1 Chapter one

Chapter 1

Life is an interesting journey; you will never know where it might take you, you always get surprises along the way. By the time you at least expect the good, only the worst happens, and each time when they happen you have to keep on pressing hard. Life is a story book, you don't know what you'll come across with along the way nor encounter but all is there is to keep on pressing no matter what.

Finding love on your twenties it might be hard sometimes, especially the ladies who are the same age as us are a little bit more mature than us guys. I struggled so hard on finding my rib, my other portion the women I want to marry; this is my story, on how life can be! Life can be cruel some times and also hard. I had my eye on this ordinary girl, but for me to win her over I had to be on a mission on finding her, this is how it goes.

This one day when I came back from school to home, I found my dad sipping coffee, he glanced at me and I greeted him and all he said was.

"Are you alright son?" he asked,

"I'm alright"…. I went upstairs straight to my room, I tossed my school bag, took my IPod and listened to my favorite songs, when I start listening to my music with my earphones on! I hardly hear anything. I usually express my emotions through paint, that's what keeps me going I then went to my 'scrap room' the room where I store my paintings and also paint from. Dad came in holding his cup of coffee; he found me admiring the beauty of the women that I had painted. She is so beautiful, I would love to marry her someday and make her my queen.

"That's a beautiful girl you've painted there" he gave me fright I wasn't aware that there was another soul in the room as me.

"Yeah she is."

"What's her name?" he asked,

"Um… why do you ask?"

"Are you into her?"

"Why would you think that, I'm into her?" I was only trying to distract his views about her.

"Son, when I walked in here, you were day dreaming…"

"No, no, no, I wasn't." I was denial; I did not want to face my fears.

"Hey are you sure you are alright because you seem a bit tense…" he said "do you mind sharing what's troubling you...?"

"Father, I'll come to you when I've got a problem and need your advice, so please now I would love to continue doing what I love, which is painting."

"Oh, so you think by painting her there, she'll jump out in a form of human and kiss you?"

"Pops please, I need to be alone."

"When you walked pass me at the lounge I could see and sense that something is troubling you."

"Dad, like I said, I would love to be alone, if you don't mind."

"Ok if you say so then I'll leave but promise me you'll come to me and talk." He bragged

"Yes I promise now, father please leave." I asked him earnestly.

"Yes, yes I'm leaving."

I'm just an ordinary guy who loves to express himself through art most of the time and I express all my emotions through it! But opening up to my father! That's not an easy thing to do. And if I would tell him that why am having this long faces, he'll think I'm a looser. I'm born on a Christian family raised by my both parents who love each other so dearly, I dream to be that perfect husband like my father is and have that awesome family. My father Jonas is a simply guy, handsome, loving and caring, like I said his good looking. Mom must have fallen for his good looks, I just don't get it! Why women don't notice my good looks either? Cause after all I take after my dad.

Sometimes what my parents do just get my legs soaked, so early in the morning, mom and dad cuddle and giggle at the same time like they are teenagers on their first relationship, new love, new boyfriend, new girl and new affair.

"Morning everyone, and also goodbye," I greeted them as I held the door handle,

"Wait...!" cried out mom "why are you leaving without having your breakfast...?" she asked me politely.

"Mom I'm 25 years of age now, Am no longer a teen." I replied politely

"It's ok." she said. In her heart I could see that she was disappointed but then I wasn't in a mood of playing happy family during breakfast that's all.

I then drove off to school, while in school I saw my dream queen, I glanced at her and then I thought to myself 'why is love so painful when you see the girl you love doesn't even take a look at you, you try by all means that she recognizes you but she doesn't even notice. What is it that I must do so that she sees me, I'm dying inside with fear and on the other side I love her and she doesn't even know.

"Heita…" said Trevor. "Hey am talking to you" and I didn't even notice that my friend was next to me and was saying something. He then stood in front of me and I was like,

"Mon…! What are you doing...?"

