CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The flight from Nigeria to Chileka international airport in Malawi was a bumpy one. When Jason got off the plane, the guide his mother hired was there with a placard with his name. The man was averaged with pot belly and cheerful demeanor. He smiled brightly showcasing what strangely appeared to be white set of teeth and perfect dentition. He looked at the picture he was holding severally before looking up at Jason's face. When he was satisfied that both picture and man were the same person, he waved vigorously at Jason. When Jason came close enough he took his bags.

'Welcome sir, how was the journey sir? My name is Thokozani sir and I will be your guide' Thokozani chatted heartily without allowing Jason to respond.

Jason on the other hand was polite and preferred not to talk anyways.

'My bus is over there, it is old but it has good energy in it' Thokozani said when they got to the make shift car park.

Jason blinked when he saw the bus. It was not just old, the bus was dead. It was a rickety yellow bus with broken windshield and rusty doors.

'Is there no flight from Chileka international airport to Nsanje?' Jason asked genuinely frightened for his life.

'Madam Hope for all, said the bus will give you an opportunity to see Malawi and appreciated the country popularly known as the warm heart of Africa' Thokozani said smiling flamboyantly

'By Madam Hope for all, you mean my mother, right? Elixir Yagazie told you to take me around Malawi using that' Jason pointed at the yellow bus.

'Yes sir….isn't it awesome? We can even visit the great Lake Malawi and other beautiful place in my country. Are you happy sir?' Thokozani asked still with a smile.

'Yes…so happy. I am so happy that I like to return the favor to mother dearest. That is how happy I am right now' The sarcasm was lost on Thokozani but the way Jason's face twisted and the battle between the smile and frown on Jason's face made Thokozani rethink his heartiness.

'May I suggest you take me straight to the orphanage, Mr. Thokozani?'

'Of course, sir…it will take us about three hours to get to the orphanage, sir'

'Then it is a good thing I bought some Aspirin, Mr. Thokozani'

After three hours and some minutes on a dusty bumpy road, Jason had a good mind to call his mother and take back his offer to help. But he needed to get away for Nigeria. He needed to get away from McKenna and the good in her. Before he left that morning, he went into McKenna's room to watch her sleep just for a minute or two. It was creepy and not his style but he needed to remember McKenna's face. He needed to remind himself why he needed to put a country between her and himself. Why he should not take advantage of her.

For the first time in Jason's life, he was determined to do the right thing.

'Take care of yourself, Oma' Jason whispered and slightly touched her face.

But before he left, he took the only picture of her in the room. He found it lodged in between the novel on her hotel room table. It wasn't his to take but he took it anyway.

The orphanage wasn't what Jason expected; when he saw the old signpost with the words 'Hope for all, Orphanage home' he expected the orphanage to look unkempt and deserted but the opposite seem to be the case. Flowers lined the entrance and the inside, creating a path to the main building. The building looked old but magnificent as it stood at the centre of the big compounds. Children were everywhere and even though it was expected since he was in an orphanage home for children, Jason was aghast.

By the side was a playground with an outdated children swing set and a new merry-go-round. Thokozani turned off the engine and open the bus door for Jason and he stepped down.

'Miss Naya should be in the dining hall getting the place ready for dinner sir.' Thokozani told Jason

'And who is Miss Naya?'

'She is assistant manager and a volunteer. If you walk straight to that entrance by your left, I am almost sure that you will see Miss Naya. She is like clockwork'

Jason walked towards the entrance Thokozani mentioned and met a woman there. She was an albino, tall with brown boots and yellow dress. Jason couldn't make out her face from the distance he was standing.

'Are you the new help?' Naya asked without looking up. She was placing plates on the tables.

'No…I am …' Jason was puzzled that the albino had an accent

'Don't just stand there, start setting dinner plate on the table. We have less than five minutes before dinner' she said without waiting for Jason to introduce himself.

Jason dropped his briefcase by the door and carried the pile of plates near the window and started distributing across the table. When he got close enough to her, he saw her face. She wasn't an albino, she was white. And she was stunning.

She looked up and stared at him.

'You don't look like a help' Naya said and her face was expressionless.

'Probably because I am not, I am Jason and I am your new boss'

Naya stared at him and blinked twice.

'Do not forget to place the spoons beside the plates, boss' and she went back to what she was doing, leaving a puzzled Jason to stare at her in shock.