixedly, unbelieving, as if trying to draw the truth out of her eyes, which were blinking sparkling with crystal tears, totally in rage she seemed afraid of what she had started and looking in his eyes seemed like the first time., nevertheless she tried very hard to return the same kind of stare, but couldn’t, hers were wetting making them difficult to blink due bitter tears. A thicker expression of anger palled his face white, forming ridges on his forehead, showing the protruding of his skull, and she knew he was vicious angry for the fourth time since they moved together.
It was now bad, bad news, she thought, and wished if it could be necessary for the universe to cast a great tremor on the house and part it in two parts then swallow her completely between the halves, deep underground in the bowels of earth, and there for the rest of her life to be grounded.
That would be better, off the beast staring at her, the world was bad, full of bad news and bad news is because of people, and a great bunch of them filled with hatred without compassion for defenceless souls. People with low love that seeketh only self to please, bind another to their delight, joys in another loss of ease and builds a hell in heaven despite.
She knew now he was the other element that resemble the last stanza of William Blake, poem (The clod and the pebble) now she couldn’t stand it anymore, it was enough, a desire of change had been long tickling within her, to go somewhere different, heavenly peacefully secluded.
Probably an Iceland never discovered with fantasy filled with harmony, but that was a fairy tale fantasy, something stupid to think of, bookish and unreality, every time she had reads some books, imagine or dream of such an awesome glamour to cherish on such stuff. Surely the world had never been a better place and it would never be. Everywhere where one would think of going, a being is there, even if one would be a hermit bug ups would always come. A being what a piece of work roaming on all planets and space that holds them and him who made them nobody can define him completely, he is damn more of a God.
At last she had finally managed to confront him heatedly with the truth she had gathered behind his back, the truth without Vale, the expression on his face changed reflecting a deep truculent of a threat, still remorse coiled, damn! She thought if this could not be done now the consequences would strike on her mind like a vivid thrown boomerang, why worry anyway when she had already started it.

A mean fiendish man he had lived like all the past years he had weathered, some of his friends had had enough leading to his abandonment, the same with their relatives were not even comfortable to visit them or make affairs with them, he was paranoid, cynical Hitlish, natured, and thank God he wasn’t in politics.
“What did you just say Edith?” He threatened, lips trembling.
“I said it wasn’t; what you said to me was a lie, now I know everything and that you can not change!” She boomed tremendous, the echo again filled the whole room, sharing with others attached to it. It was her first time to talk so violent like this since they moved in, all this time gone; she had remained quite being polite, in fact from girlhood drifting away from aggressive people as if she was dumb with sharp eyes to hear and could not quarrel back, it was for the sake of her peace. She had leant a lesson and now it was high time, they wasn’t no need to get addicted to her way back qualities, it’s good to be a little hush and hard at times in life, that way people can fear you and won’t take advantage. A human with all the freedom to live on just like everyone, yes and no to fear, she was going to say more and whatever would turn on, she was ready to duck, she knew him to be an absolutely absurd man and all she was now doing affecting him, he really deserves it.

“You lied to me Marshal, you used to call me a whole whore—W—W, now I guess it’s clear for you to fit in those initials, damn admit it!” crossly she shouted and paused clearing her throat to make the words come clear and frightening.
“That perfume that was smelting on the covers, remember? It was hers, you slept with Barbra, quite a lot, and made it all up that you wanted to surprise me with the smell. I knew it, suspected it, I ain’t fool Marshal, only fear for you blocked me from saying how I felt,” she produced tissues from her breast pocket and blew; tears were pouring from her sockets.
“You don’t have love Marshal, only taking advantage of other people because you’ve got money, how many times had you beats me up, abused, harassed and molested me, satisfying your greedy evil desires. It’s over with me, I’m moving out for good!”
She said with a strong tense and stood from the lounge wooden furnished chair, they were seated Marshal, over the other side of the table, his face slacked off from the angry mood now paled with surprise and stayed dump for a while, the truth had succeeded to hits the very fragile flesh and he was fighting to breath.
The morning tea they had been drinking was getting cold, her cup untouched, it was this tea that she had taken advantage of to bring up this issue, when she had served the tea, she had just sat cupping her chin on her palm pondering her issues with Marshal, seeing that she wasn’t drinking, he seriously asked if she might had poisoned his tea, why should I? She had responded and he said, because you hate me. That’s when she had finds her way, ‘Yes I hate you because you had never treated me fairly, I was like your slave in spite of being your wife. You knew that I hate you and for that reason you were afraid that I might kill you, isn’t it?’ quite well and quite had been said, the issue had carried on.

