CHAPTER 3
It was a fine sunday, the sun was at its apex . it was not scorching but rather calm leaving a peaceful atmosphere.
The joy of visiting Christopher that day left him thrilled but the anxiety caused him a sleepless night. He thought of what might transpire between them . what favor would he want to give ? What questions should he be ready to answer ? Could he be audible enough to be understood ? . he felt his heart beating to nothing but fear having all these random questions going on in his head. He knew Christopher acted very amiable to him that day but he wasn't so sure how true was that. All he has ever heard ever since he was a child was that white detest blacks and Muslims are called terrorists and they hate to be around them. But that day Christopher didn't show any sign of hate, he was peaceful towards him. Quickly he stopped himself from believing too much in Christopher again. He reasoned that maybe he just wants to use him as a tool like the rest of his kind does, deprive him of his freedom and enslave his skills . he shrugged and cursed under his breath '' me no be slave for nobody " . the door squeaked open and distracted him from his thought . he saw his mother and sister walk in with two bags containing things they bought from the market . they could not buy things from their local market so they have to trek out of the ghetto to get what they want.
" ummi ( mother ) you come quick "
" yes Omar, me want to come quick before you go. Me want you to wear fine clothes to white home ".
He chuckled, never was he planning to wear rags but just want to look himself . he felt no necessity for him to appear super attractive.
" ummi (mother) me wear whatever me like "
" No no no, you will not shame we, so me find best clothes for you " . she said opening the box omar keeps his clothes and searched through it looking for the best . she brought out a Baggy brown trouser with a loose blue T-shirt.
" wear this, you will look good " she advice smiling. Omar didn't need to try them on before disapproving the combination.
" me no like this ummi ( mother ) ". She sighed and searched the box again to find something else. She picks a bright yellow polo shirt
" you is like this ? " she asked
" ummi ( mother ) you know me hate sun color ( yellow color ) "
" you hate it but you get ? "
" father buy for me, me cannot say no " she frowned at his refusal to every dress. He didn't have much in his box just three left. She took out the jeans trouser and match it up with a check sleeves .
" this is all you fine clothes the remain are ugly, so you must like this " he smiled and collected them from his mother
" me like it ".
" okay me go out now so you can dress, be quick Omar " she left and sat at the front door waiting for him to come out ready. When he did, she was proud of his looks . elegant and masculine, having heavily muscled shoulders that could be seen from his shirt.
" you look beautiful son " she praised his looks
" me not as beautiful as you " he glorifies her too .
" come close son " she ordered him. He moved closer and knelt before her , she arranged his hair with her hands and blessed his forehead with a kiss
" please be good Omar, don't upset, be calm and answer questions wisely " she advised . he stared in the eyes of his mother with love and proud to have her as his mother .
" I be careful ummi ( mother ) "
" please come home not at night, Allah ( God ) be with you " he hugged her tight and kissed her knuckles before standing up to leave.
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He walked the street of the white trying to locate the house of Christopher. He couldn't read the card for he was an illiterate but he saw the house number and just look around to find a house with the number . all of a sudden he felt uneasy and didn't know if he should just turn back to the ghetto but he refute his thought and walked further, because if he should return his father will see him as a weakling and he cannot go back telling false experience to his family because he hates to lie. so it is better to keep on going and hear from Christopher whatever he wants to tell him. He saw the house number but wouldn't want to believe that was the house he was searching for . what he was seeing was not just a house but a mansion. He looked at the card again but it confirmed it, that was the house he was searching for. The mansion frightened his heart the more, it was the biggest house in the street. He heaved out a loud sigh and summon courage to knock at the gate. The security man opened the gate at the third knock he made and saw a black man standing, that was weird, Christopher use to have visitors but not blacks .
" can I help you mister ? " the security man asked him politely .
" m--- me c--- come to see Christoph " he stutter in his reply .
" you mean Dr christopher ? "
" yes "
" Do you have an appointment with him ? "
" no, me no have appointing but him give me card to visit " he replied stretching the card to him. The security man collected it from him and stared at it for a while to be sure that it was that of Christopher's then he looked at Omar who was breathing heavily .
" Give me a minute please " Omar nodded to his request and waited outside . after 5minutes the gate opened again and the security man came instructing him
" you may come in sir " . he entered and followed the security man who led him to the living room . the house was well furnished with fine expensive furnishings compared to the cage they call a house. He stared at the place with strong covetousness .
"Here is the man, ma'am " he moved his face from adoring the building to the person the security man was introducing him to . she was very white with pointed chin and wavy black hair, Wasn't looking plump but rather slim. she didn't shift her gaze from the television to show any interest in his presence . she only murmured to the security man to leave. Omar felt unnoticed so he decided to show some courtesy to get her attention .
