3 Chapter two of 2

"Why my gut feeling tells me that you are pulling my leg?" He queried.

"Just wait here and watch your big bro…"

"What?" he said.

"...go mingle with your future sister in law that's an order son".

"Ok! Ok so that's how it's going to be now huh? But it's cool I'll watch you Mr. Samson as you go to your Delilah…" he kidded. I went to this black sister, whose beauty shivers me just when I want to greet her. Asking her to be my bride someday will make me the happiest man in the planet but only if she would accept me.

"Hey… am sorry to keep you waiting." I apologized.

"It's Ok I don't mind." she said.

"How many minutes am I late with actually?" I asked. I needed to pull a few lessons my father had taught me.

"No, please don't tell me you want to know." she joked.

"Actually I would love to know and I insist." I demanded.

"Why should you know? You are here right now and I am holding a drink aren't I?" she queried.

"Please do tell me, I really need to know." I requested "and if you'll tell me I'll explain why I insisted." I requested.

"Ok then!" she smiled and looked at me in suspense; she's got no idea why I insisted on knowing how long I made her wait.

"Ok!" I replied.

"You were actually late by two minutes fifty five seconds!" I acted lost but she didn't raise her head, but raised her eyes and said. "Are you going to tell me why you insisted?" she questioned.

"How many seconds are in a minute again?" I questioned. She looked amazed; with her facial expression you could tell that I was annoying her and that was not my intention, my intention is to put a smile on her face.

"You must be kidding me right? Don't you know how many seconds are in a minute?" she expressed.

"No! No! No please forgive me; I'm actually a slow learner!" I requested. "And am not joking please tell me." I insisted again.

"It's sixty seconds." she was beginning to be frustrated.

"Oh so that means its hundred and seventy five seconds?" I asked.

"Yes!" she replied out of frustration. And all i wanted to do was cheer her up by insisting on knowing how many minutes I stood her up. We men tend to think we doing what's right to women but in the end we end up, upsetting them.

"Am sorry if am making you mad but I just want to make up for the minutes I made you wait!" I pleaded.

"Like I said there was no need." she said.

Without her noticing I reached for my sketch book, rubber pencil and grabbed it. Just when she saw me pulling out my tools she asked.

"What are you doing?"

"Just in hundred and seventy five seconds I want to sketch your pretty face." I spoke in a polite manner. And to my surprise, she smiled, and that's what I wanted to see. That proved to me that with dads method 'making up seconds' it definitely does work, they make a lady shine bright like a star on the night, even under the shadow of the sun.

"No you wouldn't!" she said.

"I dare you!" I said. "Set your timer." Just when she tried reaching her phone I sketched a side of a pretty face, which I'm used to, for I have drawn her numerous times. I had to tell her.

"You are beautiful! Do you know that?" I admired and questioned at the same time. She raised her head and bit her juicy lips and smiled.

"Thanks for your complement." she said.

"I mean it! You are totally beautiful." admiring a women's beauty makes them blush, I find it so romantic, whenever your women is mad at you and she starts quarrelling, just tell her 'I love it when you all feisty and wild it makes me to love you more, that makes me quiver, for when I quiver my heart pumps so hard and my chest becomes hot! And when it's hot that proves that even though am angry with you! Inside I'm burning, burning with your love'. Believe me she'll be blushing and her temper will go down.

She blushed and I smiled back her.

"Now am really flattered" she said. "And If I hadn't known any better I would say you are flirting with me!" she said. Girls are so cute and adorable when you are about to do something beautiful for them. I wrote down the date, the minutes and seconds that I made her wait.

"So are you going to sit there and stare at me like that or…" she said.

"… Oh sorry, please set the timer and when the time has reached, please shout STOP! Ok!"

"Ok are you ready?" she asked. I took a deep breath stretched my fingers and arms, but she laughed at me.

"Why are you laughing?" I was surprised for I did not know what she was laughing at.

"Sorry just that you are acting funny that's all!" she said.

"What's funny?" I had to ask.

"Nah never mind please continue." she requested. "Please carry on!"

"Wait! You think that I can't sketch you in two minutes! That's what you are laughing at, isn't it?" I probed. She looked at me with those eyes and I could tell in her heart that she is not sure about what am about to do, but then I had to prove her wrong.

"Ok then tell me to start when you are ready." I said.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Yes I am ready." with confidence.

"Ok start!" she commanded, I resumed from where I started, drew her pretty face and finished the drawing, tore the paper pretended it was no good a few seconds were left, but then I took a chance and drew a small funny picture of a lady, with a big head, large ears, small eyes, a larger nose and beautiful lips as hers.

"STOP!" she said. "Let's see your drawing sir."

"Wait I'm not done yet just a few touches that I need to highlight." I said. She grabbed my sketch book.

"At an exam room, once the examiner says stop! Time is up, you don't…" she paused, and looked at my funny picture. She laughed out from the bottom of her lungs. She was really astonished by my drawing.

"I told you, I wasn't done yet! But you chose to take my sketch pad." I spoke in a polite way, but she continued laughing. She sighed and looked at me.

"So this is me?" she asked.

"No it's not you but a funny portrait of you!" I said. She faced down and looked at the picture, I said

"But this portrait does resemble you in a funny way though!" I said.