“Look? Edith, I can explain, sit down and give me sometimes, it isn’t all in the way you’re putting it like, and its all had been exaggerated with those who had fed it to you, Sit please!” he pleaded, she had already made three paces ahead, he quickly stood and dashed to obstruct her way further, now faced again he said.
“Why are you doing this to me, if I had ever said sorry before, it was fake, but now I do really mean it, please accept my apologies? I know I had hurts you so much and I can’t take it back. Edith, it hurts me as well, I mean me to be I, don’t create this wound in me it won’t go away no doctor can heal but only you who made it ” she meant to say something, but it was to late he snapped. “I can tell the truth, the rest you have heard are just lies, last chance, please!’’
He hardly tried to draw tears to enable to draw compassion from her, but it was to no avail, the girl was affective this time, she had meant it and for good.
“It’s too late Marshal, spare your words, you messed in the dish you eat and puked on everyday, like an animal, now I can’t let that keep on happening, I can feel like how you’re feeling now. No---! I can’t let you; move off, my way---!”
She swirled trying on the other direction and the so called monster couldn’t let her, and
Indeed she was worthy for a fight, he jerked on her front again and got down on his
Knees then clasped his hands together as if to pray.
Now she avoided looking on his eyes directly, she knew that could urge her to cry more,
Marshal, was a player of a lot, he would absolutely make her cry, he was a dramatic
player who chooses his words with exteriority, an impression that can make one fall in
his trap like magic. It all was a part of his talents and the way he uses his gifts was
totally ridiculous, she had learned that all these days, and waited for a chance to cross
his damned line at once, this was the time, son of a bitch, she thought.
Unsure of what he was to say next, he first looked at her smooth down tilted head, a slightly steeply forehead with brown stylized hair, her face was young and gorgeous showing dimples that were very heart taking attractive, the nose moderately pointed and short, and thick oily smooth lips. Her light blue eyes and trimmed slanting eyebrows, was another addition, the head fitted her body completely, and that’s why yes and yes it hurts for Marshal, to loose such a girl.
“I’ve got enemies Edith, I thought you knew that, now I see, they’re breaking us apart, can’t you get a picture of that? We’ve got to be strong, stick together like glue, I’m your shield Edi, every spear I stand as one, that you won’t get harmed and my wound you would nurse. That’s the realm of true love, isn’t it?” He paused pulling her guts up and coming closer to her on his knees, she paced back, the monster was now coming with his stupid womanising curtsy’s, hell with it, she thought.
“ I love you with all my heart, oh! I swear by Virgin Mary, and her sacred womb which had bought a holly saviour on this earth. Come my love, my love for you can dilute all the seas and sources that pours on them and still It remain sweet, you my love-- my worthy, please I plead, do come back!” A tear dropped on his cheek, he was making her uncomfortable, but still she forced a laugh, it sounded more like a chuckle.
“Good try Marshal I’m not a fool, If you had got into acting, John Depp, could have lost his honour already by now, you’re amazing, I bate you try acting. Look I’m the one who is strong here! Marsh, I survived from your humiliations and infidelities.
“You are travelling in perils Mash! You’re riding the wheels of sins, too fast and careless; I warn you, stop it, the results always come the other way around. I’m sorry but not sorry, all that you said is just a bunch of bullshit, to hell with every single word you had said, fuck----- you Marshal!” She was irritating, too cross.
She knew he was starting his old game, a bit poetic, trying to fish her with yummy words; it wasn’t time to tolerate on that, she meant to get ride of all these bullshit right now and move away, straight to her Aunt Norah’s, place in Cape Town, and the ocean there would clear her mind, maybe a bit or completely. She liked splashing on that salt water and swim on it, picking the shells like she used to do during the holidays when she was twelve and had paid her a visit, Aunt Norah with her jokes and stories, cool! It was going to be a good time over there.
At last it was over and she was more than glad, ‘Bit the shit out of the truth and life goes on without much regrets and pain’, Norah had once told her and this is what she had just done.
He stood still looking at her, wandering if he had really lost it, she brushed her shoulder by him and haste her way to the bedroom door to pack her money bought with stuff and leave. When she got hold of the handle, she looked back, he was still standing idle exactly where she had just left him, “Got you son of a bitch!”, At last, she made it and saw his eyes blank and almost confused.
“Sorry I think I’m doing the right thing for my own good, we are all beings Marsh! I had expected you to treat me as one, but never had you! Now you can sneak in with your girlfriends any time, good for you Marshal, you’re free—congratulations!”
She looked in his eyes now totally not scared at all and again said,
“About your underground drug dealing, if I could think for the good of law, I would put that case to the police, so if you know what’s good for you, don’t you bother me, I need to live with people with human qualities now, people who care! —Good luck!”
The sound she gave to her last words where mockingly and touchy to him somehow, even though they were nice, this made him to feel like a word biggest loser, she opened the door, inside; she began to pack her stuff.

When she got out lugging her leather two black suitcases, a handbag across the left shoulder down to the half naked thigh, the miniskirt was too short, she probably had meant for this fellow to see that he didn’t take anything and man are still to be attracted. In adorable steps, she headed to the kitchen door, living him at his spot, hardly, she let one of the cases stamp on the floor, to use the other hand for the door. Then suddenly heard his heavy footsteps marching towards her, he grabbed the luggage on the floor as if retrieving it, showing and pretending to be pitiful he cried.
“No! Edith, don’t do this to me, we can settle this without hurting one another, can’t believe this! You’re making a mistake!”
“A mistake, ugh! You’re mad”
Trickles of tears flowed down his cheek and whatever he was feeling she knew it was a trick penitent and was wasting his time, they wasn’t no turning back. Delicately she placed her petite hand on the waist and faced him, now finally.
Seeing his tears made her angrier, it made her feel foolish somehow, with that anger coiling, suddenly she slapped enormous on his cheek, since he wasn’t aware of that he fall down,
“All you had bought for me I left it on the bed, if you want to make sure, I can open both cases, here!” She threw the one on her hand over him.
He rose and grabbed it, his black rumbled hair showing the fringe hanging on the forehead; she had cut it for him two weeks ago because he wanted it so. They were all speechless for a while.
“It doesn’t matter I can buy some, do whatever you want with the rest of my stuff—Mr Nonesuch!’’ She tilts the knob, got out and left with one of her case, had saved herself at last. She sighed a relief heading to her car and the sound of her Citroen was the last for him, poor little Edith, had left her man for doing her wrong.


2
That’s how they got separated and the worst terrible thing in his life, this even had created scars of memories which were going to trouble him emotional. As he knew, Edith, was a good girl of morals and it was a mistake or unlucky to have Marshal, as a husband, she surely was a blessing for any man who would marry her latter.
Unlike Marsh full of hatred and selfishness, he deserved the consequences worst than these he had early had, it was plain white all was his fault.
He had cheated her many times covering it all up with liars, somehow she had been aware of that and couldn’t bother but just waited for the time. The other day when she had asked him about his going outs at almost midnight, severe beatings had broke, she had scars on her body some she had forgotten how they came. They were painful days of him molesting her, even if she could insist that she was sick and doesn’t need any romance that was to no avail, he had treated her like a prisoner rather a wife, tears sprouting with the smell of whiskey above her, impaling his manhood, her feeling like some squeaky jumping castle and that was far more a rape. Yes! And no doubt everything was a force she had been a toy, though she had known all these oppressions could make him get charged on one of the high degrees of law, quite, she remained.
It would stop, she had thought many times following her aunt’s other saying (some men are shaky at the first time of marriage; they would be settled by the present of kids). Those words were dull probably works for others not her, and that’s why she had prevented pregnancy with the after morning drugs, kids would be a great obstacle when it calls for divorce.
Another thing he knew about herself, was her being an orphan with few poor relatives, a brother she had never seen for years and other relatives who were struggling also with their families, he must had taken that as an advantage to make her life so complicated thinking that no one can accept her. He had plentiful of money, sufficient enough to throw to anything, easily he could just get it like plucking leaves from a tree or collects like sea shells. His car selling company was firmly progressing, drug selling on the other hand was contributing, and he didn’t give a damn about who’s who?
And one thing for sure he get so pieced up with all of a sudden, is whoever is trying to sneak his/ her pet nose in his business, and no one tells him of how bad he is.
Who the hell can you be? By the end of the day, that burger or whatever you ate could be enough on this earth, you’re a gonna! His guys would make sure of that once ordered, they were all well paid and wonder why they do their work serious in secret. And how did Edith, finds out about his drug dealing? He trusted his guys and they trusted him as well, they were three genius operators.
Derek, was the heavy duty one who makes sure that all the work was done accurate without what they call bullshits or fuck ups, Thomas, the driver, as crew they knew him as the son of a bitch due to his lust habits, no charming girl can cross over his face without him responding and Philemon, the muscular one who secure all the security services when they’re on the game. Marshall only gave orders and makes sure that all needs are available and communicate with clients.

