C1 Journey to Montagu

The benign influence of pure air covered the entire Montagu area, unlike the contaminated air of Joburg city where I came from. The city of gold had left me with bittersweet memories I chose to wipe out from my mind, however there was one thing I could not seem to forget, which was my mother’s cooking. I especially loved the manner in which she would prepare ”bohobe” they call it in my Sotho language. Made from a combination of flour, yeast, and sugar, served with my favourite.. boerewors. I was certain that I would miss her. Deep down I knew that she would do alright on her own. She was afterall she was a sophisticated, strong, independent woman who was capable of taking care of herself.

“If your father gives you any troubles you call me alright!”my mother said

She still saw me as her little girl.

“I will be okay.Dont worry yourself needlessly. I have waited a long time for this moment. All that I need from you is your support and I’ll be fine.”

My mother sobbed, she squeezed me tightly, then kissed me on the forehead.

“Be safe my child. May God be with you on this long journey.” She said.

Before I left, my mother gave me a food container filled with slices of bohobe, another container had tender cooked tripe in it. She waved goodbye as I was driving away with my white sedan car.

As I entered the cold Montagu area, I noticed heavy mist covering the hex mountains. So white, yet mystical. I developed a great desire to further explore the region. The terrain captured my mind and I immediately developed a desire to climb to the top of the mountains, no wonder I enjoyed hiking.

During my adolescent phase, I had developed a strong yearning of finding my mysterious father. All that my mother had ever told me was how taken aback she was when my father abandoned us, as he seemed like a noble man, with good morale. My father’s absence made me resentful for a very long time, but the desire to find him was greater than the anger I had towards him. I longed to know him. My desire worsened as I became an adult. One night I had a dream about him, in this dream I was told I would find him in the Hex river mountains. His appearance was unclear, the image was blurry. I told my mother the dream. She believed that dreams carried a message from a higher being, therefore did not withhold my decision to search for my father. The journey to Montagu became a significant mission of mine.

Finding an apartment to rent was not as difficult as I assumed it would be as many options were open for me. Thanks to the internet. I found the best room at an affordable rate, R2000 rand, not more than that. The room was small in size, the paint on the wall was fading, however there was electricity and the water was safe to drink.

“There are camera’s in all the four corners of the yard. If thieves try to trespass, they will definately get caught. The gate is automated with a loud alert in case someone tries to force themselves in the gate. Should you need extra security, make sure to contact me before nightfall.” The landlady said.

“Thanks I think I’ll be okay.”

On the first night of my arrival to Montagu, I found sleeping to be difficult. The bed was too hard, the pillows were too soft. The second night was better, I managed to sleep after playing my music tunes. On the third day, I went to the food market to get fresh vegetables to eat for dinner. The people were friendly, a tall charming man even offered me a lift home.i turned him down even though he seemed harmless. The fourth day arrived, I began to jog around the neighbourhood for at least 45 minutes then returned back to my small room.

One night as I was taking my usual runs in the cold street’s of Montagu , I noticed a dark peculiar shadow laying on the side road. I got closer only to discover the horror that would eventually change my life entirely. The shadowy figure was an injured me.His facials indicated that he was about sixty years of age. The greyish beard on his wrinkled face had been covered with blood. It seemed as if he were fighting with an animal, his face was covered in scratches down to his chest area. I grabbed his hand to check for a pulse, fortunate enough it was still pounding which meant that he was still alive. My apartment was close by, I ran back to get my car, placed the man into the car and drove all the way to the nearest hospital. I begged the staff nurse who was attending him to contact me as soon as the man’s condition became better. Even though the man was a stranger, I felt a great deal of sympathy for him. The following day around 4pm,I received a call from the nurse ,where the injured man was being treated.

“The patient, you brought in yesterday is doing much better, we are discharging him today, will you be able to collect him from the hospital? “asked the nurse.

I felt slightly awkward but remained loyal to my promise.

“can you please contact me after discharging him, I’ll be there” I replied.