"But how does it resemble me because it's funny?" she said. I took the paper from her hand, pointed her nose, eyes, ears and lips, all of this is you but I decided to make it larger, she looked at me with innocent eyes.

"Look! I just wanted to put a smile on your face buy drawing this funny picture of you." she wiggled her head; I reached for the paper that I tore and placed aside.

"Look at this picture and then compare." she took the paper and her whole facial changed, you could see that she was amazed, shocked to see her wonderful portrait on her lap, her cheeks almost touched her ears with that deep smile, I stared at her as she bowed her head placed her hand on her fore head.

Charming a girl is easy, let me say winning her heart is easy, just treat her well spoil her with what she loves, believe me you are just on your stair way to her heart. If I only had known that drawing her face and putting a smile on her face would melt her heart, I would have done that long before that insolent DJ Vusi came over our house.

"You are talented Joe!" as she kept on looking at her portrait.

"But you seemed not so sure that I could sketch you!" she did not concentrate on what I was saying but on my talent.

"You really are talented!" she said.

"So you are no longer going to laugh at my funny drawings?" I asked. She looked down and smiled.

"Before I made that call to you yesterday, I under-estimated you!" she said.

"What do you mean?"

"When I look at you I see you as a shy guy, it never occurred to me that you might be J.R.V oil painter!" she spoke calmly.

"So how did you found out that it was me?" I had to ask.

"To be honest with you, I was surprised, really surprised." She said "It was like finding out that you are married with kids!"

"What?" I exclaimed.

"Man you are that quietest guy in class, you always look like you are miles away from this world… don't get me wrong…" she said.

"So you assumed that I might be married with kids?" I asked. Our conversation took more time than I thought it would.

"That was just a thought." she said.

"What is it exactly that you thought of me?" I was so curious, I thought I was finally getting to her heart, but she already had made up her mind with me.

"I don't know really" she said.

"Do you care to wish to know what I'm thinking?" I asked.

"Yes, please tell me." she requested.

"What am seeing is that, you see a guy in your class, judge him, take him for granted and maybe think that his an idiot he hasn't got any brains, that's what you implying right?" I wanted to taste how the deep the river is, meaning I wanted to see how she could react!

"No! It's not!" she spoke politely "I never said that but you did! What I meant…"

"What is it that you wanted to say, what did you think of me?" I asked.

"Look am sorry if my keeping quiet made you say what you just said, perhaps what I said came out the wrong way am sorry" she apologized.

"Why do you apologize?" I asked calmly as I reached to hold her hand.

"Because, once you've offended someone and could see that, that particular person is hurting…" she sighs. "You are supposed to apologize." she said.

"Yeah, you are right!" I said.

"What?" she looked surprised.

"You are speaking the truth, I'm sorry too." I apologized.

"Why are you apologizing?" she asked.

"Because, once you've offended someone you ought to apologize." I looked right through her eyes. And she smiled. "I overreacted too that's why am apologizing too, so do you forgive me?"

She smiled and said.

"Yeah I forgive you, and I wasn't even angry at you!" she said. That made me fall deeper in love with her, she doesn't hold grudges, she's not an angel but she totally does act like one.

"Thank you! For forgiving me! I appreciate that!" I said.

"So what about me?" she said.

"What about you?" I asked.

"Am I also forgiven?" she asked.

"Um… let me first think." just the moment I said that, her facial changed and I couldn't hold myself, I laughed at her.

"What are you laughing now? What's funny?" she queried.

"That strange look on your face, made me laugh, maybe I shouldn't have laughed but sketched you again."

"But how was I supposed to look like if you had not said what you said a few seconds ago?" she looked serious.

"Am sorry I forgive you!" she smiled.

"So are you a Christian or you have just been born again?" I enquired.

"Yes" she replied "I'm saved by the grace of God and my inner being is being renewed each day…"

"You guys are getting along very well, you keep on staring at each other and smile, why don't you kiss already?" Trevor teased.

"No! We are not doing that!" and we both at the same time denied it and looked at each other.

"Are we?" we repeated it again.

"Wow! You guys are flirting with each other" he said. "You make a lovely couple, I think you should date!" he suggested.

"WHAT?" we spoke again.

"Look at you, you are doing it again! Speaking at the same time!" he said.

"Look my friend you starting to sound crazy." I said.

"Oh! Look at the time, am already late for my last lecturer, I have to go." she said.

"Me too" I said. "Am sorry that I kept you out of class it wasn't my intention."

"Mon… you ought to apologize to me too." Trevor said.

"Why should I?" I asked.

"Because Mon! I was watching at you guys not to do something nasty." he said.

"You did what TREEV…"

"So that I could… um… tell you that, you've skipped class, yes that's what I was doing." He said.

"Oh is that so?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah… Mon." he bragged.

"Guys sorry but I have to go, it was lovely chatting to you Joe!" she said.

"Yeah it was lovely and I enjoyed it too." I watched her walk away from us, as she walked away, I jumped and hugged Trevor.

"(Homme que Vous étes le meilleur) Man… you are the best!" expressed my gratitude "if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have had this chat with her."

"Yeah, Yeah I am the best, I'm the man." he swaggered.

"Ha… Ha… Ha…" I laughed and remembered. "Mon I forgot to give her the picture I've drawn of her!"