And damn right he was sure to find out who it was with a big mouth that had made Edith, knew about what he had never wanted her to know. If he won’t God! Father of Mercy Messiah, Edith, would be on the run. Anyway, that’s what she had known, not that there are six dead bodies thrown in the blast furnace of his friend Drubber, who’ve got his own companies from running illegal and blood trades, yeah! Sleeping around and drug dealing is all she had known, luck let him die first and that would spare her, Marshal the nonesuch, the man with rolling money machine, no!
All these past days Edith, had hesitated to just run away whilst he could be at work, but something urged her to stay calm and plan for this vicious confrontation and whatever was that something, it was good! She knew his enormous amount of money was what goaded him; it was his pride and his authority, his bowel and arrow, his spear, his gun and merely his army. Drugs took a little amount and bought it back enlarged in profits and everything was just flowing the way he had always wanted.
Finally she had realised what he thinks, that she hasn’t anyone to rely on, yes! She had wandered in truth, money was his security and she had known that what goes around swinging like some sissy bitch always comes around.
Poor little baby Edith, had moved out leaving most of her hard earned materials now serving his house, and never mind God knows the ups and downs.
She had been working as an accountant at Jet clothes shop; Marshal had looked for the job after she had asked to work at his car selling company and refused. By the time she couldn’t figure out why he hadn’t placed her at his own work place, when she saw the work at Jet enchanting her proudly and paying good, she didn’t ever dared to ask why? Acknowledging her determination and skills at the work, the company was about to promote her, that’s when she requested for documents to swap her work to Cape Town, and the bug to face Marshal was effectively frisk. On the other hand she was studying law, working it all out at night, good Lord, some people heads are small, but contains a lot.
Because of her fairness beauty man at work had been since detouring on her proposing for dates, she had never dared for one, not by that time she had business to do, and anyway she knew that one of these days, luck one would come and pluck her up, married and have kids maybe brighter than she is, she had quite awesome dreams you know and she was climbing up the steps.

3

He yawned, then sighed still on bed, lips stretched like rubber and legs and hands were undercover stretching the weak morning muscles, then he groaned being taken away with the soft comfortable duvet. He felt his long feet protruding tightly pinning the covers not to let the cold in, again he yawned and muttered something childish which seemed to be an incantation of some sort, by then he shoved the hand out checking how cold it was, no! It wasn’t the right time to get off the bed, it was cold a little like the inside of a morgue, the room had always stayed warm one of the windows must be open. He didn’t check it out yesterday for he was in a state.
Thinking of a morgue, he had never been in one accept once, the rest about it he had seen it on movies and read it from comics magazines and novels when young, they kept frozen corpse in deep refrigerators to prevent them from decaying, and when you close your eyes resisting to see the corpse, you can see it there in the darkness of your eyes spreading its arms, teeth tightly hanging out and ready to—to-to, his grandfather had almost freaked him, he used to own one when he was still alive, his grandfather used to live in Durban, and Marshal, age was six and a half.
A pseudonym that forks who used to play with him had given him was Danny Macho, in favour of that name he latter changed his birth name to that; he had worked as a post-mortem his entire life. When Marsh and his mother visited him one of those days and were escorted in the mortuary, after he had had a fight with his mom when she had forbidden him to come inside, that how his pap had came up with the idea to freak him up. The smell of chemicals almost had choked him and the coldness within was hush, from then onwards he had never touched old Danny’s hands and had never wanted to be close to dead bodies, when Danny, died he was glad.
Very interesting, the poor lad who used to hate to see dead bodies had became a killer, it’s the wonder of growing up, there are things you drop off obtaining qualities of adulthood, but on this case it was his ego and vanity, one shouldn’t do what he know he shouldn’t do for we are all measured.

Suddenly he jerked off the soft warm cover and hesitated a while due to weakness crawling in his flesh, then suddenly he threw his legs down on the floor resigning.
Coldness started to ooze within his warm flesh, trying the blood, but the warm blood was in motion fighting back.
Immediately, something woollen startled him by the feet, then he bends to see what it was, and the event of yesterday stirred into memory, that made a flinch in his belly and a belch followed, he scrambled the woollen jersey under the bed, then re-realised the mess he had done yesterday. On the other side of the bed clothes scattered as if a burglar had broke in, Edith, clothes he had cast all over in rage, rummaging through all the drawers where she used to keep her stuff.
Things had gone so fast yesterday, memories were extremely coiling, he ought to seek out a plan and end this whirling subject from his head, less this drives him nuts.
To obliterate all her stuff was the only alternative he had yielded, he was absolutely sure that this would work and he had to call Barbra to do it, yes Barbara with all this but he knew he was the basic source of this, the main causer. They wasn’t no turning back, milk lost is milk wasted, even though the pot wasn’t good enough to store the milk.