"Give it up monsieur." he said. 'Monsieur' is a French word used for 'Man' we call each other that way.

"There are so many girls out there, why do you waste your time and keep on chasing her? Why are you being so obsessed with this girl?"

"I love this girl...! I replied "and I don't mean to be rude my friend when you have studied 'Love-Psychology' and have a degree on hand you can give me a lecturer of not focusing on one girl and try to look somewhere else." I then continued admiring her beauty.

"Look man I wasn't trying to..." Trevor was trying to say something I then cut him off, before he could finish his sentence.

"You were trying to do what... you don't even know how I feel about her! So whatever opinionated ideas you might have in the future please do me a favor and keep them to yourself!"

"….. It's cool Joe" with a gloomy face "but before I go and leave you to your 'day dreams' I can see that you love her so deeply and you can now talk to me in any manner that best suites you because of your crush huh!" I was about to talk back but he kept on talking.

"…You claim to love that girl" he points "but every time when you come across her you chickened out!" he was so vicious.

I had to defend myself "I don't do that!"

"Wait, am not done yet!" Trevor exclaimed. "If you say you love her like the way you claim you do, I dare you to go and tell her the way you feel about her, as in right now." he ordered me, I froze.

"What? Why, why are you being so influential about this?" I asked him and all he could say was.

"You heard me!" I then scratched my head, walked around in circles from left, right and center, he didn't care, he was just leaning on my car and out of the blue he laughed at me as if I peed on my pants.

"Yogh, Monsieur if you had seen your face." he continued laughing at me and it is so saddening seeing your friend laugh at you like the way he did.

"Are you really going to lean there and watch me?"

"My friend..." he said. "Perhaps you and I were not meant to love or get married" he teased.

"Don't say that!" I spoke evenly.

"Like really now my friend, God has a different aspect for all of us." he continued "Maybe you and I were created to be pastors or maybe tell stories about this pictures you take every day and also not forgetting the ones that you paint now end then."

"Mm I see that you trying to be funny today… but ah, ah maybe you were made to be a joker." we both laughed.

"Vous étes fou (You are one crazy monsieur)" Trevor expressed.

3.

As we were in class waiting, my dream wife walked in and Trevor prodded my back with his pencil "here comes your 'queen of my heart…' he sang softly "hi Lindy" he greeted her, he even had the guts to greet her, while I shiver in fright.

"Hi Trevor" she replied back as she took her seat. I asked, myself what was the exact point that Trevor was trying to prove?, as we waited for the professor I then thought let me ask him what was that all about, I turned around he was not on his spot but busy wiggling his big head putting smiles on the ladies, he then eyeballed me from where I was sitting and he winked.

"So tell me Trevor." stated Mercy "why is your friend so shy what's his name again?" She asked.

"Joseph it's his name but we normally call him 'Joe' or 'J.R'" He replied "... my friend is not shy, his just so quiet that's all!" He verbalized.

"So how do you abbreviate 'quiet'?" Mercy beamed.

"So you are saying that my friend is shy huh?" He enquired.

"I did not say that but you just did" she assumed.

"What do you say Lindy?" inquired Mercy.

"I think she's day dreaming" Trevor teased.

"Lindy!" yelled Mercy, she banged the desk and Lindy got frightened.

"Jesus! Mercy! Are you trying to send me straight to Intensive Care Unit?" questioned Lindy.

"Girl you were out of this world, you haven't uttered a word since Trevor joined us" Mercy exclaimed. She could see that her friend wasn't herself, she toned down her voice.

"Are you alright…?" she asked her, placing her hand on Lindy's shoulder.

"I'm fine just that I'm into art and love it so much but I can't seem to get everything in to order." She expressed. This thing was worrying her, like a mother not knowing what to give to her infant baby who has ran out of baby milk.

"…what do you mean?" Mercy probed.

"…I can't combine the paints and create that possible art form I desire."

"What if I said I could help you with your art?" Trevor suggested.

"You would love to help?" she asked excitingly.