"But am sure she hasn't gone too far," he said. "Look there she is…" he pointed.

"Stay here I'll be right back, let me rush to her." I tore the funny picture and hurried to her.

"Hey don't forget to give her your address; I didn't give it to her yesterday." Trevor shouted. Just when I arrived to her, I told her to wait as I wrote down my address.

"I'm always home," I held my breath "Come around my house any time." I kept on looking her black and white eyes, they are so clean and pure, like those of a new born baby, eyes that haven't seen or experienced any sorrows.

"Ok! Cool I'll see you later then." she said.

Girls can sense or see if a guy is into them but they'll try and deny it and be honest about it when time goes on as you've decided to tell her how you feel. Later that day in the afternoon at around 16h00 she did come around my house, unfortunately I wasn't around, but my younger brother Musa was there, prepared to do his assignment that I have assigned him to do. Doorbell rang, ding dong. He went to check who was at the door.

"Oh my God!" he staggered.

"Um… Hi… but am sure this is the right address, um… is it the Radebe resident?" Lindy enquired.

"My apologies… I'm sorry… just that… I got struck by your beauty." he was dyslectic. "Gosh where are my manners? Please come in!" he invited her in.

"My name is Musa but I prefer to be called Moos." he introduced himself.

"And I'm…"

"…Lindiwe but prefers Lindy am I right?" he said.

"So I presume this is the Radebe resident I suppose." she said.

"Yes it is, may you please come in." he showed her to the lounge.

"You guys have a lovely home, it's really beautiful." She respected.

"And you are also beautiful! My brother J.R was right! God did take his time when he molded you." he admired.

"Wow!" she smiled. "Thank you, so um… when you are saying 'J.R' you are referring to Joe right?" she enquired.

"Yeah I call him J.R, I abbreviated his first and last name." he said.

"So where is he now? Cause he told me to come over." She explained.

"His not around at the moment but he did asked me to come home early for a lovely lady will come by." He too explained.

"Oh is that so?" she asked.

"Yes my lady." he said.

"OK!" said her.

"Cool, so what would the lovely guest like to drink this afternoon?" he enquired.

"A glass of water will fine thanks." she said.

"Ok my lady a glass of water coming right up." knowing my brother, he would never bring a lady just a glass of water only. He brought out the folding table with wheels, he out done himself, dressed the folding table very well with all sorts of delicate foods that would melt a women's heart, he also dressed up into a waiter, can you believe it? Some people do know how to do their assignments, but in a very funny way though.

"Oh… Oh… why are you dressed like that?" she asked. "And I asked for water not for all this." she was so impressed.

"I know my lady, but the woman of this house has taught us that, when a stranger or relative comes by your house don't just offer that particular person a glass of water or juice alone, it must be accompanied by something that will humble the stomach." he said

"Wow your mom…she's…"

"… She's what?" he asked.

"She's so kind and she taught you very well." she complimented.

"Yep my mom is a wonderful woman." he smiled. "She also said, you must make sure that you feed that person, cause you don't know where that person is coming from, whether he or she has eaten or hasn't" he smiled. "So please my lady, indulge yourself." he stood up.

"Seriously though, your mom is a remarkable woman." as she reached for a cookie.

The reason she did not found me at home, was that I had to rush to my dad's office, I need him to enlighten me with his story, I needed to know, I needed to understand, I wanted to know how he stood his ground, how he won moms heart, how does she keep the fire burning. I have a lot of questions that needed to be answered.

"Excuse me Miss Pretty! Is Mr. Radebe in, in his office?"

"Yes... I mean No! His um… his in the board room." she stated.

"Ok thanks, I'll wait for him." I suggested.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm uh… I'm his brother's son." I lied. This woman does not recognize me at all. Why then should I explain my self, come tomorrow she'll ask me the same question.

"Oh" she said. "It is best for you to wait there." I waited at the reception, waiting to see if someone would come out of the board room. No one came out, I was remorseful and patient at the same time, but most importantly, patience is the mother of success. After fifteen minutes I couldn't be patient any more, I went straight to the board room door, before I could reach it I was just a few steps away from the door. The door opened, I stopped, and I thought of going backwards but then if I go back how am I going to find an answer to my quest.

Members of the board came out of the board room, but my father did not walk out of the room. I had to walk into the room as I was prepared to when i left the reception, I went to check if the CEO was alright and there he was sitting on the director's chair, and he was on the phone, I checked my watch and the boardrooms clock, both the watch and clock had the same time, curiosity almost killed me, who was he talking too? He was smiling through the phone but I couldn't hold on for more minutes I have a guest at home who's waiting for me. But then I had to ask.

"Who are you talking too?" I whispered. He looked at me with acute eyes.

"My love…" he said "I'll see you in two hours; your son keeps on budging on my building these days." I then figured it out that he was speaking to mom.

"… He keeps on asking me how I proposed to you… I suppose he wants to use my charms to some girl he has met…" I did not know that pops did discuss my quest to mom, but then there's nothing I could have done to prevent him from telling his wife.

"…Yes my dear your son is in love, listen queen of my heart, I'll call you the minute I'm done tutoring this boy a thing or two… love you more bye" he hang up.

"Dad I am sorry you had to cut your phone call with your women." I apologized.