Marshals, and Barbra, were long time and big time buddies since high school days and there was an affair between them that had never been known with their spouses.
Barbra liked his funny sense of humour especially when they’re both drunk and he loved Barbra than Edith never mind her beauty could be doubled in comparison to Edith’s, but that didn’t matter to him, in Barbra there was something attractive, something intangible but felt every moment with her after all they shared deep dark secrets which is another reason why they were inseparable.
Their romance had never crossed their minds that both of them were sacred properties
Of other persons, whether it crossed their minds, it wasn’t something to be frightened of, whether people would find out and walk spreading rumour—infidelity—infidelity—hell crap is that, Marshal used to say. It isn’t an odd thing to secretly share a woman with someone else, it didn’t start with him and it wouldn’t be ended with him, somehow someone had slipped from the rule and found it funny and many followed him the same slip. This is the only chance when one is on earth, they won’t be this when you’re a gonna in heaven or hell, you ought to do what your mind picks on, on earth.
That’s what Marshal thought, he didn’t know what lies on the other side of life, actually Edith was one of the people who explore both sides and find which is one exactly to rely on, for example if someone, hits the rock and keep on hitting the rock again and again, not even getting harmed, well! They is a day, when the rock will hit back, and when it hits, it hits the very spot where it hurts.
So this was the dude with his money, his money wasn’t against him though most was being gotten by illegal means, so long he was doing anything he pleases with it, it wasn’t not a nightmare, but a dream that had came true.


4
Marshal wasn’t to use his bedroom until it was cleaned of Edith’s remains, he seemed to felt it haunting as if Edith, was dead or otherwise it was just because of his failure to retrieve her back, he felt the plunge of failure and weakness every time he viewed this room.
From his bed he went straight to the bathroom toilet where he took a leak and came back by the mirror contemplating on his face while he washes the morning remains of sleepiness. Sluggishly, he pulled the chair aside and sat staring at his flute tipped nose, flat cheeks and the adorable blonde hair. He could had fitted well to be called handsome if it wasn’t because of the structure of his head, that was a bit round leaving it with a disfigured shape, however he had a nice tempting voice that could make one wrongly perceive that he was a good man, and this was the one that had failed Edith when she was proposed.
Quickly, Marshal, finished his routine wash-up and headed to the kitchen to get him something to eat since he hadn’t eaten anything since she had left. He tried to let go the stress enveloping his mind and find it hard, whisky! He thought and took a glass from the lounge shelf on his way inside.
He arranged the food on the table, placed his bottle close and sat, swigging the last of his coffee he had began to drink whilst he was warming the food, when all was gone, he placed the cup down to see that it was his birthday cup, written –Leo, 15 August 1982, his star, And the absurd thing was Edith was the one who had bought it for him.
Edith, it was still coming back, striking hard the very flesh and he knew that the whole house wasn’t to make it easy for him; she had left quite a lot of her stuff.
Now he thought of all the things that he depended on and how they had failed him, his money hadn’t played any part or perhaps it had only retarded/reprieved her, otherwise she could had gone already, anyway it was just a thought, his thought, Marshal was wondering, he needed to know, but the reason was clear, he was so abusive.
He thought of the day he spate a mouthful of vodka on her face and she almost had lost her sight and the other day he threw a hot potato impaled on the spikes of a fork, it had swatted her cheek and got scalded by now the scar was still there.
‘What—you whole whore; you want me to eat this tasteless shit, ha? If you got no skills of cooking why didn’t you order something? Haven’t I gave you the money this month’
That’s when the swat came, and she only had screamed and fled to lock herself in the bathroom hoping that he’ll calm down soon and that’s where she had slept to be awakened the next morning with his hard knocks and apologizing in vain. She knew and only opened it because of fear, for if she didn’t opened it, he could had broke open the damn door and beat her some more, when she opened it, he proposed for sex and she let him, with tears running on her face.
One thing for sure his money had embellished her thoroughly, he was the one who had got a nice profitable work for her where she was extended to a higher position due her natural skills and favors, he once had thought she had abandoned him because of the greater work that she now possessed but he re-realized his ill-treatments. Edith was bright and easy to catch up with anything she’s taught, she believes that being modest and humble is the alternative to achieve a dream and also a security in life.
Maybe without him or with him she could have achieved the same she now have or could had done more. Besides being a second managing director of a supermarket called Jet, on the other hand she was writing books and was coming good with them, and soon enough she was sure she was to be filth rich and that was going to be a disaster to Marshal, he wasn’t to like that.
Just some merely girl who had crossed over his hands and had bedded to be something so huge than he, nah! That would be a defeat, if only it was him who had kicked her out he could had felt better, not this—not this that had just happened, it was indeed a defeat and hard to carry along, something must be done.
A rich man’s life ought to be working right according to his will; his money would positively settle everything out, he was sure and counting on it as his gods.

Reluctantly, he helped himself to a piece of spicy tomato pizza, nibbling it bit by bit,--tasting good it was, then he got a bigger bite and munched and munched, chewing the way a cow chews the cud. After having most of his food, he belched and wiped his mouth with a cloth which he then mistakenly tossed on the floor, then for the whisky.
After two half glasses of dry whisky, he stood, feeling the alcohol taking its purpose vividly, he almost staggered if it wasn’t of his hand that was on the table, he puffed and did it again, not a big deal, he was all alone, now it was time to make the phone call.
He passed the house plant she had bought and the small table between the lounge coaches, the land phone was just at the corner where the hearth was, it was Edith’s idea for this hearth to be put in, never mind bitch! He thought and picked up the receiver, dialing the number.


5
The phone ringed on the other end and no one picked it up, the caller didn’t quite, it kept on ringing, with a click after a while at last someone picked it up.
The hello! From him was a faint sick muffle, as if sparing his voice for more to say,, they was a deep silence for a while in the live wire, not managing to bear this silence for long he tried again, now a bit louder than the first time.
“Hello!”
“Are you sick nuts or something? What’s this new thing you’re trying on me today, Marshal?” a female voice responded with a chuckle.
“Today that will go without saying, I’m in a state, and I’ve got a big painful issue and I really need you baby, so bad I need you”
“What’s up?”
“Nothing-I mean nothing is up, everything is down crushed on me, I want to be up baby, I want you to pull me up. Can I met you in privacy somewhere else, you can pick a spot and I’ll be there soon or you can come here if you don’t mind”
“Now?” she quickly asked,
“Yes-yes now” he snapped in,
“No, Marsh, my husband is here today on any condition I’m sorry I can’t make it, he’s just taking a shower now and I don’t want him to suspect anything, speak quickly please-please”
Barbra pleaded, her eyes fixed to the bathroom entrance.
They was a bit of soundless for a while, she knew why and just waited,
“Barbra, you’re not being fair, can’t you just tell him that you’re going to see a friend sick or something, you know I always help you at any time, so now for my turn?”
The same soundless took place, here they weren’t looking at each other to see the practical serious of the other, and displaying diction is the only motive on the phone, no direct consolation or handshaking or naught kisses. Anyway, let’s jump the two couple conversation for a while.
Do people imagine words or they just say them naturally in simplicity, there are there inside our heads within the minds that activate them to take effect, the mouth that speaks them is just a door, but sometimes one needs a key to lock it, because they are so many who had regretted what they had said, the eyes that hears them also needs a key, for they are also many who wish they didn’t heard whatever they had, so ever the eyes reads them, so long what’s happening now, shall be known in the latter years to come, like myth.

