Jacob lay on his bed exhausted after his first official day at The University of Zambia (UNZA) main campus. Just as he began to doze off his phone rang;
Mums calling, can’t catch a break in this school, Jacob thought to himself as he covered the pillow over his head in frustration, before deciding to answer the call.
“Hi Ma, I’m trying to sleep, I’m dead tired can I call you later?” He said. Not allowing her a chance to convince him
“I’m in the carpark, no one at home to eat it all this food and it’s not going back!”
“I better not find a girl in your room” the line went dead. Jacob couldn’t be bothered to pick himself out of bed, with a quick tap on his door arriving moments later. That was really quick, she wasn’t playing, Jacob thought to himself, as he stood to open up the door. A man was on the other end, carrying several plastics with groceries in them followed by his beautiful mother.
Her hair was always big, styled as a crown, noticing her big eyes for the first time Jacob realised he had some of her features including her big laugh. She wore her heels making her almost as tall as Jacob.
It wasn’t as bad as Jacob had expected, his mum brought food and even made the guys on the other side of the berlin wall laugh. Food really wins people over, Jacob thought as his level mates laughed at all of his mum’s jokes. When Jacob eventually walked her out he was glad she showed up, breaking the ice for him.
After she left, Jacob casually walked around his new home, getting himself acquainted with the streets of UNZA.
“When is your mum coming through, my guy?” Jacobs’s friend, Kunda asked him weeks later. “You know we only became friends because I saw her before I saw you, right? Kunda inquired not bothering to let Jacob reply as he reminisced.
“Woah, sorry I know you don’t know me and I don’t know you, but is that your sister in that merc?” Kunda asked. Mostly surprised by the model of the car than by the person driving it. “Black and beautiful, like mercs, are meant to be” Kunda sighed his fantasy.
“No, that’s my mum. But it is a smooth ride, that car” Jacob replied matter factly. Opening the door for the two-car geeks to melt ideas on car concepts together leading them back to Jacobs room. Jacob walked past everything in his environment without bothering to notice as he got lost in the world of V12 engines.
“…How can an Audi be your favourite car?…” Kunda asked in surprise as they walked into Jacob’s room. Before Jacob could be afforded an opportunity to answer, Kunda’s phone rang, muting the conversation. Jacob’s room needed organising from the groceries his mum had delivered.
Toothpaste, cereal, milk, tins of corned beef, a bunch of other groceries Jacob stashed them of them on the shelves and the things that couldn’t go there went into a coner on his table, without checking thoroughly. With the take out she had bought enough to last him a few days at least got stashed into the fridge for another hungry moment.
All Jacob heard was “party” as he packed the things his mum had brought.
“Did you say party?” Jacob asked turning around to face this stranger turned friend.
“You heard right, do you know how to party?” Kunda laughed assessing Jacob’s clothes.
Jacob was sure he knew how to party, but until he moved with Kunda that night he had never experienced anything like that in Chipata. The girls all wanted to dance and needed no one to cox them to the dance floor, these ladies do all the coxing, Jacob thought in sheer amazement at his new life.
It was a huge house, Jacob couldn’t believe some parents would allow their children to just throw such a crazy party, but he was glad whoever they were, they weren’t home for what he saw. People were going swimming in the skimpiest of tops, while others danced, oh did they dance, casuing Jacob’s blood to rush. Some sat on the lawn talking and then there were those standing by the braii working the food. Organised madness is beautiful, everyone makes their own party, Jacob thought in wonder.
Dad would kill me, Jacob thought as he helped himself to his 6th shot of the night. After that shot, everything seemed to be a slight blur as Jacob joined the dance floor. Waking up the next day in his room, sleeping next to two girls with Kunda dead asleep on the floor, Jacob could only wonder what had happened.
“That night is the reason our assignment isn’t finished, focus Kunda. We don’t have time” Jacob said exasperated from Kunda’s recollection of events.
“You worry too much, besides we are done let’s go hand them in before the deadline hits,” Kunda said clearly proud of himself.
“In the two weeks you’ve known me, have I led you astray? Even found a couple of girls interested in you, trust me, kid, I’ll show you a grand time.” Kunda said putting his arm around Jacob before hoisting himself up to walk out of the room, ready to print and hand in the assignment.
Jacob wasn’t so sure about his new friend anymore, He balances my very serious side perfectly though, Jacob thought to himself.
“Work hard,” Jacob started
“Play even harder.” Kunda finished before the two started laughing on their road towards freedom, for the weekend at least.
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