"Yes, yes… I would love to help but i… um not the…the right person to... to help you"… he began to startter.

"Since when have you become a startter?" Mercy jested.

"… Don't mind her Trevor." said Lindy.

"So who is it?" they both enquired.

"It's …um." he cleared his trout.

"Who is it?" Lindy asked earnestly.

"It's…um my friend Joe."

"Your friend Joe," They both spoke at the same time; their expression was like they were being told that someone had just dropped a bomb on them.

"Whoa! Whoa! Ladies calm down, don't be so flabbergasted all am trying to do is help where I can, that's all."

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Mr. Noah our Lecturer apologized for being late to class as he tutored us, my mind was not in class nor interested on what he was lecturing about, I couldn't stop my mind from thinking about this girl and my dad's offer, I decided to text my father for I needed advice from him, am totally going crazy and can't really focus now on my studies. I love my creator Jehovah Jaireh, my God, my provider, but it looks like God will have to forgive me for the way I feel about her, I seem to love her more than I love my creator, I had to go to my dad immediately, I stood up like was being shocked by electricity.

"Mr. Radebe are you alright sir?" Mr. Noah was astonished by my reaction. I was totally out of control for real, until Trevor prodded me on the back of my shoulder.

"Dude sit down you making a fool out of yourself" he whispered.

I turned around and saw everyone glaring at me, I sat down and apologized, and then I realized that I am totally going crazy and my silence and stupid stunts will cause me to lose her. I sat down nice and slowly, as I was seated on my desk if I would wait longer for the class to be over I will go crazy. I stormed out of the class running straight to my car and I drove off to my dad's construction company.

4.

My father is the director and CEO at his construction company; I had to go talk to him. He and I never had a father and son talk; this is going to be our first talk. He never taught me about stuffs boys or man come across with, I learned a few points at my primary school up to my high school and whenever I wanted to ask him a few effects that may come along, It felt like I would be disrespecting him. I scratched my head, moved from left to right like a headless chicken; I wanted to ask his P.A if he was available as I walked towards her desk.

"Hi Pretty…" Pretty is the name of my dad's P.A "Is my dad around?"

"Um sorry who's your dad?" she asked me and I was stunned as I gazed her, doesn't my father have our family picture on his desk? Or maybe he has cleared his desk and replaced us with a new family. I got so frustrated; his personal assistant is unable to recognize me, but why.

"Hello! Who's your father?" She asked me again.

"Don't answer that question." that was my father's voice coming from the background, I turned around, he was standing on the hallway, standing with a business associate and was showing him out.

"It's good doing business with you, till we meet again." said his business partner.

"How about you and your family join us for dinner?" my dad invited.

"Wow Mr. Radebe! My whole family?" he asked.

"Yes Mr. Meyers if you could." he persuaded.

"When speaking of my family sir, we are a number of five, my eldest son, teenage girl, a toddler, my wife and I."

"Wow that's quite a big family you have there Meyers." they laughed.

"So how many members do you have in your family Radebe?" he enquired.

"Four, two boys and my wife and I,"

"So we are almost equal but not quite."

"Actually you can leave your toddler with your maid and we can be equal just eight of us on the dining table."

"Ok, Ok Radebe I would love to come I'll inform my wife and I'll get back to you." replied Mr. Meyers.

"And before you go, please meet my son Joseph, Joseph Mr. Meyers, Mr. Meyers my son Joseph."

"Pleasure to meet you sir," And we both shake hands.

"Like wise…" he said "…so I'll call and confirm?"

"Yes! Yes you have a great day."

"Dad…"

"Yes…"

"What's wrong with your P.A? She asked me who am I and who is my father. I found that very outlandish pops."

"Mm outlandish huh… Maybe I should get her a replacement, if she'll insult my first born son like that." he suggested and his face was so unsmiling.

"No! No… pops don't do that she'll be jobless." I was now afraid that she might lose her job because of me; I had to vouch for her.