Two hours later I received a call that the man had been discharged. I drove all the way to the hospital that very moment. The nurse led me to ward 10,where the man sat with other patients in their own beds waiting to be picked up. I could see that he was doing better, the smile on his face widened as I entered the room. Painful memories began to torment my mind, as I was approaching him, I could remember the horrific car accident that nearly ended the life of my mother. She stayed in the hospital for a week, each day was unbearable. I nearly lost the queen of my heart. I was only twelve years old at the time, but that is a story for another day. The stranger besides me had been staring at me from the moment I had stepped inside the ward till I sat down next to him. The nurse gave him a prescription of pills. The man and I immediately left, after all I couldn’t stand hospital’s.

“Thank you for saving me, my name is Benjamin, as in Benjamin Temo but you can call me Ben” the man said in a hoarse voice.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Lebohang,but you may call me Lebo. Do you have a family close by, perhaps I could drive you. Tears came running down from Ben’s eyes all the way to his cheeks. I felt uncomfortable for a while.

“Is there anything you would like me to do for you?” Ben whispered, while hugging me tightly. I felt his adoration, for a second I wished he was my father.

Here’s a sick man who had gone through great trauma, yet he was asking what he could do for me. I felt great pity toward him. I fought to disclose my feelings from him, but not my intention.

“Perhaps you could help me find someone. I’m trying to locate my father, all that I know is that he’s name is Chris Debeer at least that was what my mother told me.You see I never knew him and I don’t have his photos, they all burned in our old house while I was still a baby, well at least that was what I was told” I explained. I hoped Ben could offer me the help I very much needed.

“The name sound’s familiar, I think I know where he stays, I can direct you to him”

“Oh yes please! That would be helpful, but first let me get back to my apartment then we will go look for my father” I pleaded. Ben agreed.

I felt hopeful but remained weary.

We drove to my apartment to collect additional clothing for me and my new friend as the cold weather condition was worsening. A packet of chips, two cans of soda drinks were the only edibles available in the house. I hadn’t done any grocery shopping for the past two months of my arrival. Fortunate enough, the snacks could keep me and my new friend energised for an hour or so. Time was passing by quickly, I grabbed a red plastic bag that I had placed untidy on the couch, put the snacks in it, while holding a blanket in my right hand, then fled to the car.

We drove for 30 minutes, but because I hadn’t eaten since morning, I stopped the car and ate the chips with Ben. He seemed hesitant to eat, when I asked him what the problem was, his response was “I ate” but I knew he was being untruthful, but I couldn’t figure out why he would lie, My main concern was finding my father. As soon as I had finished eating, I continued to drive..

“There it is”Ben said, pointing to a house ten metres in front of us. We had been on the road for an hour an a half, God was finally on our side .We got close to the entrance, waiting for a while to be attended, but no one came, not even a security guard was present. A brunette haired woman opened the main door of the house, then returned back inside. Suddenly there was movement, the entrance gate slided to the right side slowly making a way for us to enter, we took the opportunity and entered slowly and carefully.

“This is the place where a man by the name of Chris Debeer resides. He has eye’s similar to yours perhaps he is the person you’re looking for. I’ll stay in the car for now but if you need me, I’ll be there.” He whispered, I could smell the garlic on his breath, then I remembered that it must have come from the chips we both ate, which meant that I also smelled garlic. Luckily I always had menthol candy inside my car . I gave him one then slid one inside my mouth.

“Should you feel a slight hunger, you can finish off the remaining snacks inside that red bag. If you begin to feel cold, there’s an extra blanket beneath the red bag. I’ll be back soon, wish me luck”. I pulled a thumb’s up signal.

“Good luck” Ben whispered. Pulling his thumb up as well

Before ringing the doorbell, I took three large breaths, it had been a while since I had felt so scared. The woman I saw while I was in the car, opened the door.

“Greetings, what can I do for you mam?”she asked.

I could not help but notice the ugly scar on her upper lip.

Seeing that my attention was fixed on her imperfection, she increased her voice, with an annoyed expression on her face.

She yelled. ”Mam,Can I help you!!!?”

“Hello, my name is Lebohang, I’m looking for a man named Chris Debeer, have I found the right house?” I said, trying to be cautious not to annoy her further.

“Yes ,this is Mr Debeer’s home, come in I’ll take you to him “the housemaid said pulling a disfigured smile on her face.