" good afternoon ma " but still she didn't alter her gaze from the television. He repeated his salutations but still got a zero response .
" please ma, me want to see christoph" he requested but not even a glance to his side . he stood for minutes waiting to be granted permission to sit but he wasn't given, so he decided to please himself.
" And who asked you sit down on my couch! ? You swine !! " she yelled at him. He jolted up quickly and resumed his stationary position .
" me sorry ma "
" you don't talk back at me when I talk, I can smell the odour coming out from your mouth so shut up !! " Omar lowered his head and speak no more.
" And who the hell are you! ? "
" Who are you quarreling with dear ! " christopher screamed from the bathroom .
" you should come see him yourself " she replied back rudely. Christopher finished up his bath got dressed and came downstairs to resolve whatever misunderstanding his wife was having with anyone.but to his utter astonishment it was the guest he has been waiting for. He went closer to him and extended his hand for a shake. Omar felt reluctant to but christopher was putting up a smile and his hand was still hanging in the air, so he shook his hand but couldn't return the smile when a fierce woman was behind glaring at him.
" I hope it wasn't so difficult for you to locate my house ? "He asked concerned.
" No sir, is no hard for me " he replied.
" I'm very happy you are here, please take a sit ". He sat down with a pounding heart not too comfortable .
" oh I'm sorry dear, this is Omar the young man I told you repaired my faulty car"
" And what did I told you ? " she asked briskly
" what did you tell me ? " christopher asked a question he knows already .
" I told you christopher that I do not want a black terrorist in my house ! "
" can you just be nice for once he is sitting right here " he whispered
" I do not care ! I Want him out of my house now !! "
" well that is not going to happen, if you are not comfortable around then you can excuse yourself "
" I want him out ! This is my house and I won't excuse myself for a stranger "
" I'm done talking and for your information OUR house so stop singularizing it . I do not want to hear you yelling again , I am having a guest!. " she was completely flared up, she glared at Christopher and then to Omar . she hisses loud and left the living room. Christopher turned to Omar who buried his face but wasn't ignorant of what happened .
" I'm so sorry for my wife's misconduct " he pleaded
" it's no thing sir christoph "
" Thank you, so tell me about you "
" How I tell ? " Omar asked uncertain
" like your family, your job, just make me know you better " .
" me is the first child, me have small brother and one sister. Me father is mechanic me work with him . we stay In small house in ghetto ".
" Wow that is great . and how old are you ? ''
" Me is two 10 ( 20 )"
" you mean 20 ? "
" yes me 20 "
" you have any other job aside working with your father ?'' Christopher asked to be sure
"No me only work with father "
" Do you have any plans of going to school ? "
" Never, me hate school but me small brother Hassan like school. Me gather money, I put him in sha Allah ( if God wills ) "
" Hmm, I want to help you Omar, I see you to be a responsible young man. I own a large farm but i do not have enough time to manage it. So i want you to be in charge for me. I will pay you monthly and you will also get a percentage from the goods we will produce. And you are not to engage in any labour at all, you are just to manage the farm." Omar gaped at him, he couldn't believe what he just heard.
" you make me manage you farm ? "
" yes, I really appreciate your favor towards me and I will want to pay back. " he couldn't say anything, he stared at him with eyes full .
" Thank you sir christoph, you help me thank you "he said letting the tears fall
" please don't do this Omar, please " Christopher moved closer to him drying the tears on his face .
" Always know Omar we are same, Whites, blacks. are all same, we are humans we should help each other. okay ? " He nodded in affirmative .
" you can come over tomorrow so that I will take you there "
" Okay sir christoph, okay "
" I'm very happy you came and I'm sorry again for the way my wife behaved earlier ."
" please say no sorry mr Christoph is no thing at all ". Christopher smiled and shoved his hands into his trouser pocket and brought out 25 dollars and hand it over to him, saying
" please don't reject it this time "
" No me no take, you help me already with many good " Omar declined
" I'm not complaining, please buy something for your family with it at least " christopher insisted still extending the money to him. He collected it and thank him well before leaving the mansion.
Omar walked back home feeling happy and sad at the same time. He wasn't expecting so much goodness and compassion from Christopher . he felt bad knowing that he had said wicked things about whites before . not all of them show this sympathy that Christopher did, but there are many more of his kind. He realises that the statement of Hassan was true. You wont be able to know the good from the bad if you hide yourself and fill your mind with ignorant thinking. He walked hastily back home to inform his family of the good news, but when he got to his house he saw women and children wailing and weeping.