"Ha… ha ... ha" he laughed at me.

"Dad, Dad what are you laughing at?"

"Only if you could see the look on your face." he continued laughing. I just couldn't figure it out, why that is today am being laughed at like I am nobody.

"Gosh dad, don't tell me you just pulled my leg just like that?"

"Yes I just did."

"My dad the funny guy huh?"

"By the way Ms. Pretty there was involved on a terrible accident a few months back and she lost her memory."

"Hold it right there pops! She lost her memory but she could still remember her work place and her boss, how's that possible?" I had to ask it's totally confusing, I sometimes don't understand the ways of the Lord.

"Actually she does remember quite a few things because now she's suffering from concussion and she's under medication" he explained. "It is possible that you can remember quite a few things even though it might not be everything."

"Oh!"

"Yes but she'll be alright" he lowered his tone.

"But still how do you cope with this situation?"

"Actually I also ask myself the same question? How am I coping and I realized that it has always been one step at a time, it might neither be today nor tomorrow but eventually." he said.

"Yes you are right pops; everything has got its own time."

"And how do you think I succeeded with your mom and running a successful company?" he probed.

I just dropped my shoulders and said "I don't know, would you please tell?" he started a topic about something that I was seeking help on.

"Patience is the mother of success son… JACK OF ALL TRADES" he bragged.

"So… um… Mr. Jonas Radebe! So you got all this through patience right?" I probed.

"Yes I did." he answered me as he looked at me with concerned eyes that wanted to ask me what was I doing there, but then I got straight to the point.

"Pops just yesterday you made me promise that whenever I feel like opening up to you I should come."

"Yes I did and remember that quite well but this is my work place son and… I have meetings lined up." he said whilst busy with his laptop.

As he was busy with his laptop I had to take a chance, I went straight to his desk pressed the button that connected him and his P.A. His P.A answered "yes Mr. Radebe" she said.

"Pretty please cancel all my meetings today I'll be very busy." as I was speaking to his P.A, dads face changed and he got so furious the look on his face freaked me out! But in my heart I was glad I did all that!

"What are you doing?" he asked. And Just before I could utter a word he spoke. "Wait! Wait, what have you just done?" he asked. He was angry I was all unstable and my toes were sweating but even so I stood my ground.

"I came here to you" still unstable "am here because am seeking your advice, I bunked my classes because am miserable, I can't sleep at night, I'm shaking as I am speaking to you now, my toes are all sweaty, I don't know how I should feel, whether I'm supposed to feel like this, if my standing here speaking to you is disrespecting you, I'm sorry, my doing so is all because I fear and respect you at the same time, and don't know what you'll do to me, all am asking is please hear me out!"

He came closer to me and said.

"What would you like to drink?" He looked relaxed, but I wasn't "water, tea, soda or coffee?" he asked.

The only thing I could ask for was water, at least water will cool me down, he poured a glass and told me to sit down, I sat down and he gave me the glass of water to drink as I sipped a little just to calm myself.

"Son you don't have to be afraid of me and after all, I've never laid my hands on you." he said.

"Yes you've never laid your hands on me but your tongue lashing does scare me." I had to open up to him and tell him how he made me feel.

"I'm sorry that I made you feel that way, perhaps I was too hard on you and I never noticed. May you please forgive me?" He spoke calmly whilst stretching out his hand to give a hand shake. I could see that he wanted to give me a hug. I wouldn't hold it back, after all his my father he brought me to this planet earth, without him I wouldn't be the man I have become today.

"Of course pa," With a smile on my face "I'm never angry at you dad." we hugged yeah we did, humble beginnings.

"Good" he said "talk to me son, say whatever that is in your heart."

"Um… dad your name is 'Joe' Jonas and you gave me a similar name as yours why is that?"

"Son, i am sure you didn't cancel all my meetings to ask me that." he said.

"No! Not at all just that I'm being curious that's all." I said. And he did it again looking me with those curious eyes of his.

