53
Only one boy chose the diamond farm leaving 4 boys remaining, Nate included. Over the course of several weeks they were groomed; haircuts, clothes, shoes, food and manners of eating, everything they needed to have for their services. The boys still didn’t know what those services entailed but eventually, they began to get requests. Except for Nathaniel, he never got requested. Tshepo was the first to leave, he was given an overnight bag to pack the basics so he would be taken to his new temporary master.
“This is it,” he said excitedly to Nate. “Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” Nate told his friend. “How long till you come back?”
Tshepo shrugged. “Maybe a week.”
“Tell me everything that happens.” Nate made him promise. Eventually, Fredrick’s men came to take Tshepo away. Two days later the two other boys were taken away and once again it was just Nate in the room. The four beds that had been added before upon the other boys' arrival remained there awaiting their return.
For a while the door to the room was always locked but eventually Fredrick’s men decided he was trustworthy enough to leave the door open. Nate assumed they were watching his every move to make sure he didn’t try to escape. But where did he have to escape to? His father sold him and his mother probably had her hands full now trying to manage her life. He wondered if she still had to sell her body to the drunks who paid for her service. The first thing he planned to do when he gained his freedom, however long that was, he would take his mother and give her all the fine things the wives of the rich men had, she would never have to degrade herself anymore. He would take the years of suffering away until she regained her youthful beauty again.
But first, he needed to make himself useful for Mr. Fredrick.
So one day he ventured out of the room into the rest of the house. It was quiet and peaceful, disturbed only by the movement of vehicles and people in town. The house was empty but he knew the housekeeper was there somewhere making the next meal or cleaning something.
Nate touched the walls and peeped into the open rooms he passed in awe, the mansion spoke of wealth, a wealth he hoped to have someday. His explorations lead him to the kitchen, it was empty but there was a pot boiling on the stove. He was about to venture into the kitchen when a soft hum caught his attention.
He paused.
It came from the open back door. Leaving the kitchen Nate made his way to the back door and looked out. There standing against the fence was a young, dark, girl, her eyes opened looking skyward. Her face was young and pretty. She raised a hand to touch her hair, it was the color of the cook’s but a lighter shade of red. Suddenly she stopped humming and cocked her head in one direction as if she sensed a presence with her. Then she dropped her head and looked right in the direction where Nathaniel stood. She stood very still, saying nothing just watching him.
Nate wanted her to say something first then soon realized he was the intruder, he was the one who stumbled after her after all. But he stood there tongue-tied. It was the first time his adolescent hormones raged at the sight of a girl. She was beautiful, her stare was direct and she had pretty eyes.
Finally, he raised his hand and waved.
She didn’t wave back. She kept staring at him. She cocked her head again.
Nate frowned. Why wasn’t she waving back?
Suddenly she smiled, it was the brightest smile he ever saw. “Are you going to keep standing there?”
Her voice was melodious, her tongue carried the Gaboran accent soft and gentle.
“Uh… I waved”
She laughed. “If you would come closer you will realize that I can’t see you.”
Feeling like an idiot for not noticing her condition Nate stepped outside and took tentative steps toward her. Finally, he was standing in front of her. Her eyes were brown, very brown and beautiful, pretty eyes that couldn’t see a thing.
“What is the color of the sky today?” she asked him.
Nate tore his gaze away from her and looked up even though he didn’t have to. “It’s blue, there are clouds.”
She was smiling. “I can’t see the sun, I can feel it though. Can I feel you?”
Stunned by the request, Nate was even more shocked when she pushed off the wall and touched his face, her soft palms traced the outline of his face, his brows, his nose, and his mouth. Her fingers curved along his cheek and rubbed softly before disappearing into his hair. There she stopped.
She frowned. “You are a foreigner. Where are you from?”
He licked his lips nervously, holding himself very still. “My parents are German.”
Her frown deepened. “Mr. Fredrick doesn’t bring foreigners,” she sounded more like she was talking to herself. “You have a nice face.”
Nate stuttered. “S-so do you.”
She laughed. She held her hand to him and when he took it she pulled him so that he too was resting on the wall. Nate wanted to ask her name but he didn’t want to unsettle the calm. There was a serenity about her that drew her to him. After a long while she pushed away from the wall again. He decided to just stay there with her enjoying her serene presence.
“I should go back to work.”
“You work here?” Nate asked. “Are you cook’s daughter?”
“She’s my aunty. It was nice to meet you, I don’t usually have any of the boys coming out here to talk.”
He didn’t want to say he had come out only because he was bored. Instead, he nodded.
“When you go to work?” she asked suddenly. “The other boys have gone haven’t they?”
“Yes, they have. I will probably be leaving soon.”
“Well, I am happy I met you before you left. Bye.”
Nate was off the wall immediately to help her find her way since she wasn’t with a stick to navigate her way. But he suddenly stopped short when she made a clicking sound with her mouth. She cocked her head to one side, made the sound again, and started to walk away. He soon realized she used the echoes of her clicks to find her way. He was so entranced watching her that he didn’t realize he forgot to ask her name.