"Look son!" he said. "When I proposed to your mom, I did not have that father and son relationship with my father; you and I share a special bond. My father disowned me." sighs and he continued. "He disowned me because of the things I did, tattoo and clubbing and etc." he continued, I sat there and listened.

"I was no longer fit to be called his son for I disrespected him by doing all of that, Mom never threw down the towel, she knew that someday I would come around, she always prayed for me son she never gave up, she kept on pressing on like Paul, kept on praying like Hannah asking for a child from God." he said.

I could see right through my pops eyes that he missed his father's love, but because of the decisions he made, those decisions drove him apart from the love of a father. Frankly everything turned out fine for him.

"Pops please cut a long story short!" I requested. "Just tell me how you won her heart please!"

"Ok" he said. "What happened was, your mom used to work at this fancy hotel in Durban as a waitress. Durban Beachfront Luxury Hotel, You could find her waitressing where the manager had addressed her to be, the manager knew me, for I was a regular customer, I would try to speak to her but the way she would respond you could see that I disgusted her. I tried many times to ask her out but all in veins. I thank God for this one exclusive day." he sighs.

"What happened on that pleasant day pops?" I enquired.

"There was this couple from Canada that booked into that hotel they were on Honey moon; Beachfront is definitely a Luxurious Hotel. I always had my eyes on your mom, then this Canadian guy whose on a honey moon with his wife approached my lady." he said.

"So what did you do pops, this story is getting more interesting." I said. "You got all fired up; I could imagine you being jealous of mom."

"Of Course I got jealous, I had to be son!" he expressed "I loved that woman and some guy will approach her." he said. "I went to them and said "excuse me sir I just saw you leaving your woman alone so please go to her before some random guy like you approaches her and leave mine alone". He expressed.

"Want to know what he said?" he said "I wasn't hitting on your lady, like you said; I have my own gorgeous, beautiful, precious wife! Beautiful than any female in this Hotel" he admired her woman's beauty and he said "I must admit it too your woman is beautiful take care of her" and he left.

"Pops wait! And what did mom say as this Canadian guy praised her woman in front of her?" I queried.

"Your mom was so annoyed, she was fuming because I claimed to be her boyfriend whilst I wasn't." he said.

"Pops, pops what were her exact words? What did she say?"

"She got up from the chair she was sitting and gave me a hot slap and she said "I am not your girlfriend" and she left". He said.

"And what did you do about that? What actions did you take?" I questioned.

"I shouted and said "Never say never baby girl I'm your man!". This was funny.

"What! Pops you did just that?" I asked. "Am sure the Canadian guy looked at you and saw a total idiot I'm sorry to say that."

"Never mind being an idiot son." he said "but what matters most son, is that I got her at the end with the help of a stranger!"

"Huh?" "What stranger?" I asked.

"The Canadian guy!" he said.

"The Canadian guy, but how dad, how is that possible? You disrespected the guy! And later he offered to help you win your crush over?" I was shocked.

"A few days later he saw me, struggling to speak to your mom and seeking for forgiveness. But she kept on giving me that cold shoulder." He sighs.

"So what did he do to help you?" I was confused.

"See son if you don't interrupt me, maybe I would have told the story and maybe I would have been long done telling it!" he declared.

I raised my hands to surrender, but as he was about to utter another word I interrupt.

"Pops you need to speed up cause Lindy might be at home by now, so I need to prepare myself."

"Ok!" he sat down "I asked the guy to go and ask your mom why is she treating me like that because I mean no harm, I'm in love with her!... The guy sent his wife and the wife came with the report that your mom says birds of the same feathers flock together, she and I live in two different worlds, she won't date a guy who's got tattoos all over his body!. She's a Christian she can't date me. That broke my heart because she never knew that all this tattoos are a memory box in my body… to cut this story short as you requested. He sighs "I took pictures and a video of my whole body, just taking pictures of the tattoos, later then I went to a Laser tattoo remover, to remove all of them, that guy was so kind very kind." pops described the guy. "He was also a Christian, he lend me some of his money to pay up. And then later I washed up, wore a short sleeved shirt with my new silver cross necklace and jeans, bought roses with chocolates and went to pay her a visit at her place.

"And then what happened?" I questioned.

"I knocked at her flat where she used to share with some girl but thank God for that day the girl wasn't home, she opened the door, she was so sexy, gorgeous and she was half dressed, she only wore a black tight-fit with a black vest in her mind she thought that I was her flat mate, for when she was coming to the door she yelled, "I don't know how many times I've told you not to leave your keys behind" when she unlocked the door she froze and said "oh it's you! What do you want" I said "I want you…"

"His smell was so penetrating he was so neat." said mom, I smiled and look at mom, as she went toward her husband, rubbed his stomach and gazed into his eyes, dad smiled and she kissed him on the cheek and I was like,

"Mom what are you doing here?"

"I have come to add on what your father will be telling you about our love life!" she said.

I myself got a lesson from that very moment, that you can surprise your spouse during office hours, don't tell him or her that you are coming over, just drop by and you'll see the reaction on his face, seeing you might drop the work load off his shoulders, he or she might even concentrate on whatever they are doing for their eyes is seeing what they love the most, that is you.