"Ok, See my father gave me this name and it's from the Bible, you do remember Jonah? The guy who didn't listen to God, he took his own way instead of going to where God leaded him too, Nineveh? And he chose Tara-shish?" he explained.

"Yeah, I know that story pops just that I don't see you and Jonah being alike."

"Oh son," He said. "You saying this cause you don't know everything what your father has been doing, I have to tell you the whole history about me." As he pointed himself, this sounded interesting.

"I am so interested in your history pops, so what about my name Joseph?" I enquired "did you name me after Joseph, Jesus step dad or Joseph son of Rachel and Jacob?"

"The truth is I named you after Joseph son of Rachel." Just the moment when he said 'son of Rachel' I saw a smile on his face, his facial changed and his eyes glow and he folded his arms and licked his lips and he uttered "Oh L.O.V.E" he said "Jacob named Rachel's son Joseph because he loved Rachel more than any of his other wife's and I named you Joseph for the love I had and still have for your mom is so precious, when I found out that she's going to give me a son. Out of all the names that are in the world all I could think, was what Jacob went through because of his love for Rachel and I also went through a lot for the love I had for your mom, we almost shared the similar troubles, similar situations." He paused for a minute, took a deep breath then stood up went to a self-portrait of him and mom. He then asked me a question.

"So as a Christian boy what name would you love to give to your son or daughter?" I wasn't prepared or expecting this kind of questions. I had to answer for he was now opening to me and I could see in his eyes how he feels about my mom, the love Jacob had for Rachel, Jacob labored for years because of the love he had for Rachel.

"So which name will you give your son, son?"

"Am thinking of Nathan," I replied.

"Why Nathan" he asked again.

"I love the prophet Nathan," I said "Prophet Nathan would go and do or tell what the Lord had ordered him to do just like every other prophet he was God sent, a true man of God!"

"So you don't like the other names, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha and etc. but Nathan huh?"

"Just Nathan pops," I said it in a polite way.

"So as you already have a name so technically that means there's a young beautiful lady in your life,"

"I don't know pops if that son of my mine will have a mother" as I wiggled my head both sides.

"What do you mean son? Are you telling me that you don't have a girl friend at your age?" he said.

"Yeah I don't, and hopefully you now think that I am an idiot right?"

"And why would I even think that son?" he asked.

"You got mom and I can't get myself a girl! Perhaps Trevor was right! Maybe I'm not meant to get married, settle and have a beautiful wife after all.

As I was whining about my boring life a call got in. I exclaimed!

"But dad, we cancelled every meeting and every call and why is your phone ringing?" he just looked at me.

"What time is it?" he asked, as if I didn't say a word but then I answered.

"11:30 why do you even want to know what time is it anyway?"

"I always have a meeting or a call at this time" he said.

"Huh?"

"See son I can cancel every call or meeting but not 11:30" he spoke calmly.

I had to ask. "What is so precious about this time, '11:30'?"

"Just open your eyes, ears and zip your mouth" he winked.

I felt less important, we agreed and cancelled every meeting but then who am I? 11:30 is more important than me; he saw my facial expression that I'm now sad. He just paused and stared at me. I took my bag pack and when I was about to leave.

"Wait!" he said "there are things you need to learn. You don't have the braveries to ask me what kind of a call I am taking right now. And you'll just take your bag and leave?"

"All I know is that it's important than me." I said in a polite way.

"And yes! It is important!" when he said those words I felt like I could cry, but then I'm a man and men don't cry I kept myself together. He then said

"You cancelled all my meetings, meetings that put food on your table, you won't walk through that door!" he ordered me not to leave his office.

"Put her through," he said. And his phone was on speaker and the voice I heard was a women's voice I came closer, I wanted to listen to the voice loud and clear and she said.

"I hope you'll make up for the seconds you made me wait!" and that woman was my mom, when I looked at my watch the time was 11:40, and she just said seconds.

