Kupa is ashamed to have been caught acting out so angrily. She feels tears welling up in her eyes but will not give Tapiwa the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Dylan is shocked. Kupa is many things, but violent is not one of them. What could have possessed her to such a public display of anger? She does not try to explain herself as he approaches her. He can see the tears in her eyes, but he can also see that her jaw set. She’s not sorry for slapping Tapiwa.
“Kupa, what is it? Zvaitasei?”
He notices everybody starting to whisper and decides to take them somewhere private. They enter the church office with Tanya and an elder at their heels.
Tanya sees her daughter’s tears. Something terrible must have happened for her to react this way.
“Kupa, explain yourself.”
Dylan’s voice is low as he tries not to shout but he only succeeds in sounding menacing. Tanya tries to pacify the situation hoping that it will make Kupa feel more comfortable to talk freely.
“Baba Kupa, please calm down. Let us all take a seat and talk about this.”
Elder Mai Munengwa is just lurking instead of dealing with the situation. One would think she was just there for gossip.
“Mai Munengwa may you please call the Youth Pastor for us? He needs to be here.”
The elder reluctantly walks out and Tanya nods for Dylan to continue.
“Kupa, please speak freely. What made you slap Tapiwa?”
Kupa looks up and speaks plainly,
“Because he tried to rape me.”
Tanya gasps so hard she lets out a squeak. Dylan is unable to comprehend what his daughter is saying.
Tapiwa has gone pale.
Kupa begins to ramble,
“We were coming from youth group one day. I thought he really liked me. Then he started to want to touch me, I said no. He grabbed me and wanted to…”
She loses her voice for a moment. Her mother sees the shame in her eyes and goes to her. Tanya holds Kupa’s hand and that’s all the strength she needs.
“I tried to scream but he slapped me. If it weren’t for the two people who heard me and started walking towards us I don’t know…”
The Youth Pastor walks in and senses the tense atmosphere.Dylan ignores him. His smouldering gaze is fixed on Tapiwa and the boy seems to shrink. Tanya recognises that eerie calmness.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Tapiwa is visibly shaking but trying not to show it.
“She’s lying…I- She’s lying!”
“And why would she lie?”
Tapiwa looks around, weighing his options. He decides against bolting for the door.
At the word lying Kupa lashes out.
“Don’t you dare call me a liar! Should we call Pretty in and hear what she has to say?”
She’s bluffing but that seems to shut him up. Pastor Charles clears his throat.
“If I may, VaTembo. My understanding of the matter is that Kupa says Tapiwa acted very….untowardly. I also understand it’s very unsettling for all of us in here to hear such things, especially in the church. What I would suggest is we all take time to think on how to handle this matter. Please don’t think I want to sweep this under the rug, not at all. It’s just that they don’t prepare us for these things in the church.”
He looks directly at Dylan,
“However painful and angering it is, we must seek the wisdom of God. We shall meet here during the week, at a time you suggest.”
Dylan’s jaw is clenched but he nods. Pastor Charles looks sternly at Tapiwa.
“Tapiwa, I expect to see you and your parents here as well, wazvinzwa? If you are the young man I think you are and whom I see you are called to be, you will go and think about your actions and think of how you want your future to play out. You also have to be ready for the consequences you shall face, whatever they may be.”
They all stand and Dylan walks out first perhaps to avoid hurting the boy.
As Kupa and Tanya leave, Pastor Charles smiles reassuringly,
“We will sort this out, don’t worry.”
There are still some people in the church yard as they make their way to the car. Mai Munengwa is already standing with some ladies clearly sharing the news. Tanya wants to march up to them and give them a piece of her mind but knows better. No need to give them anything more to talk about. She knows not all of the church is like that. There are those who genuinely care.
Mbuya Kupa is not pleased with having to wait.
“Ko,what happened? In this heat shuwa, just having to wait in the car?”
She notices that no one answers her and speaks to Kupa.
“Why are you crying? What has happened? Pindurai Ka!”
“Mhamha we will talk tasvika kumba.”
That’s all the energy Tanya has for her mother today. The rest of the ride home is silent. All she can do is wonder how she could have missed that something so terrible had almost happened to her daughter. The only thing Tanya has strength for now is to be there for Kupa although she has no idea how…