"Wow mom! Thanks I appreciate that…" before I could utter another word, my phone rang "I'm sorry I have to take this call Moos is calling." I said something but they did not hear a word that I've just said they were just intimate. "Guys please behave am also in this room as you!"

"Huh! What did you just say son?" mom probed.

"Am taking a calling Moos is calling!" I said.

"It's ok son," they spoke at the same time.

Moose was speaking over the phone. "Hey your guest did arrive and you are not here! How much longer are you going to make her wait?" he asked.

"She did arrive?" i got so enthusiast.

"Yes she did! So how long will it take you to get here?" he probed.

"Let's say in half an hour I'll be right there." I declared.

"Ok right! I'll entertain her." he said

"Excellent greet her then, bye!"

"Sure! See you soon," he said.

"Sure! So what happened?" I continued.

"As I froze at the door." mom spoke "I remember that I did not cover my body I took a sarong and wrapped it around my body. He invited himself in"

He then said "You do love Jesus!"

I then said "Why do you say that?"

He replied by saying "I can see that you are busy reading from the scriptures and taking notes."

I then said "Yes I was busy, what can I do for you and why are you here?" I spoke rudely towards him,

but then he was so polite he replied back "I came to ask you out on a date!..." he was so handsome, the guy I knew from high school, that polite boy I knew from primary school who was so quiet! He carried on by saying "… I can see by the way you are so busy with your bible reading and in two days' time you'll be resuming from your daily job!" He was so tense, sad and disappointed too.

He said "I guess I'll never stand a chance with you!" I felt sorry for him and looked at myself as a bad person, I looked down and he stretched his hand out "I brought you this, please have them, it's my humble apology for being a busted towards you all this time."

My Mom and Dad truly did break all odds, this couple is amazing with the looks in their eyes you can see that they do love each other so dearly and can't survive without one another. Mom resumed.

"I did not take that box of chocolate and a rose but he left them on top of the coffee table, he then left, I had to do something,

I shouted. "Wait!" he stopped I said "Give me twenty minutes to prepare and I'll come with you" he turned around, his eyes glowed, he began to look sad, he looked like he was about to cry but I smiled it was like he did not believe that I agreed on going out with him, we went out that was our first date, we came back, he dropped me by the gate.

"I must admit it though; I really had a great time tonight" I said.

"I also enjoyed, but most importantly I enjoyed being with you!" he said, he then said something that moved me,

He said "You are beautiful do know that?"

I replied and said "Because you have confirmed it! So now I'll walk with pride and my head held high! And you are also charming yourself without the tattoos." I thought I was also admiring him but I touched his nervous system or maybe I pressed the wrong button. She said.

"What happened mom? I thought that everything was going smooth?" I said.

"It was going smooth but just when I mentioned that he looked so handsome without the tattoos and piercing, ouch he changed from cool boy to the guy I feared." she explained.

"Let me take it from here my love" said pops. "Just when she mentioned 'tattoos', I looked aside with rage."

And she said "Are you alright?" I looked at her with so much hate-tread, I did not want to scare her off but bring her closer to my heart!

I replied. "I'm not alright because those tattoos were very precious to me" "Oh!" she replied. "Those tattoos were the only precious memory I had of you" I was quivering tears rolled down my cheeks; I do agree that men don't cry they ought to be stronger, but truly speaking the 'Pain feeling' that we all feel is one, it's just a mutual feeling. it goes straight from the heart it doesn't choose nor look what kind of situation you are in, you might be rich nor poor, but as long it is pain we all feel it! My reaction and change of character did move your mom she was terrified.

"Please calm down my dear, my first tattoo was your name written on my arm, the second one was your pretty face sketched on my chest" I explained all this as I showed her the pictures. "But it's cool now that I have removed them" he resumed "and did finally got a chance to out on a date with you!" she was having a panic attack I had to hold her hands and begged her to calm down she held her head with her face facing down, she removed her hand and asked.

"But why, why did you do all that? Why did you have to go through all that trouble?"

I said "Do you really have to ask?" I got angry because I might have gone through all that trouble for nothing and at the end of the day she doesn't take me as her boyfriend. Tears dropped out of her eyes and she looked at me with sorrowfully eyes.

And she said "If this isn't madness, obsession, lust and jealousy I truly don't know what it is." I held her hands once more and looked deep onto her eyes and said.

"It is called L.O.V.E my dear, it's called love, love is what I have for you and I don't want to share my love for you with anybody else but you!" she hugged me so tight, for the first time, she held on tight to me and these words came out of her mouth.

"Nobody has ever done what you've just did for me, please forgive me." and she distanced herself from my chest for ten millimeters but her hands wrapped my neck, she looked into my eyes and she gave me my first kiss, for the first time we shared that passionate true love kiss" he said.

"Wow pops, on your first date you got your first kiss?" I teased.

"Yes! We kissed so nice and slowly, could hear the sound of our heartbeats, our heartbeats raced together surely and the pumping of blood through our veins moved together, I am his Adam and she's my Eve, this women son is my women, my rib from the garden of Eden, she's the women God fashioned from my rib, I'm meant to live for her and her for me. We stopped kissing and I told her, I LOVE YOU MY PRINCESS! She smiled back at me said

"Please forgive me, for I might be to forward and all that but after all that, that just happened and what you did, I think am falling in love with you Joe, Jonas Radebe."