"My dear please forgive me, I'll rub your feet, bring you coffee in bed and kiss you from your heart to lips until the seconds I made you wait are over".

"Mm. that is so romantic Mr. Radebe, so when will you start paying for your sins?" she asked

"Mm Mrs. Radebe when do you think I should start? Cause you know whenever I've wronged you I'm always willing to pay the fine." he said.

5.

I smiled and asked myself it's been almost 25 years since these couple have been married and they keep their love burning, nobody told me to sit down. As pops was still on the line I was so eager I wanted to ask every single question about love and want to listen, to listen to each and every word he was going to lecturer me with as he continued speaking to mom. I imagined myself on that phone speaking to my Lindy, as this imagination took over my mind. She said,

"Baby please go closer to your window, I've got a surprise for you." as I looked over I saw her down stairs holding a basket full of fruits, what I could see was strawberry, cream biscuits, fruit juice and a picnic blanket, I said on my imagination.

"Wow my love you've brought all that for me? Picnic at the office, please come up my dear."

As she got onto the elevator I went to my mini kitchen to clean my hands, as I was busy cleaning them I looked myself at the mirror and smiled.

"Joseph you are one lucky guy! Thank you Lord for what I have, you've said it on your word that I'll bless you until all nations' call you blessed…" I got out from my mini kitchen then I saw her standing just exactly where I was when she called me to look over the window. I got close to her wrapped my hands around her, she looked at me with an indirect gaze and smiled, I smiled back and uttered this words

"My love, do you know that I love you?"

"Of course my love, I know and I love you more always keep that in your mind." as I kissed her forehead then I gazed into her eyes… I kissed her slowly and from the back I could hear someone calling my name but I ignored cause I've been taught that nothing is more important than your wife, she's that precious pearl, an apple of my eye. My phone rang and Trevor was calling me.

"Mon… you are disturbing my wife and me." I spoke that loud with anger, I had totally forgotten that I was day dreaming.

"Mon… is you crazy?" Trevor said.

"Son do you know how many times I've called out your name?" said pops.

"No sir I'm sorry," and I had to hang up my conversation with Trevor. He then asked

"Who is this girl that you are day dreaming about?" I couldn't answer that question, because back at the campus Trevor had already given my digits to Lindy, sounds good huh.

"I've asked you a question, who is this girl? What's her name?" pops was so eager to know who it is.

"I ...um … her name is Lindiwe… but she prefers to be called Lindy."

"You do love her don't you?" he enquired as he sat next to me on the couch.

"I do pops, I sometimes think that I'm going crazy, I do crazy things…"

"What crazy things do you do?" he continued questioning me,

"… I take pictures of her and sometimes draw her pretty face on my drawing pad, write down when and where I saw her pretty face, where I saw her smile." I said. Father nods his head and clapped his hands.

"Wow! Wow, wow, wow" he said.

"I'm a total freak! Yeah...I am and now I gave you an ultimatum to call me all sorts of names." I said this, head bowed with both of my hands on my head.

"No I wouldn't do that..." with a denial tone.

"… Why not, why won't you do it?" I inquired. "Because son I don't kick a man when his down." he said "What makes you think I would even do that?" he was concerned.

"Because I am stupid and am nothing like you!"

"No you not stupid son, you doing all that because you are in love, and I understand loud and clear. I wish could hold hands and shake the person's hand who once gave out this comparison LIKE FATHER LIKE SON!

"Huh!" He was about to tell me why he wants to meet this person who came up with the comparison, my phone rang, Trevor was calling. That angered him; I was breaking the deal that we had just sealed.

"Am sorry pops Trevor must have something important to tell me I got to take this

"Monsieur, what's up Mon?"

"Monsieur, where are you." he asked.

"Am at my dad's office why do you ask?"

"Doing what there? Aren't you supposed to be in class and why did you leave class like that? Mon…"

"Mon… I had to be here with my dad. Anyways what's up what is it that you want me to help you with?" i asked.

