"A few years later, I graduated. And Ken had already set me up in this mine, so I moved here after college and started working. It wasn't long before I got married to the lady I met in college, and together had our first child, Riley. But, I never realized how deep I was attached to your family, to your parents, to your father, to you, Dave. Until that day. I know it was only months of knowing them, but... Your parents were special people to me, they're hearts were pure, crystal. They set a fire in me that still burns bright to this day, a light that fights for someone worthy fighting for, a light that extends a hand to anyone to grab on hold in their darkest time, and more. Your grandpa and I used to bumb into each other here and there whenever he was in Lusaka about these meetings- I don't know. We could talk, about the family, about Lydia and Daina, about you. But you were an absent kid, always taken and living somewhere else. You were like a little brother to me, Dave. We may not be blood related but with no doubt, you're a brother to me by pure hearts and bonds shared by your parents and me. My plan was that, when I graduated and started working, I'd finally be close to your family, to you, to my little brother and see how we can grow from there, but then... Something unexpected happened to me, and that's how... That's how I lost Ken, my big brother,"
Hearing that Dave tenses, then clasp his hands, his gaze still locked with Jeff. Dave could clearly sense how hard he was trying to put on a brave front in front of him, the grief and pain in Jeff's eyes, his own not much different.
"What happened?" Dave asks, his voice low and calm.
Jeff weakly lift his arm and point his finger passed Dave's left shoulder, through the windmill palm-trees they are seated, to the small kitchen far in the corner of the wall-fence. Dave's head turns, his eyes following the direction of Jeff's finger, finally landing on his bestfriend, Chriss, who's busy with the guys with food preparations. He slowly turns his head back to Jeff, his expression slightly confused.
"Now, you need to understand. I don't blame anyone, and certainly not him. The day I lost my brother... It was either Ken... Or Chriss. I met Chriss just a year later after I got married,"
Jeff pause for a moment, taking in a deep breath, trying to calm the rising emotions, then continue.
"I know nothing about your friend's childhood history, that is something he has kept to himself. I met Chriss when he was just a hardcore hustling teenager, nothing mattered to him except his sister. He dedicated his teenage life just so his sister never got to beg for anything in life. He was never afraid of anything, the only thing he was afraid of is failing her, not himself, but her. And the knowledge, the thought of knowing what could become of her if he had failed both of them scared him, it was a constant gruesome horror movie that kept playing in his head. Chriss has see and witnessed what most of good woman are now. Even if that weren't the case, he still didn't want to live with the shame of failing his twin," Jeff pause for a sec, then adds. "Do you know she's a lawyer now? A Corporate Lawyer?"
"Yeah, they filled me in over the phone three months ago." Dave replies.
"Yeah. All is left is practical experience and she's all good. I don't know how she got through at such a young age, but here she is now, finished. And it's all because of her brother. He put her first over anything else, before himself. And now that the job is done, he'll move on forward and try to do something for himself, he still got time, you all still got time. Just stay true to yourselves and the people around you. You never know when they'll be a rock for you to step on, or a raft for you to rest and take a breath in on. So, yeah. To continue, when I met the kid and his female friends, Susan, Natasha, Jane and Gwen the twins, he was just another kid doing everything in his power to survive, that was until he introduced us to this friend he made at the construction site they were both working at and started hanging out, it wasn't long before they were buddies and soon, this kid told him about this job he earned some extra money from, and Chriss been so desparete for some quick cash, he got introduced to this job. Everything was going smooth and everybody was happy for him, things really started to change around him and not for the worst, but instead of being honest to his friends, his real family, he lied what kind of job it was. One year four months later, he came at my doorstep in the middle of the night. I, Ken, and his friends came to find out that he was involved in some serious messed up shit. By the time he could really realize, he was already in so deep that things took a turn for the worst and his sister who was in school at that time, was about to get it, and it was all because of his stupid life choices he made... All just because of money. The kid fled upon realizing how messed up everything was, and that he couldn't give in to their requests and demands no more..."