But where exactly words comes from is not a question to ask, we may say the voice box, how about the mind, the mouth and the tongue, they ought to be some unclear sense here, a secret unknown, something not even to write about but Edith was writing about it.
It seems absurd in its sense, after all why anyway do we need to know that? There is lot of questions to do with our being, our ancestors had left us to figure out and yet still now; some of these answers haven’t yet come. They are many things we don’t have control on, imagination can be controlled, rather dreams that can only be controlled by nature. Let’s say life, Edith, believed that only twenty percent is what we control, the rest to Him who had made us to be, imagine a human who doesn’t even know when he’s to drop his second round, what the coming minute is gonna bring or where is his exactly way in life, in all he/she has to figure out. So this means that we’re owned and we had been measured and this is why we have limits.
But the question that emerge from that is, do we have anything we own, the birds we cage, do we do that because they don’t know how to be on their own or it’s the vain for us to feel the experience that we own, in fact they can survive with or without us, for the one who own us owns them, Mr. everything is definitely His name, when you hear someone telling you that he’s got everything, tell him to go to hell, he’s just got something that can not be compared with what others have, not actually everything.
Everything is not with us, just as the future isn’t with us all and either was the past with us all, nature is the master of everything, the very teacher of life, it contribute each and every aspect to do with life bringing us the meaning of us being here, bringing fates to deeds of yesteryear forgotten, but above all that, we’re not satisfied. Every life is precious for the money we nowadays worship can not buy it; they are principals that bind every human life and wonder why we’re God’s special assets, because we were engraved from his image unlike all the things He had created. After all from all that is embraced in the points of myth, they is something that defines us as whole and what confuses us to be reflected to whatever is the definition, is that we weren’t together before, so that’s why every individual follows his/her own roots and this days imperfection had taken place and a man is asking where did it went wrong, confusions of man are from his will from transcendent thoughts.

But to talk without seeing the one you’re speaking to even though you’ve got the eyes, say a prayer or through a phone or even others who just talk and talk answering themselves as if the other person, it’s not weird or the remains of myth, it’s because of different and the advancement of technology, however there is something funny and questioning when we bring the subject of technology and myth, would technology leave myth? Somehow yes it got to, why, because the things that were used to be done in myth time are now replaced with technology, and why technology? To make things better, but has anyone ever thought that God had made everything right and we doomed all that, and where are we right now, we’re mending? No we’re making it worse. And this is what Edith, knew and she was aware and fighting inside figuring out a way to bring justice, to make people aware of this, how young and how deep in life she was, was she to make it or she was just eating herself out.


14

“And it’s not even fair Marshal that I’ll have to leave him alone after all this time he was away, I know what we mean to each other—but—but- the thing is—is” she broke down stammering, she must had realized the mistake she had made, Marshal was the man, her man no mater what.
“What is it that had happened?” she calmed down aiming his very subject,
“That’s it, you should had asked that early on, the thing is yesterday was the heaviest of my days, I can’t believe this, I mean what happened to me Barbra—I can’t”
“And you think I would be able to help and guess what it is?” she asked,
“Don’t snap me that much, how can I when you’re doing that, you know we trust one another in everything”
And that was true, trust, sure they trusted one another and she understood that pretty well and that’s why she had broke down from the argument she was just about to start. His seriousness touched her and her instinct became wet, she thought maybe some of his games are spilled up and he’s on the run, though sometimes he was childish, she was sure that something distorting had just turned up.
Years could prove how they were so close, with all the reminiscent of high school and it all was a matter of games that had preserved their relationship so far, both they carried secrets of another aware not to spill one’s bins.
Barbra was Marshal right hand girl, if she did have any problem he was always there to help, and after all, here between them the secrets were deadly and dangerous, it was this core that adhere them as if endless, especially about the rape case that involved two of Marshal long time school friends.
It happened on a certain day, there was a movie going on at school during the night, Marshal and his two friends drove to watch. In the hall they was this young beautiful girl, she was a model and most guys at the school had failed to sweeten her up, hearing this from his friend, Marshal decided to try his best, and he was positive that it will work, nothing had ever failed him by being rich, but he had failed after this girl had scolded him in front of many teenagers. This is what drives him to rape her, by the middle of watching the movie, the electricity had went off, the school generator wasn’t working, as most school teenagers always do, a noise broke within the darkness, some singing, yelling and spraying their cold drinks and the wild things which are done with the modern kids.
The one who was in charge locked the hall and left to look for flashlights and also to fix the generator, that’s when Marshal made a deal with his friends, promising them thousand rand each, being a decent one, the girl never left her seat, but sat still waiting for the light, and after all she was scared of the wildness going on and suddenly firm grips grabbed her by the mouth, the thighs, then both the three seized her down, she had tried to kick and rolled, but the grips were hundred times stronger than her, she felt someone fumbling and drawing her skirt, then fumbled on the end of her skirt and the rape took place three times and it had hurts.
The next morning she had been discovered dead with the cleaner under a bench, hair tangled allover her face and the left breast exposed of her blouse, her genital naked smeared with dry blood and semen, the police investigations had never adjusted the deadly puzzle.
Latter on after a while still at high school, a certain day when Barbra and Marshal were dead drunk, that’s when this blood issue prolonged and Barbra, had decided to share hers, perhaps to make Marshal feel comfortable that his secret was safe, since she owns him, even about his drug dealing scheme.
The death of Sharon, the first wife of Craig, now her husband, Barbra had poisoned her in order to take over Marshal, actually this had happened when in disappointment that Marshal, had got married to Edith, all the while she had been desperately waiting that soon Marshal could marry her and Craig, was still proposing by that time.
Edith, had never seen Barbra, but Barbra had, after Edith, had smelt the perfume on the bed and had never brought the suspicious subject up due being afraid of Marshal, she had fallen suspicious that Marshal was having an affair with someone and the truth had came free on a silver platter from one of the guy very close to Marshal.

