THE VILLAGE BOY.

Scene Nine

{NINE MONTHS GONED BY. PAUL TOOK A PART-TIME COURSE AND HAVE STARTED WORKING. BUT STILL, SINDI IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. PAUL'S MOTHER GOT ADMITTED TO STAY AT THE HOSPITAL. AND THINGS AREN'T LOOKING GOOD FOR HER.}

Mr Khumalo : {DIALS THE PHONE.}

Paul : {PHONE VIBRATES.} Professor...

Pro Zackary : Paul. Do you have a question?

Paul : No Sir. It's just that I'm receiving a call from someone who is looking after my sick mom and I think that it is urgent. So I was requesting permission to go outside and answer the call.

Pro Zackary : Permission granted.

Paul : Thanks. {RUSHING OUTSIDE.}

{PHONE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE.}

Paul : {ANSWERED THE PHONE CALL.}

Mr Khumalo : Paul. Thank you for taking the time to answer my phone call. {BREATHING HEAVILY.}

Paul : Is everything okay Sir?

Mr Khumalo : Can you come home?

Paul : I'm still in class. But I'm free for the rest of the day. So I'll come as soon as this class ends. Is my mom alright?

Mr Khumalo : I'd rather say when you get here. {HE HANGED UP.}

Paul : {WALKS BACK TO CLASS SO STRESSED.}

Pro Zackary : Are you alright? You don't look so good.

Paul : I think something bad happened to my mother.

Pro Zackary : {LOOK AT THE WATCH.} Class dismissed. Come to my office.

{THEY WALKED FOR LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.}

Pro Zackary : Take a sit.

Paul : Thank you Sir. {HE SITS DOWN.}

Pro Zackary : Why would you think that something bad have had happened to your mother.

Paul : The phone call I just received... They want me to go home asap. But they couldn't say how my mother is, when I asked about her. Since the caller was breathing heavily.

Pro Zackary : You better go home then.

Paul : Yes sir. {STOOD UP AND WALKED TOWARD THE DOOR.}

Pro Zackary : Paul...

Paul : Sir.

Pro Zackary : Do you have money for transport?

Paul : No Sir.

Pro Zackary : So, how are you going to get home?

Paul : I don't know.

Pro Zackary : Take this. {HE TOOK OUT A COUPLE OF RANDS IN HIS WALLET.}

Paul : I can't take it.

Pro Zackary : I insist that you take it .

Paul : Thank you so much Sir. {HE TOOK THE MONEY.}

{IN A FEW HOURS. HE ARRIVED AT MR KHUMALO'S PLACE. PAUL ENTERED THE HOUSE IN A HURRY. MOM... MOM... MR KHUMALO... HE SHOUTED, BUT NO ONE REPLIED. THEN DECIDED TO CALL MR KHUMALO.}

Paul : {DIALING.}

Mr Khumalo : {ANSWERED INSTANTLY.} Paul... Where are you?

Paul : I'm at home. Where are you guys.

Mr Khumalo : We're at the hospital.

Paul : What happened?

Mr Khumalo : Can you get here?

Paul : I don't have any cash with me right now.

Mr Khumalo : Ok. Go to the garage. There should be a car there. Use it to get here as soon as you can. I'll send you my location.

Paul : Okay. {HE RUSHED TO THE GARAGE, ENTERED THE CAR AND DROVE TO THE HOSPITAL.}

{HE SPENT FOURTHY MINUTES INSTEAD OF SEVENTY MINUTES. HE WENT TO THE RECEPTION TO ASK WHERE HIS MOTHER IS LOCATED. AFTER BEING TOLD, HE RUNNED WITHOUT LOOKING BACK. AND HE GOT TO WHERE MR KHUMALO WAS SITTING.}

Paul : Where's she ? Where is my mother?

Mr Khumalo : Calm down.

Paul : {TRYING TO ENTER HIS MOTHER'S SICK ROOM WITHOUT THE DOCTOR'S CONSENT.}

Mr Khumalo : Paul... Calm down. Your mother is fine

Paul : {STARTS CRYING.}

Mr Khumalo : {HELD PAUL'S SHOULDER AND AND SAT HIM ON THE BENCH.}