"My friend I love you! And I won't let you throw away your future like because of a girl!" he said.

"Look Trevor I thought you had something urgent to talk about so I can see you want to give me your stupid lectures again." I hung up the phone, on the other side. Lindy came to Trevor.

"So what did he say?" enquired Lindy. Just a few minutes after, I had just cut off our conversation.

"He said… it's um… he'd gladly love to… help you and show you, how to… um mix the paints." he spoke as if his got dyslexia.

"So did you tell him about the assignment? That we have to do it together?" she probed.

"Yeah… yeah… don't worry," he said.

6.

I wasn't aware of any assignments and Trevor didn't mention a single thing to me because he didn't get the chance to explain himself because I cut his line off! He did try to call me several times but I kept on rejecting his calls, by then Pops and I were at the restaurant having lunch.

"Pops, back at your office you were about to tell me why you wanted to meet the person who came up with the phrase 'LIKE FATHER LIKE SON?'" I inquired.

"Oh, Oh that!" he said.

"Yes! Pops that!? Why do you want to meet that person? For according to my understanding that particular person have been dead and buried. Why do you want to meet?"

"You resemble me son that's why." he said.

"Hum dad I know I know I resemble you, I'm handsome built well and yes I am a gentle man just like you". I bragged like him and he looked straight in to my eyes and said,

"I wasn't implying to that."

"Huh?" I was then confused "what are you talking about then?"

"Whatever it is that you are doing, and you think is stupidity son… it's actually not, it might look or sound crazy but it's not." he spoke with a toned down voice, I was totally lost now, I was so confused. I just listened.

"How do I put this? Um… son what you are doing now is called Obsession. I did it too, that's why I say" clears his trout "you resemble me in every way".

"But, how… how did you do it?" I asked eagerly.

"As now I've come to think of it, I was obsessed with your mom and you are also obsessed with this girl!" he said.

"But how do I know that I'm obsessed with this girl if…"

"Eat your lunch it's getting cold and stop looking straight into my eyes!" he ordered. I ate my food and the waiter asked if there's anything we'd like to add from the menu, dad told her to come back a few minutes later.

"You listen to me carefully, what I did was… I would write down every good and bad thing I liked and disliked about your mom and then tattooed all that on my body" he wiggled his head, paused took a deep breath, pointed me and said with a serious face.

"I hope you haven't tattooed yourself!?"

"Huh! Me! No! I would never do that! And why did you sketch yourself with tattoos? Weren't you Christian?" I needed answers.

"No, I wasn't you see son, when you love someone you love them and accept them as they are". Pops was speaking in riddles the moment I thought I followed I would get lost.

"Pops please get straight to the point I'm confused".

"What am trying to say is that, I wasn't born again when I fell in love with the love of my life! You're Mom, your story and mine might be kind of similar a little bit and is somewhere somehow twisted but a little bit." he said.

"Twisted, but How?"

"Do I really need to explain every single word to you?" he yelled.

"Yes sir you need to, I don't want to end up looking like a gangster, pierced earrings on my tongue, toes, nose and etc." I whispered.

"But some girls love tough guys," he said.

"She's not some girls, and I don't think Lindy loves tough," I said.

"Oh so she doesn't love tough?" he asked.

"She's a quiet innocent girl, nice, sweet and kind human being." I said.

"So you say huh?" he presumed.

"Yes pops she is." as I blushed.

"So that's all? You just love her for those five (5) reasons only?" he said.

"No it's not just all that, she respects people, cares and she doesn't look down on people unlike her friend Mercy."

"Who's Mercy?" he asked.

"Mercy is her friend but I'm not really sure if she's her best friend."

"So how can you briefly describe Mercy?" He stared at me.

"Dad, why are you insisting on getting information about Mercy?" I questioned him.

"I need to know and maybe I could tell about your crush." he said.

"Mercy has a belly ring, pierced an earring on the nose, she normally chews a gum. That's all I have noticed about her".