Days are cursed they are paths that leads to something new which is manifested with our thoughts, and this everyone knew every minute but awareness lacks because they could be constant things getting busy in everyone’s mind, it is impossible to think one thing at a time and this definitely has to do with what we see and hear and only sleeping and death can cure this system.
She said, he said and time never stopped clicking, it counted and gave them limits, for they was still more to come that needed to be registered in time.



15

She had came with a cup of coffee to the phone, after she had let it ring for while whilst she had been warming her husband food in the microwave, expecting that the call was again from Morriono, her cousin, a chatterbox who had called early two times in the morning, and very enthusiastic excited about the weeding in a couple of months to come.
Morriono, was always wild when it comes to functions, noise and drinks is all she valued in functions, as she once had told Barbra, noise makes her feel as if she’s over alive, the noise overwhelming all over her body, vibrating within every bone and assuring her that life is in progress, Barbra still remembered a certain function when she had insanely thrilled.
‘All you motherfuckers, I’m alive—I’m alive, all you motherfuckers who had died you were lazy to keep up with your breathes, no--not me I don’t give it up, take that you sucking suckers’
And indeed all the so called motherfuckers had stared at her and some even had came far from where they where they were enjoying at the part, just to see who the hell it was, Barbra would never forget the day. It was funny and some guest had got disappointed and had left the food and beer still warm and fresh.
That was Morriono, the nuisance, when layers of beer are pilled up in her skull, nobody could stop her, Barbra had once slapped her on the cheek and all she does was laugh and roar in zest taking all the attention from people.

So when the phone rang and rang again, she finally had decided to go and pick it up and give this stupid Morriono, the worst of her life, she went frowning across the floor and crossly indeed, the coffee cup hooked with her trembling fingers.
Her husband had always complained about the bill when he could see her chatting on the phone.
When she got by, after hearing the soft weak voice, she suddenly had known that she was wrong, it was someone she often spent time with in the absents of Craig, her husband.
Now on the middle of their seeming endless conversation, of what had happened to him the day before had almost been finalized and recorded.
“So that’s what she did to you, damn that’s too bad, I’m so sorry darling, but you’re to be fine, believe me I’ll make sure of that” though she was pretending compassion over this, it wasn’t prominent, she had learned to fake things from him, her cup of coffee of course she drank with satisfaction and great gusto, and she asked.
“Anyway, dear how did she find out? You know me and Edith, had never been friends”
Marshal, hesitated a little to that question and there was an unspoken conversation that hung suspended between them,
You did it, you bitch
No why should I do such a thing to you
Because you wanted to take over me just like you did to Craig’s, first wife
No that can’t be true Marshal, I wouldn’t do that to you after all you have done for me
Do you think I can really buy that?
Why not—why not?
Bitch—you killer----!
We both killers Marshal,
Yes, yes, they were both wearing one another’s face and no one wanted to be known of sins committed in the passed away days, when days had seemed a prolonged line of heaven they were walking and yet in sins.
“I know you didn’t tell her Barbra, someone did, and I ought to find out quickly about that damned mouth” A slightly silence reigned a while, and he felt that he had cast a stream of ragged comfortless, but regardless she answered him quite well.
“Yeah, sure you will, I was just thinking that maybe it might be some of your guys; they really know a lot to do with us” Barbra puts in, and she only wished that Craig, won’t come out very soon, he hated to see her spending such amounts of time on the phone though he had never looked suspicious or went to listen to on the other line, all was good about Graig, she thought so more often, but what she hated were his work excuses every time and then—especially the continuous business meetings, their romance wasn’t adequate.
“It’s hard to believe that but well, they sure know a lot and when I found out someone is to be in a huge-----?” he hesitated and pushed of the last words he intended to say, then puts in something else.
“You still remember that day when she almost finds us together, here, you perfume was very strong allover the bed cushions, she confessed that yesterday”
Surprised, with a vigor tone, she snapped in quickly,
“She got that?—oh! How?” almost to herself she asked in a hidden fear of being responsible, with an impression of being caught guilty, she realized her mistake; it wasn’t the proper manner she meant to respond like,
“Oh, yeah I still remember, I spilled it by mistake—I remember when you where bathing after me, for Christ sake I can’t believe that I’m also part of this—I’m so sorry Marshal”
He knew, he had melt his block and to drink it wasn’t that hard, he had a favour to ask from her and now that she had accepted that she had ruined him, he took that advantage to ask his favour, but before that he thought it wise to pass a bit of condolences.
“Come on sweet, it ain’t your fault, don’t you acidify yourself with too much pressure, things will work out, I promise” but still, she snapped in,
“I’m sorry Marshal, I messed you up, and I wish I could just take it back” he waited for her to finish and when she stopped he said,
“Its fine Barbra, I guess she just wanted to go, I don’t care about her and you mustn’t”
She reconsidered that she was still online and the shower was still running accompanied with a soft whistle.
“I might be that” she said, now wanting to make an excuses of calling it quits and save it for sometimes, but he was on another level and she find it hard to quit.
“Now listen up, they is something simple I would like you to do for me—would you want to?” she remained tense a while digesting her anger of this long conversation, she had had enough and wanted---whatever.
“Yes—yes, I can do anything for you Marsh, honey, be quick Graig is almost done”
“I need you to come here tomorrow and clear of her stuff, they’re driving me insane, you can either swap or keep what you want or even sell them and keep the money. I can’t bear seeing them” he pleaded, and she accepted but not exactly.
“Of course I can do that, but I mean not tomorrow, Monday would be just fine, today is Friday right?” she murmured and quickly catches up the exactly day, it was Thursday,
“Monday, can’t be fine Barbra, I really need this to happen very soon. Can’t you make an excuse to him” he argued and she didn’t fall on that without a fight.
“I’m sorry Marshal, I can’t make it for you Tomorrow, but I promise that I will do you that favour, take a self vacation for a while, it will do you good. If you don’t mind you can leave the keys with me, anytime from Sunday I would be able to work you house out. After all why can’t you get someone else, hire a maid or---”
By that he knew he had lost it, he kept quite waiting for her to say something, she too waited for a response but perceived that he was waiting for her,
“So on Monday, right? I promise I will make it up for you”
“Alright then, Monday!”
“where did she go?” damn, he thought to himself, this very subject was still with her, they were now on the brim of it but now she had just went on a little beneath, however he answered her,
“She didn’t say exactly where, but I think she went to her grandma in Cape Town”
“I’m really sure that it’s not just my perfume, there got to be someone who had told her”
“Yeah, bullshits peering on my business, and after all she’s also a clever bitch, anyway let’s brush this subject of, don’t ever give it a ring, it’s over with her”
He warned her,
“Fine, you’ve got my promise”
“I accept it”