I blushed in embarrassment, entering slowly into the enormous house. The housemaid led me to her master’s office. My heart pounded faster as we approached the door. I waited outside the office while the housemaid entered as it was my way of showing respect. From outside the room, I could clearly decipher every word which was spoken. As I was observing the interior walls of the house, I saw a charcoal portrait of a man with the head of a lion pointing a gun on his own head.

“disturbing!!”I thought.

“Excuse me sir, there’s a woman here to see you, she says her name is Lebohang” announced the housemaid..

“Let her in and please make tea for me and guest please Belinda” the man said.

The housemaid did as she was told.

“Mr Debeer said you could enter” she said.

I slowly walked into the office and there he was. The man who I hoped was my real father, the man I’d been searching for since I was a child.

Tiny freckles covered his cheeks, his black curly hair, neatly trimmed.Eyes,big bulgy and blue like mine. A similarity that could mean that he may be the man I have indeed been searching for, but I needed to be certain.

“oh hello, don’t be shy, come in me.I don’t usually get female visitors, but now there are two females in my house, Belinda and you. Hahaha.please excuse me..My helper says you want to see me, what can I do for you miss..?”

“Miss Mokoena, my name’s is Lebohang Mokoena” just as I was introducing myself, I heard a manly voice coming from the other room. Suddenly Ben entered the office.

“Two guest’s at the same time, I must have done something right?”

“What are you doing here? You were supposed to wait for me in the car.” I whispered.

“Chris this is the woman who saved me.If it was not for her, I would be dead by now.” Said Ben.

“Really? Where are you from and why are you here? “Chris asked.

“I was born and raised in Joburg by one and only mother Patricia Mokoena, perhaps you know her. I came here looking for my father, as I had been told his name is Chris Debeer and that I would find him in the hex mountains. Are you indeed the man I am looking for?” as I said those words, I felt sharp pain within my heart, but I could not cry. Both these men were strangers, I did not want to seem weak or be ridiculed by them.

I further continued my speech seeing the awkward silence in the room.

”I would also like to know the reason behind your abandonment” I said.

Chris slowly walked towards me.

”I knew your mother, we had a baby. I am the man you’re looking for, I am your father “he said with a shrilling voice.

“but why did you leave me, didn’t you love me?”

With tears in his eyes, Chris gave me a hug, it felt unreal, yet pleasant.

Tears from my eyes, dropped on his white, tailored blazer. I hoped I would not cry, but it happened anyway and I despised it.Crying made me look vulnerable.

“I’m so sorry I left, please would you find it in your heart to forgive me for what I’ve done, disappearing like that. I thought I was doing what’s best for you and your mother. I didn’t realise the pain I was causing to my family, my wife, my daughter. I am so sorry my dear. Said Chris. His hug getting even more tight. The pain within my heart slowly faded, I felt relieved to have finally found my father, but painful memories were interfering with my mind. I found it difficult to speak, I only smiled to show that I forgave him.

“This is beautiful, I guess my job is done ,I need to leave.” said Ben.

His spiky hair seemed to glow on the ends, but I did not ask him about it.i thought it was the light on the ceiling, illuminating the hair, somehow.

“Wait remember what we discussed at the hospital?”

Ben chuckled, his image seemed to slightly fade which I thought to be odd, but I didn’t make much of it. My energy had decreased, my stomach began to growl, the snacks which I had eaten earlier on had not been able to satisfy my hunger. I hadn’t eaten a normal meal for two days. All because I hadn’t received payment for the work I did for a certain client in Joburg, even though I finished painting his portrait two weeks back, he still refused to pay me the full amount.

“I did not forget”Ben said. I fought hard to allow my focus to return to me.

Chris signalled Ben to be silent, I turned my glance towards Ben but I saw nothing, he had disappeared into thin air.

“Where did he go?” I asked in shock. .To my surprise Chris was not scared, instead he gave a happy impression.

As we stood there on the black rugged carpet, a man’s voice echoed in the air_

“My oath, my life, I live to serve, I guard till the end I am and forever will remain, the guardian of the hex.”

I trembled in fear, but my father was smiling.

He raised his right hand up, while placing his left hand on his chest.

“My oath, my life, he stated.