The Visitor

My father introduced me to Byron, and we exchanged greetings as usual.

"How is Cathy?" my father asked. Cathy was Byron's mother.

"She is not well. She is suffering from breast cancer. I told you the last time we spoke on the phone, remember?"

My father paused for a while.

"I must have forgotten. I'm getting old."

"Is everything alright, oom?" Byron asked.

My father nodded. I sat there in silence, knowing he was lying.

"What brings you to Cape Town?"

Byron smiled.

"Work," he answered.

"What kind of work? I hope you're not abducting women and locking them inside your house and taming them to be your wives!" my father said jokingly.

Byron chuckled.

"No, nothing like that. I am doing some medical research. I will be flying to Soweto tomorrow and continuing my work there. When I'm done, I will be returning to the USA," Byron explained.

"Uncle Frans would be so proud of you."

Byron smiled.