I said "Wow so you have shortened my name to Joe now?" I teased

And she said "Sorry."

"I love it" I said "Any pet name you would love to call me with its fine, as long as I'm with you I am happy." I lifted her up and turned around with her, put her down as she was laughing I kissed her on the cheek, and yeah since from that day we never looked back" Pops concluded.

"Yes Boy that's our love story." said mom. "I hope you are certified."

"Wow you guys… your story is amazing it is so lovely it's like a fairy tale, finally the prince gets her Cinderella."

"Yeah she is my queen." he said. "And now son, my lesson to you is that, don't try to be something that you are not, be the best man that you can be and that girl will fall for you just like that."

"So how old were you pops when you first got your true love kiss?" I inquired.

"I was (25) twenty-five." he said. That tipped me off! I have to carry on with my quest.

"Oh my God... look at the time?" I got off the couch.

"What's wrong son." asked mom.

"I have to rush somewhere… thanks guys for your lovely and romantic story perhaps you should tell it to the whole wide world… I have to go see you at home." I dashed off!

Back at home, my little brother did entertain my guest, he was so generous towards her, and he did his task very well.

"My brother was right about you." he said.

"Was right about what?" she asked.

"You have a gorgeous smile, with those white teeth of yours." he acclaimed.

"So you guys talk about me… huh?" she said "so please brief me about the things you guys discuss about?" she enquired.

"Nope, am not going to tell you anything." he said.

"Why not," she asked.

"Because I'll be breaking the 'guy code'." he said.

"What guy code? Because you have violated the rule already!" she said.

"Even though you say so… I don't want to continue." he said.

"Um… so you think your brother knows me very well?" she looked at him in suspense.

"I think so!" he said "So tell me Ms. Lindy do you go to church?" he asked.

"Yes I do… but that sounds strange!" she spoke in suspense.

"What sounds strange." asked Moos.

"Your brother kind of did ask me that similar question earlier today." she said.

"Oh wow! He did?" Moos expressed surprised. "And what did you say to him when he asked you that question?"

"I told him I'm saved by the grace of God."

"Wow so um… what is your favorite scripture in the book of life?" he probed.

"Psalms 23." she said.

"The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want he makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me to quiet streams." Moos recited the verse.

"Wow you are also familiar with the verse." she said.

"Mom and Dad taught us that if you want to grow spiritually in the Lord you must read your bible!" he said.

"So what is your favorite verse?" she probed.

"Um… if I tell you the verse will you recite it like I did with yours?" he teased.

"Maybe but maybe not!" she replied.

"Psalms 141:3-4 do you know it?" He asked. But she wiggled her head and said.

"Am not sure about it, but I know that it speaks about a tongue."

"Ok the verse says 'Lord place a guard at my mouth a sentry at the door of my lips, keep me from wanting to do wrong and from joining evil people in their wickedness. May I never take part in their feasts' that's the verse" he said.

"Why do you love such a verse?" she asked.

"One day I'll tell you!"

"Oh I have to go your brother is not coming." she said.

"He'll be deeply hurt not to find you when he gets back… see when you are so into someone and you don't find them where you were told to find them… it's sad."

"There you go again… claiming that your brother knows me better then myself."

"But this time around I did not say that he knows you I said his into you…tell me why do you have to go? He is coming I know he is." he pleaded.

"I have to be somewhere," she said.

"If you leave what do I tell J.R? I told him to hurry back for you are here and now you've decided to leave."

"You are one weird guy." she wiggled her head.

"Am sorry if I have offended you, please accept my sincere apology of being a total freak." he said and she smiled.

"Apology accepted… but seriously I really have to go."

She lifted her hand to reach the door, when she opened it she almost bumped into my face, but I managed to hold her back, she froze, gazed at me, she wanted to say something but this time around I wouldn't let her, I had to say something before she does. Musa was waving his hand at me for I to have frozen, he did not make a sound but he moved his lips and hands.

"Say something, come on! Say something." he kept on sighing. I cleared my throat.

"Are you alright?"

"Um… sorry… yeah… yeah… I'm alright." She said. I got inside, I thought that she was following me but she stood still at the door, I turned around to see if she was coming for I could not hear any footsteps coming from behind.

"You are not coming with me?" I asked.

"Um… the… the thing is." she lowered her voice, she sounded like she was guilty of something, a child caught stealing sugar, that's how she reacted. Moos wouldn't let her go, without me spending more time with her.

"… What thing?" he asked.

"It's that… I." she startled.

"You weren't dyslectic moments ago…" Musa confronted. I looked at him trying to get his mind out of making her feel uncomfortable.

"Like really now Lindy J.R is here why then, do you want to leave?" He said "I assume you are over twenty-one years that when you arrive a bit late, mom and dad will throw insults at you"

"Ok Moos I'm not leaving… are you happy now?" she said.

"I'm more than happy… I'm thrilled." he spoke walking backwards.

"Hey, so how did my brother treat you?"

"Um… your brother is nice." she said "tell me why does he calls himself Moos?"

"He's the smartest here at home; let me say in the entire family he's the smartest."

"So where is he going now?" She asked.

"His going to his room,"

"What is he going to?" She inquired.