16
“Young lady, you’re still on the phone, lika your mom owns it----anyway, I’m going out for a little business expenditure, will be back in 30 minutes time”
He walked closer to her and bended over then kissed her on the tip of her nose with closed eyes,
“Love you honey” he said after she had just opened them, her left hand gagging on the mouthpiece, with a childish smile she said,
“I love you too”
He nodded walking towards the door, Barbra, watching his back, as if from after thought, she said,
“Don’t you forget that sum of money I asked, please darling, I must have it”, she said still watching his back. He turned back and looked in her eyes smiling a bit and a teasing one, looking in his eyes set a spark of guiltiness within her and she pretended to return the same remark and he said.
“Count it done baby, you know I don’t let you down” she made a mocking leery smile as he headed to the door and got out without turning back, at the same time she placed the receiver back on her ear, after a sigh of relief, then,
“Hello, Marshal?”
“I’m still on---count it done” he mimicked then chuckled mockingly,
“My husband would kill you, if he heard that Marsh” she laughed and began a fresh subject that had just came on her mind by the time,
“Guess what! Next month, there is a wedding going on at Charlotte mansion, I’ve received an invitation card meant for four, so you’re on my pick list. Would you want to go with me Marsh--?”
“Yes, why not, you know I love weddings, I can’t wait till I have my own”
“Cool, I’ll see you Monday—kiss—kiss, bye”
Deadline, he said bye to the air and put back the receiver a bit disappointed.


17

After an hour and couple of minutes having had been chatting on the phone with Marshal, now seated on the slack comfortable settee, her mind pitched tight with what he had said, she was now suffering deep inside, he had lit a small smoldering flame in her conscious and second by second in his soliloquy the fire kept on bulging up, creating an orifice that can only be felt deeply where her thoughts were in constant motion, she couldn’t figure out where exactly this was taking place whether in her mind or heart.
She tried to regret all the time she had sneaked with him on his bed as if married couple for real was this habit in recent time, like getting in the kitchen preparing meals for the day, or else sat in the wide luxurious lounge watching TV and puffing drugs of many kinds, after then when sex cravenness caught them, it was another serious part she would never forget. Sucking his and when those semen springs out dripping on his penis, her mouth licking as he could be making his heavy sighs of ecstasy, yes he did that also to her, but the thing was she had times this could just set an agitation in her mind when she’s normal off drugs, this wasn’t the way her parents had raised her, they were very cautious and mentor parents, but she had leaped off from their ship, it hurts her, too bad it hurts her even now.
Especially the day they almost got caught with Edith, whilst swimming, she in Edith, swimming costume. It happened that all of that sudden, the electric gate went pulling aside opening, and they knew that Edith had arrived for some reason since it wasn’t the fixed time she came home from work. Half naked they both rushed inside and skulked to the spare bedroom, where he told her to lock the door from inside, then he slithered back to the lounge looking hysterically for an evidence that might had led them to being caught, there wasn’t anything in the lounge. He then ran in the main bedroom and found Barbra’s pants which he had quickly figured where to hide them and under the mattress is where he had placed them, as he peered his head in the lounge, Edith was just closing the door.
She had came home due to a headache, he knew that she reads a lot without having enough sleep and that was the cause, Marshal had earlier thought that she might had forgotten something in particular to do with her job and to his surprise that was wrong. She had kissed him and had told him of her striking headache, then went straight to bed, he had helped her with a glass of dozed water, and more of the same tablets which she had drank and motionless fall asleep.
When he told Barbra that everything was sorted, they both had waited for ten minutes for the tablets to surfeit her completely, then latter on they had struggled gentle lifting up the mattress with her, Barbra holding her naked shoulder in case she might fall and smelling the perfume she had spilled earlier, that’s the day she had felt her soft skin and the stunning blonde hair, poor Edith, had been in the depth of sleepiness, when they fetched the clothes out they straight had drove to Marshal’s place, leaving Edith alone and sure that he would come back and find her the way he had left her.
That was one of the biggest scar holding a greater space within her dirt memory, dark and prominent enough to be felt, it was something that wasn’t to be obliterated by anything accept death the host of all lives, a doze of drugs could easy this temporary.
She thought about how stupid she was by quitting her acting job, she could have been self dependence and supporting by now. She thought about Marshal, breaking up with Edith and Veronika, Craig’s first wife she had poisoned in order to take over her Husband and all the crimes committed with Marshal, and had entrusted on her and now rediscovered that she was building sins upon sins, too much stupid mistakes.
‘Whatever!’ She tried to force this subject off her mind but it wasn’t easy at all, Veronika appeared again, the homicide committed six or seven years ago but to think of it, it seemed fresh and it was painful, she had had bate on it that once this was done she wasn’t to regret over it anymore. She swore before she had killed her, remorse was the other thing she had crossed her heart that she won’t be a subject to and now it was a surprise that her memories were making her insane.
Her thoughts were weighting like a concrete slab stuck in her fragile soul, Marshal being the basic and major source. He was her best friend and boyfriend and years could approve of that, but this feeling she now had was destructive, she wanted to end this, yes of course to dumb him and cash him with foul words. But there was an obstacle, it was impossible after all he had done for her, save that there were a lot of evil stuff they entrusted to each other, this wasn’t something one can wash of like dirty, no—not sins, would Jesus pardon this—would he really dare and kiss you’re forgiven young lady—go well and sin no more.
She wanted to, but something was forbidding her to carry on, on cutting this relationship with Marshal, Barbra, wasn’t working at all this days after she had told her boss to go to hell when this boss wanted her to do a job she didn’t approve according to her qualifications and never mind the stupid job money wasn’t a problem it was rolling from both Craig and Marshal. Deserting of Marshal would be just like shitting where she eats, she had to comfort him instead, after all his loose and Marshal had always been a guiden since school days.
Actually, she knew that Marshal wasn’t the type that accept loosing, he would do anything to make him feel as the one on all wheels, she knew the consequences that would follow her if she dare breaks his heart, like the girl she had raped at School years ago, people he had killed in his drug dealing system and other things she couldn’t quite remember.
He needed a shoulder and she understood that and she was left with no option but to console him all she could.
Craig, was the other obstacle and she had made many excuses earlier on and about this situation of Marshal, wanting someone to clear off his mess, it was challenging in a way she couldn’t quite well understand, she had this feeling, that Marshal probably had thought that she was the one who had caused Edith, to part with him in the same manner to take over, and now he wanted to trap her somehow. It wasn’t a big deal, she thought, this time she have to play wise and cross not to be taken advantage of. In the middle of these meandering thoughts the phone ringed again, she looked with a disgusted impression and stood heading to pick it up---the godamn phone---bull---, she sworn then hesitated to pick it and closing her eyes she roughly plucked it of rudely.