As he finished his explanation of how he met Chriss and the dark revelation behind his brother's death, Jeff lowers his head to the ground, resting it on his clasped hands, then inhales in deeply before releasing it.
"Dave. As much as I want to dig deeper into why you're here, I'll respect your reasons and only look at what your bestfriend told me. So, I'm asking you to do the same, don't press him into telling you about what he's not comfortable with, or ready to talk about for that matter. He will open up and explain everything to you, you're his bestfriend, but for now, the details remain with him. I understand you want to, and yes this is something you need to know, but it wouldn't be right of me to go beyond his rights, without his knowledge. Now tell me, the only thing I want to know is how you left them. How are they? How is Lydia? Micheal and Daina? Like I said, I know the Wills family, who doesn't? But ever since that incident in Chingola, strange things began happening in your family, and I don't mean about Lydia's health. Am I wrong? No. But I won't come to that, I have much respect for you and your family, kid."
"I... I left them alright. Grandma is taking it easy, but I left her alright. I... I just... Since getting here, I tried to talk to them the following day but, somehow I couldn't get through to them. On the way here we talked alright, I don't know but, there's still no response." Dave says, a worried expression on his face.
Jeff raises a his brow, slightly surprised, then relaxes. His head still downward.
"It might be the signal, it happens, especially if the temprature is low there. But don't worry, try again in the late evening." Jeff assures, a small warm smile tugging on his lips.
Jeff lift his head up to look at Dave, leans back to the chair, then continue.
"Did you know he had a girlfriend back then?" He asks.
"Uh, no." Dave replies.
"He did, before all that crazy mess. The girl was bestfriend of Susan, I'm telling you she was the sweetest this world has ever seen, she really cared for the kid. But... The saddest truth was that she had nuts parents, abusive bastards." Jeff says.
"So, where is she now?" Dave asks.
"She's... She left us. She died," He replies.
Hearing that, Dave lowered his head down in sympathy.
"The kid never used to drink, or smoke. But I guess you're surprised now too, huh? Can bad and hard times really change people? Or it's us who change ourselves because of bad and hard times? And no Dave, I'm not talking about a drink and a cigarette, I'm talking about who we are inside." Jeff says, making Dave to look back up at him.
"I... I don't know." Dave respond.
Just then, Chriss is spotted by Jeff coming back to where the two are chatting. He turns to Dave and adds.
"Don't ever ask him about Ayane, that was the girl's name, unless he brings it up himself." Jeff says to Dave, who slowly nods in silent understanding and promise.
The two change the topic and resumed Dave's previous question about whether this place really is a company that deals not only with steel, but also specialize in precious metals as Chriss approaches. Their sorroful expressions replaced by light ones.
"Of course Dave, but consider it as a subsidiary. The major, the big bang, is in Ndola." Jeff says, a warm smile on his lips.
"So, how was the one hour of chit-chat! Productive?!" Chriss asks, a grin on his face.
"Awkward. I told him about how you get when you get drunk, and suddenly everything got awkward. You're such an embarrassment" Jeff says, while crossing his legs.
"Jeff, my hands are free for a good strangle." Chriss says, his voice low and his face crossed.
"Have at it, kid. But again, my wallet goes free."
"Damnit!" Chriss exclaim, before releasing a defeated sigh. "Come on, the food is ready,"
Dave, just laughs at Chriss's remark.
"I hope he didn't pester you alot." Chriss asks as he turns to Dave.
"Not at all. But that 'alot' is how he exposed your butt naked." Dave says.
"What the!" Chriss snaps at Jeff. "Now your wallet is really me!"
Jeff rises from the chair and start heading straight to the kitchen direction.
"Dave, let's go. I'm sure you're famished by now."
Dave rises from the chair and pats Chriss's left shoulder as he pass beside him, a light smile tugging on his lips.
"Come on men, let's go..." He says, letting out a light chuckle.