"Mm, so you love Mercy's friend Lindy? How do you know that 'Lindy' isn't half of the things you've mentioned about Mercy? He tested.

"What do you mean pops? I queried.

"What I'm trying to say is. Mercy is not a good character or good influence as you've described her to me! So I just want you to do a thoroughly research on both of them and peer pressure is a dangerous disease, and by the look of things, you only know this girl from a distance. Get close to her, know her better, find out what she loves, like and doesn't like or love. Do you understand what I'm trying to point out?"

Pops was clearly giving me a lesson am totally inside a classroom and my teacher which is my father is tutoring me Life Skills and I only know 40% of the things she doesn't like and love. On vibration my phone rang. I don't recognize the number, I glared my phone.

"Why don't you answer your phone? He said. "What are you waiting for?"

"I don't know whose number it is." I said.

"Give me the phone." I passed the phone and he answered.

"Joe's phone hello!" he said.

"Good day sir, you are speaking to Lindy." the women on the phone replied. "Is Joseph available?" she asked.

"Please hold on, I'm going to give him the phone" he said. "I think luck has hit you!" he whispered. "The lady on the phone says her name is Lindy and my gut feeling tells me that, it's your crush!"

"Hello!"

"Joe! Hi it's Lindy! Lindiwe!" she sounded ecstatic and I on the other hand froze and couldn't say a word. "Um… Joe! Hello! Are you still there? She asked.

"Yes I'm here… sorry just something caught up my eye!"

"It must be a lady I presume?" she said. And dad signed to me to calm down and to keep my cool.

"No, No it's not." I had to do as I was instructed and I had to cool down and be me, for if am all evasive and all that I wouldn't get the girl.

"You said you are Lindiwe from where?" I enquired.

"I am Lindy and I normally sit at the back row with my friend Mercy during lectures". She said. And yes luck did really hit me.

"Oh, Ok I remember you now, so how did you get hold of my digits?" I had to ask. The girl am striving for has got my digits already, and I was trying get hold of hers, how did that just happen? Or am I being guarded by an angel every day.

"Trevor your friend gave them to me and that's the reason I'm calling you right now! So we can set a date! When can we meet?" just the moment she said 'date' when should we meet I removed the phone on my ear, brought my hands together and looked up.

"Thank you Lord!" I said it quietly. "When you guys did exchange my numbers, what was the main reason behind it" I had to act strange, not evasive, but have to enquire.

"Didn't Trevor tell you?" her pitch tone of her voice changed.

"Tell me what?"

"Oh my word, I feel like a complete idiot right now…"

"No! No! No! Nobody is an idiot here, just tell me what you and Trevor discussed then I'll see to it how I could be of help!"

"… Trevor said you are an artist, you are passionate about art and you are good with paints!" she said.

"Every person who's passionate about art is good with paint. Wait a minute so that's the reason you want to meet with me, am I right?"

"Yes!" she said.

"You sound breathless my dear! Please calm down, of course I would love to help you". I calmed her down.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked.

"Yes my place or your place?"

"Any place is fine with me because this assignment is needed in three weeks' time" she asked.

"Don't worry dear you'll be sorted!"

I could hear the change of her voice's tone that she was thrilled. And for a moment I was going somewhere. Trevor knows quite a few artists that do an excellent job, but he chose me to help the girl of my dreams, the girl I wish to marry someday.

"So will you give me your address?" She asked.

"Yes I'll text you my address, and you too do the same thing." I said.

"Ok cool so how about tonight?" she suggested.

"Oh dear tonight can't work, how about we start tomorrow after lectures?" I said.

"That'll be great, I like that." she was thrilled.

"Cool! Tomorrow then." and I too was glad, that she was happy that I would be available to assist her and would get close to her.

"So things are going your way right son?" he asked.

"You'll help her with whatever she wants and you'll finally tell her how you feel." he said. "Isn't that alright?"

"I hope so too…but I don't know if I'll have the nerve to do it."

"You will when the time is right!" he said.