"His going to study and he'll probably leave his room at seven."

"Wow his really studying hard hey." She acclaimed.

"Yeah …so enough about Moos, please forgive me for being late. Let's go to my scrap room! And we could get down to business."

I was all sure of myself, I was so confident; in my heart I was so glad that she came to my place.

"Why do you call your work room a 'scrap room'?" She asked.

"Because it is not tidy and neat, but full of scraps,"

She pointed a painting of Christ the redeemer, and said "You call this scrap? This is awesome, Joe its perfect art."

I looked at her and smiled "I did not say that my Christ is scrap, but just look around you. This room is dirty; I don't have time to clean it."

"But you look like a guy who's neat and love's himself very much." She acclaimed

"Wow thanks for the complement my lady."

"Wait! Wait hold the phone! You did not call me 'my lady just now' did you?" she said.

"Well I just did, is there a problem on calling you that Ms.?" I asked. She seemed offended.

"No it's not; just that Moos, was calling me 'My lady' are you guys some sort of twins or what?" She questioned.

"No we are not I'm older than him! But he did have a twin!"

"What do you mean when you say 'Did have'" she became concerned.

"Oops me and my big mouth... how about you put this on so that you don't dirt yourself with paint." she looked at me, and you could tell that she was suspecting something.

"Are you trying to avoid my question Joe." she said.

"Look at this, here are all the paints and brushes, just express yourself here on this paint paid.

"I wasn't expecting that, but I also need an answer to my question?" She said.

"Am sorry but if you'll keep on talking and no activity being done! You'll submit that assignment late!" I spoke politely.

"Look if you are going to avoid me, just tells it to my face, will you?" she changed and was being furious.

"Ok I'm sorry, it's my fault, and I shouldn't have brought the subject up!" She came to me, and said

"It's ok if you don't want to talk about it, I understand."

"Ok… am sorry once again, please paint whatever comes to your mind."

She took the paint brush and painted a broken chair, she is good but she does need monitoring. She added to much paint on the drawing, I didn't want to disappoint her, neither upset her. She turned her head and asked.

"How am I doing?"

Am not a good liar, and the bible prohibits lying.

"You are doing fine but you… your paint is too much."

"Oh I've noticed that, and that's the reason that brought me here the first place."

"Ok let's leave it to dry up… come here,"

"Where are we going?" she probed.

I stretched my hand and she reached out hers. When she stretched out her hand it, felt like she was agreeing to marry me.

"…We are just going out for a walk until the paint has dried up!"

We went out for a walk around the park bought same popcorns and a drink and shared our views, what we wish to achieve before reaching the age of 30. What caught my ears was that. She said "If 'my love' the man who loves me, and I love him too would come and ask for a hand in marriage I would agree."

"So you have a boyfriend." I asked

"Yeah I do, it's been 6 months since we started dating."

That turned me off! But then, who would have expected a 23 year old female to be single on the year 2011 it would have been better if it was the 80's. What I've noticed is that, Women's percentage in the whole wide world is that it's higher than us men.

Reason being that, you would find a high rate of men in prison, and some are dead stabbed by their spouses or girlfriends due to self-defense. Men can be violent they can only think of themselves. A good husband is hard to find but as the scripture says.

'Charm is deceptive and beauty disappears, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised'.

A good wife and a good husband come from the Lord, which is why it's said 'A women who honors the Lord should be praised. I don't know whether she loves the Lord like I do, I got curious and a song played from the background, it happened that it was one of her favorite songs and happened to be mining too.

This track is a well-known in French but a South African Gospel artist has re-arranged the song in English. She sang the song.

"Loving you and knowing you make my heart feel so complete,

"Loving you and knowing you make my heart feel so complete,

"Loving you and knowing you make my love feel so strong, come what may you belong to me eternally,

"Loving you and knowing you make my love feel so strong, come what may you belong to me eternally,

"You bring me joy and you make my dreams come true, you bring me hope when I have no one to lean on!

"You bring me joy and you make my dreams come true, you bring me hope when I have no one to lean on!

"You are the one I love!

"You are the one I love!

"There's no other one that compares to you!

"There's no other one that compares to you!

"You are the love of my life, you are the I breath!

"You are the love of my life, you are the I breath!

We both sang the song like two love birds.

"You sing so lovely…"

"You too also have lovely voice." she said

"Where did you get that voice from?"

"From my dad, he's an orchestra."

"So you live with both your parents?"

"No actually I live with my Aunt my mom's younger sister."

"Wow ok. I suppose you do sing with the church choir." I assumed.

"I'll answer that question, when you answer mine first."

"But I came up with the question and you did not!"

"But I do have a question for you… what do you do at church?"

"Um… if you want to find out what I do at church I prefer that you arrive a little bit earlier for your tutoring, then we'll go to church together."

"Oh, Ok weekday services?" She said "I'll love to come."

"Let's go it's getting late, and the paint must have dried out now!"

"Yeah let's go."

Opened the door for her to come in and we were just in time for dinner, I closed the door. The look on mom's face she was happy, that I brought a girl home to meet them.

"Mom, Mom it's not what you think."

"Wow my dear, she is so pretty… she'll make a wonderful daughter in law." She continued admiring her.

