Extract from The Climb

One day I came back home and found her with a man, she was so sad and could barely look me in the eye. She introduced him as her good friend who was to take care of me since she could not anymore. She had already packed my clothes and said I must go with the guy. She handed me a note saying I should not open it yet. I was to open it a month or two later.

The conditions of this arrangement stated that I would help this man out by doing house chores, cooking, and helping prepare his kids for school. I could not believe it. Everything was just so overwhelming. She gave me the warmest hug ever and apologised for how things turned out.

“But mom I don’t have to go to fancy schools I can just go back to a public one”.

I thought she might be embarrassed that she couldn’t afford to take me to a private school anymore.

I knew the neighbors would make a mockery of me but I did not care, as long as I would be close to her. Her health was deteriorating and she clearly needed someone to take care of her… I was not to leave her like that

“It’s for the best and you can come visit me in a few weeks. I will be in a better space then. Concentrate on your studies my child” she said with her eyes teary.

I suggested other options but she became angry so I left it at that.

I was raised to do as I am told by elders and never ask too many questions. I hugged her and told her I loved her and that I was proud of her for being such a strong woman throughout the years. She gave to me what no other woman would have; she gave me her best despite our circumstances. I then took my bags and promised to call her every now and then.

The man helped me out with my bags and took my hand. He led me to his car and opened the door for me. I ran back to hug my mother one more time and she gave me a sign that I shouldn’t. It was too hard for her; I could tell from the tears streaming down her pale face.

I had no idea where the road was heading or what the future held for me but I knew my mother always knew and did what was best for me. I cried all the way to this place I didn’t know and I eventually fell asleep at some point. I was woken up by the man; I still did not know his name at this point so I will just keep referring to him as “the man”. He said to me “hey wena get the hell out”. I was still astonished by his words. I was confused and had just woken up so I thought I probably did not hear him clearly.

“I said get the hell out or you want to stay and rot in this expensive car of mine?”

This was really unbelievable. How can someone change so quickly? He was clearly nothing like the guy I just met, the one that helped me with the bags. I thought to myself “just a few more weeks and then it will be school holidays. You can go see mom and hopefully never come back.” I gathered my thoughts and asked him where we were and he said “Lesotho”.

I thought he was joking, Lesotho is just so close to Botshabelo but the trip felt too long. I know now that it wasn’t a joke, we were indeed in Lesotho. Somewhere really deep at someplace that looked abandoned. It was in the middle of nowhere and I could not understand why would someone drive such a beautiful expensive car but live in a place like that. It would have made more sense if he used the money to buy a good house in a nice neighborhood.

Anyway…we got to the door and he said to me “you must behave, remember your mom sent you here so I could help you? Well, I only help those who help themselves you get it?’ I just nodded my head.

We walked into the house. He then took me to a room where there were about a dozen guys. I thought to myself “wow this guy must really be something else, so many friends?” I barely had any friends…. besides my mother.

I greeted the guys and they just stared at me in a really weird way. I thought I may have interrupted a very important meeting so I went on to ask “the man” which room was mine.

“It’s the last one on the right,” He said in a rather impatient tone.

I wanted to lock myself in and cry. But I also wanted to call my mother first. I wanted to suggest that I come back home.

I went in and found one girl inside. I walked back and thought I might be in the wrong room but she said “this is the room”.  I greeted her and introduced myself but she just went back to putting some makeup on her face.