14

This time it was her uncle’s wife, Mrs. Greenbadge, in her sixty, still with guts to know what’s happening around the world, she brought three popular newspapers everyday and spent all day reading and there was nothing happening in the world that you could ask her and be unable to tell you. Since Barbra, had stayed with her for a while whilst she was still a high school girl that’s when she had came to know about this.
Mrs. Greenbadge stayed on the north west of Pretoria, just close to the outskirts of Century
, a widow and a mother of a nine year old beautiful daughter, the one who had the stunning silver blonde hair and delicate feature of a face with dimples that extracts every time she smiles, like a fairy child as most people used to refer her.
Barbra, as she still remembers, it was four years and a couple of months since she met with her at Roxette band which took place in Cape Town, this girls name was Kelsey and was living in Cape Town with her grandmother, her mother coming to visit her more often especially in holiday time.
“How are days caring you on baby, don’t tell me you’re just sitting like a bag of garbage undone doing nothing, I want you back on TV, you hear me?” Mrs. Greenbadge puts in greeting her niece and sounding very happy.
“I’m doing well Mam and looking to be back again maybe next year, it’s just that there are few things I have to put in shape before I start all that” Barbra said with a sad torn,
“Maybe, is a doubt I should tell you baby, well! You don’t ask us the expects of what to do with your lives, you modern things don’t just get it that we the elders got a lot of experience with life and know of solutions on many aspects of life. You are very mistaken”
“Very mistaken-oh, me, no—not me, don’t include me in those who are mistaken, I respect and take a great deal from elders” she said defensively.
“Is that so?”
“What, you don’t believe me?”
“Why should I, since when did you asked me of such things to help you out, you had never” the lady blurted out and Barbra heard her clearing her throat.
“Well, I did asked some elders close enough to me”
“Don’t you fool me young lady, they all say that latter on to hear that there are in the brinks of troubles, find a day and come here, I would give you some advices and do some counseling on you, how’s that?”
“Some what?” she hardly chuckled and tried to revert her thrill knowing that the lady would absolutely say this was disrespecting,
“You’re laughing, aha, well don’t, it’s your own life Miss and I’m here to show you a good direction but if you take it for granted some days on, you would suffer your own regrets and hopefully I won’t be there for you” she warned seriously.
“Didn’t mean to blub, Mrs. Green, I didn’t know that you’re also a counselor” she chuckled some more this time in holding her mouth so as not to be heard, but somehow that chocked her throat and after she recovered, Mrs. Greenbadge said,
“Its fine, now for the reason I’ve called, I’m asking you a favor”
Barbra, knew it was her way of getting rid of what she was laughing about, though she was a nice lady and very inspirational but Barbra find it hard to fit in her temperament, many times she views old people as outdated and this more like hurts her, it was something she tried more often to get rid of but her self control was weak, it was another reason why she depended on Marshal and Marshal took advantage of that.
“I’ve got Kelsey with her grandmother for the holiday; she couldn’t come without her coming, so her grandmother had no other choice but to come with her”
“Oh, Kelsey, it’s been a long time since we met—how is she doing?”
“She’s fine and growing up big, I only hope that she won’t loose her dimples, people admires them so much, they say they’re remarkable”
Barbra, smiled on her own and she admits on that, the girl was one of the girls she admires their prettiness.
“I go with them too”
“Yes you do, here is the favor. I heard from Morriono, that you received an invitation from the Charlotte family wedding party, all this days I were deciding if you might want to go with her, I would be so pleased”, Mrs. Greenbadge said,
“Yeah, that will be cool, I’d love to go with her, does she still remember me, if she does then we can easily get used within not much time”
“Kelsey would never forget, I can bate on that, and you talking of getting used with her, she had wanted to see you after the day she arrived; only now she’s out cruising around her birth land, you could have talked with her!” Barbra made a giggle and slipped to ask,
“So how are we arranging on that?”
“Well, since it’s a long way here, if you don’t mind picking her at Paul Krugger Park the morning of the wedding—is that okay?”
“No problem, I promise I would fetch her, I really can’t wait to see her!” she quickly said before Kelsey’s mother took another breathe after her say.
“Good and thanks a lot!”
“Pleasure is all mine!”
“By the way tell me about your man, how is he?”
In her fleeting thoughts, this question crossed over Craig, and went smashing on Marshal, she wanted to sigh but quickly acknowledged how that was to rise another subject from this woman, now it was enough she wasn’t to let this big mouthed woman go further chatting with her, she said,
“No, not now sometimes on, I’ve got a pot on the stove Mrs. Green”
“Oh, so you are cooking for him, that’s nice, many woman don’t cook for their man these days, only orders and deliverance from food restaurants”
At last the sigh came out, but it was faint and cupped in her hand,
“I’m sorry Mrs. Green, I don’t want to burn it up, I’ve got to go!” she almost screamed, and Mrs. Green hurried in,
“Never mind pass my regards—bye and take care”
“I’ll, you too”
Dead line.