Father was astonished about mom's reaction; I thought that because he knew my story better than mom he was going to back me up!

"My dear, you made a loud noise… what's the occasion." By then Lindy is frightened, she's all shaky.

"My love its Joe's girlfriend". She acclaimed. The poor girl couldn't even utter a word to her defense.

"My dear, welcome to the Radebe's home, please make yourself at home." Father said.

"… um … thanks …" she said.

"Dinner is ready," said mom I kept on knocking my head to the wall, they wouldn't give me a chance to explain myself. But I had to raise my voice.

"Guys please, stop!"

And Moos found this hilarious, he wouldn't stop laughing.

"Mom and Dad this is…"

"… Lindiwe Maseko…" father finished my line. And she was surprised. First it was Moos then cometh mom, and now it's my father. They all acted strange. I wonder what Moos said to them when we were out.

"Mom I'm hungry. And this aroma is killing me! Please may we say grace! I'm starving". He requested. And they mingled at the table, and whenever I wanted to comment. They wouldn't give me chance to explain. How could I claim someone else's girlfriend? Moos was having his moment. Things were going just fine for Moos for he kept on laughing, and enjoyed his dinner. But even so I could not comment Lindy was also enjoying herself. Mom couldn't stop telling funny stories of how I was, as a young boy. Mom then spoke of how jealous I was when she had twins. Musa stopped laughing, dad held mom's hand. I looked at Lindy.

She asked "So where is the other one?" It was silent at the dinner table. But I had to step in and do damage control.

"She's not here… as you can see for yourself."

"What happened to her?" she asked

"She's dead!" Musa couldn't take it; he just left his food and went upstairs to his room.

"Am sorry to hear that… I'm really sorry if I had known I wouldn't have continued asking… I"

"It's been five years since she passed on."

"Oh my God, How is Moos taking it!"

"Not quit well." Dad was comforting mom, she was trying hard to be strong but she couldn't hold the tears, they kept on flowing down her cheeks like endless streams.

"I think I have to go!" she suggested.

"Ok let me walk you out… I'm sorry about everything."

I walked her out. On our way out she was so tense she blamed herself for the tension at home.

"Hey don't be sad."

Sighs "I don't know Joe…your brother locked himself on his room, your dad is calming your crying mom… it's my entire fault… I"

"Hey don't blame yourself; it might not be today or tomorrow but eventually they we'll get over it!"

"I don't mean to pry… please tell me I don't mean to open up healed wounds; what really happen to her that is so sad?"

"OH!" I took a deep breath… I could feel my eyes being soaked in tears. "It's so sad Lindy… the state we found her in was devastating", my eyes were teary; I was shaking held my hands and took a deep breath. She hugged me.

"I'm sorry Joe, am really sorry." she consoled.

"I don't know why some men… can be so that cruel? They strangled her into cold blood that was the last time we saw her; she died at a young age Lindy! She was only thirteen only thirteen years old, full of ambition but they… decided …"

"…to end her life at a tender age…" Musa spoke.

"Moos, you don't have to..."

"No J.R, I have to move on, we have to make peace with the fact that she's not coming back! But she's with the Lord."

"How did she die?" asked Lindy.

"I'll tell you the story of how a mortal man can be, this world is full of scumbags, it would have been a better place if men would stand forth and serve the Lord! If you would go to churches today, you'll find only a few men and the maximum number in the congregation are women and children... but when you want to find the maximum number of men just go to Bars and Taverns, you'll find them there!" he expresses. "The prophet Isaiah calls them heroes of the wine bottle; they are doomed, 'you are brave and fearless when it comes to mixing drinks'."

"Come on man don't torture yourself like that!"

"They were brave and fearless when they kidnapped her and threw her on that van, they did not fear anything, they chose to rape her and certify their sexual desires… They chose to strangle a teenage girl a thirteen year old." he said all of this shaking. I held him tried to calm him but he wouldn't stop speaking.

"It feels like it happened just yesterday… I wish I never stopped to take a piss, she would be alive now! I failed her bro I failed her… please forgive me, I'm sorry." he wept on my shoulders when he stopped crying; he let go off me and took a walk. By then Lindy was crying.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I need some fresh air… I need to breathe".

"Is he going to be alright?"

"He'll be fine, his just embarrassed that a women saw him cry and he's in tears!"

"Is he for real?"

"Yeah he is, he'll come around!"

"So have you guys tried to consult a Psychologist?"

"Yes after the accident we all did!"

"Ok, that's a relieve; its already late perhaps I should get going" she suggested.

"Yeah... it's getting late!" she got into her car; she tried to ignite the engine of her car! The engine stopped it could not work properly, she tried harder to start her car but it was no use! I opened the bonnet of the car to check what was wrong but I couldn't figure it out. I'm not a mechanic but I could solve a few car troubles as a man.

"This car has never given me any problems before." She said.

"It looks like it'll spend a night here at my place… it's so sad because Moos is not even around to help us push your car."

"So what should I do?" She asked.

"No don't worry you can sleep at Lungi's room!" I jested. She popped her eyes out. "Relax I'm just joking you can drive my car home."

"Are you sure? Cause I might take your car for a spin and screw with it, be careful of whom you borrow your car." She winked.

"Relax, just drive safely and ring me when you've arrive?"