Clemence
Clemence realised he still had the man’s handkerchief when he walked through the gate. He removed it from where it was pressed against his neck. There was spot of blood on it. Actually, he didn’t think the man would want it back.
He pressed a finger tentatively to the spot where the attacker’s knife had nicked his skin. It was dry and he could feel a scab forming. He hadn’t been badly injured, thanks to that man. If he hadn’t shown up when he did Clemence would be dead. If it was actually a man, Clemence thought wryly. Who knew? Maybe it was another ghost-angel.
He shook his head.
God is watching over you. God is protecting you.
Clemence opened the kitchen door and saw Runyararo at the sink, talking to Aunty Abigail who was holding a pot, a dish towel wrapped around the handles.
‘Clemence!’ She called out, smiling. Her eyes widened when she saw the cloth pressed to his neck. And then after a brief glance over him his clothes, most likely dusty and rumpled with a few rips here and there.
‘Maiwe! What happened?’ she exclaimed, drawing closer. Clemence stepped back so that he was far from her reach and scrutiny.
‘It’s okay. It’s fine. Ndadona, and I hurt myself. It’s just a little scratch. It’s fine.’
Aunt Abigail shook her head.
‘Shem, shem. You must be more careful! Haikona trying to kill yourself.’ She said, walking towards the dining room.
Clemence frowned after her and then turned back to Runyararo. She still looked concerned.
‘I’m fine, Runya.’
‘Okay. Okay,’ she said, raising her hands in surrender.
‘You better go clean up. Tapedza kubika and Deddi will be out now now.’
Clemence nodded. A quick shower was just what he needed. It would be nice to wash off. His clothes were sticking to his body and he could feel the dirt on his skin.
‘Alright,’ he said to Runyararo. ‘I’ll see you just now.’
***
Supper was a quiet affair. The only sound that punctuated the silence was the clink of their knives and forks and the crunch of their chewing. Clemence was glad his father seemed preoccupied. No arguing. He didn’t seem to notice the long but light scratch on Clemence’s skin so that meant no questions, either. Runyararo noticed though.
Clemence felt her glancing at him from time to time. He did his best to ignore her and she was kind enough not to bring it up. When they had finished eating, each of them disappeared to their respective rooms. Clemence was relieved when Runyararo didn’t follow him and question him further about his wound.
He opened his bedroom door and collapsed onto the bed.
God is watching over you. God is protecting you.
He rolled over and looked at the white, blank ceiling. He was starting to wonder if maybe…just maybe, it was actually true.
***
Clemence’s eyes darted to the door as he pushed the customer’s items across the counter. He sighed. Still no sign of the old woman. What if she no longer shopped at Bon Marché? What if she was getting her groceries somewhere else now? Or maybe she still did come but was avoiding him? He had been quite rude to her.
Clemence lifted his head and looked around the shop, hoping to catch a glimpse of a head of grey hair and a straw basket. Nothing.
After the customer, a man in a business suit, had collected his groceries, Clemence picked up his phone and checked the time. It’s was eleven o’clock. He sighed again.
‘What’s the matter today, mwanangu?’
Clemence’s heart thudded in his chest. It couldn’t be. He looked up, and sure enough it was.
‘Gogo!’ Clemence exclaimed.
He had never thought that he would ever be so glad to see this old woman. His eyes darted over her. She had her basket today and she was wearing a black skirt and flowery blouse. She seemed to like flower patterns.
‘Inga, you are happy to see me.’ She chuckled and the sound was so light and warm.
‘Gogo-,’ the words got caught in Clemence’s mouth. He shook his head unable to express what he felt. Not sure where to start.
‘Things have been happening.’ He finished.
The old woman’s eyes danced. ‘I am sure they have.’
‘I don’t think you understand, Gogo. Ndapotsa ndafa. Twice, Gogo, I almost died and-and I was saved.’ He shook his head again.
‘I don’t know. I don’t know. You will say it’s God but…’ He shook his head.
Gogo laughed, ‘It is God, Mwanangu! Ndimwari. Did I not tell you he was looking after you? Protecting you?’
‘Eh he, but-’
‘No buts, my son. Believe it. God is real, He loves you and He is taking care of you.’
Clemence took a deep breath and let it out. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know, Gogo. Maybe.’
She laughed, placing her basket on the counter and pulling out a loaf of bread.
‘You can maybe, maybe all you want. But I see you are starting to believe.’
He dragged the bread over the counter, across the scanner.
‘Did I not tell you that if you let God’s light lead you, you will be saved? My son, there is evil in the world God has saved you now.’ She shook her head. ‘He-e. You haven’t seen anything yet. Just wait until you start walking with Him. Then you’ll see.’
Clemence was silent as he scanned the rest of the old woman’s groceries. He was glad she was here. Her presence eased his mind. He hadn’t told her all the details about the incidents that had taken place but he was sure it didn’t matter. She would still say that it was God.
Clemence wanted to deny it. He wanted to make some logical argument. He wanted to fight this truth. But it was getting too hard, especially in the face of all that had happened. There’s nothing like nearly dying to make one a believer. A believer. Is that what he was now?
‘I don’t know, Gogo. I just-. Okay so it was God. Now what? Ndoitei? Mhmm?’
Didn’t being a believer mean he had to start going to church and being “holy holy”? Reading the Bible? He just couldn’t imagine himself doing any of that. Couldn’t he just believe it was God who had saved him, thank the guy and be done with it. Just get on with his life?
He wanted that to be the case but something within him told him it would not be that easy.
‘Now you choose, mwanangu.” Gogo said, “Do you want to carry on living like there is no God or do you want to let Him lead you? Guide you. Maybe you think you are happy now, usina Mwari. But, let me tell you. God will change your life. He will change it and it will be better, mwanangu. So much better than it was before. But it’s up to you. Whether you want to stay the same or, you want to change?’
